‘You played a wild game,Šarim, and now you get your savage prize,’ he snarled.
His grip firmed as he moved her through the opulent upper halls of the lodge.
The soft glow of chandeliers flickered on the ornate walls, casting intricate shadows that seemed to dance in the air.
She tensed, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps as they reached the threshold of his chambers, yet she remained silent in his arms.
Still, her eyes burned with a mixture of defiance and a hint of curiosity or even a trace of lust, which further enraged him.
He pushed the heavy door open and carried her inside.
A breeze blew through the doors that overlooked the courtyard.
The air was tinged with the smoky essence from his fireplace, along with the scent of the spiced candles that he liked to burn.
The room was bathed in shadows and flickering with crystal candlelight.
One wall was a deep navy with an intricate gold pattern. On the far partition, his hearth crackled, casting a warm light on his comfortable, worn, and favorite leather armchair.
His massive, ornate bed, which dominated the center of the room, was carved from shimmering black onyx and lustrous ivory.
Setting her down on it, he circled her like a predator, each step deliberate and calculated.
She raised herself on one elbow, eyes on him with wariness, her chest rising and falling in anxiety as she took in the luxurious surroundings.
Finally, her gaze skittered to him, dilating at the fury on his face.
‘What the hell do you plan to do to me?’ she whispered, her gaze locked on his bared incisors.
‘I am about to teach you a very valuable lesson,’ he gritted.
He reached for the platinum tray on the nearby table, lifting the lid to reveal an array of meticulously arranged gleaming sythyric rapiers, ribbons, and tools.
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t back away.
‘Do you know what this is?’ he asked, his gaze locked with hers as he selected a long, slim silver rope from the display.
In his other hand, he grasped a pair of slender, bejeweled scimitars, the blades glinting in the firelight as he lifted the items to her.
Her jaw clenched, but she held her ground.
‘A choice,’ she replied, defiance lacing her words.
He smirked at her perceptiveness. ‘Smart. You’ve two options,’ he murmured, his breath mingling with hers. ‘Pleasure or pain.’
Her eyes blazed, challenging me even as her body language betrayed a hint of vulnerability. She squared her shoulders, refusing to cower in the face of uncertainty.
‘Pain,’ she declared, her voice steady despite the flicker of apprehension in her eyes. ‘I choose pain.’
He raised an eyebrow in surprise, not expecting her to meet his challenge head-on.
‘Take your shit off,’ he growled, crossing his hands over his chest.
She blinked.
‘I said, take it off.’
Rising from the bed with caution, she took an inhale, and she did as commanded.
