Kieran Knight was fucking gorgeously built. His body was a work of art, with sinewy muscles that curved perfectly together, dipping into his sweatpants. The intensely dark stare that clashed with mine left my heartbeat thundering, and all coherent thought escaped my brain, sliding right into my vagina.
“You made me wait.” His icy demeanor made me nervous as he stalked closer to me.
His scent was enticing, carrying none of the stink that should have clung to him from the sweat. I’d been around enough men training to know that they fucking stunk after working out. However, Kieran only smelled of dark masculinity with a woodsy undertone and something else that caused a pulse between my thighs.
“I’m a busy woman.” He walked toward me with a predatory glint in his stare as men entered behind him. I paused as they drew their weapons and aimed at me. “You said I wouldn’t be harmed,” I reminded carefully, fighting the urge to run.
“Go to the desk and place your hands on it, slowly,” he demanded in a no-nonsense tone. “If I were you, I would refrain from making any sudden moves until they have disarmed you, Xariana.”
Holding my palms up, I did as he asked, trembling at the reminder that I was here alone, with my enemy, and I was only now rethinking my decision to come here.
I placed my hands flat on the wooden surface, spreading my legs apart slightly. Kieran shifted to stand behind me, gradually reaching across my waist to search it. When he touched me, I felt his raw power and trembled as it ran through me.
He slipped his hands over my abdomen and around my back, unzipping my dress, causing me to shiver as the cool air caressed my spine. I considered arguing against its removal, but I didn’t think he’d care if I kicked and screamed over him taking it off at this point.
“Raise your arms, slowly,” he commanded while reaching for the hem of the skirt, lifting it over my head. I obeyed, holding my breath while doing what I was told. A guard stepped up next to us, placing a metal box beside me with my purse already inside. “Now put your hands where you had them, and don’t fucking move.”
“Is this really necessary? I didn’t come armed,” I muttered, irritated. Wickedly dark laughter was the only answer I received as it slithered over my exposed spine.
His fingers slipped into my hair, removing the needle daggers that Onyx had worked into my bun, making them seem more ornamental than deadly. Both were tossed into the steel box. His hands slid over and down my arm before lifting it to divest me of my charm bracelet filled with nasty hexes. Carefully, he placed it into the box before doing the same to the other wrist.
Kieran ran his fingers over my shoulders, creating a storm of flurries inside my stomach, tracing them up to my neck. He unclasped the necklace containing a small vial of iron dust, putting it, too, into the metal container. Gathering my hair, he laid it over my shoulder before sliding his magical fingertips down my back, stopping at the garter belt with bells attached to the lace, ripping them free, and adding them to the growing pile of weapons. My heart raced, violently pounding against my chest as my breathing grew ragged.
Heated breath drifted down my spine as he lowered, grabbing my ankle and lifting my foot to withdraw the hidden daggers from the heel of my shoe. He did the same with my other foot, pausing to fan his breath between my legs. Clenching them against the sensation it was creating, I closed my eyes, willing my labored breathing to calm.
Rising from where he’d removed the weapons, he spun me around to face him, grabbing my hands and placing them on the desktop. He studied me for a moment, as if he could see my mind churning with fear. I didn’t look away from the challenge burning in his hauntingly beautiful gaze.
He gradually lowered his eyes to my bra, smiling when he found it straining from my erratic breathing, running his fingers over the piercings beneath the cups. Turning his head, Kieran spoke in a foreign language, and the man beside us removed the box filled with my items and left with the other guards.
Once they’d closed the door, Kieran pulled down the cups of my bra while holding my stare prisoner, tracing his thumbs over the decorative jewels that pierced my nipples. The air in my lungs stopped as a violent tremor passed through me. Lowering that hypnotic gaze to my bared breasts, he gently replaced the lace and stepped back, sliding his eyes over my body.
“Sure you don’t want to do a cavity check, too?” I asked, blanching as the words escaped me.
“If you want me to play with your pussy, just ask.” He turned on his heel and moved to a cupboard, opening it to retrieve a bottle of water.
I examined the muscles of his back, feasting on them while I remained stationary. I didn’t dare move because I wasn’t certain my legs would support me. I had never been strip-searched, and he’d known where I’d hidden every weapon. Swallowing past the thickness of my throat, I watched him remove the cap before downing the contents all at once.
“I don’t like to be kept waiting, Xariana. I’m also not fond of being lied to,” he stated, turning to look at me. “Get dressed,” he commanded, gliding his intense stare over me one last time.
“I don’t appreciate being given demands or ordered about.” I turned, grabbing for my clothes only to be spun as he stepped up behind me, gripping my arms to force me around. He released me, grasping the back of my thighs and slamming my ass onto his desk, hard.
“Yes, you do,” he whispered huskily, taking a step closer until he was pressed against me. He placed his hands behind me, sliding his nose against my neck. “You’re turned on by it, hunter. You smell like a woman that enjoyed being thoroughly searched. Not knowing whether I’d hurt you or let you live sent adrenaline rushing through your veins. As I said, I don’t care for liars. You can lie to yourself if you wish, but your body tells me another story. Now fucking get dressed. I’ll return shortly.”
I blinked as he pulled away, searching my expression, and then laughed coldly. He turned, walking to the opposite side of the office before opening a door and vanishing behind it. Grabbing my dress, I slipped it over my head, reaching back to zip it up.
I heard the sound of running water, and I sat fixated on the open doorway, watching steam billow out. Was he showering right now? My curiosity was up, but I wasn’t stupid enough to move closer, no matter how inviting it might have been.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I rested on the desk, staring at the open door to the clock and back. I didn’t have time for this bullshit. I had places to be and shit to get done today. Turning around, I perused the files on his desk, glancing every so often at the steam still flowing out of the bathroom.
Leaning closer to the files, I shifted one for a better view before a hand slammed down against mine. I gasped, shaking as I realized Kieran had fully intended to catch me snooping.
“I’ve killed people for less, hunter,” he whispered in my ear.
“I’m sure you have,” I uttered through quivering lips.
The smell of soap and freshly sprayed cologne surrounded me, and the heat of his body pressing against mine was doing things to my mind. His hot breath fanned my shoulder as he brushed his lips along the delicate skin on my neck.
“You’re trembling, little girl. Are you afraid or excited? I can’t tell past the scent of your body calling to mine,” Kieran laughed wickedly, and released my hand, slowly tracing his fingers along my spine to slide through my hair. He grabbed a fistful, using it to turn me around to face him. His other hand gripped my jaw painfully, tilting my head so his mouth was against my ear. “I want to hurt you.”