Page 7 of Psycho Sinners

“I burned down his bar.”

His lip twitched, hinting at a smile before he shifted, and suddenly, his face was all wrong. Sympathy morphed into something calculating, something hungry. And then he kissed me. Hard. Like he wanted to steal whatever breath I had left.

I knew I should have pushed him away. Some part of me knew this was just me rebounding and looking for whatever solace and comfort I could in another. But I also wanted to enjoy myself before I found myself locked up. So, instead, I kissed him back. Because screw it, I was already on a one-way trip to hell.

His kiss was ferocious, like he was trying to quell a thirst that couldn’t be quenched. His hand moved to cup my cheek, his tongue spearing between my lips as I melted into the scorching kiss.

All the music around us faded, the moment spiraling until it was just him and I, our lips locked in a passionate kiss of something completely raw and feral.

Something I craved right now.

He pulled back just enough to whisper against my lips, "Come upstairs with me."

A smile danced on my lips, my head woozy from the bruising kiss. “Huh?”

Upstairs? I didn’t even know what was up there. Noms had once said it was storage and some other areas, but she’d never gone into detail, nor had I asked.

“Upstairs, sweetheart. I think you could use some tending to after the day you’ve had, don’t you think?” He cocked his head at me, his eyes trained on mine, daring me to accept his advance. Why did I suddenly feel like a mouse seated between the paws of a wicked cat, his claws ready to extend?

It was the glimmer in his eye, something devious and dark, and all too tempting.

“Why would I do that?” I breathed as I reached for my glass once more, my gaze glossing over Ray, who looked unsettled. He worried too much.

"Because I can clean up your mess," he said, his hand rising to brush his thumb over my lower lip. "Make it all go away."

And damn if that isn't the best offer I've had all night. Maybe all year.

“How can you do that?” I tipped my glass back, disbelieving him as I downed the remnants of my drink.

“Quite easily, Scar. I have friends.” Those dark pools were all-consuming as I drowned in them, processing his words.

There was no way he could do that, he was just saying whatever he could to get me upstairs and into my pants.

Then again, I was all for it. I’d be carted off soon enough.

“Ray, my phone?” I turned to Raymond, his brow furrowed as he flicked his gaze between my new friend and I. He fished my phone out from under the bar and handed it over, although his gaze held mine for a moment until they flicked to Cristian, and he nodded before moving off to serve another patron. What had that been about? Then again, tonight was not the night to overthink. We were beyond that point.

"Lead the way.” I focused on my new supposed savior, hoping he was just as good in bed as he looked. What did I have to lose, anyway? My dignity took the last train out of here hours ago. I had no shame anymore, I just wanted to get my rocks off while I still could.

Cristian’s face split into a wicked smile, one that had my heart fluttering like a damn teenager, and my panties pooling at the thoughts of what he’d do to me.

He took my hand, and I cast a final glance at Noms, who was now sandwiched between Steve and another guy. Would she notice my disappearance? Ray would tell her where I went, he’d been right there.

I stumbled as a drunken patron got too close, and Cristian tugged me to him, his arm sliding around my waist and holding me against him. He guided me across the darkened room, and I felt all eyes on me, although I paid them no heed. They knew exactly what was about to go down, and I didn’t care. Wasn’t that the purpose of this entire establishment anyway?

I frowned as Cristian led me to a door marked ‘Staff Only’, and he swiped a card on the keypad before shouldering it open for me.

“Such a gentleman,” I said wryly, and he just chuckled, the sound making a thrill sweep over me.

“Oh, sweetheart, the things I’m going to do to you, they’ll be anything but gentlemanly,” he said as he pushed me up against the wall, his lips crashing against mine in a kiss that made my legs threaten to give out.

The words should’ve scared me, hell, a sober me may have hesitated, but I’d thrown caution to the wind now.

I gasped as his teeth caught my lip, biting down painfully as I flinched, but then he was kissing me softly, one hand teasing along my waistband.

“Come, Scar.” He pulled away, those dark eyes making me falter for just a moment before I allowed the haze to reclaim me. He took my hand, leading me down the hall to the very end with an unmarked door. He swiped the keypad there, and it clicked open.

Alcohol dulled everything, otherwise I’d maybe have been a bit more unsettled by his harshness with me as he practically dragged me up the darkened staircase.

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