Page 138 of Venomous Desires

He was handsome—there was no denying it. The kind of handsome that makes you forget to breathe.

But beneath the surface, the monster lurked. It was in the way he held himself, the quiet power that rippled through his stance. The devil hiding in the dimples, the beast in the beauty.

You can put silk on a wolf, but its nature never changes.

Judas took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. The air thickened, and I forced myself to hold his gaze, though my body screamed to look away. His lips curled into that mocking smile, dimples deepening.

“Well,” he drawled, his voice smooth as velvet. “Look atyou, all dressed up like a good little doll. Almost perfect.” He tilted his head, eyes flicking over me with a mix of approval and possession. “But you missed a spot.” His finger trailed to my neck, brushing over the concealed bite marks. “Can’t hide what’s mine, no matter how hard you try.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, my pulse quickening. I shifted, my foot aching in the heels, but I didn’t dare step back. His presence was suffocating, his proximity intoxicating, and yet terrifying.

“Cat got your tongue, little bird?” he teased, his voice low, almost a purr. “Or are you just pretending to be shy?” His hand moved to my chin, tilting my face up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “No need for that.”

His thumb brushed over my lips, lingering there. The touch was possessive, like he were marking me without saying a word.

Wearing this dress didn’t change anything. Pretty packaging, but I knew he could see right through it. The fear, the fight—it was all there, and he found it delicious.

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. Words failed me, trapped behind the tight knot of fear in my throat.

Judas’s thumb lingered, pressing against my lips, his touch far too soft for someone like him. His gaze sharpened as if peeling away every layer I tried to hide behind, his smile darkening.

“You know I like when you don’t talk back,” he murmured.

I tried to look away, but his grip tightened on my chin, forcing my eyes back to his. His stare bore into me, and my pulse hammered in my ears.

Before I could respond, he grabbed my hand, and I stared at him in shock as he lifted it to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of my hand, slow and deliberate. The softness of it, the tenderness—it didn’t suit him, didn’t fit the man whose hands had caused so much pain.

“Pretend to be my date, and don’t open this tempting mouth of yours.”

I swallowed again, my throat tight, but managed to force out a whisper, “Why do you enjoy this?”

His grip tightened ever so slightly on my hand as he began guiding me toward the door. “Because I can,” he said simply, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “And because you let me.”

I stared at him in disbelief. I let him? I? More like he forced me.

I ignored his words and flinched as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to the door. “Play along and I’ll reward you.”

Reward me. As if I were looking forward to any of his rewards.

We stepped into the hallway, his arm sliding around my waist, pulling me close to his side. His presence swallowed me whole like a silent reminder of who held all the power here. Ahead of us, Kyle walked silently, his back stiff, leading the way.

As we moved, Judas leaned in, his lips grazing my ear. “Your performance will decide if you’ll get to see your college or not.”

I glanced up at him, unable to keep the fear from my eyes. “What... what do you want from me?”

He smirked, a devilish glint in his eyes. “Everything, Ptichka. And I’ll take it. Piece by piece.”

His voice was calm, smooth, but the weight of it was crushing. As we reached the elevator, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this dinner wasn’t just a meal—it was the start of something far worse.

The lamb, heading straight for the slaughter.

Chapter 55

The Prey

My skin was on fire, prickling under the intensity of his touch, and it was too much.

I didn’t even remember ripping off the woollen scarf and tossing it into the backseat of the car. The cold air bit into my exposed neck, but it was nothing compared to the searing heat of this monster’s arm around my waist.