Page 58 of Abyss

The muscles in my back bunch together. “It’s not part of our business arrangement. Dating, bringing men over to my house to—”

Her nostrils flare, her eyes alight with defiance. “When did my dating life become a part of this arrangement? When didyoudecide you had any say in it?”

I step forward, eliminating the inch of space between us. “Since you said yes to moving in with me.”

“A decision I had little sway in,” she retorts, her mouth forming a tight line.

“I never held a gun to your head, Kavi. You could have simply said no.”

She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What the hell isyour problem? Why are you acting like a lunatic again?”

I lean down, my eyes locking with hers. “My problem is that I will not allow assholes you decide to sleep with into my home.”

Kavi looks murderous for a moment, silently glaring at me before a derisive laugh escapes her. “No problem! No one I choose to sleep with will be over at your house . . .” she turns around, looking over her shoulder, “because I’ll be attheirs.”

Before she can take a step forward, I grasp her wrist and turn her around so her chest crashes into mine. My words are minced, my glare deadly. “No, you won’t.”

A flash of lightning dances in her irises before her lids droop over them and her fingers curl into the space between the buttons of my shirt, fisting it.

Her chest rises and falls in the same erratic way my heart seems to thrum. “Yeah?” she whispers. “And how do you plan to stop me, Mr. Case?”

With a growl, I drag my fingers through the side of her head before grasping a chunk of her wavy hair in my fist. I pull so her chin lifts, her kiwi-shaped earrings dangling gently over her neck. Her luscious mouth with that gem sparkling over her upper lip opens, as if waiting for me. “No plan, only a promise to.”

Her soft breath fans my lips, making my cock stiffen painfully inside my pants. “Sounds to me like you’re all talk, old man . . .”

This fucking girl.

Without another thought, I slam my mouth to hers, silencing her and pouring every ounce of my irritation into a punishing kiss.

A growl rattles inside my chest as I taste her for the first time. She tastes exactly the way she smells—sweet and tempting, like all the things I could get addicted to.

Like all the things Ishouldn’tget addicted to.

Her lips are soft and plump, moving in time with mine, as our mouths open and our tongues meet.

Her rogue hands climb up my chest, one grasping the hair at the nape of my neck, the other tightening over my shoulder while orange fingernails dig into my shirt.

Something carnal and free hums inside me as I plunge my tongue deeper into her mouth, coaxing a soft moan from her. Our tongues tangle, our chests heave, and our mouths claim, desperately, hungrily.

With a groan, she pushes up on her toes and I pull her hips against mine, letting her feel the way my dick strains for her.

Kavi’s eyes are closed, her head tilted to give me access, and God, she feels good in my arms. So fucking good and intoxicating, I wonder if I’d even been alive before this.

I angle her face as our tongues seek more, and she wiggles and mewls against me while I practically hold myself back from dragging her to my desk and fucking her senseless.

She pulls on my hair, opening her mouth wider, letting me take and give. I coast my hand up her waist, brushing my thumb over her breast, and swallow the whimper that escapes her.

Fuck, she is going to ruin me. Destroy me.

My walls, my guard, my every attempt at self-preservation.

She’ll leave a trail of wreckage in her path.

I drag my hand up to her neck, feeling her warm skin against mine. Her pulse races under my fingertips, similar to the way my blood rushes through my body, going south. Jesus, I could drown in her; I could asphyxiate and die right here, and I wouldn’t be sorry.

I take her mouth brutally, mercilessly, as my hand settles into her midnight hair. I tilt her head the other way, mymouth working against hers, unsure if I’m even breathing. I had no idea how ravenous I was for her all this time.

Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to hire her as my temp. Maybe this was the most brilliant thing I’ve ever done.

---