Page 18 of The Devil's Pawn

She half scowls, half suppresses a grin. “Oh, believe me, I haven’t.”

“Don’t be embarrassed for having good taste.” I pick up my fresh cup of coffee and take a long sip, my playful gaze stuck to the narrowing of her eyes.

Raquel can throw in whatever terms she wants at me. Whatever’s written in our contract won’t matter. It won’t be real. Unlike our marriage.

She’ll be mine. She just has no idea.

Yet.

“I’m also not fucking you.” She goes all serious.

“Damn, did I just like hearing you say that word. Can you say it again, but lower this time?”

My cock grows heavy, hard, while her eyes turn to humorously glaring slits. Her arms cross over her small chest that’s just enough for my palms. My hands tingle to touch her there. To touch her in every place she hides.

“Anything else?” I ask, unable to keep that smirk off my face.

“I’m not touching you either.”

“That’s so broad. Is there any wiggle room on that one? I was kind of hoping to snuggle.”

“Absolutelynosnuggling.” She barely stifles a laugh.

“What if we watch a movie, you in my arms, and we end up falling asleep together?”

She sits up straighter. “Why would I even be in your arms to begin with?”

“Maybe you were cold? Maybe you were lonely?” My voice deepens, my gaze boring into hers. “Maybe you just liked how my body felt next to yours?”

Her cheeks flush as she bites the corner of her lower lip, and my dick jerks, wanting to be there instead.

“That…uh, that’ll never happen.” But there’s too much uncertainty on her features.

“Never is too strong of a word,” I add. “Let’s wait to see what happens.”

“Nothing will happen.” Her words are sharp, edging, like a sword. One I’ll have too much fun melting until it’s no longer a threat.

“Whatever you say, wife.”

“Don’t say it like that!”

“Hey!” I lift up my hands in defeat. “I’m agreeing with you.”

“Uh-huh, but your voice isn’t.”

“I can’t control what my voice thinks. It’s got a mind of its own, like some of my other body parts.”

She skims a shaky hand down the side of her neck, calling for my palm to wrap around it, to squeeze as I’m buried deep inside her with my mouth on those luscious lips. It’s like every layer of her skin is calling out to me, baiting me.

She looks around the room, clearly wanting out of this conversation. I can only guess it’s because no matter how much she denies her hunger, I know deep down she wants to light our fire and feel it burn.

Sometimes when you’ve met a complete stranger, there’s this invisible string pulling you to them. Like gravity shifting and creating something new. You don’t understand it—hell, you might not even want it—but it happens on its own. That’s how it is between us.

This attraction is undeniable. She can try to pretend she doesn’t feel it, but it’ll continue to grow until we’re both consumed.

“I can’t believe how big this place is,” Raquel tosses out.

“It’s yours now.”

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