Chapter Five: The Bargain

 The stranger's knees bump against the back of my back bare legs, showing me just how close he is. Shivers run down my body, causing my nipples to harden. I cover my breast and clit the best I can, but I know he is still right against my ass. 

I look back to the bed for a sheet, but he has removed it. “Are you kidding me?”

Ever so gently, he brushes the curls of my hair away from my neck and inhales my scent. “Mmm, you smell lovely this morning.” 

There was no way possible he was going to take me from behind. In a blink, I whip around and face him. My natural reflexes surprise me by the speed I pull off. I blow my frizzy chestnut hair from my face. The stranger is standing in front of me, smiling with deep, hungry eyes. 

“I am nothing more than a game to him! Common sense, Katrina! Start using it, or the battle is over before it begins!”

"Hello, my love. You are a sight for sore eyes. Did you sleep well?" He asks, then stares at my nipples.

"Mmm, it seems you did."

“Where did the sheet go?” I cross my arms and cover myself.

He steps forward a single step, not allowing any space in between us. The heat rises to my cheeks. “Don't fight your true feelings, Katrina. You know what you want. Let me give you exactly what you desire.”

Between my thighs aches, but I don't give in. I let another feeling rise to the surface, anger. "You better stay out of my head or I'll… I'll-" He laughs and walks, not letting me finish my sentence.

"Hey, are you even listening to me?" I fussed as he sauntered over to the closet.

Ever so slowly, he turns around. A smile spreads across his face. All I can do is gasp because he has the sheet dangling from his hand. 

“Oh, I was listening to every word you said. You, my love, have not been a very good listener so far. Maybe we should work on that?” 

“You aren’t working on anything with me.”

“Is that so?” His sapphire blue eyes transcend to pitch black. 

"Careful, Katrina," I hear a woman say within my head.

"It looks like he has you exactly where he wants you." 

“What the hell was that?” I ask out loud.

“What was what?” He raises his eyebrow in confusion.

“Are you sure you're ready for this, Katrina? Because, if you think you can change your mind, you can't.” I look around without trying to be too obvious. 

“You didn't hear anything?” I challenge the stranger.

“What was I supposed to hear? Katrina, are you feeling okay, love?” 

“He can't hear me.” The voice snickers. “It's best for both of us if he doesn't."

“You're right. It was nothing. I am still just tired.”

Hearing two unfamiliar voices inside my head, standing naked in the center of a room with a dangerously handsome stranger that wants me for more ways than one and seems to read my every thought is frightening and unnerving. 

“Would you like to go lay down? Here, let me help you.” He offers his hand out.

He saunters across the room with the sheet balled up in his hand. I want to back away, but stepping back is not an option. I know the bed is not too far behind us, and if I fall on that bed, the temptations would be way too strong. The only other option I have left is to get the sheet from him. He stands in front of me, smirking, knowing what I have to do. "Go on. What are you waiting for? Take it." He taunts.

I glare at him, and my fists shake uncontrollably. "I would rather have my clothes instead!" I demand.

He dangles the sheet, allowing the tip to graze my thighs. Reaching down, I grab the corner, but he yanks it and slowly backs away. "I don't think you are in a position to be telling me what to do." 

Shaking the sheet twice, corner by corner, he creases it and nods towards the closet, gesturing to me as he is about to put it away.

"Fine. Do it. I'll grab something else to cover up with," I say in a matter-of-fact tone.

Raising his eyebrow towards me, he taunts, "Please do, Katrina. I would love to see you try.”

 He tilts his head down at my clit, “Don't get me wrong, you are perfect in every aspect of the manner, but if you need to, there is a blanket underneath the bed you could bend over and get.”

My cheeks become hot again. He knows he has me right where he wants me. He folds the last corner of the sheet. Making a perfect fold, he looks me up and down. "Well, go ahead. I am waiting." He says impatiently.

I yell at him, "You fucking bastard!"

His dark-sapphire eyes turn darker and darker until they are pitch black. He closes them and pops his head back and forth.

 The female voice within screams, "Katrina! Get the hell out of there now!"

He opens his eyes, showing the bloodshot red and rage. My entire body becomes paralyzed, and my heart aches from the rapid beating through my chest. A dark voice, a demonic voice growls from the depth of his throat, "No, morrreeee."

He lunges towards me and roughly thrust me against his chest. I gasp at how tight his grip is around my back. He stares hard at my eyes as if he is staring deep into my very soul. His eyes travel down to my lips, then the nape of my exposed neck. Two white fangs slice from the top of his gums. Hungrily, he licks the tips of his fangs. A wicked growl rumbles past his white pointed teeth. I know I need to get away, but all I can do is tremble beneath his beastly power.

 Releasing one hand at a time, the man glides his cool hand down to my lower back and warns, "Now, now, Katrina. I have already informed you once, your precious tongue; it is not meant for such words."

The inner voice chimes in, "Katrina! I am not strong enough to help you yet! Get out of there!"

Looking away from his hardened stare and chilling growl, I close my eyes and release every bit of fear and anger past my lungs. Composure, I needed it now. I have to be strong.

 Relaxing my muscles beneath his grip, he stops and looks at me with a confused stare. Ever so slowly, I graze my teeth across my bottom lip. The man, the beast, backs away from me. Silently, I know I have his attention. "I'll tell you what.” I offer. “I will make a deal with you.”

“A deal? With me?” His focus remains on the way I rub my hands up and down my abdomen.

“Yep. You can have the sheet of yours.” I graze my finger across my nipple.

“Just give me my clothes back, and you will never hear another foul word from my mouth again.” I stop playing with myself and lock eyes with him.

“So, do we have a deal?”

He licks his lips and stares from my lips to my neck, then pauses. "Are you telling me what to do, Katrina?" 

I answer firmly, "Yes, I am."

A single fearful thought creeps through my head, "Shit, I hope this works.”

"You will know soon enough. I hope you will be ready." The voice warns.