Page 68 of Lourdes & the Mafia
“Kane,” she says firmly. “Let go of me.”
I growl, the sound rumbling from my throat. “If I was Lorenzo, you’d be begging me to touch you.”
Her eyes widen with shock before her brows pull together in a glare. “Yeah, well, Lorenzo doesn’t hate me like you do.”
“You think I hate you?”
I feel something for her, that’s for sure. Hatred. Desire. It’s all the fucking same to me, but I want to hear her say the words. I want to hear exactly what it is she thinks about me. It’s stupid and it’ll only piss me off, but I need to know. I need to fuel the ire that’s burning inside of me like the flames from The Pit.
“I know you do.”
“You don’t know a fucking thing, Lourdes.”
She visibly shivers. “I know you’re arrogant, rude, and mean.”
“And you’re foolish, impulsive, and far too trusting.”
“I know what I am,” she snaps, gnashing her teeth angrily. “I don’t need you to fucking remind me.”
I walk around her, circling her body. Her gaze follows, staring at me with nothing but mistrust. What would it take to get her to trust me, I wonder. What would it take for her to look at me the way she looks at Lorenzo?
Does she expect a smile? Flirtations?
I am not Lorenzo.
I’m not capable of softness. I’m not capable of anything but torture and pain. I can do nothing but wring tears and pleas out of souls.
I’m not good for her.
She will want nothing to do with me.
And yet…
I want her to want me.
I come to a stop behind her, bending close near her ear. I catch a whiff of her scent. Floral. Sharp. My breath passes near her ear.
“You’re also loud,” I tell her. “Destructive. A fucking menace.”
“Kane,” she warns.
“Sexy,” I continue. “Seductive.Good.” She stills, like she can’t quite believe what it is I’m saying. I can’t believe what I’m saying, but they’re words that need to be spoken. She needs to hear them. To know the truth.
“Kane—”
“There’s a light inside you.” With my magic still gripping her wrists firmly, I use more shadows to slide ghost hands down her sides, making her shiver. “It’s blinding and when you’re near, I’m forced to look away because looking at you is like looking directly into the sun. Into a place I don’t belong, but a place I crave.”
“Kane, you… you hate me.”
I click my tongue, walking around so I’m facing her again. “You keep saying that,” I tell her. “Why?”
“Because it’s the truth! You’re mean to me. You’re rude, you’re…” She struggles, for a word and against the bindings.
“I know what I am,” I tell her, echoing her own words. “I don’t need you to fucking remind me. Now…” My magic lashes out, wrapping around her throat, tightening enough to take her breath away. She gasps but doesn’t struggle. In fact, she stands very still.
Entirely too still.
And in the aftermath of the action, I can smell a sweet, sharp scent emanating from between her legs.
