DarkInnocence Read Online Free PDF

hitting nails along an old-fashioned wood coffin.
The sound was ten times louder than it should have been. I drew in a breath as
the knot in my stomach cinched tighter and tighter.
    I knocked once and winced at the stinging pain in my
knuckles from where I’d clocked Julian. There was no movement from within the
house so I twisted the knob and silently opened the unlocked door. A muffled,
echoing cascade of water filled the house and I followed the sound into Dante’s
bedroom. Maybe this was better. I hadn’t really thought out my plan anyway. I’d
probably chicken out if I had to stare him in the eyes and strip in front of
him.
    His room was tidy and sparse, very manly just like the rest
of his house. The walls were a dark gray and matched the carpet. There was a
large bed dominating the center of the room with a nightstand on either side. I
fingered one of the hardwood posts on the bed and curled my hand around it. I
gave it a little tug. Solid. I wondered if he’d ever tied anyone up here.
Probably.
    With shaking hands, I unbuttoned my jacket and let it fall
to the floor in a heap. For once, my actions were completely selfish. I didn’t
want to be numb. I didn’t want to pretend. I wanted Dante. Seducing him seemed
the best way to achieve my goal. Tingles hit me from head to toe and even
though I still heard the rushing water, I glanced at the partially closed
bathroom door to make sure I was still alone.
    Cool air drifted in from an open window and I shivered as my
skin puckered. The shower shut off and the background noise disappeared. Crap.
I hurried to slide my panties down my thighs and step out of them. The heels, I
decided, were staying on.
    I crawled onto the mattress and positioned myself in the
middle of his bed with my hands above my head in a submissive posture.
Contrasted against the black cashmere blanket, my pale skin and blonde hair
painted what I hoped was an alluring picture if Dante was willing to overlook
the bags under my eyes. Damn. Maybe I should have tried to put on some makeup.
    Before the torture, I’d found bondage/submission—by secondhand
research only—interesting, like something I might want to experiment with one
day. The concept of trusting someone enough to give him or her full reign over
your body sounded amazing. Too bad now the thought of restraints brought me
back to the dark, haunted asylum and the vivid memories I couldn’t get rid of.
    Dante strolled out of the attached bathroom in a cloud of
steam. Water dripped from his hair and rolled down the thick muscles on his
chest and abs. Holy shit. A towel wrapped around his hips and showed a hint of
hairy thigh when he walked right by me without even a glance.
    Five large, slightly puffy lines crossed his back and I knew
that was where the shape shifter who’d forever changed him had infected him.
Halfway to his dresser Dante stopped. In slow motion, he turned. His gaze met
mine before dipping to take in the way I tucked my lip between my teeth. Heat
flared in his golden eyes, darkening them. He lowered his head, and just as
slowly as he’d turned, he drank me in. Dark, puckered nipples. The indent of my
stomach. Tattoo. The light hair between my parted thighs.
    My heart hammered in my chest and I held my breath. Dante
said nothing, only continued to stare at my pussy that grew wet and swollen
under his attention. He swiped his tongue over his lower lip and my sex
clenched. Moisture leaked from my core and I fought not to squirm. My clit
throbbed with the sudden rush of blood.
    His nostrils flared as if he were taking in the scent of my
arousal. A wave of touchable energy filled the room and I swear I almost
spontaneously combusted. How would it be when he finally crossed the room and
touched me? Would he kiss me first? Play with my nipples? Or would he simply
remove his towel and shove his big, hard cock—
    “Is this your jacket on the floor?” His rasping voice came
out in a tone I’d never heard before. There was a