Page 7 of Prey

She blinked up at me. “Is this a fucking game to you?”

The fire grew in her arresting gray eyes, and it was taking everything in me not to walk over to her, lift her up in my arms, and kiss the ever-living hell out of her.

She made it so easy for me to want to lose myself to her.

Todrownin her.

I took note of her fists clenching at her sides.

I wondered what she would do if she found just how turned-on I was from her anger.

She could take that anger out on me, any way she wanted.

“As much as I find you amusing, no. This isn’t a fucking game to me.”

“Then why take me?”

“To keep you.”

I didn't show any outward expression as I said it, but it was the fucking truth.

I was keeping her.

She stared at me for a moment, her mouth gaping open, and she stood there for a beat.

Unable to stand the distance between us anymore, I walked around the counter and came up to her.

I cupped her shoulders, hating the way she flinched at my touch.

There had been a time when she didn’t try to get away from my touch but moved closer and closer, as if she couldn’t get enough.

There was no artifice when it came to this girl—something I was completely fascinated by.

I was surrounded by people who all wore masks, and how well they had gotten to wearing them, but this girl—this innocent, sweet girl—showcased her every thought in those unnerving eyes.

I wanted to lose myself to her.

Insideher.

Until all that was left for her would be me.

“Come on,” I urged softly.

She closed her eyes for a moment, and bit her lip in consternation.

I waited patiently.

Being patient wasn’t my strong suit, but I realized when it came to her, I had the will of a saint.

I groaned and reached over, pulling the abused flesh between her lips and swiping across the plumpness with the pad of my thumb.

She held still.

I was so achingly aware of her delicate frame. I always had been, but somehow, hidden away from the world, in this cabin with her looking at me like this, her delicacy was so much more pronounced.

I was a big fucker, but she should know I didn’t want to hurt her—at least, not any more than she could handle.

And I’d make fucking sure she’d like it when that happened. She’d always liked it when Idid. This time would be no different, whether I was fucking her as Xavier or Roman.

---