Lethal

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. The person that stared back at me radiated fear—fear of what was to come... fear of the unknown. I searched for some sign of the woman that I used to know, the woman who had been certain of her choices. But that woman felt like a distant memory now. In her place stood someone who swayed on the edge of an unknown abyss. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, making the air feel heavy, as if each breath required effort. The room around me seemed to blur as I focused on my own eyes, searching for answers that seemed out of reach.

The time between now and earlier had flown by at an unusual pace. I was instructed to bathe and dress in garments that left little to the imagination. A satin robe sat across my skin, coming to my mid thigh. Underneath the robe, I wore a lace set and nothing more. I felt exposed, vulnerable. Like a lamb ready to be led to the slaughter.

"Mr. Garnet has requested you to his room."

I felt a mixture of emotions pouring inside me. Still, I nodded my head towards Sophia and did as I was told. Despite my brave front, I faltered the second I arrived to his door. The thought of crossing the threshold invited a sense of fear that crept into the hollow space of my stomach. Closing my eyes, I steadied my racing heart, trying to find the strength within me to move forward. The thought of walking away flashed in my mind; to leave and never look back.

But as quickly as it appeared, the thought vanished completely from my head. Guilt wouldn't grant me the freedom of walking away. It would serve as a reminder of the responsibilities I had abandoned. My loyalty was like a binding that held me captive. No matter the cost, I was determined to see this through.

With that thought in mind, I took in a sharp breath, raised my arm and knocked on the door. I silently counted the number of seconds it took to receive a reply.

"Come in," Dean's voice sounded from the inside. With a deep breath, I reached for the doorknob, my fingers curling around the cold metal. The simple act of touching the knob seemed to require every drop of my strength, and reluctantly I pushed open the door. The room was dimly lit, and my gaze instantly sought to the figure standing amidst the case of books. He held a book in his hand, his eyes seemingly glued on the pages.

The buttons of his dress shirt had been undone, allowing me to catch a glimpse of his well-defined chest. The little piece of material hindered the striking sight that any woman would feel fortunate to gaze upon. His pants hung low on his hips, leaving me with only my imagination of what led further. His powerful physique silently taunted me and I knew he possessed the physical strength to squash me if he wished. My eyes caught a faint tattoo on the left side of his chest, partly obscured by his shirt.

Feeling vulnerable with our current position, I quickly averted my eyes. At that exact moment, Dean lifted his head to look at me, and our eyes met. Time seemed to stand still, as if the universe itself held its breath, waiting for what would come next. His dark, calm eyes held mine, and the air in my throat tightened as I sensed something new in his gaze—a sudden desire that hadn't been there before.

Suddenly, he closed the book and placed it on the book shelf. His eyes traveled down my form, and I pretended not to notice his lingering gaze. The rhythm of my heart sped up as he approached me. I clutched the fabric of my robe and stared ahead, feeling the sweat gather in my palms.

Dean's finger hooked under my chin, prompting me to meet his gaze. "You're shaking." A touch of amusement could be found in his expression.

I hadn't even notice the involuntary tremors coming from me until he pointed it out. My body shook as I waited anxiously for his next move, eager for the ordeal to come to an end. I half-expected him to release me and pull away like he usually did, but he did no such thing.