Page 44 of Claimed By Rage

“For fuck’s sake,” Rage snaps, slamming his fist on the counter. His fork clatters against the edge of the plate and tumbles to the floor. With a growl, he tosses his full plate into the sink with acrashand storms off. “Forget it. I’m late enough as it is.”

I watch as he storms out of the apartment and slams the door shut behind him. The walls rattle from the force of it, and Rebel lets out a low whistle. “Man needs to get laid,” he murmurs, scratching the stubble on his chin. “He’s all wound up all the time.” His eyes slide from the front door tome, a slow smile curving on his lips. “You know… if anyone can calm him down?—”

My jaw drops. “Me?He just stormed off because of me!” I cross my arms over my chest and glare at Rebel. “Yousleep with him!”

“That’s called incest, baby.” His eyes glimmer with mirth. “Plus he’s not my type.” He licks a stripe across his front teeth. “You, on the other hand?—”

The front door suddenly blows open and slams against the wall. I shriek and jump out of my seat, heart pounding, as Rage blitzes back into the room. His muscles are coiled tight, the white shirtsleeves shoved up his forearms wrinkled to hell and back, like he’s been tugging them up and down for the past thirty seconds since he walked out. Jaw clenched, eyes tight, he crosses the room and stands in front of me. A vein in his neck throbs.

I gape up at him. “Um. Welcome back.”

“Can I—” He winces, clearing his throat with a hard cough. His fists clench and unclench by his sides. Swallowing, he tries again. “Can I… take you home?”

Twelve hours ago, I would have spat in his face. Called him a bastard. Stormed out the door without looking back.

Of course, he would have followed me and dragged me back inside.

But that was twelve hours ago. This isnow.

And for some reason…

I bite my lip and meet his eyes, wondering how long he waited outside before coming back in.Whyhe returned in the first place. If he wanted to, he could have picked me up, tossed me over his shoulder, and carried me out the door an hour ago.

It’s not like his brothers can beat him in a fist fight. If they challenge him physically, they’ll lose. So will I, for that matter. I can do little more than kick and scream in the face of his determination.

My stomach churns at the memory of last night. The blood on the ballroom floor. The salt of sweat and tang of metal on my tongue. The way Rage decimated Goliath with only his fists.

The way he targetedmenext.

If I close my eyes, I can still feel the weight of him on my tongue. My knees ache like I’m still kneeling in front of him with an unforgiving fist wrapped around my hair, my jaw unhinged as I swallow every last drop of his fury.

But then the memory shifts to soft sheets and decadent down pillows. Warmth spilling from one body to the next. These quiet little breaths. The brush of a hand across my back. Lips caressing the curve of my neck.

Gentle whispers murmured in my ear.

Telling me that I’m beautiful.

That I’m treasured.

That I’mhis.

Two sides of the same man, constantly warring with each other. Briefly, I wonder if I’m the problem. Maybe if he werewith someone else, he could handle his emotions better. Be nurturing instead of nuclear.

I picture another woman on her knees as he gently glides his cock between her lips, Rage murmuring praise as she swallows him down easily,eagerly, aiming to please and be pleasured in return.

But something soft like that isn’t in the cards for us. Even now, for him to ask to take me home instead of demanding it, feels like a small step in the right direction, but I know better. He shouldn’t evenask.I’m the one who’s supposed to be able to make the decision. Giving over control to someone else, even with something as simple as a decision like this, is impossible for him.

It’s why I shake my head and tell himno.

“No?” He grits his teeth, skin flushing red. “How could you sayno?” Glaring first at me, then at his brothers, he chuffs. “Right. You already chose one of them. Well which one is it, then? Rebel is the obvious choice. You clearlylikehim.” He drags his sleeves back up his arms, bunching them at his elbows. “Unless you want a little pain instead of pleasure. Then Ruin’s the one you want. But me?” A bitter laugh rattles in his chest. “No, you can’t pick me. I might get the wrong idea and think you actuallylikeme.”

I shove him on impulse, and he tips back slowly like a tree swaying in the wind, snapping back only once the surprise clears. Grabbing my wrist, he holds my hand to his chest, turning his glare on me. “Touch me again?—”

“Show me something to like!” I scrape my nails against his shirt as I drag my fingers into a fist. “No, I’m not choosing you, because you’re just so—” I cry out in frustration. “You’re so fuckingsuffocating!Give me some space, Rage. Treat me like a person instead of a possession, and maybe I’ll actuallywantto kiss you.”

He closes the distance between us in a single, hard step. “Oh, you want to kiss me.” Gaze burning into mine, he dips his head and exhales hotly across my cheek. “Just like I want to kiss you. This thing we have—” he grabs my hip and pulls me into him—“this hot, tight feeling in my chest—” he pants, crushing my hand over his heart. Its beat is a wild, frantic thing, as loud as my own. “It’s magnetic. Fuckingimpossibleto ignore.”

Our lips brush, and we both shiver on impact.

---