Criminal

Chapter 38

As we arrived at the ball, my arm wrapped around Kael's, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settle over me. The grand hall was illuminated by chandeliers, casting a warm glow over the sea of people that filled the space. Dressed in their finest attire, they mingled and laughed, completely unaware of the darkness lurking beneath the surface.

Kael looked impeccable in his tuxedo, his broad shoulders and muscular build commanding attention as he moved through the crowd with a purposeful stride. His chiseled jawline and dark hair only added to his allure, making it impossible for anyone to ignore him. And yet, despite his commanding presence, there was a dangerous edge to him that made my heart race with both fear and desire.

But as we made our way towards the center of the room, my clumsiness got the better of me once again. I stumbled over my own feet, nearly falling to the ground if it weren't for Kael's firm grip on my arm. I felt a flush spread across my cheeks as I looked around, hoping that nobody had seen my embarrassing display.

Kael's gaze bore into me, his eyes dark with both amusement and warning. "Watch your step," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. I bristled at his tone, refusing to be cowed by his dominance.

"I don't take orders from you," I shot back, my words laced with defiance.

But Kael wasn't one to let such insolence slide. Before I could even react, he had me pressed against the nearest wall, his body pinning me in place with a forceful grip. His fingers dug into my hips, leaving bruises in their wake as he leaned in, his hot breath caressing my ear. "You'd do well to remember your place," he whispered, his voice dripping with menace.

I struggled against him, but he held me fast, his strength making me feel like a fly caught in a spider's web. My heart racing, I tried to think of a way to escape, but Kael's grip was too tight, too unyielding.

"Let me go," I spat, my anger and fear boiling over.

But Kael just chuckled, his laughter low and menacing. "Oh, no," he drawled. "I think you're going to be a very naughty girl tonight."

As he spoke, his hand slipped between my legs, his fingers brushing against the lace of my panties. I felt a jolt of electricity run through me, my body responding to his touch despite my efforts to resist.

"You want this, don't you?" Kael murmured, his voice low and seductive.

I bit my lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response. But as his fingers traced teasing circles around my clit, I couldn't help but let out a soft moan of pleasure.

"That's it," Kael whispered, his lips brushing against mine. "Let go."

And with those words, I surrendered to him completely, my body trembling with need as he expertly pushed me towards the edge of orgasm. As I cried out in ecstasy, Kael only grew more relentless, his touches turning rougher, more demanding.

But even as he dominated me, a sense of unease settled over me once again. I knew deep down that this wasn't just about pleasure – Kael had an agenda, one that I may not be able to escape.

As I came down from the high of my orgasm, Kael's grip on me only tightened. He pulled me back into his arms, his breath hot against my ear as he whispered, "You're mine now, Ava. Completely and utterly mine."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he spun me around, his eyes burning with a dark intensity. The crowd around us began to blur, their faces mere background noise as Kael's dominance washed over me like a wave.

"This is what you've been leading up to," he growled, his fingers wrapping tighter around my wrist. "This is what you've been avoiding."

I struggled against him, but he held me fast, his strength crushing. I felt a sting of tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I realized that I was trapped – trapped in this sick dance with a monster.

"You want to play games, Ava?" Kael's voice dripped with sarcasm. "You want to tease and provoke me?"

I nodded, my throat tight with fear as I struggled to free myself.

"Good," he purred, his eyes burning with a sadistic intensity. "Because I'm only just getting started."

With those words, he spun me around again, this time leading me to the edge of the ballroom. The music swirled around us, a cacophony of laughter and conversation muffled by the thick walls of the grand hall.

As we reached the edge of the dance floor, Kael pulled me into a dark corridor, the air thick with the scent of old books and decay. I stumbled behind him, my heart pounding in my chest as he led me deeper into the shadows.

The darkness seemed to consume us, swallowing up the sounds of the party behind us. I stumbled over a broken cobblestone and nearly fell, but Kael's strong arm caught me before I hit the ground.

"Careful," he whispered in my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.

I felt a wave of desire wash over me despite my fear, and I leaned into him, my body betraying me once again. His hand slid down my waist and then between my legs as he pulled me closer to him.

"You're wet," he growled, pressing his hardness against my thigh. "You like this, don't you? You like being dominated."

I tried to resist, but his touch was too much for me to bear. My legs were shaking with desire, and my mind was clouded by the pleasure that he was giving me.

As we made our way down the darkened corridor, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited us at the end of it. But then Kael spun me around and pushed me up against a wall, his body pressing against mine as he kissed me deeply.

I felt my resistance crumbling, my resolve slipping away in the face of his expert touch. He was a master manipulator, and he knew exactly how to play me like a puppet on a string.

As we kissed, his hands roamed over my body, caressing me with an intensity that left me breathless. I could feel his arousal growing with each passing second, and I knew that it was only a matter of time before he took me completely.

But even as I gave myself over to him, a small voice inside me was screaming – this was wrong, this wasn't what I wanted.

But it was too late to turn back now. Kael had me in his grasp, and I was powerless to resist.

With a growl, he lifted me up and wrapped my legs around his waist, pressing me harder against the wall. I felt his hardness pressed up against me, and I couldn't help but let out a soft moan of pleasure.

As we continued to kiss, his hands worked their way up my body, tearing at my clothing with a hunger that left me breathless. I knew that what we were doing was wrong, but I didn't want it to stop.

This was a forbidden dance, one that was dangerous and wild and oh so enticing. And I knew, deep down, that I was going to keep on dancing with Kael, no matter where it led us.