Page 50 of Volatile Obsessions

“And that would be?”

“Crossing you off my list as a possible suspect.”

“A whole list, huh?” she asked on a chuckle, crossing her arms.

“It’s not very long, but nonetheless, it is a list that needs to be addressed, and you’re at the very top, pigeon. Not that I’m implying it was you or anything, but you—”

“Cut the shit, Roman. You know damn well it was me.”

The snarl in her tone left me hanging onto my words.

Well, shit.

Had she really just admitted that?

Cocking my head to one side, I stilled mere feet away from her.

“So you’re saying it was you?” I questioned, the black hole in my chest kick-starting into overdrive when she started toward me.

“That’s what I just said, is it not?” she purred, dragging an ebony claw along my chest as she sauntered around me. “How’s the distillery doing by the way? Still flooded? Bet it reeks to high Heaven in there.”

Burning.

I was burning with anger, frustration—lust.

Denial, too.

This woman made me crazy in a ways that made no sense whatsoever. The hold she had over me made no sense whatsoever. I hated her, or at least, I did. Tormenting her, bringing her pain and hardship, brought me great pleasure. But in the same hand, that hate somehow bled into something else, something I didn’t want to feel for her.

I didn’t want to want Lux, yet here we are, the force between us unstoppable.

Relentless.

Inevitable.

Consuming.

“You’re much too close for your own good, love. I suggest you back up,” I warned her, breathing through each wave of temptation that rattled through me.

“All bark, no bite, Mr. King,” she cooed in my ear, her body pressed flush to my back. “You don’t scare me.”

I was about to respond, to follow that up with a ‘you should be,’ until I heard the safety click of a pistol on my right.Then she pressed the cool tip to my temple, chucking quietly as I righted myself all the more.

“Weren’t expecting that, huh?”

“Drop it,” I gritted out, pulse roaring in my ears.

“Or what?” she challenged.

“Or this won’t fare well for you.”

Lux choked out a laugh, adding more pressure to her weapon. “Somehow, I doubt that.”

“Last chance, Lux. Drop it,” I warned again, breaths ragged and unsteady.

“Go on, Roman. Do your worst,” she hedged, mimicking my exact words from that night in my office.

One…

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