Page 56 of Silent Snowfall

I tore my gaze from his and shot a look around the room. The recessed lights were turned off, keeping the walls with their floor to ceiling shelves in full shadows. It wasn’t wholly dark in here. The space was decorated for the holidays with strands of lights hung about the ceiling that cast the space in a cozy, twinkling glow. A large desk reigned in the middle of the room, with a couch and pair of armchairs before a blazing hearth. There was a tree, decked in all its glory, standing guard in the corner near enough for the fire’s echo to dance across the green limbs.

“We shouldn’t be sneaking around,” I insisted. “What if someone who doesn’t know your deal with Lucian catches us?”

“They won’t.” With that, the masked man locked the pocket doors. “It’s just you and me, carina.”

I stumbled away from the dangerous, thrilling edge in his voice until my back hit the couch. I tried—and failed—to pick out details in his clothes. He wore the same black, long-sleeved sweater as a dozen other men at the party. The tattoos on his wrists were hidden. And his voice, although familiar, was husky enough that I knew I hadn’t heard it out in the party.

I was never going to figure it out.

So, I glared at him.

The heated look he gave me in return was enough to make my pussy instantly wet.

“What are you doing?” I stammered.

He prowled forward. “Enjoying a moment with the most beautiful woman at the party.”

“We can’t!” I held up my hand to stop him. I knew exactly where this was going. My body did too. The wicked excitement coursing through me made me shiver.

“What can’t we do?” he murmured, voice impossibly low.

“We can’t have sex in Don Ravello’s library!”

“Hmm….” He planted a hand on either side of my body, knuckles turning white as he gripped the couch’s back. “Would you rather go to his bedroom?”

The blood drained from my face and the room swayed.

“I thought so.” The masked man grabbed my wrist, tugging me around the couch.

He didn’t let me go as he bent to pull a backpack from under the sofa. I kept shooting nervous glances at the door. This was the definition of insanity! If I went over to the bookshelf, found a dictionary, and flipped it open, it would define that word with this scene.

So consumed with panic at being discovered, I didn’t catch what was happening until a vise cinched around both my wrists.

I’d been captured by a strand of garland. The noose was tight and unforgiving. Since it was synthetic, the strand of metal running through it wouldn’t budge.

I jerked my hands away, but the masked man held the length of greenery.

“What are you doing?” I gasped.

He pressed his palm between my legs. “Playing with my Christmas gift.”

Liquid heat pooled between my legs. I hadn’t worn panties, because I told myself I didn’t have anything fancy enough to go with the dress. Now I couldn’t help but wonder if my inner goddess hadn’t planned this so he would go wild when he discovered I was bare.

Not that I ever imagined doing something so crazy as a guest at Raven Manor.

“On your knees, Rose.” He coupled the command with a tug at my bound wrists.

Oh, dio, no!

I hesitated, swallowing hard. The last thing I wanted to tell him was that I wasn’t great at giving head. While my husband always wanted it, he complained afterward how it didn’t feel good.

“Rose,” the masked fiend warned.

I sank to my knees. The skirt of the dress tangled around me. I wet my lips, heart pounding violently in my chest.

I can do this.

“Good.” He took several unhurried steps backward to the tree. “Now…crawl.”