Page 68 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

“Because,” I murmur, brushing my lips over the soft skin of her neck. “I like watching you squirm.”

She shivers under my touch. All I need to do is push her a little more.

“You don’t want to tell me?” I ask, my voice dark and teasing. “You don’t want to tell me what dirty little fantasy has been bouncing around in your head?”

She exhales sharply, her body tense against mine. “I don’t-”

“Liar,” I interrupt, sliding my hand just under her sweater to feel the heat radiating off her skin. “Come on, Grace. I know there’s something. You’re practically dripping with it.”

Her breath catches, and I can see the way her mind is racing. She’s torn between giving in and keeping whatever control she has left. I give her a few seconds, just enough to let the tension build, before I nudge her again.

“Tell me,” I growl softly, my lips brushing the shell of her ear.

She takes a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve...I’ve been thinking about something.”

I grin, satisfied. “Yeah? What’s that?”

She hesitates, biting her lip, and I can see the blush creeping up her neck, coloring her cheeks. It’s a good look on her–innocence mixed with something darker. Something that’s about to spill out.

“It’s...it’s kind of crazy,” she finally admits, her voice soft, but I can hear the anticipation in it.

“Good,” I say, leaning back just enough to meet her eyes. “Tell me.”

She bites her lip again, her eyes darting away for a second, and then she looks back at me, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I’ve been thinking about...being taken.”

I blink, a slow grin spreading across my face. “Taken, huh?”

She nods, her breath shaky. “Yeah...like, kidnapped.”

My pulse kicks up a notch. I wasn’t expecting that, but now that she’s said it, my mind’s already racing with possibilities.

“And who’s doing the kidnapping?” I ask, my voice rougher now, the teasing fading into something darker, something hungrier.

She meets my gaze, her eyes shining with a mix of desire and nerves. “Three very dangerous hitmen.”

Jesus Christ. The thought of it sends a jolt of heat through me, and I have to take a breath to steady myself.

“And what do we do once we’ve got you?” I murmur, my voice low and dangerous now.

Her lips part, her breath coming in shallow gasps. “You don’t ask for permission,” she whispers, her eyes locked on mine. “You just…take.”

Fuck. This woman.

I stand up abruptly, leaving her sprawled out on the couch, her eyes wide and confused. “Where are you going?” She asks, her voice laced with frustration.

I glance back at her, a slow grin spreading across my face. “Be right back.”

She groans, dropping her head back against the couch, her lips forming the cutest little pout. “Seriously? Now?”

“Yep,” I say, already leaving the room. “Sorry. I forgot I have to do…something.”

I grin as I hear her grumbling under her breath aboutblue ovariesandsilly, frustrating hitmen,among other things. She has no fucking idea.

The night air is cold, biting at the exposed skin around my eyes and lips as we crouch outside the cabin. Thesnowstorm didn’t want to stay away for long, giving us only a short bit of time to enjoy a peaceful, snowy landscape, and now the snow is back to coming down in droves.

And it only seems to be gaining steam. But luckily, it doesn’t seem dangerous yet.

I’ve done my fair share of covert ops in the worst conditions, but tonight? Tonight’s different. We’re not on some mission halfway across the world; we’re right outside the damn cabin, stalking the one woman I’d never hurt for real.

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