Page 13 of Venus

The expression on Venus’s face was one I wanted to remember for the rest of my life. In fact, it was a look I’d be telling children in the clubs about for years. When we were old and I was gray and Venus finally got tired of all the pink and was gray with me, I’d be tellin’ everyone about how the most feared woman I’d ever met turned a very unflattering shade of red at the mention of doing something in a bed other than sleep.

Her fists clenched at her sides, and for a moment I thought she might actually take a swing at me. But instead, Venus let out a long, slow breath and shook her head. “You are impossible,” she muttered, though a slight twitch of her lips suggested she was fighting back a reluctant smile.

At that moment, though, both humor and desire swirled in the tension-filled room like a tangible force. I knew Venus well enough to understand her boundaries and her triggers. She was as fierce in her personal space as she was in a brawl, and crossing that line without an explicit invitation was something I would never do. Didn’t mean I wouldn’t push her. Just a little.

“Not impossible.” I took a slow step toward her. “But I’m bettin’ you’re not nearly as opposed to sleepin’ with me as you’re lettin’ on.”

“Sleep, Piston. Sleep is operative word.” She gave me a stern look. It was kind of cute, really. I mean, once you got past the daggers she had for nails and knowing that one swipe across a man’s privates could very well emasculate him.

“Sure. Sleep can come. You know.After.”

Her eyes got wide and she actually took a defensive step backward before stopping herself. Her head went up and her eyes flashed with defiance. “Not happening.”

“Oh? Tell me you didn’t like it when I kissed you. Tell me that and make me believe it.” I crossed my arms over my chest and looked down my nose at her.

She opened her mouth, probably to tell me she hadn’t liked me kissing her, but nothing came out. She tried again. Still nothing.

“Blyat!”

The next thing I knew, Venus took the two steps separating us. Her hand went to my beard, and she pulled me down to her and fused her mouth to mine.

The kiss was fierce, almost punishing, as if she was trying to prove a point with her lips and teeth but ended up proving something else entirely. Her fingernails dug into the skin of my face as she pulled me closer, and I could feel the fire that always simmered just beneath her surface when we were together flare up like a torch thrown into dry straw.

Venus was the first to pull away, breathing hard. Her eyes were bright with something that wasn’t anger. There was heat there, undeniable and raw, and it burned all the more brightly framed by the flush on her cheeks.

“I hate you,” she whispered, her voice husky.

I chuckled low in my throat, though laughing was the last thing I felt like doing. I was just as affected as she was and didn’t care who knew it. “I know, Shortcake.”

Venus’s chest heaved as she glared at me, her fury mingling with the unmistakable glow of desire. “This changes nothing.” I thought she was trying to sound angry and perhaps she did. Her voice, though, betrayed the conflict swirling within her. “You’re still bastard and I still hate you.”

Her breath was hot on my face, her anger palpable, yet so was the pull between us, like opposing magnets being forced together.

“You might hate me,” I said, my voice low and steady as her stormy gaze locked onto mine. This was a pivotal moment. I knew it as well as I knew my own name. I wanted to push her, but I knew better. Yeah. I was probably gonna fuck her tonight, but it wouldn’t change much. At least, not on the surface. “But you can’t deny there’s something here. Something that ain’t just gonna disappear because you want it to.”

Venus snorted, a sound that would’ve been dismissive if her eyes hadn’t been scanning my face like she was trying to read a complicated map. “You think you know everything, Piston.”

“I don’t,” I admitted without hesitation, I had my hands resting on her hips, but not holding her back. I had to. Otherwise, I’d have them fisted in her hair as I fucked her mouth with my tongue. “I don’t know near everything. If I did, you’d have been in my bed a very,verylong time ago.”

I saw the exact moment my words registered. Her eyes widened, then narrowed. I timed my movement perfectly and covered her lips with mine the second she opened her mouth, likely to give me a piece of her mind.

If it was possible, this kiss was even more fiery than the last. There was a struggle for dominance and, I gotta tell ya, I have no idea how I managed to win that initial battle. Probably because it was a sneak attack.

You know what? No. It wasn’t a sneak attack.Shekissedmefirst, Goddamnit! She started this. It was only fair I finish it. True or not, the thought gave me the strength I needed to power through the intoxicating taste of her sweet lips and tongue and prove to her I could handle her. I could command her when necessary. It wasn’t something she necessarily wanted, but she needed it. No matter what she wanted, no matter how much she might be attracted to me, Venus -- Ulyana Volkov -- would never permanently attach herself to a mate she thought of as weaker than she was.

This was the moment I’d trained for my entire life. Nothing had ever been as important to me as this woman. Nothing ever would. I had no children. Had no prospect for having children. Even if I knew for sure she could have children, the woman would never put herself in a situation where she couldn’t control what was happening to her body. For Venus, it was all about control. It had been drummed into her from the day Victor had shipped her off to what amounted to assassin school.

Now, adopting little girls? Absolutely. She’d gather them in droves and make them just as outrageous and deadly as she was. Little boys were out of the question because she’d make them into men who were capable and willing to take over the world. Then she’d cheer them on from the sidelines with a pink concoction that looked like some fruity little drink with no bite, of which one sip would knock you on your ass. No. Being pregnant was an obvious vulnerability and that was something Venus would never allow herself. She’d been trained to view children the same way. As a something to be used against her. Over the years, however, I saw how she passively watched over every child in any club she visited. Like she’d already adopted the lot and hadn’t bothered to tell anyone.

With a grunt, I lifted her up without breaking our contact. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I pressed her against the nearest wall. I pressed as much of my body against hers as I could so there was no way she could miss the way my cock stood hard and proud for her.

Venus gasped into my mouth and I took her breath into my lungs, breathing in as she breathed out. She shuddered, but one hand landed on my shoulder and she clutched me to her, those nails of hers once again digging into my skin. Which made me even harder for her. I wanted to feel those wicked things digging furrows down my back. If she drew blood, I’d wear the scratches like badges of fucking honor.

She slid her other hand around my neck and grabbed the hair at my nape, pulling hard enough to send a jolt of pleasure-pain shooting straight to my dick. I growled against her lips, my grip on her hips tightening in response. The wall was unyielding behind her, but I doubt either of us cared. I knew I was a writhing mass of need and fucking lust by this point. I knew I couldn’t give in to those desires though. Not this time. Later. After she fully trusted me. Or, rather, once she realized she fully trusted me. If she didn’t already, I’d have been dead the first week we spent together hunting that motherfucker, Victor.

I shoved a hand up the bottom of her leather vest. Fuck, it wasn’t easy. I was certain I scratched or pinched her skin more than once. If I did, Venus didn’t care. If anything, it spurred her on.

Next thing I knew, she had my vest and shirt off, and the front zipper of her vest undone. Her breasts mashed against my chest and she rubbed herself over me like a cat marking its territory. Her nipples grazed over my chest hair and she gasped, looking into my eyes with that eerie pink gaze of hers.

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