Page 24 of Devil's Riches

7

Alexis

I pressedmy mouth onto Nate’s, letting my tongue run along the seam of his lips, and he let out a soft grunt of surprise. Then his lips opened up, tongue meeting mine, and his hands moved like magnets to my hips, holding me steady.

I never thought I’d think this about Nate Lockwood, but from now on, he was the only person I wanted to kiss. Nothing about it felt wrong anymore, despite our warped history. It felt right. In fact, nothing had ever felt more right.

A moan escaped my mouth, and I leaned closer to Nate, bracing my hands on his chest. He moved one of his own hands to my jaw, gripping it tightly so he could deepen the kiss.

All of a sudden, he broke away and stepped back to put some distance between us. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes were lit with an intense, fevered expression. “Why did you do that?” he asked.

“You found me,” I said breathlessly, stepping forward to close the distance between us. “You saved me.”

Nate’s gaze dropped from mine. “I didn’t come here to save you,” he said stiffly.

A sudden coldness struck at my core. “What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I said. I didn’t come here to save you.”

I nervously brushed a strand of hair behind my ear as confusion roiled in my stomach. “I don’t understand,” I said. “I thought—”

Nate cut me off. “I’m not your fucking knight in shining armor, Alexis,” he said. He jerked a thumb toward his uncle. “I came here to get him and take you back. That’s all.”

He still wouldn’t meet my eyes. That made me think he was lying.

Yes, he had to be lying. He kissed me back a minute ago. He opened up to me, letting my tongue dance with his, and when I moaned and melted into him, he took control. His big, powerful hands had been all over me too, needy and possessive.

He wanted it. He just didn’t want to admit it. Same old story.

I shook my head. “I don’t believe you,” I said.

Nate finally raised his gaze to meet mine. His expression was unreadable. “Nothing’s changed between us, Alexis. I still think you killed those girls. You’re just the lesser of two evils in my life right now.”

“But—”

Nate lifted a palm. “I don’t have time to argue about this. Are you going to help me get that asshole into the car or not?”

I let out a sigh. “Yes. I’ll help.”

Greg let out a keening groan of agony as Nate went over to grab him. “Get the fuck away from me!” he shouted, thrashing around on the floor. “I’ll rip your fucking head off!”

I glanced over at Nate. “I think he might’ve taken the chloroform from your car,” I said. “Should we get that to shut him up?”

“Where is it?”

“Probably in the shed with his other stuff.”

“I’ll go and look for it.” He pointed to the couch. “Sit there and keep an eye on him. If he tries anything, scream. I’ll hear you.”

I sat down and watched Greg writhe and grunt on the floor. He didn’t bother trying to convince me to free him again. He must’ve realized by now that I’d never believe a word he said after everything he’d done to me.

Nate returned a few minutes later. “You were right,” he said, holding up a small bottle and a piece of fabric. He soaked the fabric and held it over Greg’s bloodied nose.

Greg gasped and thrashed around again, trying to fight it, but his energy and resolve soon faded. He let out one more grunt before slumping on the floor, eyes fluttering shut.

“Do you need help carrying him out?” I asked.

Nate shook his head and hoisted his uncle over his shoulder. “I thought I would before because he wouldn’t stop thrashing around, but he’s fine now. Just open the trunk for me when we get outside.”

---