Page 111 of Impenitent Claim

“Caught you,” he whispered in exultation.

I struggled and kicked. It was useless.

Gazing down at me with a blazing intent, a dark grin played over his mouth. His wickedly sinful mouth. I quit struggling, instantly wanting nothing more than those lips on me.

Breathing hard, I waited for his verdict.

“A valiant effort, but I expected better,” he crowed softly, trailing the tip of his finger down the side of my bare arm.

Heat warred with indignation inside my chest. I squirmed against him, but he only chuckled.

I narrowed my eyes, an idea springing to the forefront. It wasn’t agoodplan. Quite evil, actually. There was no way it wouldn’t work.

“Gio! What are you doing?” I called out, leaning around Ilya as I played the dirtiest trick in the book.

The change that came over the spectre was immediate. He pulled to his full height, body strung taut like a string as he rounded, prepared to deal with the damage.

I broke free of his hold, bolting across the room. I would pay for that deception, of that I had no doubt. There was part of me that counted on it. Arms pumping, I raced through a side door—

Only to be yanked back.

I crashed into a wall. The impact was rough, and a short cry slipped through my lips.

“Such a wicked, wicked girl,” Ilya growled. He traced the snake along the back of my gown. “I should have expected nothing less from the Goddess of Fury.”

Moisture pooled between my legs in response. This fantasy was everything I craved, and more.

“No matter, siren, these doors lock. You’re at my mercy now.”

The click that followed confirmed that I was indeed alone with the monster. The spectre hauled me across the room, where he threw the lock on the inner set of doors. I struggled and seethed, not giving him an ounce of submission as he tugged me to the bare spot along the couch. He pushed against me, letting me feel the weight of his body. He tugged the strap of my gown with enough force that it nearly tore.

I sucked in a sharp protest. This was going from game to treacherous territory quite quickly.

But the feel of his lips on my bare shoulder a moment later erased the protest. “My wicked little rusalka needs to be fucked hard it seems.”

I jerked to the side. “Let me go! This is madness, Ilya. We’ll be caught.”

Those words dripped off my tongue, but I didn’t believe them. Not in my heart.

“Too late for that.” He sucked on my pulse, sending my eyes fluttering shut. “You wanted to play with fire, you wicked girl, now I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll burn.”

A whimper escaped my lips.

But I wasn’t ready to submit. He would have to tear that from me. Siren, he called me? Ancient sorceresses who lured men to their deaths? I rose to the namesake.

“I need to go back to the ball. I’ll be missed!” As I spoke, I grabbed his cock, gripping it tightly.

The hiss that whistled through his teeth was reward enough. I had power over this man, if only for a moment.

I slid from his clutches. His grasp loosened only to tangle roughly in my hair. He spun me around in one smooth move, shoving me hard against the wall and lowering his face over mine. Grey eyes, the silvery color of the moon, stared with a ravenous hunger at me.

“I’ve caught you, Izzy. I intend to keep you.”

His words sent a searing heat rushing over my skin. The space between us was in danger of bursting into flames. I panted, tugging my hands free and pushing my fingers along the sides of his face. I threaded my touch back, through his short, dark hair, tugging the mask free. I rose to my tippy toes, barely tall enough to reach what I wanted.

“No barriers,” I breathed, and then my lips were on his.

There was a tug on the strings of my mask. As we kissed, desperate and testing, he tossed the masks aside, before his hands wrapped around me, tugging me into his body. I melted. We kissed until we both were breathing hard.

---