Page 15 of Ruthless Vow

He studies me, expression intent. Like he’s memorizing every feature, every freckle, every lash.

His gaze flicks to my lips, back to my eyes.

Something shifts in his expression. He traces the side of my forehead, my cheekbone, my jaw with the index finger of his free hand.

A shiver courses through me, a twisted combination of fear and… arousal.

He sees it. I know he sees it.

I gasp and try to turn my face away, but he doesn’t let me.

Red tinges his cheekbones. His lids lower over his dark eyes. The pressure on my throat eases as he shifts his grip, his strong fingers sliding to the back of my neck, cupping the base of my skull.

My head spins. Time slows, the two of us frozen in a moment of connection.

I could turn my head. I could voice a protest. I could struggle or cry out.

I do none of those things.

And then his mouth is on mine, rough, demanding, his tongue pushing past my lips, my teeth.

I whimper, disoriented by the hot wave of lust that courses through me. I am his prisoner, bound, unable to escape. He has all the power. And that only adds to the desire slamming through me as Leo kisses me. Like he owns me. Like I am his to command, to do with as he pleases.

I’m drowning in dark longing, my whole body aching for his touch, arching into his kiss, aching to get closer. His lips are carnal, brutal, bruising me, claiming me.

And then he’s gone. He steps away, his obsidian eyes singeing me everywhere they touch.

If my hands were free, I’d wipe my lips with the back of my hand. But my hands are bound above my head and so all I can do is stand before him, panting, every nerve sensitized, my emotions a convoluted soup of embarrassment and anger and lust.

“Tell me where to find Charlie,” he says after a long moment.

“How do you know about him?” I say, breathless, my voice thick.

“You said his name in your sleep. Mumbled it over and over… Charlie, Charlie. That you’re coming for him. That you love him.” He says the last part as if tasting something sour. “Who the fuck is Charlie, little wolf? If this motherfucker gave you instructions to fuck with me, you will tell me everything.”

When I say nothing, he changes direction, his tone gentling.

“You made the wrong choice, Nicole. But you know what? I get it. I get why you did what you did.” His tone is soothing, cajoling. “If Ihadbeen the one to end your father, you would have had every right to come after me with everything you’ve got. Part of me would even respect that shit. You failed, but I would respect the attempt.

“But you did something very wrong, something I can’t forgive. You put my family in danger. You put my men in danger. And this Charlie has something to do with everything. He’s using you as a weapon, as a pawn.” He strokes his thumb along my jaw. “Tell me who he is.”

I take a deep breath in and let it out very slowly. I can’t think of a lie. All I can think of is the feel of Leo’s lips on mine, that carnal, punishing kiss.

Besides, there’s no sense in lying when truth will serve me better.

“Charlie is my cat,” I say. “He’s a ten-year-old tabby and literally the love of my life. He’s currently staying at a cat hotel waiting for me to pick him up. And, unless he’s been keeping the truth from me all these years, he is not a criminal mastermind.”

It seems that I’ve managed to render Leo Russo speechless, even if only for a moment.

“Your cat.”

“My cat.”

His phone buzzes. He grabs it, glaring at me, and takes the call, moving to the other side of the windowless room.

For the first time, I notice that he’s limping. For a moment, I’d forgotten that he’d taken a bullet on the boat, even if it hadn’t come from my gun.

While I wait, I tug on the handcuffs that, despite their padding, have become less comfortable with every minute that has passed.

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