Page 46 of Secrets and Shadows

She doesn’t hold back this time, and rolls her eyes, but the smile on her lips is definitely amused. “You’re impossible.”

“Impossible to resist, impossible to live without, impossible to forget,” I counter, and I lean in to gauge her reaction. I can’t help it. I’m a man obsessed. Her fingers brush against my skin, leaving a tingling sensation behind. I hate the way she has that effect on me, yet I find myself craving more—wanting her even closer, even though Iknowit’s a bad idea. But in the privacy of her room like this, just the two of us, I’m starting to forget why.

“Excuses, excuses...” I murmur, reaching up to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. Her breath catches, and she freezes, her eyes locking onto mine. The unspoken tension that’s been simmering between us since the moment we met hangs in the air, thick and palpable. “I don’t think you hate me half as much as you claim, Fox.”

“Then you don’t know anything about me…” she retorts, her voice soft but steady, her gaze unwavering even as she continues to dab at my wound.

“Maybe I want to know more,” I reply, my heart pounding in my chest as I lean closer. The air feels charged, electric, as if the very space between us is alive with possibility.

Her gaze flickers, uncertainty dancing in her gray depths. “You really think you can just charm your way into my good graces?”

I chuckle, the sound low and playful. “Charm? Is that what you call this?” I gesture between us, letting the moment linger, a playful challenge in my tone. “I thought it was more like a cosmic force drawing us together.”

She snorts softly, shaking her head, but the smile creeping back onto her face suggests I’m getting to her.That’s it, fox. Play with me.“Cosmic force, huh? More like a cosmic headache.”

My eyes betray me, constantly drawn to her lips—those full, tempting lips that seem to call me closer. She stands over me while I sit in her chair, completely at her mercy. Before I can overthink my next move, my hands act on their own, gripping her hips and pulling her down onto my lap.

Suddenly, my lips are on hers, and the world around us narrows to the two of us. The kiss is hard, demanding, hungry—an intoxicating blend of frustration and longing. It conveys everything I want her to know but can’t put into words. I slide my tongue between her lips, wanting to taste her fully, completely, claiming her as I go.

I brace myself for her to pull back, to push me away, or even to hit me, but instead, she gives in with a soft moan that drives me completely out of my mind.

She does retain some control, exactly how I would expect her to, her fingers tangling in my hair, yanking the dark strands as she tilts my head back. The bite of pain drives me wild and I groan. It’s only then that she breaks the kiss, her breath warm against my lips, leaving me craving more. So much more. It will never be enough.

“You think you can just do whatever the hell you want without facing any consequences, don’t you?” she murmurs, a hint of challenge in her voice. Fuck, that challenge makes mydick hard. Something I’m pretty sure she has now noticed since she’s pressed against it.

And she’s not entirely wrong. I hate to admit it, but when it comes to her, I’d jump into any crazy situation without a second thought about the fallout. But there’s no way in hell I’m saying that out loud.

A wicked smirk creeps onto my lips as I lean in a bit closer. “So, what are you going to do about it, Fox?”

Lilith hesitates, still perched on my lap, and for a moment, I’m sure she will pull away. But instead, she surprises me again. With a slow, deliberate movement, she shifts on my lap, her fingers finding the zipper of my pants.

My jaw nearly drops at the sight—whatever’s gotten into her, I’m all in for this game she’s decided to play.Fuck yes, bring it on my little fox.

“I’m going to show you that actions have consequences,” she says.

The urge to touch her, to claim every inch of her, consumes me then, entirely. But just as I’m about to act on that impulse, she unleashes her magic. I feel it wrap around my wrists, restraining my hands behind the chair with a tight binding.

Well, well ,well.

“Nice trick,” I whisper, a hint of admiration in my voice. I could easily break free from her magic; she’s only scratched the surface when it comes to her abilities, and most of it is still untapped. But for now, I let herthinkshe’s in control.

Really though, I’m intrigued by this little game she’s playing, and I’m desperate to see how far she’ll take it.

As my cock springs free, she wraps her hand around it, stroking it in slow, teasing movements that have my entire body tensing.

Fuck.

Her lips find my neck, trailing heated kisses across my skin, each one drawn out just enough to drive me closer to the edge.

Damn it. She’s really good at this game.

A loud grunt escapes me, my head tipping back and I struggle to keep control.

“Fuck, Fox. If this is how you tend to my wounds every time, maybe I should get injured more often…” I murmur, my eyes shutting and I let myself surrender to the sensation.

Her thumb brushes over the tip of my cock with every pass, the slow pace driving me insane. Each second of her touch weakens me, and I hate how completely she has me enthralled. I’m a total goner.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she whispers beneath my ear, her hot breath sending a shiver down my spine. The teasing in her voice only stokes the fire inside me, making it nearly impossible to resist the urge to break free from her magic, toss her onto the bed, and bury myself so deep inside her that I never have to leave.

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