Page 140 of Wicked Savage

Her mouth curls into a sneer. “Ha!” She turns to me, features filled with disdain. “You think I’d ever want you? Maybe you think you’re some kind of prize every woman wants to be with.”

I smirk, stepping toward her. “You once thought so.”

Her gaze turns hard as she stares me down. “I’m not that girl anymore. You’re nothing to me, Cillian Quinn. Nothing!”

The bite in her words doesn’t match the storm in her eyes, a storm that pulls me in despite the walls between us.

“Nothing, huh?” I step closer.

“That’s right.” She hits me with a defiant glint in her eyes.

“Say it again.”

She laughs, a cold and lethal laugh. “You’re.Nothing.”

The second she turns to walk away, I grab the back of her head, pulling her into me. Before she can protest, I crash my lips against hers, claiming the kiss she’s been fighting so hard to resist.

At first, she fights me, hands gripping my jacket like she wants to push me away. But I don’t let her. I pull her closer, and slowly, she unravels. Her resistance slowly fades and she melts into me, the years of pain, anger, and distance evaporating with every breath. This kiss—this raw, desperate kiss—wipes away everything we’ve been through. Or at least I’d like to believe it does.

When she finally pulls back, her lips are swollen from the intensity, breathing coming in shallow gasps. Desire flickers in her eyes, a fire I’ve seen before. Undeniable. Uncontrollable.

She wants me. Just as much as I want her.

Konstantin’s voice breaks through the haze between us. “Let’s raise a toast to the new happy couple. Dinara and Cillian!”

She recoils. “What? No!” Her eyes dart between Konstantin and me, disbelief and fury flooding her features. “This isn’t happening, Cillian. We’re not getting married.”

“For once, we agree.” I cross my arms over my chest, enjoying this game.

Her eyes narrow, determination hardening her stare. “Great. So we’ll both go to Konstantin and tell him this is not happening.”

I chuckle. “I don’t think he’d care what I have to say.”

The amusement flickers in my eyes as I try unsuccessfully to hide my grin. She looks too damn cute when she’s pissed.

“Fine,” she huffs. “I’ll go talk to him myself.”

“Sounds good, baby.”

“Don’t call me ‘baby.’” Her glare could melt steel.

I step into her space, my fingers brushing through her hair as I pull her closer, my voice rough with a challenge. “What would you like me to call you, hmm? Mine. Is that better?”

She grinds her teeth, eyes shooting fire. “Never.”

I laugh softly, letting her go just as Tynan approaches, his gaze flicking between us with curiosity.

“Excuse me,” Dinara mutters, slipping past me, her form graceful despite the fire in her eyes.

I watch her walk away, her every movement like a challenge I’m determined to meet.

“You okay?” Tynan asks, and I finally give him my attention.

I take a long breath, shaking my head, clearing the fog from my thoughts. “I don’t know, man. Back then, I didn’t want this. But the moment she walked away from me, I realized I couldn’t live without her. Now I can’t walk away from her. Not anymore.”

He smirks.

I grip the back of my head. “You think Mom would be pissed?”