A Dance with Danger

Chapter Thirty-Four

**Estelle POV**

I wrapped the towel tightly around my body as I stepped out of the bathroom, steam still clinging to the air. My nightgown, which I distinctly remembered leaving on the bathroom counter, was nowhere to be found. Irritated, I crossed the room to check the bed, but what caught my eye instead was a small silver box resting on top of my neatly folded clothes.

The box shimmered under the soft glow of the bedside lamp, and atop it was a note written in Tiberius's precise, almost mechanical handwriting.

*"Wear what is in the box, all of it, and come downstairs with nothing else on except this."*

A frown crept across my face as I peeled the note from the box. The cryptic command filled me with equal parts confusion and curiosity. My fingers hesitated on the ribbon, but my curiosity ultimately won out. I untied it, popped the lid off, and peered inside.

---

I descended the stairs quickly, my pulse thrumming in anticipation. The outfit from the box clung to my body in ways I wasn't entirely comfortable with-delicate lace and silk that left little to the imagination, complete with a bell choker that jingled faintly with every step.

The villa was quiet, save for the faint sounds of waves crashing against the shore. I searched room after room, frustration building as Tiberius remained nowhere to be found. After ten minutes, I finally stumbled upon him in the second living room.

He sat in a single leather armchair, the picture of unbothered confidence. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up to reveal his forearms, and his dark hair was messily tousled, likely from his fingers running through it. A book rested in his hand, which he closed with deliberate slowness the moment he saw me.

"You finally came, *Malyshka*," he said, his accent thick and commanding. He spread his legs, leaning back into the chair as though he owned the world.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice faltering slightly as I stepped closer to him.

Tiberius rose from the chair with fluid grace, and something about the way he moved sent a shiver down my spine. This wasn't the composed, calculated Tiberius I was used to. This was someone else-something else.

"You wore the outfit," he observed with a smirk, his dark eyes trailing over me in a way that made my skin prickle.

I folded my arms across my chest, trying to steady my breathing. "I didn't have much of a choice," I snapped, glaring at him. "You took my nightgown."

He chuckled, a low, dangerous sound. "Oh, but you always have a choice, Estelle. You just chose to play along."

"This isn't you," I said, taking a step back as he closed the distance between us.

He stalked toward me like a predator sizing up its prey, his every movement deliberate and purposeful. "Oh, but it is me. You're just meeting a side of me I've kept hidden-until now."

My back hit the wall, and my breath hitched as Tiberius placed his hands on either side of my head, caging me in. His face was so close I could feel the warmth of his breath against my neck.

"You're acting childish," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound confident.

"*I'm* childish?" he echoed, tilting his head mockingly. "And yet you're the one backing away like a naughty little girl afraid of being punished."

I gasped at his words, my cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and anger. Before I could retort, his lips brushed against my neck, leaving a trail of wet, lingering kisses that made my knees weak.

"What... what type of game is this?" I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible over the sound of my own heartbeat.

His breath fanned over my skin as he answered, "Hide and seek."

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Hide and seek? That's-"

"In the dark," he interrupted, his tone sharp and unyielding.

"You're insane if you think I'm running around a dark villa," I said, shaking my head.

"There is no 'no,' no 'wait,' and no 'have mercy' in this game, *Malyshka*," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerously low whisper.

His arm snaked around my throat-not enough to hurt, but enough to make me shiver. He pulled me closer until our lips were nearly touching.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice unsteady as I pressed a hand against his chest.

He growled low in his throat and roughly removed my hand. "Because this is what you wanted. You wanted my attention, and now you have it."

His eyes darkened with something primal, something that made my stomach twist in both fear and anticipation.

"You have ten seconds to hide," he said, releasing me and stepping back. "Every time I find you, I'll rip a piece of that pretty little outfit off until there's nothing left."

My breath caught as he grabbed a fistful of my hair, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. "Your body belongs to me, Estelle. No one else."

My heart raced as I bolted out of the room, the bell around my neck jingling with every hurried step. I had no plan, no strategy-just the overwhelming urge to get as far away from him as possible.

The villa's lights dimmed until only the pale glow of moonlight seeped through the windows, casting eerie shadows across the walls. I stumbled down a hallway, using the walls as my guide, until my fingers brushed against a doorknob. I twisted it open, slipped inside, and shut the door behind me as quietly as possible.

The room smelled faintly of cedar and cologne-Tiberius's cologne. My stomach sank as I realized I'd walked straight into his bedroom.

Panic set in as I searched for a hiding spot. The closet seemed like my best bet, and I slipped inside, pressing myself against the back wall.

"*I'm coming, Malyshka!*" His voice echoed through the villa, sending a chill down my spine.

I bit my lip to stifle a whimper as I heard the door creak open. My heart pounded in my chest as his footsteps approached, slow and deliberate.

"You forgot about the bell, *Malyshka*," he called out, his tone dripping with amusement. "I'll always know where you are."

The closet door swung open, and I held my breath as he reached inside. My hand accidentally knocked over a pair of shoes, the bell around my neck giving me away.

Tiberius's rough hand grabbed my arm, pulling me out of the closet with ease. I yelped as he tugged at the lace of my top, ripping it clean off.

"I heard it's harder for women to run without support," he said with a dark chuckle. "Let's see if that's true."

He released me, and I darted out of the room, clutching my chest. Running hurt, but the adrenaline coursing through me dulled the pain.

I turned a corner and headed for the upstairs office-a room he hadn't used yet. My only hope was that he'd overlook it.

But deep down, I knew there was no escaping him. Not tonight.