"You filthy little tease," Vincent snarled, his breath hot against my ear as he clawed at my dress. "Magnus might have the size, but I'll give you something better." His fingers dug into my hips with bruising force.
I twisted away, shoving against his chest. "You swore you wouldn't touch me! This was supposed to be an actreal men don't break their word!"
His smirk twisted into something ugly, eyes glinting like a predator's.
Then, just like that, he backed off, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, princess. Just messing with you."
Right. And I was the Queen of England. If he tried anything, I'd make sure he'd never walk straight again.
He shoved a bubble tea into my hands, that slimy grin still plastered on his face. "Drink up, Emily. We've got to sell this act if we want Magnus to buy it."
I scowled but took a sipthen froze.
Something was wrong.
Heat prickled under my skin, spreading like wildfire. My breath hitched as a deep, shameful ache coiled low in my stomach.
Oh, God.
"The teait's drugged!" I'd recognize that sensation anywhere. I'd used the same damn aphrodisiac on Magnus once.
My vision blurred. My legs trembled. My mouth watered with a hunger that had nothing to do with thirst.
Vincent grabbed my ankle, his grip possessive. "Quit fighting it," he purred. "You're already wet for me, aren't you?"
Terror clawed up my throat. I curled in on myself, shaking. "Please… don't do this."
His laugh was brutal.
He wasn't just playinghe was going to take what wasn't his.
Regret slammed into me like a truck. I should've known better than to trust Vincent. He wasn't just recklesshe was a monster.
But it was too late. My body wasn't mine anymore. The last thing I had left was about to be stolen.
The fabric of my dress ripped
Then
The door exploded off its hinges.
Magnus stood there like a storm given flesh, his face a mask of pure fury. He hauled Vincent off me with one hand and slammed him into the floor. "You worthless piece of shit! Your mother should've drowned you at birth!"
Vincent scrambled back like a kicked dog, barely escaping before Magnus could rearrange his face.
But I was burning.
My fingers dragged helplessly over my own skin, the drug turning every touch into torture. I was always sensitivenow, I was nothing but need.
"Magnus…" My voice was a broken whisper. "Vincent drugged me. I can'tI can't think"
His expression shattered. "Emily, this is my fault. If I'd just told you how I felt sooner, you wouldn't have" His voice cracked. "A sweet girl like you… and I'm just some broken-down farmer with too much damn size. How could I ever deserve you?"
Tears streaked his rough cheeks.
I didn't care. I pressed against him, desperate. "Magnus, I want you. Take me. Now."
The pain of my first time melted into pleasure so intense it stole my breath. The sheets bore witnesscrimson proof of what I'd given him.
And despite my inexperience, I matched him move for move. Maybe I was born for this.
Afterward, I curled against his chest, exhausted but safe. "How did you find me?"
He brushed his thumb over my nose, his touch unbearably gentle. "Did you really think I'd let you walk into danger alone? I planted a tracker in your purse. The second I heard that bastard's voice, I came running."
"Thank you," I whispered.
He wanted me to report Vincent, but I refused. "No real harm was done. Besides…" I traced the scars on Magnus' chest. "He brought us together."
Finally, I had him. And under his touch, even my darkest cravings found peace.