CHAPTER 31

Igawked at the huge, magnificent bathroom he had. It was the same style as the communal one downstairs with large charcoal-coloured tiles lining the whole thing. His was a brushed finish, giving it an eye-catching texture that you'd see in an architectural magazine. The shower covered the whole back wall and had no glass. It was so minimal and sleek; a single black waterfall shower head, a small shelf with shampoo and body wash in matching bottles, and a little black stool—I didn't let myself imagine what for.

I stopped and looked at him as the realisation kicked in. There was a bite to my tone as I questioned him. "You have your own bathroom. Why do you use the one downstairs?"

The counter was also made of black stone with a deep trough-like sink built into it, and above it was a large round backlit mirror. He had a few bottles of perfume and skincare on the counter, beautifully designed and matching perfectly with the rest of the decor. Once again, I didn't know why I was paying attention to all these things. Maybe I was nervous, my mind always focused on useless things when I was nervous. Maybe I was stalling. We'd come up to his room, which was in fact on another hidden level, and headed straight to his bathroom to get cleaned up first.

He snickered, "I had something I wanted to check out in there." A disarming smile lit up his face and I just about died. I didn't know whether to be mad or extremely flattered. I shot daggers at him. I'd play mad.

He just shrugged, offering up another excuse, "Sometimes it's just easier on my way down to training."

"Mm-hmm," I attempted to shove past him but he grabbed me and pinned me to the bathroom wall. One hand rested beside my head on the tile, the other made its way to my hip where it effortlessly found the perfect spot to hold onto, like it was made for his large hand. My breath stilled as I looked up into his hungry grey eyes. They bore into me with so much intensity that I tried to look away. But he wouldn't let me.

The hand on my hips quickly raised to my chin, gently but firmly pushing it so I had no option but to look back at him. I couldn't keep eye contact without turning into a nervous mess so I looked down at his lips. I watched them as they tilted up on the corner like they did so frequently—full and lush with a warm undertone that matched his olive skin. His face came closer to mine. That perfect cupid"s bow hovered just above my own and I wasn't sure what came over me as I reached up on my tippy toes, closing that distance between us.

I ran my tongue along those beckoning lips.

His eyelids fluttered shut as he groaned before he captured my lips in a rough embrace. His fingers still held my chin firmly so I couldn't escape—not that I had any intention too—and his mouth consumed mine. He bit on my lip softly, pulling me towards him as I snaked my arms up over his shoulders and into his hair, pulling on the shorter strands at the back. Pulling him even closer to me. He cupped the side of my face with one hand as he tasted my mouth, his tongue exploring before it found mine and they danced.

My lips were bruised in the absolute best way. His kiss, the taste of him, was euphoric.

He pressed himself against me as his hand found its way into my hair. As he did, I found something elsepressing against me. He kissed me deeper, hungrier—if that was even possible. I moaned against my will.

"Venus." He somehow managed to get out between breaths.

"Venus," he said again, sounding ravenous and frustrated. His now red-tinged lips hovered above mine again, grazing them while he caught his breath, his forehead resting on my own. He removed his hand from my hair, bringing it to the wall so that he had me trapped between both arms. I was in no shape to speak so I just looked up at him, expectantly, waiting for him to say something. Do something.

I watched his angelic face. His expression looked strained, like he was holding himself back—giving me the option to back out if I wanted to.

I didn't.

I touched his cheek, my finger tracing his sharp jawline down towards his chin and then up over his swollen lips.

I looked into his depthless eyes before I pulled his face back towards mine and hungrily kissed him again. His tether broke and his lips devoured mine as his hands explored every inch of my body that was now fully pressed into him.

This was happening. After months of teasing and sexual tension, weeks since that first enthralling kiss, this was happening. His kiss was even better than I remembered.

His hands slid under my bum, grabbing it before lifting me up. My legs unquestionably wrapped around his waist. He continued to kiss me greedily as he walked us to his bed and threw me onto it. He roughly flipped me around so he could get to the back of my dress, unzipping it uncharacteristically slow to reveal just my lace red thong, which only fuelled his hunger more. He was ravenous. Which only made me yearn for him more too.

To think I thought I'd be able to resist him forever. I was only human after all, or hunter or whatever. This one time wouldn't kill me, this one time might be good for me. Might be exactly what I needed.

I closed my eyes and all I saw was red before I was swept away in lust and desire.