I release a shaky breath and continue forward. The familiar path now feels like navigating a minefield. My fingers trail along the wall, a guide as I move closer to the door.
Strong arms lock around my waist from behind. A large hand clamps over my mouth, stifling my startled gasp. My back slams against a solid chest, the impact forcing air from my lungs.
Cologne fills my senses, making my blood run cold. I know that scent, know the feel of those hands. But this isn't the gentle touch from my dreams. This is the grip of a predator who's caught his prey.
I try to twist free, but his hold only tightens. His breath fans hot against my ear, and I can feel the rage radiating off him in waves.
My heart slams against my ribs as his grip tightens. The hand over my mouth presses harder, fingers digging into my cheeks. I can't breathe. Can't think. Can't move.
The darkness of the hallway spins around me. My bare feet scrape against the floor as he drags me backward, away from my destination, away from?—
No. I thrash against his hold, but it's like fighting steel bands. My nails claw at the arm covering my mouth. He doesn't even flinch.
My teeth snap at his hand. He jerks back with a curse, but his other arm locks tighter around my ribs, and I gasp as the pressure steals my breath. I remember a self-defense move one of my guards taught me. I drive my elbow back, twist to the side, feel his grip start to loosen.
Before I get away, he pushes me against the wall. “Going somewhere, Princess?”
6
PHOENIX
What the fuck is she doing?
I was awakened with a start, my body hard and aching from dreams of Keira’s blonde hair spread across silk sheets and gray eyes darkened with desire. It turns out, even in sleep, I can't escape her.
A creak in the hallway caused me to slide my hand under my pillow, wrapping it around my gun as I silently rose from the unfamiliar bed. I approached the door. Another soft footstep padded outside, too light to be one of my men.
I eased the door open, catching a glimpse of Keira sneaking down the hall. Of course it was her. I watched for a moment, noting her thin, barely there night clothes that sent electricity crackling across my skin, memories of my dream mixing with the reality before me.
I followed her silently, keeping to the shadows, doing my damnedest not to remember how we used to sneak around. How many times did I pull her into dark corners, tasting her gasps as I…
Fuck it. I closed the distance in two long strides, wrapping one arm around her waist while my other hand covered hermouth, muffling her startled cry. Her body went rigid against mine and she fought, using her teeth and elbow.
But now, with her pressed face toward the wall, I have the upper hand as long as I ignore the fire coursing through my blood at the feel of her body against mine.
"Going somewhere?" I growl.
“None of your business.”
How the fuck did she even get out? I’d locked her in her room. Then it comes to me. "You picked the lock.” I should have never taught her how to do that.
"Let me go, Phoenix." Her whisper carries more steel than fear.
"Sneaking out to fuck someone?”
“You’re a pervert.”
A bitter laugh escapes me. I'd underestimated her back then, assumed she was just the innocent girl next door. Now I wonder how many other skills she's hiding behind that angelic face.
"Oh, come on now. You can’t really think I’ll believe you haven’t used your skills of seduction on someone else. Are you setting him up too? You know plenty about deception.”
She struggles against my grip, but I hold firm. "I learned from the best, didn't I? You're the one who played me."
I spin her around to face me, keeping my hands locked on her arms. In the dim light, her gray eyes flash with defiance. "Where were you headed? Your parents are locked in the basement, so I know you weren't going to see them."
Her pulse races beneath my fingers, but her face remains a mask of composure. The same mask she wore all those years ago when she was playing me for a fool.
"I needed water." She lifts her chin, but the lie is transparent.
