Page 56 of Vicious Addictions

“So what now?”

“And now it’s time for this queen to claim her prize,” I tell him, pushing back from the table and rising slowly to my feet.

His breath catches in his throat as I step toward him, closing the space between us. He doesn’t move, doesn’t flinch—just sits there, hands clenched into fists on his thighs, as if bracing himself.

I reach for them, gently prying his fingers open. They yield to me instantly.

“This won’t hurt,” I whisper, slipping onto his lap and guiding one of his arms around me.

“Mina, what are you—”

I press a finger against his lips, silencing him. His eyelids flutter shut.

Then, taking his other hand, I press it to my pendant, covering it with my own.

“I love my necklace,” I murmur, leaning in, my lips just a breath away from his. “And I promise, I’ll never take it off,” I pause, needing to take a fortifying breath. “But there’s just some things a woman wants that money can’t buy.”

“And what’s that?” he asks, his breath ragged.

“A kiss,” I whisper. “I want you to kiss me.”

His eyes snap open, the flecks of gold in his eyes burning brightly at me.

“Is that really what you want?”

“More than anything.”

My heart is pounding now, slamming against my rib cage, but my resolve will not be deterred.

He watches me intently, searching, as if looking for a reason in my eyes to walk away.

Some hesitation he can use against me.

But there is none.

This is what I want.

“Kiss me,” I whisper again, needing to break through his resistance. “One little kiss.”

“Just one?” he asks as if trying to justify it to himself.

“Hmm. Just one,” I lie.

If Jude kisses me tonight, if he gives in, then there is no way I won’t do everything in my power to break through his armor and get him to kiss me again. Even if that means I have to wait for another birthday to do it.

And then, I feel it.

His hand slips from my grip on the pendant, threading into my hair, to gently pull me in closer. My breath hitches in anticipation, closing my eyes and letting him lead the way.

“For you, Mina,” he breathes before brushing his lips against mine, soft and tentative, sending a spark of electricity coursing through me.

Time ceases to exist at this moment, and I can’t help but melt into his embrace.

Everything about him has hardened over the years, and yet his lips remain gentle and firm. I perch my palms on his hard chest as I lean in to savor his taste, humming in delight when I find the lingering taste of the old, aged whiskey he’d been drinking earlier—smooth with just a hint of spice and nutmeg.

Needing a bigger hit, I wrap my arms around his neck and let my tongue lick the seam of his bottom lip, his earthy, smoky scent only adding to the intoxication I already feel. When I use my teeth to dig into his flesh, Jude’s grip tightens on the nape of my neck, his lips instantly parting for me, no longer happy in playing the part of a bystander.

My heart races, hammering against my chest like a wild bird trying to break free from its cage as my tongue shyly probes his to a game of catch. A low whimper escapes me when he deepens the kiss, his tongue commanding, craving the taste of every hidden crevice in my mouth. His fingers dig into my neck, his arm tightening his hold around my waist as I squirm on his lap, feeling his whole body harden by our salacious kiss. I come up for air for just a fraction of a second before I dive right into him, wanting to learn every secret he’s ever kept from me. My fingers tug at the strands of his hair, and my breasts are fully pressed against his chest. Still, I feel like I can’t get close enough. I feel that I need more… so much more than what he’s giving me.

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