Page 24 of Bound By Crimson
“I had to claim you,” he said. “I couldn’t let him touch you. I couldn’t stand the way he looked at you.”
Her breath hitched.
The car began to move. She wasn’t paying attention to where they were headed. Her pulse drowned out everything but the weight of his gaze.
“Where have you been?” she whispered. “I haven’t seen you around.”
His mouth curved into that same dark, knowing grin. “New York. That’s where I live.”
He gave no further explanation. No space for more questions.
She swallowed, breathless.
“I don’t even know your name.”
A grin—wicked, knowing—touched the corner of his mouth.
“No. I suppose you wouldn’t.” His voice dropped. “But isn’t that part of the intrigue?”
When the car slowed and stopped, she blinked in surprise. Her house. Somehow, he’d brought her home.
Confused, she looked at him. She didn’t want to leave. She didn’t want this night to end. She wanted to be in his arms again, to feel that heat, that safety. And more than anything she wanted to know everything about him.
He read the desire in her eyes before she could speak.
“If I don’t let you go now… I never will,” he said. His voice was strained. “It’s getting hard to control myself.”
He hesitated, fingers tracing along her jaw, then whispered, “I’m afraid I’ll ruin you.”
The words sent a shiver down her spine.
Her thought escaped before she could stop it. “What if I want you to?”
It was barely more than a breath, but he heard it.
His eyes darkened. He groaned—a sound low and dangerous—and surged forward, crushing his mouth against hers.
This kiss was different. Fierce. Desperate. A release of everything he’d been holding back.
His hands gripped her hips, pulling her against him until there was no space left between them.
When he finally forced himself to stop, his chest was heaving.
“You have no idea what you’re inviting, Lyric.” His thumb brushed her bottom lip. “If I don’t let you go now…”
He opened the door and stepped out, circling to her side. His touch lingered as he helped her out.
“Go,” he whispered, voice thick with restraint.
She turned, heart racing. As she reached the door, she glanced back.
“Kai,” he called softly. “That’s my name.”
His eyes burned into her. Possessive. Hungry. As though memorizing her. Committing her to memory in case he couldn’t stop himself next time.
Then the car pulled away, disappearing into the shadows.
Chapter Seven
