Page 65 of Hero & Villain
“Mm.” He kissed my shoulder as he twisted my wrist, using the exact pressure points that made it impossible for me to hold on to the knife.
I dropped it. He caught it and threw it end over end to stab into the wall behind the bar. The thud came right before he spun me around with my right arm pinned behind my back, my injured arm still in his grasp, but it didn’t hurt anymore.
“Daniela,” he murmured, sliding his nose over my jaw.
“James.”
He pulled away with a frown. “James?”
“That’s your name, isn’t it? I should say it’s one of them.”
His eyes narrowed. “You abandoned Prudence at a gas station. Why? Were you followed? Is that when you got shot?”
“It’s like the Spanish Inquisition. No one ever expects the Spanish Inquisition.”
He raised a brow while smiling, which was an adorable expression up there with his dimpled cheek. “You’re loopy from lack of blood.”
“I’m not, I’m enraged because I find you attractive. You’re a terrible person from a terrible, hypocritical, judgmental family. My grandfather might kill someone, but he wouldn’t insult them first.”
“My family insulted you?”
The memory of his mother’s sneer, her payoff, made me snarl at him. “Let me go!”
“So you can stab me? I really would love to, but at the moment I have some pressing business. That is, pressing you against this wall is my current business. This is what we call having a moment.” His warm brown eyes dropped to focus on my mouth for a second. “Your mouth doesn’t advertise itself as wickedly phenomenal, but after one taste, I can’t think, can’t function, can’t focus on my diabolical plans as well as a proper villain should.”
“Save your lies for someone who believes them. I’ll never listen to another word you say.”
He smiled, eyes glinting. “It’s much more enjoyable to lie to someone who expects it, don’t you think? Otherwise, it just isn’t a challenge. Call Trevor.”
I frowned at him. “Excuse me?”
“Not you, darling, but a friend of mine. I’m speaking into the void. Come to the Lounge, and bring Rog and his black bag. I’ll need a truth serum and some morphine. I don’t care if he’s in the middle of a fight.” He shook his head and kissed me, his lips softly playing mine like I was an instrument.
How dare he? I bit him, and this time there was blood when he pulled back.
“You summoned some friends to work me over? Do you intend to torture me? I’m sure you've heard about my reputation. I can cope with torture.”
He licked his lips, his blood so dark and beautiful. His eyes were soft, even after I’d bitten him. There was something seriously wrong with his psychological processes. That was de rigeur for villains, though. “Darling, I think you might like the torture I have in mind for you. I am not going to continue this conversation and my subsequent death until you’ve been properly examined. I’m talking about your arm, not your motives, although I would love to delve into your beautiful mind as deep as you’ll let me go.” He kissed me again, just asking for more pain.
He tasted so good. Too soon, he pulled away, eyes hot, soft, intent.
“Darling, we’re about to be interrupted. Please accept my apologies.”
“Stop calling me ‘darling,’” I said, lunging towards him because he couldn’t stop kissing me just because he’d apologized. There were rules about that kind of thing. No, there weren’t, but there should be.
His eyes danced as he held back, just out of range. Infuriating!
A stranger’s voice broke in. “So, is this going to be a threesome? Because if so, I brought the wrong bag.” The man came over, swinging a big black doctor’s bag. Another manwalked with him, carrying a different kind of bag, with several visible bottles. Champagne, wine, beer. How many different kinds of alcohol could you fit in one bag?
I ignored them, glaring at Dirk instead. “Is that what you have in mind?”
His mouth twitched. “I will never willingly watch another man put his hands on you, but you are bleeding, so I suppose there will be some touching. Happily, Roger won’t enjoy it.”
“I’ll enjoy it,” Roger contradicted, flashing me a smile. That was the first time I really got a look at him. He was shockingly handsome, with aqua eyes and black hair, tan skin, white teeth. He looked as cartoon-perfect as Minx.
“Something is wrong with you,” I said while he pulled out gauze.
“No, there are a lot of things wrong with Roger,” Dirk said, brushing his nose against my jaw. “Unfortunately, he’s so stunning that most people don’t realize it until it’s too late. His beauty is definitely only skin deep.”
