Page 27 of Heartless

“Yeah?” I ask, trying for something other than a nervous, breathy sound and failing. Butterflies I never knew existed flutter around my stomach, making me feel…strange. But it’s not abadkind of strange.

“This isn’t…Fuck.” The butterflies suddenly lose their ability to fly at the roughness of his words, and I draw back, just for his hand to tighten, gripping my jaw. “Wait, no.” He opens his eyes, meeting mine with cold blue eyes that feel somehow scorching. “No, don’t give me that look, sweetheart. You look like I kicked your puppy. I just meant.” He takes in a breath, eyes closing for a few seconds before he reopens them. “I didn’t come here to go so far. But then, I didn’t last time, either?—”

“Why not?” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, and when Cassian’s grip on my jaw falters, I find myself moving forward, pushing him back as he moves to let me do it, until Cass is on his back and I’m straddling his hips, holding myself up above him with one hand pressed to his chest.

Frustration bubbles to life in my chest as I look down at him. “If you’re about to leave like the other night after kissing me and telling me ‘you didn’t mean to do this,’ then you might as well not come back.” The words are shaky and unsure, and for a moment, I’m afraid they’ll upset him.

I don’t expect the quick, mischievous grin that spreads across his full lips. “The cops were on their way the other night,” he points out. “I think that one was beyond my control.”

“Really? You could’ve hidden in the closet or something,” I reply, unsure why I’m arguing except for the sake of doing it.

Something flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone too fast for me to identify it. “We’d just had a bit of an argument, if I remember correctly. One where you tried to run from me.”

“Oh, yeah, because that totally carried through to you kissing me. Couldn’t you tell?” I can’t help rolling my eyes at him, and with a quick movement I nearly miss, his hand is suddenly gripping the base of my throat.

“You like to ask for it, don’t you?” Cassian croons. “Tell me, sweetheart. Has no one ever put you in your place before? Has no one taught you what happens when you end up getting the last word?” I don’t answer him, but not because of his grip.

It’s because of his damnwords.They play on repeat in my brain as I stare down at him, resurrecting the butterflies and sending them into frenzied flight. “I don’t always need the last word,” I deny, feeling the lie on my tongue as I say it.

Cassian certainly isn’t fooled. His look turns incredulous, one brow raising and making me scoff. “Notallthe time!” I press, tapping my fingers against his stomach. Glancing down, I realize his shirt had ridden up when I pushed him, and the pads of my fingers are resting on the bare skin above his jeans.

Fuck, this is such a dangerous position to be in with him.

“So that’s a no?” His fingers shift slightly on my throat, and when I swallow, I feel the press of his hand more acutely on my skin. “You’ve never had someone call you out for your attitude?”

“I don’t have an attitude.” But my words are hollow, and I look away from him, unsure what to say.

“No.” His fingers tighten. “Look at me, sweetheart. I want to see your eyes while I talk to you.”

It’s so difficult to drag my gaze back to his, and when he reaches out his other hand to grip my thigh, the butterflies in my stomach put on jet packs to bang against my insides with urgency. “So if I leave right now, I should just never come back?” he muses, gaze holding mine in an iron grip.

“Yeah,” I breathe uncertainly. “Never to darken my doorstep again.”

“And what, exactly, will it take to earn myself a humble visit to your bed, hmm?” He drags my hips down until I can’t hold myself up anymore. My hand is splayed on his stomach, and when my body meets his, he arches up into me, grinding against my core.

I can’t help the small yelp that leaves my throat in surprise and, maybe, approval. My hand tenses on his stomach, fingers curling until I’m scraping my nails against his skin. “What do I need to do for you sweetheart?” I swear to god Cassian ispurringat me. “Should I kiss you until you can’t remember why you want the last word?” The hand on my throat drags me down until I’m pressed against him, on my elbows now in an imitation of how he’d been when I’d been against the wall. But now it’s me with my forearms braced on either side of his face.

Except, I don’t feel like the one in control. He doesn’t relent, instead wrapping his arm over my shoulders to urge me the rest of the way down until his lips reach mine once more. He’s gentler this time. Sweeter. At least at first. He licks and teases at the seam of my lips, taking his time before he slides his tongue against mine. The hand on my thigh slides around to my lower back, and he holds me against him as his hips arch so he can grind against me once more.

“Should I make you come? Stay here all night with you on your back and my face between your legs to taste your pretty pussy? I’ll let you grip my hair and beg me for all the things your boyfriends would never do to you.” He licks at my lower lip and a shiver goes down my spine.

“You don’t know what my boyfriends have or haven’t done for me,” I mutter, just to have a say in this.

“Maybe another time I’ll tell you all the things I know about the two guys you’ve dated.” Cass chuckles, biting my lower lip before I can express my surprise. “Would that earn me the right to come back, Winnie? Or…” My breath falters when he pauses,and I’m ashamed to realize I’m hanging on every single word that comes out of his mouth.

“Or should I fuck you until you can’t remember your own name, and the only thing you can say is mine?” My stomach twists at his words, and I can barely remember why I told him he had to leave and not come back. Clearly, my brain cells have melted from the heat in his words.

Cassian watches me, humor written all over his face. “Oh, you’re too easy, sweetheart,” he chuckles at last. His hands move, going to my hips, and before I can question why, he’s rolling us over until my back is against my comforter and he’s on his hands and knees above me. “So what’ll it be?” he teases, searching my face. “But if you’re too overwhelmed by the options, I can just make the decision for you.”

“Where was the option to make tin foil hats, discussing our conspiracy theories, and drinking sparkling water?” I ask in a voice that’s way too breathy and much too unsure. “I wasn’t replying because I thought that one was still coming.”

His snort nearly cuts me off. “You hate sparkling water, Winnie,” Cass points out dryly. “But that’s okay. I get it. That’s your way of telling me to pick. Don’t worry.” His sudden grin is predatory,wolfishin its appearance. “I’ll get in your good graces. I’m sure of it.”

“How do you think you—” His lips crash into mine again, but this time his movements are urgent and rushed. His fingers grip my tee, yanking it up and over my head without ceremony and leaving me in just my running shorts that feel incredibly too short right now.

Cassian kisses down my throat, reaching up to grip my hair and force my head back so he can have unobstructed access to my neck. His kisses turn sharp, and I whine when I feel his teeth sink into my skin while he sucks a mark that’s sure to bruise. But he doesn’t stop with one. Or two.

Or five.

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