Page 28 of The Penalty

My reply fought its way out. “Yes.”

A veil I didn’t know existed slid from his face. An unfamiliar darkness filled his eyes.

“Yes, what?”

Every last bit of oxygen disappeared from my lungs.

The animalistic stare he pinned on me while flexing his hand around my neck didn’t frighten me at all. It had the opposite effect. My arousal heightened, my pulse raced, and it all went to the heat throbbing between my legs.

“Yes, what?” he repeated, his tone razor sharp.

“Please.” I barely got the word out. “Yes, please. I want you raw and untamed. Always.”

I loved how dangerous and feral he looked. The way his mouth parted in ecstasy. The absolute focus on me and nothing else.

“You should be careful what you wish for, love.”

A violent shiver streaked through him when I put my hand around his and squeezed.

“You are what I wish for.”

In an instant, the mysterious veil snapped back into place. The warmth and strength of his hand disappeared from my neck, leaving me flustered and a tad bit annoyed.

“What else?” His low growl and cold stare made me shudder.

Words, yet again, failed me. I swallowed, relishing the slight discomfort in my throat. “Maybe that’s enough for—”

“Tell me.”

Our eyes locked. I wanted to tell him. I really did. But there are too many other fucking issues we need to resolve right now. Pushing our boundaries and limits can wait.

“I will. I just—” I exhaled in frustration. “You know how we are. We can’t control ourselves when we’re together. It’s hard for me to stay focused around you. We have some real shit to work through and talk about and I can’t when you’re sitting here with that…and the…and you’re so…well, look at you.”

His answering smile was all lazy charm and amusement.

Not helping.

Neither was the slow, deliberate slide of his hands along my thighs, up the curve of my hips to my waist.

“Are you objectifying me, Chase?”

“Maybe.”

“You know how I feel about maybes.”

“Oh yeah. Totally. Big, bad Xavier Maddox and his lifelong beef with the word maybe.”

Warmth crept back into his eyes, replacing the strained distance that dominated them moments ago. His laugh wound through me like warm caramel.

“You still like wearing this?” He traced the silver chain around my neck, stopping at the ring.

“I love wearing it.”

Something about the way he smiled when the sun hit his face and hair made him appear almost angelic, which was hilarious because Xavier was as devilish as they come.

Devilish. Sexy. Arrogant. Possessive.

Mine.

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