Chapter 5

Julian’s POV

I stared at the masked man before me as I sat backstage after I had been bought by this stranger, a shiver running down my spine.

I didn’t know who he was.

But I knew — I might have just made the worst mistake of my life.

My breath shuddered and my body tensed, heat rolled off me in waves.

This stranger had won the bid for my freedom.

And somehow, I felt I had never been more trapped than this moment. Regretting my decision wasn’t something I wanted to entertain since I had made up my mind not to stay with Cassiel but I had to admit that the feeling I kept pushing back was regret.

___________________

The air in the room was thick with tension, the only sounds present was the crackling fire and the measured breaths we took. I watched as the stranger stood bare before me.

The heat in the room had nothing to do with the fire.

I watched as he tilted his head, gray eyes dark behind the mask. He reached forward, grazing his fingers along my shoulder. I didn’t flinch, but it took some effort to hold still, to keep my body from reacting.

It was a losing battle.

His skin was warm when he touched me and my muscles went taut with resistance. He ran his fingers lower, over the curve of my collarbone, down the center of my chest, tracing the ridges of my taut muscles like he could clearly see my body’s reaction.

“You’re trembling,” he murmured in a low voice.

I scoffed, my voice rough. “Go to hell.”

He smirked in amusement. “That’s not a denial.”

His hand slid lower and my breath hitched. My fingers twitched at my sides, as if debating whether to shove him away or grab onto him.

He leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “You sold yourself, remember?” His voice was smooth, laced with dark amusement. “Or did you think I paid that obscene amount for conversation?”

My jaw clenched. “Bastard.”

He chuckled, his voice low and deep and flaming arousal coiled in my stomach.

Before I could retort, he gripped my chin, forcing our gazes to lock. My hazel eyes burned into gray ones, the intensity between them sharp as a blade.

Then he kissed me.

My resistance lasted all of a second. Then all control shattered.

My hands were suddenly in his hair, gripping, pulling, my mouth parting beneath his. The kiss was rough, a clash of teeth and heat, neither of us willing to yield.

He pushed forward, guiding me back until the edge of the bed hit the back of my knees. I tensed, but he gave me no time to think — he pressed a hand to my chest and pushed me down.

I hit the mattress, breathless and he followed.

Our bodies pressed together, skin against skin, heat melting into heat. He ran his hands over my torso, mapping every scar, every dip and curve. I arched into him, my breath a sharp inhale as my fingers dug into his back.

His mouth traveled lower, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses down my throat, across my collarbone, over my chest. I exhaled shakily, my body betraying me, my skin burning under every touch.

“Tell me to stop,” he murmured against my skin.

But I didn’t — couldn’t.

I felt him smirk against my skin, then he ruined me.

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The Next Morning

I woke to sunlight filtering through unfamiliar curtains, the scent of expensive cologne lingering in the air. My body ached in places I hadn’t expected, a slow burn of soreness that had nothing to do with injury.

I blinked up at the ceiling, disoriented.

Then the memory hit me.

The auction. The masked man. Last night.

My face heated as I turned, expecting to see the stranger still beside me.

Instead—

My heart stopped.

Cassiel Rafael Morelli.

My breath hitched, my stomach twisting. The man lay beside me, bare-chested, his dark hair tousled, his face completely unmasked.

For a moment, my brain refused to work.

Then realization slammed into me with the force of a freight train.

I had slept with Cassiel.

Cassiel, the man I hated. The man I had tried to put behind bars. The man who had ruined me.

Panic clawed up my throat.

I had to get out of here.

Now.

“Oh, fuck.”

My voice was barely a whisper, but he stirred beside me.

I sucked in a breath and froze.

Steel-gray eyes fluttered open, hazy with sleep. He blinked slowly, then smirked.

“Good morning, caro.” His voice was thick with satisfaction. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I scrambled back so fast I nearly toppled off the bed.

He raised a brow. “Not even a kiss before running?”

My stomach twisted in horror. “You—” I clutched the sheets around me, my voice rising. “You sick bastard!”

He only stretched, completely unbothered. “You weren’t complaining last night.”

My face burned and my pulse roared in my ears.

Cassiel’s smirk deepened, as if enjoying the way I unraveled. “So? Are you going to pretend it didn’t happen?”

My entire body tensed. “It didn’t happen,” I said immediately. “In fact, I think I have amnesia. I don’t even know why I’m here. Who are you?”

He laughed — that bastard actually laughed — a deep, rich sound that made my skin prickle.

I gritted my teeth. “You drugged me. That’s the only explanation.”

He gave me a lazy look. “We both know that’s not true. You begged me, Julian.”

I flung a pillow at him. “I’m leaving!”

He caught it effortlessly. “I’d love to see you try.”

I scowled and moved to get up—only to realize I couldn’t even stand properly. My legs shook the moment I planted my feet on the floor.

He watched, amused. “You might want to give it a few minutes.”

I whipped around, eyes blazing. “I hate you.”

But he just smirked. “Is that what you were moaning last night?”

I grabbed the nearest object — a glass of water — and hurled it at his head.

But he dodged effortlessly. “Temper, temper.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, fuming.

His gaze darkened, hungry. “You’re even more beautiful when you’re mad.”

I threw another pillow but he just laughed.