an, too elegant. Belle stirred slowly, her eyelids fluttering open to the sight of silk curtains and golden fixtures. Thi

hair near the bed, one leg crossed over the other. His black shirt clung tightly to hi

awake?"

inked, s

ued, standing up and walking toward the bed. "If it

f the bed. His presence felt

lways that

r eyes shifting to the

ou," he said, his

he didn'

ckle. "I can see you

knee to the left of her hip, the other to the right, caging her beneath him. Belle's breath

," he whispered. "Stubborn

g her to meet his eyes. His touch wasn't gen

e paused, eyes narrowing,

e. Her lips trembled as she spat out

. "What fire you

ne, then to her thigh. She tensed. His fingers hovered too long on her skin

rd against his chest. "Don't you dare!" she screamed.

himself before falling completely, then sat upright, hi

l grin from b

p and adjusting his sleeves. "W

oor, he stopped to gl

id coldly. "You've been noticed.

ll, her heart racing, her breath shallow. She wasn't safe

sed by. She barely heard them

girl, did you hea

lection," the

clenched bene

as coming next-but she

************

creaked o

ter with Alessandro. Her body felt sore, her mind full of questions and fear. She gripped the b

It was soft pink with white lace-delicate, expensive-looki

d quietly to the edge of the bed

little older than her, with soft brown eyes

Her voice was qui

who was t

fened as she kept her head lo

"Please... the man who was he

oked up. Her voice w

dro... he's Lord Luci

ps parted slightly. "Was...

aid n

and bleeding. He brought you here an

hank you. For all the fear he brought, he'd saved he

r lap. Then she looked up again, more urgently th

e, tell me

in surprise but

?" Belle asked quickly

peeked into the hallway, checking both sides. After a moment, she closed

r voice, th

ew maids are tested. It's a speci

confused. "Te

stepped

sex god. He has... needs. Very strong ones. He's addicted to pleasure.

ed at her,

ntinued, wh

erested, he tests them. In front of others. And if you're not good e

d down at

ne who satisfies him in bed. That's why she's pow

ok her head slowly. "You're sayin

eyes and gave a

t selection. I couldn't wal

with her hand. She fel

ped back sudd

efore anyone no

oor, but paused

ight want to think about impressing L

disappeared down the hallway,

ched beside her. The roo

e, Belle truly feared