Page 20 of Brutal Monster
"Is it?"
Her eyes—those fierce green eyes that haunt me—drop to my mouth for a fraction of a second. "It has to be."
I cup her face with one hand, my thumb tracing the small scar on her jawline. "Tell me you don't feel this, and I'll drop it."
Her pulse jumps beneath my fingers. "I can't afford to feel anything."
"Liar."
I pull her against me, giving her one heartbeat to resist. She doesn't. Our mouths crash together with none of last night's hesitation. This kiss is hungry, desperate. Her fingers dig into my shoulders as she rises on her toes, pressing herself fully against me.
I back her against the counter, lifting her onto it. Her legs wrap around my waist instantly. I taste vodka on her tongue, feel the heat of her through our clothes. When I break the kiss to trail my lips down her neck, she gasps—the same sound that's been echoing in my mind since last night.
"This is a mistake," she whispers, even as her head falls back, giving me better access.
"Then stop me." I nip at her collarbone, feeling her shiver.
Her hands slide into my hair, gripping tight enough to hurt. "I can't."
I reclaim her mouth, swallowing her confession. The kiss deepens, becomes something dangerous. My hands find the buttons of her blouse and begin working them open.
A timer dings sharply.
Inez breaks away, breathing hard. "The food."
I step back reluctantly, watching as she slides off the counter and turns to the stove. Her hands shake slightly as she removes a pan from the heat. The back of her neck is flushed pink.
"We should talk," she says without looking at me.
"After."
She turns, her blouse half-unbuttoned, her lips swollen from my kiss. "After what?"
I move toward her again, deliberately slow. "After I show you exactly how real this is."
Her eyes darken. "Vanya..."
"Tell me you don't want this." I stop just short of touching her. "Tell me, and we'll eat dinner and discuss business like the good partners we're supposed to be."
For a long moment, she says nothing. The only sound is our breathing, still uneven from the kiss. Then she reaches out, takes my hand, and places it over her heart. I feel its wild rhythm beneath my palm.
"I can't lie to you," she finally says. "But this complicates everything."
"Everything worth having is complicated." I draw her back into my arms. "And I intend to have you, Inez Bravo. All of you."
This time when we kiss, there's no hesitation, no pretense that this is anything but inevitable. Inez's fingers make quick work of my tie, my jacket. My hands find skin beneath her blouse, warm and soft.
"Bedroom," she murmurs against my mouth.
I lift her easily, her legs wrapping around my waist again. "Lead the way."
As I carry her through her penthouse, I know there's no going back. Tonight will change everything between us. The alliance, the business, the power dynamics—all of it shifts with each piece of clothing we shed.
And I don't care. For once in my calculated life, I'm not thinking five moves ahead. I'm thinking only of Inez, of her skin against mine, of making her forget every reason why this shouldn't happen.
Tonight, she's mine. Tomorrow, we'll face the consequences together.
CHAPTER EIGHT
