Blood Vengeance [COMPLETED]

Chapter Twenty-Two - Spectator

That evening when Selene returned to Arthur's chamber, he was there waiting for her, lounging on the chaise longue, one hand behind his head and a book in his hand.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" he asked, setting the book down on the floor and standing up when she entered the room.

She nodded. "I appreciate the freedom."

"And the belt; how did you find it?" he asked, lowering his gaze to her hips.

"Awkward, at times," she replied, her cheeks pinking.

Arthur smiled and reached for the keys that he kept in a pouch attached to his belt. Selene tried not to make her interest in the clinking metal too obvious, instead focussing on his face, which made her blushing cheeks still hotter.

"I think I have had enough of that experiment for one day," he said. "Take off your dress."

Something in his appearance, the way he stood, the way his dark eyes glinted, made Selene shiver, fear coursing through her limbs. She didn't dare object, and slid the dress over her head and let it fall to the floor.

Arthur clutched a tiny key in his hand as he stepped towards her. At any moment she knew he would touch her and her skin tingled with an electricity she had never experienced before. The anticipation was beyond exquisite; she no longer even cared that she stood before him wearing almost nothing but a bizarre leather strap.

He never took his eyes from her as he approached, only diverting his gaze when he got close enough to touch her.

With one finger he stroked the skin at her hip, pulling at the belt slightly.

Selene gasped. "I thought you weren't going to touch me."

"We both know that's not practical," he whispered without raising his eyes to hers. He inspected her as though she were a rare jewel, gently stroking her bare flesh.

His fangs extracted from the gum, grinding against his teeth, and he growled, low and full of desire, from deep in his throat.

He inserted the key, and turned it until there was the tiniest of clicks. Selene immediately felt the leather loosen and Arthur removed it from between her legs. She could barely breathe, biting her tongue to stop herself from saying something she would instantly regret.

"Do you want me?" he asked, his mouth close to her ear as he whispered the words, pulling her closer to him.

"Yes." As soon as she gave the admission she felt heat run through her entire body, throbbing with desire.

"More than Hector?" he asked, drawing away from her, leaving her desperate for his touch.

She nodded, yearning for the feel of his hands on her body. But he stepped away, and where his fingertips had been felt cold and bare on her skin.

"Good. Get dressed. We have to go down for dinner. Tonight we will dance together."

Selene found herself unable to move, watching as Arthur himself began to unbutton his shirt.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked, pausing. "Go."

She ran to the dressing room and pulled out the first acceptable dress she could find, knowing that she had a small window of opportunity to get the key. The only time Arthur took off the pouch was for the evening entertainment, when instead he wore his black tie suit, and formality didn't allow a clinking pouch to be worn with that.

She opened the door a fraction to peer at him as he got ready. He put the pouch on the table and proceeded to change. Selene tried to focus her mind, but never had she seen a man she desired so much in a state of undress. It made her sick with lust and she bit her lip, forcing herself to look away as he tightened his trousers and pulled on a fresh dress shirt.