STOLEN BY THE HEARTLESS LYCAN

Chapter 10: The Nightlight.

Cora’s pov.

There was a nightlight in my room.

I picked up the small, dome shaped object and examined it thoroughly with a bit of detached scepticism. It was purple, green and very shiny, decorated with a hundred tiny little stars. It fit right into the palm of my hands quite well, it was also very light.

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the trinket was camera, so I tried to peer into to the dome in hopes that I’d be able to see the camera and rip it out, but after a few minutes of sticking my eye against the glass of the nightlight I tossed it up and down a little in hopes that I might hear something rattling and rip it out.

But still, there was nothing.

It was one of two things, either the camera was carefully concealed or… there was no camera in there. I decided to brush of the first thought, after all what other reason could he possibly have to install a nightlight in my room?

I thought for a second.

Of course, there was the excuse of my fear of the dark, but Creed seemed like the person to prey on someone’s fears if it meant getting his way and I was not about to let him win in that regard.

So with that thought I lift the ‘nightlight’ above my head, ready to toss it onto the ground, but the door opened before I could do that and in walked Creed with his usual dark and stormy expression.

I saw a flash of surprise in his eyes when he saw what I was trying to do, before the surprise ebbed back into complete blankness.

It made me feel a little uneasy how easily he shuts off his emotions.

“What are you doing?” He tipped his head to the side, curious. “Do you not like it?”

I was tempted to tell him point blank what I felt about his spy equipment, but I wasn’t too keen on getting chopped to pieces and left for dead.

My lips twitched into a small smile and I waved the Nightlight about like it’s a toy.

“Of course I do,” I drawled. “I was just curious…”

“And in your urge to quench your curiosity you were going to smash it?” He folded his arms and my eyes lingered briefly on the biceps that bulged with that action.

Captor or not, he had a very nice body.

I cleared my throat and played with the dome, I let my eyelids droop and I looked up at him like that, he seemed completely unmoved but the way his eyes searched my face said otherwise.

“I like to know how easily things break,” I idly swiped my finger over the top of the dome. “Did you get this for me?”

He nodded once. “You’re scared of the dark and sleeping with the lights on can be quite uncomfortable, I thought this would help.”

A slight frown tugged my lips down, he sounded a little too sincere and honestly, I felt a little calmer knowing I’d have a light source but I’m not stupid enough to be lulled into a false sense of security by his actions.

This was probably what he wanted, to get me to let my guard down so he can use me the way other men did. I gripped the nightlight a little tighter, but my emotions as usual, didn’t make their way onto my face.

“That’s so nice of you,” I bit down on my lip, his eyes followed that one action. “No one has ever done something like this for me before.”

Not a lie actually, I could count on one hand the amount of nice things people have done for me, and most of those things were done by him. Though fake and clearly a ruse, I was not completely cold, I founnd myself feeling some form of appreciation for him.

Maybe I’ll give him a little kiss before I go even.

I saw a hint of satisfaction on his face. Whether from the fact that he thought he had successfully put a camera in my room, or something else, I didn’t know.

I took another step towards him, the scent of his expensive cologne invaded my senses and almost got me confused about my less than honourable intentions.

I was here to get on his good side, not drown in his scent.

“Why don’t you let me show you how grateful I am?” I ran my tongue over my lower lip, his eyes once again traced that movement, but he didn’t say anything.

He watched me silently as I drew closer to him, I kept my eyes pinned on his sculpted face with a heavy lidded gaze.

I have done this a million times, I’ve run my hands over a man’s chest, I pressed small kisses to his necks, I’ve made him feel good with just my words alone, it’s what I’m good at and for once I was glad for the years I spent in that prison, because now it might be what gets me out of this prison.

“What are you doing?” he asked when I was just a hair’s breadth away from him, there was something oddly controlled about his gaze, controlled and yet utterly ravenous in the way he looked at me and I… liked it.

I guess I’m a masochist or Stockholm syndrome was finally kicking in.

“I’m just showing my gratitude,” I chuckled and brushed my nose against his neck, he sucked in a breath. Tension like a coiled spring tightened his body as I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed soft kisses to the skin of his neck.

I enjoyed it more than I’d ever admit and was really getting close to eating the man up until he pushed me away from him.

“You’re playing with fire, Coralie,” he chuckled darkly and my heart raced with a different tempo as he placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch, a lot warmer than anything I’ve ever felt. He could have let go, but it was almost like he couldn’t stop himself from touching me and I leaned into that touch, not fully dissuaded.

“I’d be a bad guest if I didn’t show gratitude when you act so nice to me,” I dropped my voice into a seductive drawl. “And I don’t want to be a bad guest.”

Translation; I don’t want you to get tired of me.

“You can show gratitude by giving me some space,” he sounded more amused than annoyed. “And putting the Nightlight down before you actually break it.”

“But-” I started.

He suddenly lifted his hand and my life flashed before my eyes. I immediately started shuffling away, prepared to dodge his strike. But then, I saw the perplexed look on his face, he glanced at his hand then gently lowered it and extended it to me again, this time slower with his palm up in an attempt to show that he meant no harm.

I cleared my throat and handed him the nightlight, he watched me with softened eyes and takes the nightlight towards my bedside table, I waited for him to comment on my flinching, maybe he’d spew some s**t about how he means no harm and I how I have nothing to fear from him, I was ready to play dumb and assure that I’m not scared of him, but he remained silent instead and just took a seat on the couch and watched me with assessing eyes.

I felt a prick of self consciousness before waving it away. I don’t have the luxury to feel such petty feelings right now, I planted a hand on my hips and watched him with the same level of scrutiny he used on me.

“I heard you had a little argument with Hunter today,” he rested his head on his palm.

I frowned. Of course he told him, why am I even surprised? His job is to keep tabs on me.

“I wouldn’t call it an argument, we just didn’t see eye to eye on how he’s guarding me,” I saw another opportunity now, so I quickly walked over to him and stood between his parted legs. “I don’t need a guard Creed, I’m safe here aren’t I? You wouldn’t have brought me here if I wasn’t.”

It’s a mix of a challenge and an innocent question, it was clear what I was trying to do here. Creed reached up and wrapped an arm around my wrist, his hand was much larger and stone cold on my skin, I shivered a little bit at the feel, I’ve heard the rumours about me and I have felt his skin several times, but it was always a bit startling to remember there’s no blood flowing through his veins, no heart beating in his chest.

Maybe that was why he’s such an effective killer, it wouldn’t be hard to kill when you have no actual emotions.

“Hunter isn’t going anywhere, like I said he’s here to keep you safe when I’m not around,” he tugged me closer to him and I wondered if I could feel the warmth I’m leeching off.

“So take me with you when you go out,” I quickly suggested.

“You enjoy being around me that much?” His endless eyes cut through all my ditzy bullshit in seconds.

“Of course,” I ran a hand up his arm. “I’ll be fun too. I haven’t been outside for… a while.”

I pursed my lips together and thought of the many things I’d missed out on in life while being locked up.

“If you want to go out, all you have to do is ask. But as of now, it’s best you stay within the compound, no outings and no ditching Hunter.”

I was about ready to argue again, then I remembered the role I was supposed to be playing, plaintive, gentle and calm. So I nodded and attempted to sway him a little more before he eventually returned to his room.