Page 33 of Bound to the Crime Lord

Silence fell over us. The only thing that could be heard was the blood rushing past my ears. My eyes shifted from his gaze down his nose coming to a halt at his lips. They were plump, perfect, and ripe for the taking.

I had never felt a hunger quite like this for a person before. It was a foreign territory for me—scaryterritory.

The light turned green and he pulled away from me and continued to drive. I fell back into my seat, releasing a breath I had not realized I had been holding.

The rest of the ride was done in complete and utter silence.

He put the car into park. I reached for my door, wanting to put as much distance between him and me as possible. I was sad, horny, and annoyed. But as per usual, Manuel was a thorn in my side yet again. He reached over me and pulled the door shut.

“We aren’t done talking here, Juliette. What were you thinking going to the club alone wearing that?”

I whipped my gaze over my shoulder and looked at him in complete and utter shock. “Oh wow, now you want to dictate how I dress, too? You’re a real piece of work, Manuel. Let go.”

I tried to push against his hold, but he was far stronger than I was.

“I said we aren’t done talking.”

A flood of rage filled me and it gave me the extra strength I needed to open the door and break his hold on the handle. My bare feet hit the cold tar of the parking lot. I made my way to the elevator with my heels in hand, and unfortunately, Manuel in tow.

He followed me into the small cramped space in silence. But even though he didn’t speak, I could feel the anger rolling off of him in waves.

After what felt like the longest wait, the doors to the elevator dinged open and I walked out, heading to the door. Manuel made sure to keep pace with me as I virtually ignored his entire existence.

He opened the front door and I didn’t waste any time knowing that he was likely going to start ranting again.

“Leave me alone, Manuel. I’m tired and fully sober now.” I trudged my way up the stairs toward my room. I threw my shoes to the ground floor and continued on my way.

“You can’t deny this, Juliette.” He followed me up the stairs but I didn’t dare stop. I knew that if I stopped, I would have no control over my body and what came next.

I picked up the pace and broke out into a full-out jog. I made it to my door and pulled it open just enough for me to slide in. But before I could close it, Manuel’s hand shot out and pushed back.

“Manuel!” I tried to push against him, but he overpowered me and forced his way into my room. He sauntered in like he owned the place, which he did, but still. “Get out of my room, right now.”

The stubbornness had already cemented itself in his eyes. I knew that, no matter what I said or did, he would only do what he wanted.

I threw my hands up in exasperation and walked to my walk-in closet. “Fine, stand there all night for all I care. I’m going to get changed.”

“We aren’t done, Juliette.”

I ignored him and walked into the closet with him right behind me.

“Juliette.” He called my name again, but this time louder.

I ignored him again and reached for my zipper. I tried to reach for it but I kept failing at every angle I tried. I was about to head out to grab a pair of scissors when I felt a pair of large hands from behind slowly bring down my zip with ease.

I pressed the front of my dress to my chest and whirled around to face him. Manuel stood only an arm's distance away from me, his eyes set on my face, but his hands twitched at his side as if he wanted to reach for me and had to held himself back.

“You feel it,” he spoke after a long-prolonged silence. “I know you feel it, Juliette. Our bodies call to each other. That call rang the first time our eyes connected that night in the clinic. Therewas a shift within you, I know there was. I can see it in your eyes, but you fight it.”

“Because you are the devil.” The words were meant to come out far harsher than I made them sound, but my voice came out meek and low. What I would give for that liquid courage right about now.

“I may be a devil, but you are no saint, Juliette.” He took a large step toward me, closing the distance between us. “You put on this persona of goodness, but I see the fire. I see the jagged edges you try to smooth out for society. But you don’t have to hide them with me. I see your fire, and I want it to torch me. Explore your passion,amor. Ravage me, if you must.”

All the words I had planned to spew at him lodged themselves in my throat.

“Manuel…” I lifted my eyes and stared at him through my eyelashes.

Manuel cupped the side of my face with his large hand and took one more, minuscule step toward me.

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