Page 32 of The Devil's Wrath

His eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous. He closed the remaining distance between us, his body crowding mine until myback hit the brick wall of the building behind me. His hands came to rest on either side of my head, caging me in.

“You think I haven’t tried? You think I haven’t lay awake every night since the first time I saw you, trying to talk myself out of wanting you? Out of craving you in a way I’ve never craved anything before?” His hand shot out, wrapping around my neck—firm but not painful, a show of dominance that had my body responding with a sudden flood of heat between my thighs. A gasp escaped my lips as my body betrayed me, arching into him like a moth drawn to a flame. “Because I fucking can’t,” he growled. “God knows I’ve tried. But I can’t get you out of my goddamn head. Tell me you don’t feel this. Tell me you don’t crave this as much as I do.”

“I . . .” My voice came out breathy and strained. I swallowed hard, feeling his fingers flex against my skin. “I don’t know what I feel.”

Lie.

I knew exactly what I felt. The evidence of it was slicking my thighs and beading my nipples into aching peaks. But admitting it out loud, giving voice to the depraved hunger he stirred in me, terrified me more than the man himself.

His eyes bored into mine, stripping me bare and exposing all my darkest desires. “Yes, you do,” he said dangerously. “You’re just too afraid to admit it.”

He was right. I was afraid. Afraid of the intensity of my reaction to him. Afraid of how badly I wanted to submit to the dark promises in his eyes. I’d spent my whole life trying to be the good girl, the perfect daughter, the responsible sister. But something about this man made me want to shed my skin and embrace the wicked temptress lurking beneath the surface.

“Let me go, Theo,” I whispered.

His grip on my neck tightened fractionally as his eyes searched mine. There was a sea of emotions swirling in those green depths. Time seemed to stretch and slow, the rest of the world fading until all that existed was the heat of his body pressing into mine and the pounding of my heart against my ribcage.

After a charged moment, he released me and took a step back, coldair rushing in to replace the warmth of his touch. I felt bereft at the loss of contact, my body screaming at me to pull him back in.

He raked a hand through his hair, a muscle ticking in his jaw as he visibly struggled to rein himself in. Then he turned on his heel and strode away. I sagged back against the brick wall, my legs suddenly unwilling to support my weight. Pressing a trembling hand against my chest, I silently commanded my racing heart to slow its frantic gallop.

What the hell is going on?

One minute, we’d been talking, and the next, he’d had me pinned to the wall, entirely at his mercy.

And I’d liked it. No, I’d more than liked it. I’d craved it with a desperation that shocked me to my core. I didn’t know what game he was playing, but every instinct screamed that he was dangerous, not just to my body, but to my heart and soul. He had the power to unravel me, to shatter the carefully constructed walls I had erected around myself.

And that terrified me more than anything.

TEN

WRENLY

Over the next few days, I threw myself into my classes and work, trying to distract myself from thoughts of Theo and the ever-present threat of Connor. But it was harder than I’d anticipated. I could feel people’s stares and hear their whispers everywhere I went on campus. News of my public altercation with Connor had spread like wildfire, and now I was the talk of the university.

I did my best to ignore it, keeping my head down and focusing on my studies. But even in the sanctuary of the library, I couldn’t escape the gossip and speculation after the scene at the party. A group of girls at a nearby table did nothing to hide their conversation.

“I heard he’s killed people,” one of them whispered conspiratorially.

“All those boys in The Brotherhood kill people. But what’s really important is, I heard they chase virgins in the woods and fuck them senseless if they’re chosen.”

“You’re ridiculous,” the first girl said.

“Well, I think it’s hot,” another girl chimed in. “Have you seen them? Word on the street is that Theo West fucks like a god. Of course, he doesn’t do relationships, but I would give my firstborn child to tangle with him in the sheets. Just once . . . or twice.” She clicked her tongue against her teeth, and the table erupted in laughter.

I rolled my eyes and tried to focus on the textbook in front of me, but their words echoed in my mind. Was there any truth to the rumors? I had heard all about The Brotherhood boys, but Theo had never told me he was a part of it. There were so many things I didn’t know about him. Was this why he’d rejected me? He didn’t see a place for me in his world? A world of murderers?

Without a second thought, I slammed my textbook closed, the sudden noise echoing through the library and catching the attention of curious students nearby. I couldn’t remain seated any longer, feeling overwhelmed by endless conjecture. Rising swiftly, I locked eyes with the chattering girls at the adjacent table. As I hurried past them, I forced a smile, dismissing the murmurs trailing behind me. The brisk autumn breeze greeted me as I stepped outside, and my phone buzzed in my purse while I walked toward my car.

Vera.

“Vera, what’s up?”

“Girl, what are you doing tonight?” she asked, her cheerful voice slightly slurred from what I gathered was the alcohol she was likely already drinking.

“Just studying. I have a test on Monday.”

“Boooo. What you should be doing is coming out to the quarry and enjoying the sweet taste of alcohol and hot drunk guys’ hands all over you.”

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