Page 34 of My Bloody Valentine

“That’s not... I didn’t...”

“You ran because you were scared of yourself.” Adrian draws closer, his cologne mixing with the ever-present scent of chocolate. “Scared of how much you enjoyed it. How much you wanted more.”

My breath stutters as his fingers dance along my thigh. I should push him away. Should scream. Instead, I arch into his touch, that part of me purring with satisfaction.

I wrench away from his touch, forcing my drugged limbs to cooperate. “Get your hands off me.”

My palm connects with his chest as I shove him back. The movement sends another wave of dizziness through me, but anger burns through the fog.

“Let me go, Adrian. Right now.” I press myself against the headboard, keeping as much distance between us as possible.“You can’t just kidnap people because they discover your sick hobby.”

His eyes darken, but that infuriating smile remains. “I can’t let you leave, Maya. Not when we’re so close to understanding each other.”

“Understanding?” I bark out a laugh. “You drugged my wine and locked me up. There’s nothing to understand except that you’re a murderer and a psychopath.”

I scan the room for anything I could use as a weapon. The water glass sits on the nightstand, just within reach.

“I’m neither of those things.” He shifts closer despite my glare. “I’m an artist who sees a part of you that you try so hard to hide.”

“Stay back.” I grab the glass, holding it like a shield. “I mean it. I’ll scream. I’ll break this and cut you. Whatever it takes.”

His hand shoots out, catching my wrist in an iron grip. The glass slips from my fingers, hitting the carpet with a muted thud.

“Let. Me. Go.” I punctuate each word with a struggle against his hold.

“You don’t really want that.” His other hand cups my face, thumb brushing my lower lip.

I bite down hard on his thumb. The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth as he jerks back with a curse.

“I said no.” Fear and fury strengthen my voice, making it ring with newfound power. “Whatever sick game you’re playing, I’m not participating. Let me out of here, or I swear I’ll find a way to destroy you.”

The chuckle that rumbles from Adrian’s chest sends chills down my spine. Before I can react, he lunges forward, his body pressing mine into the mattress. My arms flail as I try to strike him, but he catches both my wrists in one large hand.

“Get off me!” I buck against him, but his weight pins me down.

“Such fire.” His free hand produces metal cuffs from somewhere. The click of metal against my skin makes my stomach drop. “But you need to understand your place here.”

I twist and writhe as he fastens the other cuff, the chain between them looping through what must be a hook in the headboard. The metal bites into my skin as I yank against the restraints.

“I hate you.” Tears of frustration burn in my eyes. “You’re a monster.”

Adrian shifts his weight, straddling my hips. His hands bracket my face, forcing me to meet his dark gaze. It makes my head spin.

“A monster you crave.” His thumb strokes my cheeks, wiping away tears I didn’t realize had fallen. “One you’ll learn to embrace.”

I jerk my head away from his touch, the cuffs rattling as I struggle. “Never.”

Though I verbalize it, that sick part of me thrills at being under his control. Every inch of me responds to his proximity despite my mind screaming to fight.

His blood still coats my tongue, metallic and sharp, as Adrian’s lips crash against mine. The kiss steals my breath, his mouth demanding and fierce. I freeze. A shock floods my system at the realization that after everything we’ve done, the whole sordid tale… this is our first kiss.

His tongue traces the seam of my lips, seeking entrance. I try to resist, to keep my mouth closed, but a whimper escapes me as my lips part, allowing him to deepen the kiss.

The cuffs dig into my wrists as I arch up into him instinctively. His hands cup my face, thumbs stroking my cheeks as he devours my mouth. The gentleness of the touch contrasts with the bruising force of his kiss.

Heat floods through me, pure lust warring with fear and anger. I shouldn’t want this. Shouldn’t crave the way his tongue slides against mine, claiming every inch of my mouth.

When he finally breaks the kiss, we’re both panting. My lips feel swollen and tender. The taste of him lingers—blood and chocolate and sin.

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