The Dark Arts
Page 45
She sighed and looked back at Ari. He watched the road but took her hand in one of his, his thumb stroking the back of her hand as they drove on in silence.
Three hundred and twenty-three days. That was the amount of time since Ari had taken her. And somehow in that long span, instead of breaking her, he'd put her back together. The last thought on Claire's mind was escape.
I hope you enjoyed THE DARK ARTS! If you’re new to my work, you can find all my books and an up-to-date reading order here: https://kittythomas.com/reading-order-for-new-readers/
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Or you can move into the companion series, The Pleasure House. The first book in the series is called Guilty Pleasures:
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GUILTY PLEASURES:
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She was a bored housewife until she was taken and trained for the pleasure of the highest bidder.
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Vivian Delaney leads a life of privilege, but behind closed doors she feels isolated and trapped in a gilded cage. Unable to achieve sexual pleasure with her husband, she finds herself in the capable hands of Anton, a massage therapist intent on awakening her to her full sexual potential. By any means necessary.
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One-Click GUILTY PLEASURES here: Guilty Pleasures
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TEASER SCENE:
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Five minutes of tension passed before the door clicked open. Vivian lay there with her eyes shut, trying to relax. It was just a massage. Millions of women did this every day. And even liked it, if all the raving at the country club was any indication.
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“You're my next appointment?” A male Eastern European accent—possibly Russian—greeted her ears. She squeezed her eyes more tightly shut. Couldn't she get a female for anything?
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She considered requesting a woman, but then she got a look at him.
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Wavy, jet black hair fell over the best cheekbones she'd ever seen up close and in person on a man. The definition of his chest was visible through a white t-shirt. He had strong, well-defined arms, and large, yet elegant hands, like those of a concert pianist. She could see how those hands could be equally at home playing flesh draped over a massage table.
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Her eyes traveled slowly back to his face. It was expectant. Waiting for something. Oh, yeah. An answer to his question.
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“Y-yes,” she managed to stammer.
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“Very good. My name is Anton. I'll be taking care of you today.”
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The way he said it seemed like both a sinful promise and a sinister threat, causing Vivian's heart to start doing erratic things in her chest. He moved closer, and she tensed.
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“Relax, my dear. Dr. Smith was correct. You are quite a closed-budded flower. We will open you.” He made it sound so sexual and wrong. A warmth fluttered in her center and spread outward.
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Her voice came out breathy, “You spoke to Dr. Smith?”
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“Just a few moments ago. While you were getting ready for me.”
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She turned her head away so she could stop looking at him with helpless longing. She'd experienced testosterone overload today. Too many men near her in situations that were far too sexual for her comfort.
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“You are Vivian, yes?” he said as he selected a body oil from a cart near the table. He was the king of the rhetorical question.
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“Yes.”
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The slick oil made a sound as it coated his hands. He pulled back the towel to reveal her bare back. “Lovely,” he murmured.
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Vivian wasn't sure if he was admiring her skin, or if he was referring to her name. Before she could decide which, and whether or not it was appropriate, his hands were on her body, and she forgot how to think in full sentences. The strong, gentle kneading along her back caused her to, inch-by-inch, loosen and open to him and the pleasurable sensations he delivered to her.
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He was silent as he worked out the tension around her shoulders, and then her upper back and neck. Her arms and hands came next. Everything slowly began to unclench, starting with the muscle group he was rubbing and spreading outward as she let herself relax. Her body felt loose, liquid, suspended in a tranquil bubble of calming sensations.
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Anton worked on her like this for about fifteen minutes, and then his hands began to slide lower, pushing aside the terrycloth until the towel was bunched around her thighs.
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“Really, Vivian. Underwear? I'm disappointed.”
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She reached behind her frantically for the towel to cover herself. Now there was no question he'd crossed the boundary. Wasn't a massage therapist supposed to protect their client's modesty and comfort?
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He gripped her wrist hard, not so hard to damage her, but hard enough to make her gasp in surprise at the rough contact and the menace behind it.
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“Are you going to be a good girl and put your hands back where you had them?”
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One-Click GUILTY PLEASURES now: Guilty Pleasures
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the following people for their help with The Dark Arts:
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Robin Ludwig @ gobookcoverdesign.com for the fabulous cover art! This is my favorite yet!
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Thank you to Cathy for copy edits.
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Thank you to Michelle and Karen for great beta read suggestions on the original books that make up this box set.
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Thank you to Lori Jackson for the amazing teaser graphics!