Page 16 of Carnival Master

“Stop covering yourself.” The words come out as a growl, deep and primal. “Your body is fucking stunning.”

Her eyes snap to mine, and her lips part in surprise. A blush spreads across her cheeks and down her neck, disappearing beneath the towel. She clutches the fabric tighter, but I catch the slight tremor in her hands.

“I...” She swallows hard. “I’m not... I mean, I’m not exactly model material.”

The self-consciousness in her voice makes my blood boil. Someone’s been in her head, making her doubt herself and think she needs to hide.

“Who told you that bullshit?” I take a step closer, watching her breath catch. “Because they’re fucking blind.”

Her eyes flash with anger, cutting through her fear. Good. I love it when she shows her fire.

“Don’t change the subject!” she snaps, backing away from me. “You broke into my fucking house. You’re acting like a complete psycho!”

My lips curl into a smile as I stalk toward her. “Am I? And here I thought you liked it when I act like a psycho.”

Her back hits the wall. I cage her in with my arms, breathing in the sweet scent of her shower gel.

“What are you talking about?” Her voice wavers, but her chin lifts defiantly.

I lean closer, my breath fanning across her neck. “You looked so fucking beautiful touching yourself after I sent that picture and dirty messages. The way your back arched off those silk sheets...”

Her eyes go wide. “What? How did you?—”

“Your iMac camera gave me quite the show. The sounds you made...” I grip the wall harder, my cock throbbing at the memory. “Those little whimpers when you came...”

The color drains from her face before fury ignites in those green eyes. She shoves hard against my chest, breaking free from where I’ve caged her.

“Get the fuck out.” Her voice is steel, that fire I love blazing in her eyes. “Now.”

“Come on, baby girl?—”

“Don’t call me that.” She grabs her phone from where I put it, finger hovering over the emergency button. “Get out of my house before I call the cops. I’m not playing games.”

Even wrapped in just a towel, she radiates pure strength. Her jaw is set, eyes flashing with determination. No trace of the trembling girl from moments ago remains.

“Last warning,” she says, voice deadly calm. “Get. Out.”

“You think you’re so tough, but you’re not.”

She takes another step back, clutching her phone. My blood pumps hot, desire ripping through me as I respond to her challenge.

I lunge forward, grabbing her wrist and twirling her so her back hits my chest. She drops the phone, which falls to the ground with a clatter. She struggles, but I tighten my grip around her wrists, holding them captive behind her back.

“Tough enough to bring the mighty Tyson to his knees, aren’t you?” I growl, my lips hovering dangerously close to her ear. “Admit it. You want this as much as I do.”

“No, I—” She bites her lip, eyes widening at the raw hunger in my voice.

“Don’t lie.” I slide my free hand down to her throat and angle her so she’s looking at me in the mirror over the sink, applying just enough pressure to feel her pulse against my palm. Her breath catches, eyes fluttering shut as a soft whimper escapes her lips. “You like it when I get a little forceful.”

“No, I?—”

“You love it.” My thumb strokes over her pulse, feeling her heartbeat quicken. I tighten my grip, cutting off her air. “A part of you wishes I’d take you here against this wall, show you what a real man can do.”

She trembles, a soft moan escaping her lips. My entire body tenses, my grip tightening as I silently begher to ask for it. To beg me to take her right here, right now.

“I...” Her eyes flicker open, chest heaving as she searches my gaze in the mirror. “I hate that I do.”

Hearing her admit it makes my body coil even tighter. I ease my grip just enough so she can breathe, knowing I’ll lose her if I push too far.

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