The Devil's Bargain

The Breaking Point

Kristina couldn’t stop thinking about Blake’s words. Seven rules. Seven chances. His voice still echoed in her mind, that mixture of threat and seduction lingering long after she’d left the east wing. But as the hours passed, she found herself unable to shake off the adrenaline that had flooded her system during their confrontation. It wasn’t fear that gripped her—it was something more dangerous. An intoxicating allure, the pull of the forbidden.

By the next morning, the mansion had returned to its usual eerie silence, but the weight of what happened the night before clung to the air. Blake was nowhere to be found, but that wasn’t unusual. His absence, however, didn’t ease the tension brewing inside her. Every inch of the mansion seemed darker, colder. It was as if his rules had begun to seep into every crevice of the estate, wrapping themselves around her like chains.

The first rule, clear in her mind, was simple enough: stay out of the east wing.

But simple wasn’t what Kristina craved.

Days passed, each one blending into the next as she danced on the edge of obedience and defiance. She wanted to push him, to see how far she could go before he snapped. She’d follow his rules, but only just. He had placed her in a cage, but it wasn’t locked, and the temptation to rattle its bars was too strong to resist.

On the sixth day, the tension between them was palpable. Blake had returned, watching her with eyes that held secrets she was desperate to uncover. His presence in the house was overwhelming, and Kristina found herself drifting closer to him, drawn by the invisible pull between them.

That night, the air was thick with anticipation as she crossed paths with him in the main hallway. The grand chandeliers cast shadows across his sharp features, and his gaze was dark, hungry. Without a word, he turned and disappeared into his study, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Kristina hesitated only for a moment before following him inside.

Blake stood near the window, his back to her, staring out into the night. The moonlight bathed the room in silver, casting long shadows across the floor. She could feel the storm brewing in the air between them, unspoken words threatening to erupt.

"You're testing me," he said without turning around, his voice low and cold. "You've been pushing the limits of every rule I've set."

Kristina crossed her arms, defiant. "And what if I am?"

Blake turned slowly, his gaze locking onto hers. His eyes were dark, almost predatory, and the distance between them felt suffocating. "There’s a difference between curiosity and recklessness," he said softly, his voice carrying a deadly edge. "You’re walking a dangerous line."

She stepped forward, closing the space between them. "Maybe I like danger."

Blake’s eyes flickered with something—anger? Desire? It was impossible to tell, but his control, always so carefully maintained, was beginning to slip. "You don't know what you're asking for," he warned, his voice a growl.

Kristina smirked, her heart pounding. "Then show me."

In an instant, Blake was in front of her, his hand gripping her wrist, pulling her close. His touch was firm, his breath hot against her skin as he leaned in. "You're playing a game you can't win," he whispered against her ear, his tone both a promise and a threat.

Kristina's pulse raced, the danger thrilling her, igniting something deep within. She refused to back down, not now. Not when she was so close to unraveling the enigma that was Blake Blackwood.

"Maybe I’m not trying to win," she whispered back, her voice steady despite the storm swirling between them. "Maybe I just want to see how far you'll go."

Blake's grip tightened, his control unraveling with each second that passed. He released her wrist but grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyes were like molten steel, cold but burning with intensity. "You think you know what you want, Kristina, but you're wrong."

Before she could respond, Blake's mouth crashed against hers, the kiss hard, possessive, filled with the pent-up tension between them. It wasn’t gentle. It was a battle for control, a war of wills, and neither of them was willing to surrender.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily, the air thick with unresolved tension. Blake's hands were still on her, his fingers digging into her skin, grounding her to the moment.

"This is your last chance," he warned, his voice a rough whisper. "Disobey me again, and there will be no mercy."

Kristina's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "Then what’s the next rule?"

Blake released her, stepping back as if he needed the distance to regain control. His eyes, however, never left hers. "Rule two: never question me."

Kristina's heart thundered in her chest. She had never been one to follow rules, and Blake knew that. The challenge in his voice was unmistakable, but so was the threat. He had set the stakes, and now, it was up to her to decide how far she was willing to go.

Blake's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned and left the room, the door closing softly behind him. The silence that followed was deafening, leaving Kristina alone with her thoughts and the rapid beat of her heart.

She should have been afraid. Should have felt the weight of his words pressing down on her. But instead, all she could think about was how badly she wanted to push him further—to see just how far they could both go before everything shattered.

As the night stretched on, Kristina knew one thing for certain: the game had only just begun, and she was far from done playing.