I prod the beast, and his low laugh does little to reassure me.
“Possibly not, but in your world, I’m a close second. But I have a proposition for you to ease your burden and help soften the deal.”
“What proposition?”
My legs are shaking and my throat is dry as he presses me against the wall, the color black all around me, seeping into my very soul.
“I will remove your stepmother from your life and take great pleasure in that. I will be your vengeful demon and wipe her from your memory. I will do that for you because I can and because I have a feeling that is what you want the most.”
“You know nothing about me.”
The fact that he’s right isn’t something I want to admit to, and his eyes power into mine as he whispers huskily, “Your stepmother murdered your father. She terrorized you and your sisters, and she is seeking to steal your inheritance. She has made a deal with a known trafficker to sell you and your sisters as sex slaves on an open market and will pocket millions as her share. Then, when you are ruined, broken, and bleeding, she will end your lives in a malicious, agonizing way, just like she did Rose’s mother, just like she plans to do to yours.”
I’m shaking, the tears falling like a burst pipe as his words hits me hard in the heart.
My voice shakes as I whisper, “You are not the devil, Joseph, because that title belongs to Morgan Sorcusi, so what makes you think you can outsmart her?”
His hands slip from my neck and curl around my waist, and as he slams my body against his, he whispers against my lips, “Because I am holding the weapon she wants the most. The final nail in her coffin, which she is desperate to destroy. You will break that woman under my guidance, and I will be your armor against her. You will be the perfect revenge, my angel, and Ialready know you want that more than anything, so I will ask you again, what is your biggest fear now?”
As I stare into the madness, hell opens up to me, beckoning me inside, and my first thought is for the Bible placed by my bed upstairs. Is this my temptation, Morgan’s betrayal? Is retribution really the answer, or would forgiveness work better?
I almost can’t breathe as he holds me flush against his body, my mind scrambled as I struggle to find the answer and with a sag to my shoulders, I give him what he wants.
“Me. My biggest fear is me right now because right now, in this room, you are the devil and I couldn’t be happier about that.”
From nowhere, his lips land on mine in a surprise attack, and as our tongues clash, so do our minds. He is rough, not respectful, hungry and obsessive, and rather than be appalled by that, it is exactly what I need right now.
A low moan escapes from somewhere deep inside me, and it doesn’t even shock me when his hand pushes the dress up around my waist. His fingers pushing my panties aside. I should be horrified, disgusted even, but I am too far gone to care.
It’s as if being in this room absolves you of sin, of life, of humanity. Murder, death, kill, all blend with passion as he bites my neck, causing me to groan out loud, his finger brushing my clit, causing me to pant. I’m shocked how bold I am when I push my hand under his shirt, connecting with hard, solid muscle, causing the woman inside me to scream.
For some reason, I want more. This isn’t enough, and now getting naked isn’t so shocking anymore.
He pulls away, his hand dropping from my wet center, and the cool composure returns, the fire effectively doused.
“Then we have a deal, Tiffany. Tomorrow, we wed, fuck, followed by retribution, in that order. But first, I understanddinner is served, so if you will follow me, our business inside this room is concluded.”
I have no words, no smart reply, and no idea what just happened. I am surrounded by darkness, physically and mentally, and as he heads to the door, I find my voice.
“You never told me what goes on inside this room.”
“You won’t allow me to show you. When you are ready to remove your clothes and lie on the wooden bench, let me know and it will be my pleasure.”
He opens the door, and the light invades the darkness, causing me to blink, revealing normality. I really do believe I have been down a rabbit hole, and as I walk into the light, I’m mindful that my life will never be the same again.
CHAPTER 9
JOSEPH
It was a strange experience sharing the dark space with someone. Only Su Yin has earned that privilege, and yet when I took Tiffany there, it didn’t seem wrong at all. I suppose it’s because we share a painful past. Something in common at least, and I wasn’t kidding when I told her I would slay her demons with pleasure. In doing that, it would almost be like slaying mine, and I realize that will never happen.
I’ll take a close second though, and I’m impatient to get started.
As we enter the dining room, I note the lunch on the sideboard waiting for us to help ourselves.
“I, um, thought I was having lunch in the kitchen.”
Tiffany dares to question me, and yet I let it slide. She doesn’t know the rules—not yet anyway, so I say dismissively, “You eat with me unless I choose otherwise.”
