Blood

- Yes," I answered at once.

I don't think I even thought when I said it, I was so hypnotized, so comfortable with him there. When I was around him there was no fear, pressure or lies. I was just Nicole. I couldn't explain all the magnetism he had over me, which was nothing like what I once thought I had with Luck. That was possession, madness, lust, but it didn't come close to how good I felt next to Colleri. And what harm would an innocent dance do?

- Good. - He sniffled. - I'm glad you accepted. I'll do everything I can to make it perfect.

I know you will. I smiled again in response.

- Ah! There you are! - Maria said, turning into the corridor.

- Maria! You know you shouldn't be back until the evening. - He made a very unfriendly face. - Please, take the afternoon to rest. There's really nothing to do here.

- Oh, Mr. Colleri. It's not like I only work here," she said with a little wink. - This is my home, look at it like I'm just coming home." He smiled.

- How can you be so stubborn? Okay, Maria. Just stop, in fact, all of you, calling me Colleri - he said jokingly.

- Please forget "sir", it makes me feel old. Call me Colle or by my first name. - He smiled as he entered the room, asked to be excused and closed the door.

- This boy is a rarity," she said with a wink at me. - It's hard to find someone with a heart like Mr. Colleri's. I mean," she corrected herself, "Ethan.

My legs went weak and I had the sudden urge to run.

- Is everything all right, Nicole? - Maria asked gently.

No. Is Colleri Ethan? The same Ethan that Ben and Will were talking about? The murderous lunatic? Would he hurt me? Has he ever killed anyone?

Oh, my God. I already know the answer.

- Yes," I replied, my voice dropping an octave.

- So it looks like you're getting on well," Maria commented as we walked through the garden.

- Me and Colleri... Ethan. Um... yes. He's been treating me very well... I just have to thank him... all of you, really.

She smiled tenderly. - We're not doing anything.

- Oh, yes, you are," she said softly. - I've never felt so welcomed and well looked after in one place. - I sighed as I spoke.

- I'm sure it's nothing you don't deserve.

At 3pm the next day, I was receiving the flowers in the ballroom. Everything was beautiful, Ethan had really gone all out. The decorations were all gold and red. I removed the roses from the large cover to remove the thorns and decorate the last vase, spreading them out on the table next to me.

- You know I hired people to do this, Nicole.

I jumped with fright. I wasn't feeling very well after I found out he was the dangerous man I'd heard about. He just didn't seem like the good man Colleri was.

I don't miss the flash of lust in his eyes when he notices that I've put on a maid's uniform. - Who gave you these clothes?

- Maria, why? What's wrong with it? - I quickly spy my outfit.

His lips are pressed into a hard line.

- He's too small. - He says in a hoarse voice.

I throw my face down, hiding the deep blush painted all over my face.

- It's PP size. - I justify it, because he seems to want to devour me with his gaze. - It's what fits me best. - I clear my throat, putting my hand on the table behind me, trying to balance myself.

- You don't wear that uniform unless only I'm here. - What? - I ask, staring at his face, knowing that he doesn't seem to be joking in the slightest.

- You heard what I said. I don't like repeating myself.

- You can't do that. It's the standard dress uniform, and it was the only one in my size. - I try to act tough and challenge him, but it comes out more like a whisper.

- You're my boss, not my master. - I don't know why I say that, but something dark flashes in his eyes. I swear the whole temperature in the room starts to change.

- That's where you're wrong. You're not the servants, and I'm your master. Like everything else in this house.

It wasn't a threat, in fact I found the way he whispered quite sexy. But at the same time I kept repeating about him being the same dangerous man I'd heard about, my hands clenched the edge of the table and I felt the roses I was cleaning, until I accidentally stubbed my index finger.

- Ouch! - I look at the fat, scarlet drop coming out of my finger, following a stream of blood.

- I'm sorry," he says softly as all the tension he was clearly feeling before turns to worry. - I'm an asshole, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. - Yeah, that hm, bloody PP uniform. - A muffled grunt passed his lips.

- You didn't make me uncomfortable. - I'll give you that. - But it really was the only uniform in my size.

His mouth curves into a half-smile. - Nothing against it, but not with a bunch of workers walking around the house and seeing so much of you...

He swallows dryly and doesn't finish. I'm not sure, but I think I heard his lips whisper the word "Sexy". His eyes wander to my still bleeding finger.

- It's all right. I know I shouldn't, but there aren't many flowers, and the team is so busy. It didn't cost me anything.

- It didn't. You're hurt.

I looked at my finger, from which a small drop of blood was oozing.

- Oh, that's nothing," I said, lifting my finger to take a closer look.

Then he took my hand and looked me in the eye. He took my finger in his hands, brought it to his lips and sucked.

Holy shit.

His tongue was warm, soft, and he circled my finger carefully. At no point did he take his eyes off me. The sensation immediately made my nipples open painfully around my blouse. I breathe deeply through my nose, because I've never felt such a devastating sensation before.

I try, I bite my lips but I can't help the embarrassed moan that comes out of my lips.

My skin was crawling, heat gathering between my thighs, I could feel my core tightening with need. I let out another little moan when I tried to pull my finger out, but he growled, as if that sinful movement with his tongue was normal, as if I belonged to him. And I caught a glimmer of something in his eyes. Fun, perhaps? A challenge?

"If I touch your pussy, you'll already be wet?" the amusement said. "Let me touch it? the challenge urged.

- Nicole - he extended my finger, planting a soft kiss on the tip. - Damn, his voice was coming out all hoarse. He gritted his teeth and added in his husky, sexy voice. - I needed to know if the day you came to my room, well... um... - he sniffled slightly, - you remember something... that I might have said.

I looked at him and, for the first time, I saw him blush. - No. No, darling. I won't leave you. - I really don't remember.

No baby, I'll never leave you.

The memories of my dream came back sweetly.

- Ahhh!" a historic voice shouted. - There you are!

We both turned sharply. Startled, a woman with long black hair ran towards Ethan and jumped into his lap, crossing her leg behind his back.

I took a few steps backwards, as she almost knocked me over with her hysteria.

- Oh, Caroline," I said without apparent cheer. - I thought your flight was delayed.

- Yes, it was! But I called a friend and asked him to help me by lending me his private jet! Can you believe he said yes? And in less than an hour I was on board. - She smiled exaggeratedly and then looked at me. Her eyes narrowed and she looked at me as if I had dirt on my face.

She uncrossed her legs, got off Ethan's lap and they both turned to me.

- "Ah, Nicole, this is Caroline, my cousin," said Ethan, a little embarrassed by the way she was clinging to him like a sly cat. - Caroline, this is Nicole, a friend who's helping me with some things around the house.

- Ah, the new maid - Caroline said bluntly.

- She's not a maid, Caroline. - Ethan caught her eye.

- But she's dressed like one. - She winks her long ebony eyelashes at him in a sweet way.

I look quickly at my uniform, I wanted to wear it by choice. It was a skirt that came to just before my knee, with sleeves and buttons down the front. A white collar and a white apron. Only Maria and I were in black, the other maids were in blue. I chose to wear a uniform because I thought it would make my decision to work official, and not just be supported by Colleri. As well as imposing limits on both of us, in the relationship between boss and maid.

Which clearly didn't happen.