Page 22 of Wicked Games of Desire

“I’m not your enemy, princess. The sooner you wrap your pretty little head around that concept, the better.”

My glare turns icy. Not my enemy? Is he kidding me? “You murdered my family, then had your goon shoot me and keep me prisoner. If it walks like a duck and quacks, it’s a fucking duck, Alessandro.” I spit the words at him like acid, hoping they will burn holes in thiswhole hero act he has going on. He used to care about me once. At least that’s what it felt like. But now I don’t even know who he is.

He loosens his grip on my hair, skating his hand down to my waist, a fierce look of determination washing over him. “I didn’t murder your family,” he says, his voice almost a whisper it comes out so quietly.

I shove him away aggressively with my free hand. “No, you had your fucking goon Maddox do it for you, while Ricky kept me locked away so I could hear their screams of agony and not do anything to help. What I don’t understand is why? You and my papa were friends. How could you do that to him?”

He takes my hand, pinning me between his solid body and the table. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Harley.” There is a bitterness to his tone that I don’t understand. He has nothing to be bitter about. And I don’t know what I’m talking about because he and his fucking buddies have been keeping me in the dark since I got here.

I blink back at him. He is leaning in so close that our faces are almost touching. “Enlighten me, Alessandro.” I force the words through clenched teeth.

“It’s Alex,” he huffs, unimpressed I keep using his full name.

“I don’t give a fuck what your name is. Start talking sense to me. Because from where I stand, you look guilty as shit.”

His hand skates down my arm, and when his fingers touch mine, I willingly intertwine mine with them. We’ve been standing like this, face to face, with only inches between us for a long time. The same electric connection between us still exists, but now, there is an added layer of angst. “You’re not in a position to be making demands.” He moves my legs farther apart with his knee.

A thrill of excitement runs through me. His sheer dominance makes my pussy sit up and take notice in a way she shouldn’t after the way he’s treated me. “What position would you like me in, then?” Irun my free hand over the velvety fabric of the pool table. “Bent over this pool table so you can fuck me up the ass?” My snarky attitude isn’t as easily won over as my body. “Come on, Alex, we both know it’s your favorite. Or would you have one of your goons do that job for you now as well?” I bare my teeth, challenging him. To do what, I don’t really know, but I can’t stop the words from vomiting out of my mouth.

He drops his hold on me and takes a step away like I just burnt him. Maybe my words are more powerful than I thought. His breathing comes out in sharp, strained breaths as he runs a hand through his dark wavy hair.

And I do a little happy dance inside my head, of course. Can’t let the big bad wolf know I can see right through him. Alessandro’s not some unforgiving asshole when it comes to me. He has feelings, a lot of them. He’s just trying to control them for some reason. Act all hard and cunt-like. It’s not him, or maybe it is and everything we shared was the lie. I can’t tell anymore.

He slides his fingers through his hair again, tugging at the ends as though he has the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. “Watch your mouth, princess,” he warns. I know how dangerous this game is I’ve started, but I’m not just going to sit here and look fucking pretty while he takes over my life. He, of all people, should know me better than that.

“Absolutely, boss.” I give him a wink. I’m not the innocent teen he corrupted two years ago, and right now, I can tell I’m getting to him. The chemistry we used to have is still here. “Come on, Alex, I’m at your mercy.” I tug on the handcuff attached to the pool table, taunting him. “This would be a wet dream come true, me tied down. Your brother Ricky thought so. Icould see it in his eyes.”

“Harley,” he growls my name as a warning. “I don’t know what you’re trying to achieve here, but it’s not going to happen.”

My lips turn up at the sides because I can see I’m breaking down his walls. He wants to give in to me. I tilt my head, running my eyes up his body, eating up every fine inch of him in his expensive suit. He is incredibly attractive, with a rugged face adorned by a slight stubble I want to scratch my inner thighs. I remember how talented his tongue is, bringing me undone time and time again. He has that utterly captivating Michael Morrone bad boy look going on, that’s apparently my kryptonite, by the way my heart races when he looks my way.

“Why not? Because it’s not on your terms, because you always have to be in charge? I should have known there was something messed up with you. That you weren’t just the heir to your father’s casino. When we were sneaking round, there was always so much that didn’t add up. Now I get it.” My eyes search his for answers, ones I know he won’t give me.

As he pulls me closer, I can feel the electric anticipation in the air, causing my heart to beat a little faster. With a deep, rumbling growl escaping his lips, he possessively claims my mouth, igniting a cascade of sensations throughout my body. His kiss is filled with a desperate longing that resonates deep within me, making my toes curl. And it’s like I’m transported back in time, to the bliss of when we first met. When I couldn’t get enough of him.

Chapter 14

As Alessandro claims mewith his mouth, he moves me so I’m teetering on the edge of the pool table. My legs instinctively wrap around his waist, pulling him in closer. The injury in my leg throbs like a bitch, but right now, I don’t care. His tongue forces its way inside my mouth, overwhelming my senses, and like my body has some sort of muscle memory when it comes to him, I soften into his every touch. My hardened nipples crave attention, pressing against his chest. I’m breathless and panting in no time, our kiss growing more desperate by the second. His body just feels so right this close to me. I’ve longed for this feeling for the longest time.

Our lips part slightly, allowing me a moment to think. What’s wrong with me? I’m kissing a man I despise. But when his lips met with mine in such a branding kiss, I couldn’t resist. The magnetic force I feel toward him is undeniable.

As he tries to kiss me once more, I gently turn my head to the side, avoiding his lips. My heart races wildly, not sure what to do. I baited him, but it went too far. I went too far. His behavior is overwhelmingand triggers unwanted memories, ones I can’t revisit in my current situation.

He’s not who you thought, Harley. Just because there is some residual chemistry, that doesn’t mean you have to act like a dog in heat when he’s around.

His eyes narrow in on me, a heady desire in his sinister gaze. It’s impossible not to feel his rock-hard cock pressing into me. I want him, and he wants me. But I know I shouldn’t. This wasn’t my intention tonight. I just wanted to mess with him. Show him he doesn’t hold all the power around here, even if I’m the one handcuffed to a piece of his office furniture. Prove I can still push his buttons just as well as he can mine. But that kiss was life-altering. It should be illegal for men like him to be so good with their mouths; it’s just plain dangerous. I can feel myself falling headfirst down a rabbit hole, one I never truly recovered from last time he tripped me.

His expression turns serious. “Harley, there’s something you should know.”

The office door opens abruptly, making me jump in surprise. “Alex, we have a problem,” Maddox growls, his expression stern when he sees us tangled up together. I smirk at him sweetly; this feels like a win. And after the way he manhandled me tonight, I want to rub salt in the wound. He thought his boss would be pissed with me, and instead, he wants to jump my bones and tell me his secrets.

Alessandro’s eyes travel back to me. “We will finish this later,” he snips, and I know whatever moment we just shared is over. He’s all business again.

Disappointment fills me. Why do I get the impression he was about to spill all his juicy secrets, or at least one of them, and now I have to wait for another opportunity.

Alex turns toward his friend, standing in front of me while I fix myself up, pulling down my dress so the other boys can’t see my now dripping-wet panties.

Ricky’s in the doorway as well, and I don’t miss the way his ravenous eyes roam over me. Fuck, he’s turned on knowing I was just hooking up with his boss, brother, friend? Whatever these guys are to each other. Why is that so hot? I long for Ricky to desire me in return because I’m so attracted to him, even if it’s messed up. And it is without a doubt the most fucked-up fantasy I’ve ever had.

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