Page 477 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

It’s been awhile since a guy caught my eye, mainly because I haven’t been able find one who I’m more passionate about than my studies. And when I can carry on a more thrilling conversation with the rescue animals at the shelter than with a ‘boyfriend’, that’s a pretty big red warning flag.

But none of the guys I’ve dated have had the erotic magnetism that Zeno does. It pulls me close to the point where I can’t even resist it, and any attempt to drag myself away is futile.

It’s like I’m completely out of control of my body.

Or maybe it’s my body’s way of telling me that it would very much like to give my head a break for once and start making some of the decisions, especially the fun ones.

I’m kind of inclined to go along with it, too.

“Used car salesmen,” he repeats. “They’re all smoke and mirrors, using fast talk and empty promises to get you to do something you might not want to do.” He leans toward me. “Yeah, I don’t need any of those things to get me what I want.”

“So how do you win the game?” I ask in a raspy whisper, the innuendo catching in my throat and choking me like a noose. My God, I don’t know what the hell is happening to me right now. I’m being sucked into his very provoking, very sensual funnel cloud, and I’m so ready to take that ride.

“I can be damn convincing when I want something,” he says. His voice, so husky and thick, sends goosebumps shooting up my arms and down my legs.

“I can’t imagine that you’d need to be.” My voice hitches, his raw, musky, and manly scent wafting under my nostrils. I breathe in, letting it infuse and empower me.

He closes the space between us, his hot breath fluttering against my cheek. His blue eyes darken, framed with thick, dark eyelashes that makemeenvious. “You don’t know me,” he murmurs. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“You don’t know me, either,” I breathe, my heart hammering against my chest.

“But I do,” he says. “I know you’re celebrating something tonight. That tells me you accomplished something pretty major. You feel proud and excited, I can see that, too.” He leans close still, his face almost touching mine. “And you want to let loose and have fun…do something you’ve never done before because tonight, you’re on top of the world and nothing can touch you.” He grins. “Unless you want it to.”

My jaw drops slightly.

Okay, either he’s just really perceptive, or Kazimir gave him an earful before he came in here.

“So that’s your read, huh?” I say with a roll of my eyes. “That I want to take a walk on the wild side for once and be free because I finally convinced myself that I can be? Because I feel good about my future?”

Shoot.

I said the words in defiance, but…

Theyarekind of true.

Sitting here with this gorgeous stranger, not knowing anything about him other than the fact that he makes me hotter than I’ve ever been in my life…which is saying a lot, considering that I suffer through the summertime in Vegas where it’s one-hundred-and-twenty degrees at night.

“You said it, not me.” Zeno’s lazy grin widens and he takes another swig of his drink.

“Well, it’s not true,” I say in a huff. But still, I can’t seem to pull away from him, I can’t escape his carnal net. I’m stuck with no desire to escape, no matter what I say to the contrary.

Dammit.

I amsucha liar.

And my body is a traitorous bitch.

“Okay, tell me the truth, then. What do I need to know about you, Lily?” His voice. God, that voice! It’s low, masculine, and seductive enough to get me to do anything that he asks.

The control I feared I was losing?

The bigger concern now is that it’s been lost completely.

“It’s true that I was just accepted into a very competitive program, and my friends took me out to celebrate,” I say, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear so I have something to occupy my fingers with when they really itch to massage his massive biceps. “And yes, I do feel good about it. Amazing, actually. It makes me feel like I can accomplish anything, that I can do whatever I want.” My lips curl upward and the vixen takes hold. “On my terms. Nobody else’s, for once.”

His eyes flicker with a bit of curiosity at my last words and I take a beat, hearing them myself.

My terms.

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