Page 9 of A Heart So Savage

Before she knew it, Kingston was suddenly beside her, an arm snaking around her waist. There was barely time to blink before she found herself imprisoned against his chest. Her hands balled up into fists, digging into the muscled planes of his body.

“Fight me, Ava.”

Reeling from his swift attack, Ava’s head reared back at the husky command. “What?”

“You heard me. Fight me. I want you to.”

“Why?”

“Because I like it. And so do you. You need it more than you realize.”

Ava’s blood raced. The suggestion she might enjoy a physical altercation made her sick. It was even worse when she realized Kingston was right.

Before he said another word, she leaned back, opening a tiny bit of space between their bodies.

Her palm cracked against his cheek, louder than a gunshot. The sound hung in the air, reverberating like thunder.

“That’s not true,” Ava snapped, anger boiling until it was on the verge of spilling over into everything messed up in her world. “You don’t know anything about me. You never did.”

Kingston laughed. “Yes, I do. The sooner you admit this, the better for both of us.” His arms tightened around her, strangling her anger and somehow ratcheting the hopeless attraction she had for this man. It was dizzying how quickly her mood swung from hate to desperate hunger. It must be some sort of bipolar reaction she couldn’t help.

“Fight me, Ava,” he murmured again. “Or give in and let me have you the way I need you. And in the way I think you need me.”

She obeyed, fighting him with frantic desperation, kicking his shins, her fists pummeling his chest. She even tried biting him, her teeth snapping as he effortlessly controlled her. It feltgoodto struggle, fear and anger leaching into her actions until it was almost a cathartic experience.

“Little monster,” Kingston murmured, his pleased amusement stinging her pride. “So very fierce. So determined. And yet, still so helpless.”

Ava cried out, a furious sound that made Kingston laugh out loud. He restrained her easily, controlling the reckless attack as if she were nothing more than a spitting mad kitten delivering a few scratches.

As if suddenly weary of the resistance he had encouraged, Kingston’s mouth swooped down on hers, abruptly crushing Ava’s fragile resistance.

She should battle back until he was bloody and tattered, but how could she when she craved him with all the madness roiling inside her? He touched her, kissed her, laid claim to her, and she capitulated like a spineless fool.

It was impossible fighting this when she was exhausted from strategizing. She simply wanted to feel and fall into everything this man promised. The pleasure and the pain.

With a tortured moan, Ava kissed him back. Fiercely. Without hesitation or thinking.

Kingston’s reaction was instant. The kiss changed from punishing to voracious. He attacked her mouth. Ate at her lips. Devoured as much as he could get now that she wasn’t resisting.

Ava clutched at Kingston’s suit lapels, gasping softly when his lips left hers. She was completely off-balance. Ravenous for him despite her hatred for the situation.

“Fuck, Ava.” Kingston moved until she was again pressed against the pool table. The wood edge bit into the small of her back while his rough hands held her in place. In a move Ava now anticipated, one hand came up and palmed around her neck, his fingers curling at her nape.

“You don’t know what you do to me, do you?” Kingston’s words grated over her lips as he took and took until she was drowning. “I want to punish you and cherish you all at once. I want to fuck you until you see only me. Until you don’t wantanyonebut me. Damnit, you are driving me crazy, Ava. I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t know what to do aboutyou.”

Clutching her tighter, his gaze crashed into hers in a firestorm of heated fury.

Flames of desire to incinerated Ava. She wanted Kingston as much as he wanted her. The knowledge was a sharp betrayal of her self-preservation. Allowing him to do whatever he desired was suicidal. It was beyond depraved. She could not forgive herself for giving in so easily.

The man was a sociopath, and her life was in increasing danger every second she was with him. But she would not leave. Not now. Not when there were others who would hurt her in terrible ways she couldn’t begin to fathom.

It was far easier submitting to this man. This lesser of all evils looming over her. This monster who promised protection while completely destroying her.

“Then do it,” she recklessly,stupidlychallenged. “There’s nothing stopping you, Kingston Winter. Nothing. Not even my hate.”

Kingston’s eyes flashed with something primal.

Something…vulnerable.

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