Page 78 of Devilish Ink

“This isme,” I said, on the verge of shouting. On the verge of losing control. “This has always been me and you know it. I’ve never professed to be an angel and you’ve never professed to love one.”

“He trusted you,” Ry screamed. “Itrusted you!”

“My father made me believe things I shouldn’t have. My father stopped mefrom doing what I should have. And I’m here to make it right.”

She needed to listen. She just needed to fucking listen.

“I opened up to you in ways I’ve never done before.” Ry grabbed at her chest. “How you must have found it all so funny. Knowing what you knew. Being who you are!”

“That’senough!”

Frustration boiling over, I shoved the couch aside. It dented the wall with a crash.

Ry didn’t even glance at the destruction. She just looked atthe unencumbered distance between us and balled her fists. Ready for battle. Ready to fight.

“I told you to get out.”

“And I told you I’m not leaving.”

I’d pin her to the floor if I had to. I’d let her scream until she lost her voice if that was what it took. I would not leave. I was not going to lose her.

“I may have lied about my name,” I said, “but Ineverlied to you about who I am. I’m still the man youlove.”

I was just as surprised by Ry’s sudden tears as she seemed to be. She wiped at them with a vehemence. Like they’d betrayed her by welling along her dark lower lashes and falling down her cheek.

“I’ll never love you again,” she said, her words poisonous.

I was on her before she could even think to run, a dangerous mix of anger and fear burning in my veins. She stumbled back till she collided with the wall and I caged her in, no chance of escape.

It was not something a good man would do. It was wrong. Crossing a line. Going too far. But there was no universe where I wouldn’t have done it again.

My fingers were rough on her delicate skin, my wet clothes against her body. Eyes locked on hers like I’d already thrown away the fucking key.

Her pulse thudded beneath my thumb, her lips parted, ready to suck in one last breath before I dragged her under.

I wasn’t going to lose her. I was not going to leave.

I was going to make her listen. Make her understand.

No, it was not something a good man would do. But at last, I admitted the truth to myself… I wasn’t a good man.

She didn’t even have time to gasp in surprise before my fingers wrapped around her throat.

“You’re going to listen to me, or I’m going to fuck you until you do.”

RY

Lee—no,Liam’shand was around my throat, gentle yet firm, as his mouth closed around mine.

Instantly my world quieted. My limbs melted against his as they instinctively submitted. My wild anger swirled into burning lust.

For a moment I kissed him back, body aching from having been without him for so many days. His familiar masculine scent and his body against mine had my head spinning.

But then I remembered.

He was my best friend’s brother.

He’dliedto me.

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