Page 66 of The Villain

“Are you in trouble, baby? I never should have left you alone,” His breath is hot against my neck as he speaks. My nipples bead in response. There’s a riot inside me. I want to throw him onto the dancefloor and fuck him into submission. Instead, I press against him, lifting one arm to cradle his head and keep him close to me.

“I know I deserve this, but don’t ignore me. Make me pay another way.”

I frown thoughtfully. He thinks I’m trying to punish him? I’m practically a second skin on him. He confuses the shit out of me.

“Talk to me,” his mouth is pressed to my cheek as he makes the demand.

I stop and my arm drops from his head to turn my face to his with a flat look. He falls still behind me, his shoulders getting more tense. The mask is still there even though his words are filled with anger. When I have his attention on my face I point at my throat and then to the speakers around us.

His eyes close as he groans in frustration. I can’t hear it but his chest rumbles. I can’t read his expression.

Before he can regain his wits I start dancing again. He follows suit, pressed against me hard enough we might as well be one person.

I’m sweaty and running out of air when a slower song comes on. I feel his lips tip into a sly smile against my neck. He grabs my hand and spins me to face him. One arm bands around my lower back and a hand grips the nape of my neck, pulling my face into his shoulder. It’s abrupt but I roll with it.

When he starts to sway slowly my body melts again. His cologne is pure pheromones made especially for me. He tilts his head until his cheek rests against mine and he begins speaking the lyrics of the song into my ear like a poet instead of a singer. It gives me goosebumps down my arms as my hands slide up to rest on his back.

My eyes close as I absorb this little moment between us. He seems determined to prove a point here and I’m letting it happen. If this is how he chooses to speak to me I’ll listen.

The song is beautiful and easy until it gets heavier, more seductive. He presses his hips into me, sliding a leg between mine in a seamless move that makes me sigh. I can feel his erection against my hip. He doesn’t grind it into me. He shifts back and forth as if he’s taunting me with it instead. The perfect tease that offers instead of demands. This is right here if you want it.

My obsession is trying to tempt me over a ledge and has no idea how dangerous it is.

His voice has gone husky over the lyrics and my goosebumps multiply. I press harder into him and his arm tightens to keep me there. Our hips move in sync. He loses the words to the song with ragged breaths.

I don’t know when this song is going to end but I definitely don’t want it to.

The fingers over my neck loosen and I draw back to see his face. His cheeks are flushed but I don’t think it’s from embarrassment.

“Come home with me.”

His body continues to tease mine as he waits for my answer, weakening my resistance.

I want to, but there’s alarms going off in my head and a war going on between my body and my instincts. Something is different tonight. I can’t put my finger on it, though. Something I’ve seen but not really noticed yet. About him. What is it?

“Mind if we join?” A voice calls, jerking me out of my haze.

Shade slowly lifts his head to take in the person behind me. Blaze from the familiar, wheedling tones. The look on Shade’s face is cold enough to give freezer burn.

“Fuck off,” he calls in a dark tone. His breathing is slowing down and his muscles are coiling with tension. He’s ready to attack him. I’m frozen in place under the bolt of lightning that just struck me.

This is what’s different.

I’ve just seen a new layer of Shade. The mask is in place of course, but something is twisted about it. He put it on too fast. It’s not aligned perfectly this time. The predator he is revealing itself behind it.

I missed it. It’s been staring me in the face this entire time.

He has all of my attention with that look. I’m seeing a monster and it’s making my pulse race because I recognize it. I’ve heard it and wondered. Now I have it in my face with no room for doubts.

He has a monster inside, just like I do. But not. A different spot pattern to a familiar beast.

I can’t look away.

He’s perfect.

Of course Tera wouldn’t tell him to run from me. She knows I’ll never let go now that I’ve seen this.

“Since when do you refuse to share?” Melissa calls back from farther away.

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