Page 18 of Some Like it Violent

The officer nodded, handing me a flyer with a mugshot of Kane and a phone number to call if I saw him. “Just stay inside with your doors locked. If you see or hear anything, call 9-1-1 immediately. Don’t approach. This man is extremely dangerous.”

“Of course,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “Thank you.” I used all my strength to close the door as the wind pushed against it from the other side. I stood there for a moment, the paper in my hand, as I stared at Kane’s picture.

My heart raced when I turned the corner to the living room, where Kane was awake now, his dark eyes locked on me, sharpand unyielding. He said nothing at first, just watched me with that opaque intensity.

I held up his mugshot.

When he spoke, his voice was rough. “Why didn’t you turn me in?”

I leaned against the doorframe and shook my head, a smile spreading across my lips. I felt… exhilarated. “Because,” I said, tilting my head and staring at the flyer again. “Maybe I’m as fucked up as you are, Kane.”

His expression was unreadable as I pushed off the frame and stepped closer, reached into my back pocket, and pulled out the little knife I’d tucked back there.

“Maybe it’s my turn to be in control.” I kept my voice soft, but I made sure the weight of my words was laced through them. Thick and heavy. “And at the end of it all, maybeI’llbe the one to letyougo, because you aremycaptive.”

For long seconds, he didn’t respond, didn’t even show emotion or change expression. But then I saw it… something flickering in his gaze. And dare I say it was arousal?

When I was right in front of him, I stopped, showing him my little knife. “It’s small but sharp enough to slice through skin like butter.” My voice was gentle as I turned the knife in my hand, the firelight catching the blade. “I was my father’s victim for far too long, Kane. And I promised myself—never again.” I stared into his eyes.

I leaned down until our faces were close. I felt the warmth of his breath, and I noticed the way his gaze lowered to my mouth. I wanted to kiss him again.

“But the truth is… I’m lonely, and I don’t want to be,” I admitted in a whisper, as I let the blade’s tip drag lightly over the armrest of the chair, sliding the flat side against his bare skin. “And I want you to be the one to help me with that.”

Excitement and something else, maybe even admiration, sparked in his eyes. And it sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine.

I really was in control now, and Kane was mine, just like he tried to make me his.

11

EVELINA

Silence settled around the two of us, thick and intoxicating. I focused on Kane, who seemed wide awake now, but I could see his pupils were still dilated, so I knew he wasn't completely coherent, even if he seemed like it.

Although his expression was apathetic, I saw the muscles in his arms flexing against his restraints. His head was lowered, but his eyes seemed so dark and were trained on me.

The space between us was tight, and I couldn't get much closer than I already was, but the couple of small steps I could make… I took them. The small filet knife was cool and steady in my hand. The blade caught the light of the fire he’d started about an hour ago, and then I tilted my head, drinking him in.

God, he looked good, even better than before, because I tied him up and he was at my mercy.

He looked raw in the way I imagined someone who was primal and untamed would appear. His chest rose and fell with restrained power, the dominance pouring off of him despite Kane not having the power right now.

Or did he? Did I think I was the one in control, but it was just a mirage?

“You look good like this,” I murmured, trailing the tip of the knife down the bare upper part of his chest, just barely grazing the shirt stretched tight over his skin. “You’re so big… the biggest man I’ve ever seen, if I’m being honest.” My breath caught. “Yet you look helpless, Kane.”

That darkness in his gaze seemed to expand as he held my stare with his. I didn't know what this look in his eyes was… until I did. I recognized it.

It was hunger.

“You're insane,” he said low. Deep. His voice was rough, but it only made me smile and had my pussy clenching.

God, I was wet.

“Maybe,” I whispered, leaning closer, the knife catching under the fabric of his shirt.

“But so are you.” I sliced through the material, revealing the hard, rigid muscles beneath.

For a second, I just stared at his chest, and I let my fingers follow the path I made with the blade, grazing his bare skin and then pressing the tip of the knife right above his navel until he flinched. A thin line of blood formed on the little cut I made, and a low sound escaped his throat.

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