Page 109 of Bound By Revenge

I nip her earlobe, my voice low. “I’ve never been more serious in my life. I warned you we’d finish this later.”

She rolls her eyes, pushing at my chest again. “The sooner you tell me what happened with McGuire, the sooner we can get to that.”

I curse under my breath, giving her the best scowl I can muster. “You’re a pain in my ass, you know that?”

She shrugs, smirking.. “Duh. And we both know you wouldn’t have it any other way. Now, spill. What happened?”

Grinding my teeth, I finally relent. “Let’s just say the only good thing about this goddamn day was coming home to find your pretty ass in my bedroom—on my bed, no less.”

Her smirk fades, replaced by a small frown. “So, no luck finding McGuire?”

I shake my head. “No. The intel was bad—or outdated. He was gone.”

She steps closer, wrapping her arms around me. The unexpected hug almost undoes me. Heat creeps up my neck, and I’m absurdly relieved she can’t see it with her head pressed against my chest. Hesitant, I wrap my arms around her.

“Oh, well,” she says softly. “Nobody’s hurt, right?”

“No, but?—”

“Then it’s still a win in my book,” she cuts in.

I scoff at that. “A win? Are you kidding me? The bastard came after you, and he’s still breathing. That’s not a win, Kat.”

She waves a hand dismissively. “You’re back home. That’s all that matters.”

I shake my head, my voice rough. “You don’t get it. I can’t rest until he’s dead

“Why?” she snaps, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. Her hands fist the fabric of my sweater, shaking me like she’s trying to jolt sense into me. “Why does it have to be like this? Is it worth it? What’s the point? Killing him won’t bring Maxim back. It won’t change anything. And if it’s too dangerous for me, how is it not for you? I was in hell while you were gone. Don’t you get it? If something happens to you, it’ll destroy me. If you ask me?—”

Her words cut through me like a blade, sharp and relentless. Before she can say more, I pull her to me and crush my mouth to hers.

It’s not a kiss of passion. It’s a desperate attempt to silence her, to stop the ache her words are tearing through me. When I pull back, I press my forehead to hers, my breath ragged.

“You heartless woman,” I rasp, my voice unsteady. “Before you say anything else that rips me apart, you need to listen to me. I’m not a good man, Kat. Never have been. But for you…” I pause, my chest tightening as I try to find the words. “For you, I’ve tried.”

Her breath hitches, her grip on my sweater loosening. I pull her closer, my hands clutching her like she might slip through my fingers.

“You were right,” I say, my voice low and hoarse. “I’m used to taking what I want. By force, if I have to. No hesitation. Butwith you…” I trail off, my throat thick. “I can’t do it. That’s why I’ve been holding back, trying to give you space, trying to give you a choice. Because for some reason, with you, it’s not enough to just have you. I need to know that you want this. That you’re choosing me.”

Her lips part slightly, her eyes searching mine as her fingers brush against my chest as if she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.

“I couldn’t take it if I thought, even for a second, that you didn’t want me the way I want you,” I say quietly. “So, yeah, I’ve tried to be good. But it’s killing me. The more time I spend with you, the harder it gets. And when you say things like that, knowing how I feel, knowing I’m waiting foryouto decide... Kat, you’re killing me.”

Her brows knit together, her expression torn as she shakes her head. “Nik?—”

“No,” I cut her off, my voice sharper than I intend. “Let me finish.” My hand moves to the back of her neck, my fingers tangling in her hair, tilting her face so she has no choice but to look at me. “I’m done, Kat. Done pretending I can be good. Done pretending I can hold back. This is your last chance. You’ve got ten seconds to leave this room. If you don’t feel the same, if you don’t want this—don’t wantme—then go. Now. I’ll let you go. Somehow.”

Her eyes lock on mine, wide and uncertain, her breath coming fast.

“But if you stay,” I continue, my voice dropping to a low whisper, “if you stay, Kat, this is it. You’re mine. And I’m yours. For better or worse. Forever.”

The air between us feels electric, charged with everything left unsaid. She doesn’t move, doesn’t speak, her wide eyes locked with mine, and my chest tightens, every second dragging like an eternity as I wait.

And then, with her usual heart-wrenching, reckless certainty, she grabs the front of my sweater, yanks me down, and crashes her lips into mine.

Chapter 41

Nik

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