Scarred Seductress

Naked Before the Devil

Selene could hear footsteps closing in from behind her just as the door creaked open. She stayed frozen in place, her heart violently slamming against her ribs. This could mean anything—in fact, it could mean she got exposed before she even had the chance to get close to them, earn their trust, and wreck the lives of those who had wrecked hers when they least expected it.

“f**k,” she cursed, biting down on her lower lip, her shaking hand clawing at her sides.

“Marina?” Damien’s voice growled, sending a deep wave of relief washing down Selene’s spine.

She was no novice—she had expected a day like this would come, just not so soon. Still, she could claim she’d lost her way, feign ignorance, or play the victim. No man would suspect otherwise. Except… she was already slipping her way into his heart—and that was even better.

It would have been far worse if it had been Marina herself. Marina would be a lot harder to fool, especially when it involved her husband.

Selene drew in a deep breath and was just about to turn when Damien closed in behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

Her heart skipped.

“You smell different today…” he whispered, his face trailing along the line of her neck, sniffing—feeling.

She swallowed hard.

“So this is it… this is why she had me confused, Marina. It’s the perfume,” he continued, his arms tightening around Selene as he inhaled deeply, his eyes squeezing shut.

Selene’s lips parted to speak, but she stopped herself just in time. A low scoff tore from her instead.

“Wear this every day, Marina, and give her no chance to steal my heart,” he whispered again, this time trailing kisses into Selene’s neck, his hardness pressing firmly against her back.

“Help me not get swayed by her, I'll hate myself for it….help me keep my promise,” he growled.

Selene raised a brow, confusion flashing across her face.

“Your… your promise?” she whispered in a low tone—one that could pass as Marina’s.

“To never let another take Sam's place…”

“Honey!” Marina’s voice echoed down the hallway, her footsteps closing in.

Selene’s eyes snapped wide. She wriggled free of Damien’s hold.

Terror stretched across his face as it finally dawned on him—the woman before him was not Marina. He swallowed hard and turned his face away, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Selene spared him no glance. She scanned the room sharply, then bolted, slipping into the restroom just as the door creaked open.

“Honey!” Marina cooed, wrapping her arms around a restless-looking Damien. She leaned in with a bright smile and kissed his lips. To her surprise, he didn’t push her away—like he always did.

“I missed you so much, honey,” Marina said warmly, butterflies erupting in her stomach at his sudden change. Not only had he made love to her last night, but he hadn’t left on another business trip—and now he was letting her hold him.

“We could actually try for another baby,” she added excitedly, glancing down and noticing the bulge in his trousers. Her eyes lit up, cheeks flushing red. Finally—finally—he wanted her.

“I’ll go take a shower and—”

“We’ll do it in your room,” Damien cut in, shaking his head as if to brush off the tension swirling inside him.

Marina arched a brow. “But… but—”

Damien didn’t wait. He grabbed her hand, led her out, and walked away with her.

Selene exhaled deeply, clawing her fingers through her hair as she paced. That had been close. Careless.

Just get out of here, her subconscious urged.

She slipped out of the restroom and into the empty room, shaking her head as she quickened her steps. She was almost out when her eyes snagged on a painting on the wall.

Samantha.

Her stomach lurched as Damien’s words echoed back to her.

To never let another take Sam's place…

She let out a bitter chuckle and shook her head. No—he couldn’t have meant Samantha. He’d probably kept her portrait as a reminder of betrayal. Of the woman who hurt him. Nothing more.

She pushed the thought aside and darted down the hallway—only to gasp when she spotted Marina returning, scurrying back as if she’d forgotten something.

“s**t,” Selene hissed.

Her eyes caught on an even more glamorous door. She pushed it open and rushed inside, clutching her chest as she struggled to breathe.

“Now where am I—”

She looked up and froze.

A desperate swallow escaped her as her eyes landed on Damien’s father, standing with his back to her—smoking, his gaze fixed sternly out the window.

She cursed under her breath and turned to slip away.

“Nice acting back there,” he growled.

Her body locked.

Selene forced a dry laugh and slowly turned, meeting his gaze. A slow smile curved his lips as his hand reached for the gun resting on the table.

Her eyes widened.

What was he talking about? And why was he reaching for a gun?

“I—I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I think I lost my way. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll just—”

“One step,” he said coldly, lifting the gun, “and I’ll blow your brains out.”

Fear gripped her. She swallowed and nodded slowly, her trembling hands clutching the sides of her gown.

“All that show,” he continued. “What was it for? Who are you?”

She looked up, heart pounding. Deceiving Matteo Moretti was no easy feat.

“Speak!” he barked.

“It was a mistake—”

“One more lie,” he cut in, “and I’ll kill you.”

Her fear curdled into anger—into resolve. She hadn’t come this far to fold. He was dangerous, yes—but she was Selene. A woman who broke men before they realized they were bleeding.

She hissed and lifted her chin, fingers threading through her hair as her fear melted into confidence.

Matteo chuckled, surprised. She was holding his gaze—steady—even with a gun pointed at her.

“If I meant any harm with the fire,” she said coolly, “using a towel would’ve been the stupidest idea.”

His jaw tightened.

“The house would’ve been gone before anyone realized what was happening,” she continued. “I’m meticulous like that.”

She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I just wanted attention. And I got it.”

His finger tightened on the trigger.

“So go ahead,” she challenged. “Shoot me. Since it’s apparently a crime to want the attention of a man who wouldn’t even spare me a glance otherwise.”

Their eyes locked—hers defiant, fear still flickering beneath the surface as she watched his finger hover, tense and ready on the trigger.

“Attention?” Matteo scoffed. “You think I’m that stupid?”

“Yes,” she snapped. “Your attention, Matteo.”

Her hands trembled as she fumbled with the straps of her nightgown—then, in one bold motion, she let it slip to the floor.

She stood bare before him.

The silence that followed was violent.

Matteo scoffed, his face indifferent at first. Then his eyes dragged over her slowly—too slowly—before snapping back to her face, sharp and furious. Not at her, but at himself. No woman had ever had the power to leave him standing at the edge of his own resolve, betraying him.

Selene held his gaze, her pulse roaring in her ears. This was madness. Reckless. But she didn’t look away.

“You wanted the truth…” Selene shuddered, pressing a smile to ease the tension shooting through her spine, about to take a step toward Matteo when he walked closer instead.

Selene’s breath hitched as he enclosed the space between them, his serious gaze still trailing over her body like he couldn’t help it. Selene swallowed, fear and something far worse tangling in her chest.

Matteo leaned in—she could feel the heat radiating off him, feel the danger rolling off his body like a warning, his lips brushing her ear.

“Don’t ever do this again…”

Her stomach twisted.

“Because if I touch you…” he whispered, not in tenderness, “you won’t ever belong to yourself again.”

His hand lowered near her waist, and his eyes followed.

“You’ll be mine…” he continued calmly, “until the day you die…”

Selene’s breath shuddered, her heart pounding as she understood with terrifying certainty what he had meant. For her revenge, she would hate that completely. She had mapped out her plan perfectly—Matteo was only meant to fall, not to own her.

“Get dressed,” he ordered coldly, another scoff tearing from his throat. He brushed past her and exited the room.

Selene exhaled, her knees shaking on the verge of buckling.