Page 97 of The Penalty

“She went to Bennet’s parties. I didn’t take her as a guest. She did more networking there than anything else.”

“But you did fuck her.” Icicles pierced each word.

I held her wrist. Circling my fingers around it, I slowly rubbed my thumb until I felt her pulse and pressed the metal ring I wore into her silky skin.

“Ask me what you really want to know, Victoria.” My repeated request came out slower, more dangerous.

Pouty, full lips formed a tense line as an internal battle waged. Staring at me with severity, she fisted my shirt. “Have you done things with her I only fantasize about doing with you?”

There it was. There’s the fire I’ve been waiting to see.

“No.”

“Prove it.” Her teeth dug into her lush lower lip, and the desire to take her overpowered me.

Xavier

It didn’t take me long to find an empty room down the hall from the main party area. Looked like a study or something. Didn’t really matter.

Prove it.

I walked toward a desk, faced her, and leaned against it. “Take off everything except the jersey.”

Victoria stood in the middle of the room, staring doe-eyed at me. Her cheeks flushed when she kicked off her trainers and wriggled out of her jeans.

Part of me wanted to bury myself inside her right now. A bigger part wanted to toy with her like a predator who’d just captured the one creature that eluded him for too long.

“Everything except the jersey,” I ordered. “Don’t make me say it again.”

She did that really sexy thing where she unhooked her bra and removed it while keeping her shirt on. Then she removed her lace panties.

Possessiveness gripped at me.

The most gorgeous woman on the planet stood in front of me, wearing nothing but my jersey. She stared back, her eyes filled with trust and anticipation.

I approached slowly, circling her, intoxicated by the scent of her arousal. Natural and clean. Tangy with a hint of sweet. When I stopped behind her and pressed my body to hers, I heard a soft moan.

“Feel that?” I asked, rubbing my clothed erection against the soft curve of her ass. “This is what you fucking do to me. You. No one else.” I reached around and wrapped my hand around her neck, enjoying the erratic flutter of her pulse. “How do you want me to prove it to you?”

The column of her throat expanded and contracted in my grip when she swallowed.

“Take me in a way you’ve only fantasized about.” The unexpected sharpness in her tone hardened my already aching cock.

“Fuck,” I groaned, giving in to my instincts.

Reckless taking.

It’s gotten me into trouble before but I didn’t care anymore. I was tired of denying who I was and suppressing what I wanted. Victoria showed me I could do as I pleased with her. I always asked, and she always consented.

What she didn’t know was once I was through with her, she’d be ruined. Filthy. Depraved.

“Remember when I said you haven’t seen me untamed yet?” I brushed my thumb over her lips. “You still haven’t.” I trailed my fingers down and squeezed her breast, pinching the nipple through her shirt. She arched her back. “Do you know what it will mean when I come undone?” I slid my hand down further, parting her thighs.

“Yes.”

“No you don’t, love.” I dipped my fingers inside her. “This is mine. Every inch of you is mine. Mine to love. Mine to kiss. Mine to touch. Mine to fuck however I want.” My fingers plunged in and out of her. “If another man tries to touch or take what is mine, do you know what will happen? He’ll wish he was never born. The first person on that list is the asshole who groped you.” My other hand closed around her throat again. “And you. What will happen to you?”

I applied pressure to both sides of her neck. Not enough to restrict blood flow, but enough to make her squirm when I teased her clit.

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