Page 32 of Merciless Queen

“Now, it’s your turn.”

She leans forward and quickly yanks on the rope around each wrist, freeing them, and then reaches for my ankles. I’m barely stable before she’s holding onto my shoulders and is returning to her previous speed.

“Touch me,” she commands. “When you come, I want to feel you. All of you.”

It’s dangerous to be untied: better when I couldn’t touch her. Easier to pretend that what I’m doing isn’t a bad thing. Beingable to put my hands on her, hold her down so she can come again, when I do…fuck.

But my hands remain by my side for only so long until they’re grabbing her hips. Not helping her move, leaving the control in her hands, but just feeling her. I reach between us and rub my thumb along her swollen clit. Her gasp is sharp and her eyes flit open, finding mine, but she doesn’t stop me.

It’s like the heat builds and builds, my need to push up inside her threatening to take over, but thankfully, she grants us both what we need and commands, “Come now, Zeno. You’ve done so well tonight.”

With her permission, it takes biting my lip and focusingnotto come. Her brows frazzle when I don’t after a few seconds but my hand clamps tight on her hip, my other putting friction and pressure onto her clit.

She realizes then what I’m doing, even whenIdon’t fully understand it. But between her motions and my stroking, my orgasm mingles with her second. Her pussy clamps down on my cock, draining the cum from me as our cries mix in the otherwise silent room.

There’s an immediate heaviness that overcomes me when everything I just did comes crashing down. I need to get out of here. Finish this, her, and escape before I allow myself to enjoy this more than I currently am.

She slumps onto my chest but not before bringing both my wrists to my side and rubbing where the rope was tied. After a moment, she slides off me and crawls to the end of the bed, her perfect ass capturing my entire view, before she rubs down my ankles as well.

“You okay?”

“Perfect,” I reply.

More than perfect, if I’m honest. Because soon this entire night can disappear into the abyss I’ll chalk up as drunkenidiocy, even though, I’m not drunk. Return to Rome and report the task complete. Collect my winnings, and be done.

After removing the used condom, I sit up and she cups my face, examining me with the same closeness that had me questioning if she recognized me earlier.

“No man,” she says in a low voice, “in a long time has pleased me the way you have tonight. Thank you. I’ll get you something to wash up with, but feel free to shower too.”

She’s gone before my next blink, the momentary emotional baggage she nearly dropped between us fizzling out. I watch her disappear into the bathroom and shut the door before getting off the bed and reaching for my clothing.

It’s now or never.

Her offer of a shower, while kind, will have to wait indefinitely. The bed behind me is the sign of my guilt—and I wish I could say none of it is for her, but that’s a lie. Not only to the people I’ve betrayed, but to her. Even if she deserves everything and more for what her father did…it doesn’t lessen the heavy sensation on my shoulders of what tonight was. That she believes she brought home an easy one-night stand when she really let a killer straight into her bed.

I quickly slip on my jeans and shoes, sliding my weapons into my back pockets for now. I’m buttoning up my shirt when Vanessa returns, wet cloth in hand.

“Oh.” Her low voice carries across the room and I spot a flash of an emotion I didn’t know her to be capable of. It’s gone so quickly, it’s possible I imagined it entirely, and then she shakes her head and straightens her spine, walking forward with an air of regality. “You’re dressed,” she states. “Didn’t want to clean up before taking off?” She wiggles the cloth in hand.

I finish the last button and turn away from her bed. With a press of my lips, the guise I’ve had on all night drops and I become the mercenary from earlier. The one who’s been stalkingher for what feels like forever. Years of work is about to come to an end, and I’ve never been more excited by such a prospect.

“No, I need to be getting on the road.”

Keeping my motions subtle, I reach into my back pocket as I pace toward her, knowing once I finish my sentence, all bets are off. I saw the gun inside her bedside table’s drawer, and there’s probably more weapons hidden throughout this room.

Vanessa opens her mouth to reply but I stop her with the statement that’ll invoke conflict and officially send the Bratva into more chaos with the loss of their newest Pakhan.

“It’s been a pleasure, Miss Volkov. Certainly a night I’ll never forget.”

Checkmate.

Miss Volkov.

Zeno knows my name. This entire time, he’s known precisely who I am.

It doesn’t mean anything,inner logic cautions me, even though I know it does. He could have mentioned it sooner, but there’s a reason he didn’t.

I glance at my nightstand. It’s where the closest weapon is. More are tucked beneath the mattress, but I’ll never get the corner lifted before he reacts.

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