Criminal

Chapter 31

As I wandered through the labyrinthine corridors of Kael's manor, boredom gnawed at my insides like a relentless beast. Every room held its own secrets, its own shadows whispering tales of darkness and desire. But it was in the library that I found a glimmer of solace, a sanctuary amidst the chaos that surrounded me.

My heart skipped a beat as I stepped into the room, my eyes widening in disbelief at the sight before me. The shelves were lined with rows upon rows of authentic classic books, each one a treasure trove of literary delights. From the works of Jane Austen to the haunting prose of the Brontë sisters, the room held a wealth of knowledge and escape waiting to be discovered.

I couldn't help but marvel at the unexpected beauty of it all, a stark contrast to the darkness that lurked within Kael himself. And yet, as I ran my fingers over the bindings, feeling the texture of each page beneath my fingertips, I couldn't help but wonder at the man who possessed such a collection.

But my reverie was quickly shattered as Kael's voice filled the room, his presence sending shivers down my spine. "I see you've found my little sanctuary," he growled, his tone laced with amusement.

I turned to face him, my heart beating a little faster at the sight of him. There was something about his dark, commanding presence that both terrified and thrilled me.

"You never told me about this," I said, trying to keep my tone casual. "It's surprising to find such a collection in a place like this."

Kael chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You think you know everything about me?" he asked, his voice teasing. "There are many things about me that would surprise you, Ava."

My heart stuttered at the sound of my name on his lips, a heady rush of desire coursing through me. Despite everything, despite the darkness that surrounded us, there was something undeniably seductive about him.

But as I reached for one of the books, my fingers clumsy and uncoordinated, I felt the full force of Kael's fury. He slammed the book shut with a resounding bang, his eyes dark and stormy as he towered over me.

"You're being deliberately clumsy, Ava," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You're testing me, pushing me to my limits."

My heart pounded in my chest as I defiantly met his gaze, refusing to back down. "What if I am?" I spat, my words laced with venom. "What are you going to do about it?"

Kael's lips curved into a sardonic smile, his eyes glittering with something that looked suspiciously like lust. "I think you know exactly what I'm going to do about it," he said, his voice husky with desire.

And then he was upon me, his hands pinning me against the shelf as he claimed my lips in a bruising, possessive kiss. I could feel the hard length of him pressing against me, igniting a fire within me that threatened to consume everything in its wake.

He pulled away, his breathing ragged as he looked down at me with dark, predatory eyes. "You want this as much as I do, Ava," he growled, his voice thick with desire. "You can't deny it."

I fought against the feeling stirring within me, struggling to keep the flames of passion from burning out of control. "I don't want this," I said, my voice wavering despite myself. "I won't let you control me like this."

Kael's lips twisted into a cruel smirk, his fingers tracing along the curve of my neck. "You've already lost control, Ava," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin . "You want me as much as I want you. The only difference is that I'm not afraid to admit it."

His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I found myself surrendering to the heat building within me. Despite everything, despite my reservations and doubts, I wanted him just as desperately as he seemed to want me.

And so I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as our lips met in another searing kiss. It was as if we were two halves of the same whole, each filling in the gaps that the other lacked.

As our bodies melted together in a frenzy of passion and desire, I realized that I had never felt more alive than I did in this moment with Kael. He may have been dangerous, he may have been unpredictable, but there was something undeniably alluring about him that drew me in deeper and deeper with each passing moment.

As we broke apart, gasping for breath, Kael's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity. "You belong to me now, Ava," he said, his voice low and possessive. "Body and soul."

I knew what he was saying was true, and a thrill of fear shot through me at the thought of what that meant. But at the same time, I couldn't bring myself to resist him. There was something about the raw, primal energy between us that felt too powerful to deny.

And so I surrendered myself to him completely, letting him take me wherever he wanted to go. In that moment, nothing else mattered except the fiery connection between us, and the unspoken promise of even greater pleasure yet to come.