her, Ceara couldn’t deny him.
But as quickly as the kiss began, he pulled back. She was slightly embarrassed at how quickly she’d lost herself in his embrace.
“I’ve never seen a vampire blush like that before,” he said, his voice soft with awe.
There he was again. The man who’d charmed and rescued her. But which one was the real Maxim Ciolek? Could she risk it? The first step was making him see that she hadn’t put a curse on him. Only then would she learn the truth.
“Take me back to your room.”
Chapter Eleven
Ceara sucked in a painful breath as the doors opened to the penthouse. She was right back where she’d started. With one major change. The man with his hand at her lower back was completely different.
Had it only been three months ago that he’d stepped off that elevator, orchids in hand, asking her to meet him again? It felt like a lifetime ago. So much had changed since then. They had changed since then.
Is this your idea of a joke? Idea of a joke. Joke.
She wasn’t laughing. Couldn’t stop the words playing through her mind like an old record. Round and round. Joke. Spell. Problem.
Wordlessly, she led him into the bedroom. Every part of her, every sense, every cell, was focused on the man behind her. Don’t give in. Don’t let him know he hurt you.
“Take off your clothes.” She trailed a finger along the polished wood dresser and hoped she appeared more in control than she felt.
“Why?”
She turned back to him and cocked her head. In her sultriest voice she said, “I’m going to take care of your problem.” And prove you wrong.
Her heart ached for what might have been. But if he thought she was a lying, scheming vamp… well, she’d deal with him accordingly. She’d spent far too many years living with parents who thought she was a fragile creature, incapable of breathing on her own, much less living. She was not about to roll over and play dead for anyone else. Ever .
It hurt to watch him. He was far too handsome. His size and strength still called to her, made her feel small and feminine. And her body remembered every touch. Every whisper of his fingers over her skin, down her sides, against her --
His hands jerked his tie loose. She watched silently as his jacket hit the floor, then his shirt. Take care of the problem. How could such tender lips inflict such callousness? He toed off his shoes and shoved down his slacks.
Well, he hadn’t lied about being able to get it up. She glanced over at the bed.
“On your back, please.”
He gave her a curious glance but did her bidding. In a burst of energy, he jumped and landed in the center of the bed. Arms behind his head, cock pointed toward the sky, he gave her a hot, challenging look. Expectant and pleased.
Did he think he was going to get lucky? That she would just strip off her clothes and fall into bed with him?
Non . That could not happen. But she would fix him. No matter the cost to her foolish heart. She would fix his little problem and then be on her way. Out of his life. Out of his penthouse. Off this island .
Smiling to herself, she opened the bottom drawer of the dresser. “Did you know each room in Mystic Isle is equipped with its own toy store?” She pulled out pair of restraints and used her fangs to rip open the packaging. “A friend mentioned it.”
Holding them behind her back, she faced him. She hadn’t thought through this part of her plan. How does one tie an angry wolf down? Or rather, convince him to be tied down.
Projecting her inner Valencia, she skewed her lips into a smirk and approached the bed.
“I was surprised when Avery told me what these rings are for,” she said, hoping to sound casual and more in control than she felt. Now to do this right and not make a fool out of herself. She dropped one restraint onto the bed next to him and watched his eyes go wide. Holding the other one in front of her, she made a show of peeling back the Velcro. “But then, this is a
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