Page 167 of Inferno

I bat my lashes at him.

“Maybe. Or maybe I was distracting you so I can do this.”

His frown deepens as I quickly seize his biceps; with a surge of strength, I push him back, using his body to leverage my own and pull my legs up. In one forceful move, I kick out into his gut, sending him stumbling backwards onto his ass.

He splutters a cough as he gets up on one knee. I plaster myself against the wall, trying to regain my balance.

“Proposing already? Why are you so obsessed with me, Mr. Quinn?” I step forward as he grabs hold of his stomach, getting his breath back.

Digging my fingers into the pressure points between his neck and shoulder, I look down at him.

“Not a fucking clue, sweetheart.” His voice is gravelly, that Irish twang makes my body heat.

“But trust me, I’m nowhere near my full potential of psycho with you just yet.”

His eyes darken as he lunges for my waist, dragging me down to the floor.

We tumble around, I grab hold of his shirt and it rips open the top few buttons. As he extends to snatch my wrist, I roll out of the way.

“You think I don’t know how to deal with psychos?” I shout as I crawl away.

He snatches one of the leather bands around my waist and drags me across the floor. Swinging my leg back, I smash it into his ribs.

I make it over to the edge of the chocolate fountain.

“You have no fucking idea what I’ve been through or why I do what I do. I’m asking you to listen, Declan.”

He grunts behind me. As he approaches, I turn around and dip my hand in the warm pool of chocolate, splashing it all over his face.

“Decadent? Right?” I mock.

My lungs heave as I look at his chocolate-splattered face. He slowly licks his lips, and I stop before splashing again.

“Pretty much. Try it for yourself.” His tone is icy.

I gasp as he grabs the back of my head and shoves me forward, right into the stream of melted chocolate flowing.

I try doing everything I can to get out of his grip, but the more I try, the harder he squeezes my neck. Just as my lungs burn, he pulls me out.

This is not going the way I want.

But I don’t have a damn plan other than to fight it out.

Chapter 64

DECLAN

Irelease her as she gasps for air, wiping the chocolate out of her face.

Even like this she’s fucking beautiful.

She wants me to listen? To more bullshit excuses?

She’s doing what she does best. Playing me.

Except that fucking nagging feeling is gnawing at me to hear her out.

Not yet. I’m having far too much fun with her.

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