Page 54 of Dangerous Love

“You were young.”

She returns her gaze to the canvas. “The French tutor, he was sneakier. Mr. Barnes. He waited. I was his student for almost a year. One day, I missed several words on one of his sadistic pop quizzes. He told me the punishment was—” Her voice cracks, then she stiffens and kicks her chin up. “He said it would be for me to take my top off and let him touch my breasts. If I let him do that, then he wouldn’t tell my parents about my poor performance.”

The volcano is ready to erupt. I will have Clayton round these men up and bring them to me, but for now, I focus on Cassandra, on the cracks these men put in her heart, the way they tried to abuse her and ruin her trust.

“What did you do, my fierce vixen?” I stroke her hips.

She turns and looks at me, a devious pleasure in her eyes. “I stabbed him with my pencil. I was aiming for his junk, but nailed him in the thigh and nicked an artery. He didn’t bleed out, but he came close.”

“I wish he’d died by your hand.” I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her tight against me. What she doesn’t need to know is that both of these men will die, their bodies thrown into one of my mines, and their names quickly erased from history.

“Me too.” She unwinds in my arms, her tension falling away. “I hope they get what’s coming to them.”

They will. I kiss her ear, then nibble the lobe. “I’m sorry it happened to you.”

“I think the worst part is when my mother didn’t believe me.” Her voice is small now, sad. “She said I was making it up and trying to ruin their good name and trash my chances at marrying well.”

“How wrong she was.” I nuzzle into her soft hair. “Soon you’ll single-handedly own an enormous estate and unlimited wealth.”

She makes anmmhmmnoise, all her initial joy at the prospect of my death gone. “I do love this painting.” She lets her head rest against my chest. “Bloody and perfect.”

“Revenge is sweetest when served by a beautiful woman.” I wrap my hand around her throat.

She cranes back and meets my lips, her kiss full of emotion. I take what she offers, then demand more, turning her toward me and gripping her ass to lift her. Gripping my face with her warm hands, she kisses me feverishly, her tongue invading my mouth and setting off a need that threatens to overwhelm both of us.

Carrying her through the living area and into the bedroom, I don’t bother closing the door. I sit her on the bed, yank her dress off and prowl on top of her. Her hands are on my neck, my shoulders, in my hair as I suck her throat, sampling her skin as I move lower and lick her nipples through the bra.

Sitting back, I grab the front of the lacy thing and rip it apart.

“You just bought that!” She frowns, then gasps as I bite down on her bare nipple.

“I’ll get you five more.” I bite the mound of her breast. “And rip those off, too.” Sliding down her body, I yank her panties away, then bury my face between her thighs as she surges beneath me, her back bowing, her breath catching. I lick all the sweetness I find, then stand and strip out of my clothes.

She tweaks one of her nipples and reaches between her thighs.

“No.” I climb on top and press my cock inside her in one smooth glide.

She claws my chest as I start a hard rhythm that shakes the bed.

I want to fuck all those bad memories out of her, to show her she doesn’t have to fear me, that I will never wrong her the way those dead-men-walking did.

“I love you, Cassandra.” I slow down and taste her mouth again.

She moans and rocks her hips against me.

I don’t have to hear it back. She can show her affection in her promises to kill me like she’s always done. That’s enough for me. As long as I have her, I have everything.

Pulling away again, I grin when she lets out a frustrated whimper. I grab the lube from the bedside table. “Remember my promise?” I take her ankle and pull her over so she’s lying on her stomach.

She tries to push up from the bed, but I’m already on top of her, pushing her down and biting her shoulder.

“Spread for me, my little vixen.” I position my knees between hers, pour some lube onto my fingers, and press them to her virgin asshole.

“Luke!” she squeaks and tenses.

“Shh. Trust me. You can always trust me.” I soothe her and massage her tight hole. “I will never hurt you. Do you trust me?” I hold my breath, and when she looks back and nods, I can’t control the warmth that spreads through me.

“I’ll go easy.” I press one finger inside her and stroke her.

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