Less than a second later, two muscled arms belonging to a hard body encased her. He didn’t touch her but laid his hands beside hers instead.
His mouth came close to her ear, his breath making her hair flutter, and her core tightened. “That won’t help in any way, you know.”
On that, she exhaled a half-laugh. “That’s grand coming from the king of cool.”
This time, Finn pushed his body against her back, and it was clear that while he appeared cool on the outside, certain parts of him were hard.
“If you were as old as I am, you’d be grateful for my control. I can feel your frustration from across the room. All you need is one thread to pull, you don’t need to rip the whole thing apart first go.”
“I can’t focus.”
Finn hummed. “I think you have a bright mind, but a bad temper and no patience. Must be the Irish in you.”
Half-insulted, half-amused, Violet wanted to turn, but he kept her in place. “I was born here. Not there. You’re Irish too, or were, at least. If there’s anything of it left.”
When he spoke, his voice had deepened, and the familiar lilt of the Emerald Isle colored his words. “All fire and explosives. It’s one of the things that attracts me to you. That and that red mane of yours.”
He buried his face in the back of her head and inhaled and it took all of her resolved not to surrender. “I’m distracted enough without adding sex to the mix.”
“And what if I could help calm your mind?”
Violet snorted. “Sex? You’re offering sex as a means to clear my mind? What a macho thing to say.”
Finn didn’t budge. “Not sex, orgasms. You’ve had a few in your short life. At least I hope so. And how do you feel when you have one? What’s your state of mind afterward?”
With his hard body pressing against hers, the feeling of his cock pushing against her lower back, and his mellow voice turning her objections to mush, she was crazy enough to consider his suggestion. After all, sex was still on the table between them.
Her body started to push back, her hips mimicking what could be. “There’s no privacy here. Anyone, including Layla could walk in on us.”
“Does the thought of being discovered excite you?”
Lust exploded in her belly. She didn’t know if it was because she was an exhibitionist or if it was Finn’s intoxicating presence.
Her intention was to get a grip and stop this nonsense, but instead, her head fell back, the veil of her hair revealing her neck. Some men preferred asses, others, breasts, but it was easy to guess what type Finn was. In less than a second, the vampire’s lips were over the vulnerable skin of her neck.
“You like playing with danger, but you underestimate the kind of threat I could be. Maybe I should show you instead. Too bad I told you I wouldn’t take the first step. What a shame.”
Violet’s heart hammered in her chest, racing in anticipation and the fear he might stop. She vaguely remembered his words, his voice was like a kick of vodka to her senses, making her head spin.
“You mentioned helping me focus.” The words sounded raw even to her own ears.
Finn exhaled slowly, his breath tickling the flesh. “Is that a request? Are you asking me to have sex with you?” Once more, his lips touched her neck, and the only sound she emitted was a breathless moan.
“I don’t think I know that language. And there aren’t many I don’t know. You know, there are several ways to say what you want such as ‘Finn, can you take your dick out and fuck me until I scream?’ There are other variations as well.”
Her control dissolved by the second. “And here I thought you were a gentleman.”
The laugh he gave her not only closed that door but suggested a naughtier side to him. “I can be anything and anyone, it’s a skill I’ve honed over the centuries. But now, all I can be is a beast, but only if you say the words. And be specific.”
It was obvious he was trying to push her buttons and the old Violet surfaced. It was game on. “Please, fuck me, Finn. Long and hard. Make me come. If you’re capable of doing that, of course.”
Her taunt was meant to pierce his ego, but instead, she knew she’d unleashed the full force of a vampire. It was as if his body expanded behind her, almost taking over the space. His immense power took over her, something she’d never thought possible. It was as if she didn’t have control over herself anymore. Fear and panic bubbled up, and Finn must have sensed it.
He kissed her neck again. “Breathe, little witch. I won’t ever cause you pain. But after this, you’ll remember not to provoke me, unless you’re ready to deal with the consequences.”
What was he talking about? What consequences? Violet wanted to turn and look at his face, but her body remained still. His glamour flowed over her, caging her in a way she further lost control over herself. However, she sensed that if she fought it, it would be possible to break the power he had over her, which she decided not to do.
Her core clenched as she felt the power he guarded so well caress her, along with a hint of danger. It would’ve been so easy to fight it, but submitting to him was a brand-new experience. For once, she wanted Finn to lead, for a brief moment to experience what it felt like to be powerless.
Finn plastered his body against hers, sliding his hands under her sweater, discovering every curve as she remained still.
“Remove your clothes.” His voice was so deep and animalistic; it was clear the monster of legend wasn’t far beneath his pale skin.
Like an automated doll, Violet obeyed, in awe of doing exactly what he’d commanded. There, in Layla’s library, she shed her
