Page 20 of Bound to the Crime Lord

The atmosphere around us shifted. The cool air suddenly became hot and humid. The space between us came to life with tiny little sparks of electricity. A subtle buzz filled the air, the sound inching us closer together.

“Tell me,amor…” I tucked a small strand of hair behind her ear. She hitched at the contact. “What do you need this little plushie for? Comfort? Nostalgia?”

She swallowed hard. “It belonged to Ethan. He had it in foster care, and I couldn’t part with it when he grew up.”

My eyes moved from her eyes down to her nose and then to her lips. Her tongue darted out to wet the pinkness with her saliva.

My tongue kissed my teeth. Her actions did not bode well for my restraint. I was trying to be a gentleman, a man of honor. But for all intents and purposes, I was no gentleman. In fact, I was the farthest thing from a gentleman. I was brazened, and without rapport. I was used to taking what I wanted without questions. It was rare I craved for anything, I never needed to. I could have what I wanted at the snap of a finger.

Except for her.

She was the one that still vexed me. She was everything I shouldn’t want, yet the one thing that I craved. She was the slow-burning kind of poison that you would only feel the deadly effects of once time had passed.

I didn’t know who moved first, but suddenly we were mere inches from each other. The only thing that kept our distance was that stupid plushie. She was using it like one would a shield.

Clever. She knew not to get too close or risk the cobra's bite. The only problem for her was that I would not easily be deterred.

I grabbed the green thing and threw it across the room. She opened her mouth to protest, but her words immediately died down when I grabbed her face with both my hands.

Her blue eyes widened with shock, her lips parting ever so slightly. “Wha… what are you doing?”

I drew my face closer to hers, testing her to see how far I could push until she finally bit back. I brushed my thumb against her soft cheek. I could feel the heat rise to the surface as her entire body buzzed with anticipation.

She would never admit that she wanted me, I knew this. But her body told me the things she longed to keep in secret.

“Manuel…” she breathed my name almost in desperation… or was that want?

I drew my lips in closer, her breath hitched.

Come on, amor. Show me what you got.

Our lips brushed ever so slightly, and that was enough to send my entire system into overdrive.

I knew that a taste of her would not be nearly enough. I needed all of her, even the pieces she wanted to keep to herself.

All I needed to do was press my lips against hers and I would have her.

Closer… Closer…

She closed her eyes, waiting for me.

This was my window. She was giving me the green light, and she was right there for the taking.

But I wasn’t ready for this little chase of ours to be over just yet.

I withdrew and took a step back. I waited for her eyes to finally open and for her brain to realize what had just happened.

Juliette’s cheeks blushed before she looked away. She shifted on her feet uncomfortably, making sure to keep her gaze averted from where I stood.

“I will let you finish packing, doc. I have a call to make.” I turned on my heels and practically sashayed out of her room. When I got to the threshold, I looked over my shoulder and caught her staring at me with an angry glare in her eyes. When she noticed me looking, her blush deepened, and she threw the finger my way.

“You smell divine,amor. I never quite cared for lavender before you.”

And with those last words, I left her room, leaving her to ponder on what she had almost allowed to happen.

This thing between us was a game, and I had every intention of winning. My reward would be hearing her beg me to fuck her until she was screaming my name.

Check mate, amor. Your move.

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