Page 84 of Danger Close
“Don’t fucking fool yourself, baby.” I kissed her nose. “We’re something. It doesn’t matter what you call it. We’resomething.”
She opened her mouth to protest, and I kissed her again. Her moan was intoxicating. The sound of her pleasure echoed in my head. I walked us towards the wall, pushing her on the wood so that I could press myself against her.
The dress that I loved so much was now something I despised for keeping us apart.
She wouldn’t believe a word I said. Words would mean nothing to her. Not after what she’d been through. But actions… a touch, a kiss, an embrace… that got through to her.
The way forward was clear. I needed to present the head of her abuser on a silver fucking platter.
I promised it with a groan against her lips, and a sweep of my tongue. Her fingers laced through my hair.
Or maybe I should take a page from the groom’s playbook, and catch a couple bullets to prove myself. I was willing. I’d volunteer, if it protected her.
And this kiss, this embrace, this moment made my vow. I slowly pulled away, and stared into her lustfilled, blinking eyes. It was a glorious sight.
“—and second, because she does have information to trade.”
She blinked at me, her brows knotting as if she’d lost the train of the conversation. She was rebooting, trying to figure out what I was referring to.
Good. Because what kind of man was I, if my kiss didn’t make her mind murky?
“What… information?” she said when her shallow breathing evened out.
I considered not telling her. I considered lying. But in the end, I knew that honesty would be the only thing that gave us a chance.
“About Ray.”
She flinched, and tried to pull away again but I tightened my arms, holding her to me.
“You asked, sweetheart,” I reminded her.
“You don’t know what you're doing!” Her voice was quiet, full of despair. “You don’t know what danger you bring to yourself, to Trinity! Why won’t you just listen to me?”
A tear slipped down her eye and I was stuck between two fucking contradictory feelings. The first was pissed that she had no faith in me, and that I had to bring in Beaufort, my brother, and a thousand other assets to find out something she could just tell me herself. She could save us all a great deal of fucking time. Another part of me could see her good intentions, and wanted to reassure her that the thing she feared, the man who haunted her, would be dealt with very, very soon.
“Iamlistening to you, Princess.You’renot listening tome.”
One step forward, two steps back…
“I’ve got this handled, whether or not you tell me who he is.”
She shook her head, and tried to pull away again, but I wasn’t going to let her out of my sight.
“I’m going to find this guy, and he’s going to pay for every injury you have on your body.”
She stepped back, and I stepped forward.
“Then, when his mind, his fucking spirit, is broken, I’m going to string him up, and peel his skin off his body, and leave him there to die, in absolute agony.”
Her eyes widened with horror.
“I’m a creative killer, Princess. It’s what I’m known for.”
Sadistic pride made my lips pull back in a smile.
“And whoever this Ray is… he’s about to find out exactly howcreativeI can get.”
“You… you… can’t.” It was an accusation said in disbelief. “He’s more powerful than you think.”
