Since the mont she had t him, Violet had denied her feelings. She was sure it wasn’t anything close to love, but there was no denying her intense attraction to Cain.
Enough that there had been tis she couldn’t tear her eyes away from his body. Now, that sa body was practically being offered to her on a silver platter, and yet, here she was, summoning the audacity to say no.
Do you really think you’ll et anyone more handso? she thought bitterly. Moreover... once all of this is over, I’ll leave, right?
Steeling her resolve, she turned around, her gaze locking on Cain. He had put on a robe, the fabric clinging loosely to his muscular fra as he tied it around his waist. Though his posture was relaxed, his every movent seed to ignore her presence entirely, as if she didn’t exist.
Her heart thudded in her chest as she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to push forward despite the weight of her hesitation. Each step felt like a gamble she couldn’t afford to lose.
Cain turned his head sharply as she approached, his golden-brown eyes narrowing with irritation. His glare was sharp enough to cut, frad by disheveled blonde hair that only added to his impossible allure. He was a face she could stare at for eternity without ever growing tired.
"I thought I told you to—" he began, his voice low and biting, but Violet didn’t let him finish.
Reaching up, she grabbed his face and kissed him. Hard. She mimicked the way he had kissed her before: fervently, breathlessly, pouring everything into the contact until her chest heaved and her legs wobbled beneath her.
Cain froze at first, his body stiff under her touch. When he finally responded, it was restrained, as if he were testing her resolve before fully giving in. Then, just as abruptly as it started, he pulled away, his hands firm as they gripped her shoulders.
His expression was intense, his gaze flickering with sothing between frustration and disbelief. "Do you even know what you’re doing?" His voice held a trace of anxiety she hadn’t expected, and for a mont, she thought she saw fear in his eyes.
"Honestly," he continued, his tone hardening, "it would be better for you not to start sothing you can’t finish. Like I said—"
"I want this!" Violet interrupted, her voice trembling yet resolute. For the first ti, she allowed herself to consider the truth she’d been running from.
He might be a monster, but maybe I can change him. He wants my body, but maybe... just maybe, I can make him care enough not to hurt or the things I care about.
She leaned into him, her body pressing against his as her arms slid around his waist. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she clung to him, waiting for him to push her away. But he didn’t. Instead, he stood still, his muscles tense as her touch softened against him.
"What do you think this is?" he asked quietly, his voice tinged with sothing unplaceable.
"I want you," she admitted, lowering her gaze to avoid his piercing stare.
Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and in an instant, her world tilted. She yelped softly as Cain lifted her into the air, his hands firm but gentle as they hoisted her high enough that their faces were level.
"As a lover?" he asked, his voice softer now, almost disbelieving.
Violet nodded hesitantly, her mind swirling with unspoken questions. Isn’t that what this is about? Sex? she wondered, unsure why he even bothered to ask.
"In exchange," she said, her voice firm despite her unease, "you can’t hurt . Not like before!" She looked away as she spoke, unable to et his eyes but unwilling to back down.
Cain’s lips curved into a sly smile, his amusent mingling with sothing darker in his gaze. "I won’t hurt you," he promised, his voice low and velvety as he leaned forward until their foreheads touched.
"...As long as you don’t lie to like you did before." His words carried a warning, the edge of his tone making her shiver.
He trailed kisses along her jawline, each touch deliberate, each one sending a wave of warmth coursing through her. His lips moved to her neck, lingering there as his voice softened further.
"I’d never hurt you... unless you hurt ."
The words made her stomach twist, though she wasn’t sure if it was from fear or the way his breath tickled her ear. His lips brushed against her skin as she gestured weakly for him to set her down, but he ignored her.
Instead, his hand cupped the back of her head, guiding her face to et his gaze. His golden eyes burned into hers, filled with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.
"You know what this ans, right?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Violet blinked, her confusion evident. "Wh-what?"
A grin tugged at his lips, equal parts charming and maddening. "It ans we should go on dates," he said, his tone teasing yet sincere. "...And I’ll have to buy a ring."
The breath caught in her throat, her mind reeling as she stared at him in disbelief. "Ri-rings?" she stamred, the word barely forming on her lips.
"Did you buy rings for all your previous lovers?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion, though her confusion remained.
Cain chuckled softly, finally setting her down as he took a step back. "They weren’t my lovers," he said, his tone casual. "Just people I slept with."
Her stomach churned at his matter-of-fact response, but before she could say anything, he reached out, brushing his fingers against her face.
"You said you wanted ," he reminded her, his voice dropping to a near whisper. His grin widened, a rare glimr of awe flashing across his features. "No one’s ever said that to before."
His golden gaze softened as he took her hands in his, pressing kisses to her knuckles with a tenderness that felt out of place. "They were people I paid for pleasure," he continued, his tone quiet. "But they just called a monster. No one... no one ever said they wanted ."
The sincerity in his voice twisted sothing deep inside her. Yet instead of relief, Violet felt horror clawing at the edges of her thoughts.
This is the sa man who almost slit my throat a few hours ago, she reminded herself. More importantly, she had agreed to sleep with him for favors—not to beco sothing more.
When did this turn into a relationship?
Her pulse quickened as Cain’s expression softened even further, his warmth disarming her. But beneath it all, she saw sothing unshakable—a possessiveness that left her feeling trapped.
Is he pretending, or is he truly insane? she wondered, her mind racing.
The urge to run surged within her, stronger than ever before. Yet, she couldn’t ignore the growing realization: leaving Cain might not be as simple as she had once believed.
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