Page 12 of Now You're Mine

Her lips tighten, and she glances away like she knows what I’m saying is true. “No,” she says softly, then looks back at me. “But it’ll feel damn good destroying everything you love.” There’s a faint smile on her lips, and she shrugs. I can tell she’s enjoying this. “So there’s that.”

I snap. I can’t fucking help it. Now she’s just being cruel for the sake of it. Say what you will about the shitty things I’ve done, but I always had a reason. I was never cruel for the fucking fun of it. “Why are you doing this, Lux? To punish me, is that it?”

The anger from before instantly turns to anger. “Is that a serious question? You knowexactlywhy I’m doing this.”

I reach up and grab her chin. She flinches, but she doesn’t pull away. I pull her face forward, so it’s only a fraction of an inch from mine. “If you could save Bree if you had found a way, you would have done the same thing or worse, and you know what? I think that scaresthe fuckout of you.”

“You’re wrong,” she says, her eyes never leaving mine. I see a darkness reflected there. A darkness I recognize. “It doesn’t scare me at all.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Lux

Roman’s eyeswiden and I get a sick satisfaction from seeing the shock on his face.

I laugh a little under my breath as I reach out and brush the tip of my finger along the sharp edge of his jaw. “You think you’re the only one with darkness inside you?” I lean in, and whisper, “Some of us just hide it better.”

Those pale eyes narrow, and he reaches up to grab my wrist, squeezing tightly. Too tightly. But I don’t flinch, because there’s no way I’m giving him the satisfaction of seeing my discomfort. Not anymore.

“Stop this now, Lux, or I swear to fucking God…”

When his words trail off, I tilt my head. “Orwhat,Roman? You’ll threaten me? You'll take away my freedom?” I bring my face even closer to his, so our noses are nearly touching. He releases my wrist. “You’ve already takeneverythingfrom me, and you know what, that was a blessing in disguise, because, now, I have nothing to fucking lose.” I pull back again, straightening. “It’s only fair I repay the favor, don’t you think?”

His jaw tightens, and I can practically see the rage working through his veins. His nostrils flare for a split second before his hand reaches up and grabs my face. Pain explodes in my jaw as he tightens his grip.

Anger pulses through me, and I slap himhardacross the face. He barely flinches, like he was expecting it. The anger in his eyes intensifies, and he pushes me back until I bump up against the leather sofa.

He gazes down at me with anger, and hate, and love, and everything in between, reflecting the same emotions that are rushing through me, too.

“Call this shit off,” he says slowly, anger dripping from his tone. “Lux, I’m serious. The society is bigger than both of us.”

It’s the throne of the patriarchy, is what it is. It’s the reason people like James never have to face the consequences of what they’ve done. Not really. Because societies like the Burning Crown protect them.

I shove at his chest—hard—and he’s not expecting it, so it actually dislodges him. But I keep shoving and pushing, lashing out at him. I swipe at him, my nails raking down that handsome-fucking-face.

He tries to contain me, but everything I’ve been through in the last few months comes rushing forward, and I fight like hell, attacking him with everything I have.

I manage to push him back, until he’s up against the desk, unable to retreat any further. His hands are up, and after a few seconds of beating the shit out of him with everything I have, I realize he’sallowingme to do it. Only then do I pull back, the breath heaving from my lungs.

I want him to fight me.

“Come on!” I shove at his chest again, putting all my weight behind it. “Fight me. Do it, youfucking asshole.” I scream the last bit so loud the sound grates against my throat.

But he doesn’t respond. He’s just standing there, hands up, watching me. I push the hair out of my face, and struggle to catch my breath, but, fuck, I want to rip him to pieces. Just like he’s done to me. I want him to hurt. I want to inflict the same pain he’s inflicted on me.

For a few seconds, we just stand there like that, staring at each other, suspended in time.

Then he lunges at me, his mouth colliding with mine, our teeth gnashing. It’s a violent kiss, filled with all the hate we both feel. I claw at him, trying to pull him close, trying to push him away, I don’t even know. Our hands are frantic as we rip at each other’s clothes.

With one hand curled around the back of my neck, he holds my head in place as his other hand dives beneath my robe, and the hem of my short dress. Pushing past my panties, his fingers find my already wet entrance.

He moans into my mouth, and I swallow it as our tongues duel. Then he dips one long finger into my channel, and I respond by biting his bottom lip.

“Fuck,” he hisses, pulling back. Releasing my neck, he touches a finger to his lip, and when he pulls it away, bright red blood coats the tip. He looks at me. “You’re fucking feral.”

I lift a brow, and take a step back, shoving his chest at the same time, which separates us. He just stares at me, and I can see it in his eyes—he thinks he’s the one in control. But guys like Roman… they need to be tamed.

They need to betrained.

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