Page 28 of King of Ruin

My heart picks up its pace, banging into my chest. Perhaps it’s because he killed someone, or that we’re both bloody and breathing far too hard, but it puts my mind back to the time we’d finished off Manny in my basement. When he took control of my body and I shattered around his hand.

As though he can read my thoughts, his lips lift higher. “Tell me you hate me.”

“Let go of my chains so I can show you.”

His face ebbs closer, so close I can smell the mix of spearmint and cooper mingling near his mouth. “Ever the donna.”

“The Queen,” my voice is a heated whisper.

He shakes his head. “Not yet. Tell me, if you could kill me right now, how would you do it?”

Kane’s hooded gaze roves over my face, his mouth less than an inch from mine now.

“Fire.”

Closer. “You want me to suffer.”

My chin flicks down half an inch. “Yes.”

“Because I make you feel?”

“You make me feel anger.”

“What else?” His lips are brushing against mine now. The light pressure sends tremors down my body.

“Annoyed and distracted.”

“What about desperate?”

My sternum constricts, and my lids disobey my order to stay still and instead flutter, speaking my truth even when I lie. “No.”

Hehmms, his deep tremor vibrating my entire chest. “Let me show you how you makemefeel.”

Kane’s hands leave the chains and thread through my hair, holding either side of my head firmly in place. There’s one second between the moment he pauses and I can see the war waging across his face to the next where his lips crush mine.

Unlike the others we’ve shared, it’s fueled by emotions. Emotions we wouldn’t dare utter out loud but are present nonetheless.

Frustration. For wanting each other despite everything telling us we shouldn’t.

Hatred. For putting us in the situation where we feel as if we’re sacrificing our own needs to meet the others.

Longing. Something I don’t think either of us has ever experienced in such a suffocating way.

His tongue licks along the seam of mine and when I grant him access, he takes full control. While his hands grip harder, mine find purchase, using his back and arms to hold on. He’s too lost in taking everything he can to realize what’s happened.

For a moment I wonder what it would be like not to do it. To allow this to play out and see just where his head is. Where his heart is. But I know better. This thing we have was always meant to expire in the flames that have flickered idly, waiting to consume me after my plan is complete.

It’s too bad though. We could have been something.

The sound of his own gun clicking pauses Kane’s mouth. He breaks them away from my lips and smiles softly as his eyes slowly peel open. “Until a bullet stops me.”

Ignoring the burn in the back of my throat and the glossy haze over my eyes I whisper, “stand up.”

We rise together, the key I snuck from his pocket falling to the ground with the cuffs I unlocked. Keeping the gun at his head, I motion to the closed door behind him. “How many?”

“Seven. The two that planned to have their way with you are dead, so five. When you leave here, make a right. There are two at the front door. Don’t worry about the ones at the back. They won’t be able to get through in time for you to take the last one out that’s guarding my car. The driver won’t need much convincing to take you home.”

My breathing quickens. “Where am I?”

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