Page 30 of City of Wind and Lies

“That’s not-”

“You know, when you recognized me, we could have talked then,” I spit, snatching my hand back and resting it on my hip.

“Would you-”

“But no, you,” I continue, wiggling my finger at him. “You kissed me.”

“I know, can-”

“And you,” I step closer, poking him in the chest. “Fucked me.”

“Wren-”

“And I liked it, all of it. Hell…” I throw my hands up dramatically.

“Wren!” he barks, his commanding tone freezing the blood in my veins. I swallow harshly, my chest heaving with adrenaline, waiting for him to tear me apart with his words.

The muscle in his jaw ticks, the weight of his ardent stare cementing me in place. I squeal in surprise as he lunges forward, his shoulder meeting my hips, arm banding around my thighs as he hoists me up in a fireman carry and paces off. I fist the material of his shirt in one hand, banging the other against the small of his back.

“What are you doing!?” I demand.

THWACK.

His palm lands heavy on my ass, a moan falling from my lips and a knot coiling tightly in my belly as he keeps striding toward our unknown destination.

The strong, intoxicating scent of his cologne mixed with whiskey threatens to suffocate my system as my head bobs and swings while I watch the dark tiles of the floor turn to a familiar set of stairs. “If you think I’m going to fuck you in someone’s office again, you’re sadly mistaken,” I grit out.

THWACK.

Heat prickles my skin, an ache growing between my thighs from the sting of another spanking.The imposition in his actions tonight is void of the abrasive undertone he showed me in our last encounter.

“I am going to talk and you are going to listen,” he admonishes.

A shiver of excitement licks at my spine as we turn down a violet-hazed hall, stopping briefly before stepping into an elevator.

I’m still ruminating on the events of the week when the elevator’s chime pulls me back to the present. We step into an elegantly decorated dark hall that looks like a high-end hotel, even from my upturned state.

Moonlight bathes the dark interior of the suite as his hands circle my waist and he shifts me to sit on the counter. My heartbeat quickens as he parts my legs, stepping between them and resting his hands on my thighs.

“I shouldn’t have acted that way. You didn’t deserve my anger, Passerotta.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing back the tears that threaten to fall as my anger dissipates and hurt swells in its place. “Why did you?”

His throat bobs with a swallow and he rolls his bottom lip between his teeth. “It’s hard to explain, but I… feel something with you, and it scared me.”

There’s so much sincerity flooding his features I could drown. I thread my arms around his neck and whisper, “What do you feel, Bowie?”

I know what I’m starting to feel. The connection between us is impossible to ignore, but I always do this, give myself fully to anyone willing in the moment only to be met with disappointment and another chink in my armor. I shouldn’t give in so easily, I should fight more, demand he grovel at my feet, but the vulnerability he’s showing me is so out of character it gives me pause. Then all my fire is doused when he tilts his head to rest his forehead on mine, nipping at my lips, his words breathing life into my soul. “Tomorrow. Just be with me tonight.”

11

"Okay," Wren murmurs, body visibly relaxing as she presses her lips against mine.

I lick at their seam, tasting the faintest bit of vodka and citrus as my tongue darts inside her mouth and my hands coast up her body, cupping her breasts.

Pulling back, I gently squeeze them beneath my palms. "I swear these keep getting bigger."

She whimpers, locking her legs around my waist and pulling me closer. I can feel the warm heat of her pussy against my stomach and my cock aches to be inside her. My hands caress her thighs, sliding underneath the short material of her dress to grip her ass.

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