Scarlet Shadows

Seduction in the Shadows

Evelyn's body burned with a desire she couldn't explain, her breath shallow as her chest rose and fell with the rapid pace of her heart. Her hands were still covered in the blood of her latest kill, but it didn't matter. She barely felt the cold steel of the blade anymore; the adrenaline had numbed everything but the searing heat in her veins.

She couldn't stop herself. The image of Damien haunted her. The dangerous, taunting look he gave her—the way his fingers had brushed against her skin, leaving trails of fire.

Her thoughts were scattered, disjointed. There was something about him that drew her in like a moth to a flame, something primal and dark. He was trouble, a walking nightmare, and yet...

She needed him.

Evelyn gripped the wall, pushing herself upright, but before she could take a step, she heard footsteps—heavy, deliberate.

Damien.

"Did you miss me?" His voice slid into her mind like velvet, smooth and dripping with arrogance.

She didn't have to turn around to know he was there, leaning casually against the doorframe, his eyes watching her, studying her every move.

"I wasn't thinking about you," Evelyn bit out, though she could hear the lie in her own voice.

"Liar," he whispered, his voice almost a growl. "You're always thinking about me. You can't help it."

Without waiting for a response, he stepped closer, his shadow swallowing hers. He moved in close, his body so near that she could feel the heat radiating from him. His hands—those cursed hands—slipped under her chin, lifting her face so their eyes locked.

"You like the danger, don't you?" he murmured, his lips brushing against her ear. "You like the way I make you feel alive."

Evelyn's pulse thundered in her ears, her mind a jumbled mess. Every instinct screamed for her to pull away, to resist. But the way his touch burned her skin, the way his breath tickled her neck, told her she was already lost.

"No," she said, though it came out weaker than she intended.

Damien smirked, his fingers tightening around her jaw, forcing her to look at him. "Don't lie to me, Evelyn. You want this—want me—more than you're willing to admit."

He closed the distance between them, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was anything but innocent. There was nothing gentle about it. His tongue slid past her lips, claiming her mouth with a fierceness that made her dizzy, made her forget everything but the taste of him.

Evelyn's mind screamed for her to stop, to push him away, but her body betrayed her, pressing against him as if it belonged to him. She could feel the heat of his body, the strength in his arms as he held her in place. Every touch sent shockwaves of electricity through her, each kiss more demanding than the last.

When he finally pulled away, his eyes were dark, pupils dilated with desire. "You're mine now, Evelyn. Whether you like it or not."

"I don't belong to anyone," she breathed, her voice shaking, but even she could hear the crack in her words.

Damien chuckled darkly, his thumb grazing her lips. "We'll see about that."

He spun her around so her back was pressed against the cold wall, his body coming up behind hers. He leaned in close, his lips brushing her ear again. "I could ruin you, Evelyn. Break you down until all you crave is me. Until you can't live without me."

Evelyn's breath hitched, her body trembling in his arms. She hated that he was right. She hated the way he made her feel.

"I'll make you want me," Damien whispered, his voice low and hungry. "I'll make you beg for it."

Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt her resistance slip away, piece by piece. She knew she should fight it, knew this was dangerous, that giving into him would destroy her. But it didn't matter. The need, the hunger, was too much.

Damien chuckled again, sensing her surrender. "I told you," he said softly. "You belong to me now."

And with that, he kissed her again, his hands roaming across her body with a possessiveness that made her shiver. There was no going back now.