“Fine. Send him back downstairs.”
I glance over at my guards and give them a subtle nod. Good. I wanted to be alone with her for the next part.
Once they leave, she reaches back to unzip her dress, peeling it off her body, her shoes and tights following right behind it.
“A shower. That’s it, though. Nothing else is happening, Gavriil.”
I scoff at her weak lie as I walk past her to turn on the showerhead, hot water tumbling down to the drain on the floor. “You’ve been staring at me like you want to either rake your fingernails or your tongue down my abs.”
“No, I haven’t!” she argues, sounding so defensive I chuckle.
“I wouldn’t mind either,” I admit. “And I think you would enjoy inflicting a little pain on me, wouldn’t you,wildcat?” She stays silent. “Tell me the truth, Alina. If I reached into your panties, would I find you already soaking wet just from arguing with me?”
Her face reddens, and she remains quiet.
“Answer me honestly or finish undressing.”
“I hate you,” she mutters while taking off her bra and panties, leaving her confidently naked. The sight of her is enough to for me to mostly ignore her declaration.
I don’t like hearing such venom in her voice. She’s still so stuck on my brother and the guilt that their relationship makes her feel. If I can break that trance, we’ll both get what we want.
She’s close. I can feel it.
She wants me, even if she won’t admit it. And deep down, while she may have said she forgave him, I think she still wants to hurt Dominik the way he hurt her. I’m eager to become the catalyst for his punishment.
“Under the water,” I tell her, breathing faster as I hurry to take off my belt and pants.
Alina hesitates long enough that I see the war inside her eyes. She still needs another little push.
“I could turn the cold water on if you prefer.”
That does it.
Finally, she steps under the spray, tilting her head back to let the water soak her hair, looking so damn gorgeous I want to lick every drop from her body.
I remove my briefs and take myself in my fist that’s covered in blood. Alina freezes, watching transfixed as I begin to stroke myself while moving closer until I join her under the downpour.
“Do you like seeing the effect you’ve had on me since the first night we met?” I ask her.
“Yes,” she whispers, not even bothering to deny it. “I hope it hurts.”
“It won’t hurt for much longer,” I reply confidently. “I always knew you would end up here, naked and dripping wet in my cage.”
It takes everything in me not to push her up against the wall and devour her.
Instead, I reach past her to grab the body wash, squeezing a sizable amount in my palm before rubbing my hands together. The soap bubbles up, washing away the blood in its white foam. And when they’re clean, I take more, lathering it to spread it up her arms toward her shoulders.
“Gavriil.” Her voice comes out in a strained whisper. Alina shakes her head, but she doesn’t move away. “You shouldn’t…Dom…”
“I can do anything I fucking want,” I tell her, my hands gliding back down before moving to her waist. “So can you.”
Alina’s eyes flutter shut as I drift my hands up her sides, my thumbs grazing the underside of her breasts. “Gavriil.”
I drink in the sound of my name on her lips. It doesn’t sound like a protest. It sounds like a plea.
I move even closer until we’re almost chest to chest, my soapy hands roaming down her back. When I reach the curve of her ass, she gasps, her hands flying up to grab my upper arms. “Don’t be shy. You can touch me too.”
Alina immediately releases my arms. She swallows hard and shakes her head. God, she’s stubborn.
