Page 4 of At Your Mercy
I released him deliberately, leaning back into the couch like I hadn’t just caught him reaching for steel. That rattled him morethan holding on would’ve. He stayed there, perched on my lap, caught between retreat and defiance.
I raised a hand, brushing a lock of hair from his face, slow and unhurried. “Run along now, Ro. Tonight’s a freebie. But if you come back—” I let my thumb graze his lower lip, “—come back with some more training.”
Ro gritted his teeth and hissed, “I have more than enough training.”
Slipping a hand underneath his top, I caressed his abdomen, feeling a lot more strength there than one would believe just by looking at him.
“Do you now?”
“You’re just—off-putting,” Ro spat out, making me laugh.
“Off-putting?Ouch.” I stroked up his body, brushing gently against his nipples. He flinched at the sensation, but still refused to leave my lap. “You’re playing a dangerous game, doll. Stay any longer and I’ll have to unwrap my gift.”
Ro’s breath hitched at my words, his eyes narrowed.
“Maybe that’s what I want,” he whispered, hips rocking forward just enough to test me, to see if I’d snap the leash or let him play me into the corner.
I didn’t move, didn’t flinch. My hand stayed flat against his chest, my thumb dragging lazy circles that made his composure twitch.
“You’re too young to know what you want,” I murmured, voice low, gravel under velvet. “And too reckless to know the cost of asking for it.”
Ro leaned in, lips grazing my jaw, before he nipped at the skin there. “Old men love to think they see everything. Maybe you just don’t want to admit I’ve already got you where I want you.”
I laughed—a sharp, humorless sound that made him stiffen. I caught his chin between my fingers again, forcing him to look atme. “If I were where you wanted me, babydoll, you wouldn’t still be trying this hard.”
His eyes sparked with rage. His nails dragged lightly down my chest, teasing at my shirt buttons, the kind of touch meant to distract. I let him, watching, waiting. Then I caught his wrist once more, squeezing until his knuckles blanched.
With skin as fair as his, he was sure to have bruises come tomorrow. A bracelet of sorts to remember me by.
“You think you’re running this game.” I leaned close, lips brushing the outer shell of his ear, letting my words sink in like teeth. “But here’s the truth—you walked into this room withme,and sat your tight little ass down inmylap. And right now, you’re still breathing only because I’m intrigued.”
That got him. His breath stuttered, the first real crack in his armor. He covered it quickly, lips curving again, but too sharp, too brittle.
“You’re dangerous,” he said softly, almost admiring, though I could taste the steel under it. “Aren’t you?”
“Mm.” My free hand slid higher, palming the back of his neck, holding him close. “And you’re beautiful. Dangerous and beautiful rarely ends well.” I smiled lazily. “Now tell me, Ro, did whoever sent you not warn you about what I do?”
“Evidently not.”
“Hm. That wasn’t very nice of them, was it?” I purred, cupping his ass through his shorts and giving it a hard squeeze. Ro let out a small gasp and dug his nails into my shoulders. “At least we can still get something out of our… spontaneous encounter.”
Ro bit his lip, the blush blooming across his cheeks making him appear frostbitten.
“Word of advice, babydoll—don’t work for men who send you on suicide missions.”
Ro frowned, a crackle of anger reappearing. “It wasn’t a suicide mission. I’m the best.”
I chuckled, working my hands underneath the waistband of his shorts and groping his bare ass. The more I touched him, the more he seemed to unravel. “The best? That’s a bit hard to believe, given that I immediately recognized you for what you are, even gave you a chance to leave, and yet you’re still here.”
He huffed, “This isn’t how it usually goes.”
I slid a finger down his crease, getting a whimper out of him as I rubbed him dry. “I also find that hard to believe. I have no doubt your regular jobs have all kinds of men feeling you up. Have you ever killed someone while their dick was inside of you?”
Ro growled at me, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Whatever you say, babydoll.”
“I’m not a whore!” he suddenly snapped.
