The silence in the bathroom was thick enough to choke on. The steam from the bath began to settle, but the tension between us only got hotter.
I made my move, and I gave him a choice, but this man had a level of pride that could topple this building.
He didn't move from where he stood.
He just stood there like a wall of granite, his grey eyes fixed on that spot on the wall, refusing to give me the satisfaction of a direct gaze. But I could see the pulse in his neck jumping.
"You think a little gossip can bring down the House of Valerius?" he said, his voice regaining its sharp, icy edge. "Many have tried to blackmail me before, females especially. They usually end up in the Black Cells before the sun sets."
"Oh, I'm sure," I said, "But they weren't holding that." I pointed a slender finger at the gold and obsidian hawk on the vanity. "And they didn't have your brother's scent all over them."
That got him. His eyes snapped back to mine, sharp and lethal.
"What did you do to Julian?"
"I didn't do anything he didn't beg for," I lied with a sharp, wicked grin.
Well, technically, he did beg me at some point, so it's not all a lie.
"He was very... generous. He gave me the emblem, he gave me his coat, and he gave me his word that I'd be looked after. Are you calling your own brother a liar? Or just a fool?"
He looked like he wanted to throttle me. His hand twitched at his side, and for a second, I thought I'd pushed the 'Ice Heir' too far.
"Julian is a kind idiot," he hissed. "But even he wouldn't hand over a family seal to a common thief. You stole it while he was distracted by your... theatrics."
"Theatrics?" I laughed, the sound echoing off the marble walls. "Is that what you call it? Fine. Call the guards. Tell them you found a thief. But remember—as soon as they walk through that door, I'm screaming. I'll tell them you forced your way in. I'll tell them you've been 'inspecting' me for the last ten minutes, and it definitely wasn't a nice inspection."
I reached out, and this time, I didn't try to be sweet. I grabbed the front of his stiff, expensive collar and yanked him down toward me.
"Who do you think they'll believe? Sure, you're a wealthy heir, and your words carry weight, but will they really think nothing happened when they find me naked, and you half-dressed?"
"I am fully dressed!" he confidently said, and I snarled.
"Oh, trust me, you won't be by the time they get here." Our faces were inches apart. I could see the flecks of silver in his grey eyes and the way his breath hitched.
My 'heat' was screaming now, a frantic, burning demand in my blood, but I channeled every bit of that energy into my gaze.
"You have two choices," I whispered. "You can make a scene and ruin that perfect reputation of yours, or you can take me to the Valerius Mansion as your 'guest.' I get a room, a new wardrobe, and protection. In exchange, I stay quiet about your brother... and about how long you stood here staring at a naked girl."
He stared at me, his disgust warring with a dawning realization: I was a shark, and I had already tasted blood.
"You're a demon," he muttered.
"I've been called worse," I shrugged, my grip on his collar loosening just enough to let my fingers brush against his jaw.
Witch! Wicked female! The devil… I think Lyssa heard all of that before she was tied up to a stake.
"So? Do we have a deal, or should I start screaming?" I asked.
He went stiff, his gaze dropping to my lips for a fraction of a second—a mistake he clearly regretted instantly. He shoved my hand away, but he didn't head for the door.
"You will stay in the servant's wing," he barked, his voice sounding a little more rattled than he probably intended. "You will not speak to the staff. You will not leave your room without my permission. And the moment Julian returns to confirm your lies, I'm throwing you to the wolves."
I smiled, a slow, triumphant curve of my lips.
"Servant's wing? How humble. I suppose I can manage for a night or two." I turned back toward the vanity, picking up the gold hawk and tossing it into the air, catching it with a snap. "Now, out. I need to finish my 'theatrics' and get dressed. Unless you want to help me with the laces?"
He didn't answer. He simply turned on his heel and stormed out of the suite, slamming the heavy oak door so hard the perfume bottles on the vanity rattled.
As soon as he was gone, I dropped onto the stool, my legs finally shaking as the adrenaline began to fade, leaving only the burning heat.
"That guy was tough," I whispered to my reflection. "But I would've loved to break that ice wall he put up," I licked my lips, just thinking of how he'd fold to the pleasure.
He wouldn't be able to keep that cold and stiff expression up for long.
I looked at the emblem in my hand. I was going to the heart of the most powerful house in the Capital. It was the most dangerous game I'd ever played, but then again, I'd already survived a fire.
The Valerius brothers didn't know it yet, but they hadn't caught a thief.
They'd invited a disaster into their home.
And I was going to sweep them all off their feet.
But before that… I reached my hand down to my entrance and began to rub my clit, muffling a moan that nearly escaped my lips.
Since I couldn't snatch the meal that presented itself, I guess I'll just have to make do with myself.
As soon as I thought of this, I saw one of the perfume bottles that suspiciously looked long and thick, had a smooth surface, and looked very tempting at the moment.
I bit my lower lip, contemplating.
"Well, what the heck. I guess I'll just go with that."
And with that, I snatched it.