Page 74 of Where the Wicked Reign

“Except for last night.”

I sank back against the pillow. “You can talk yourself into, out of, and through anything, can’t you?”

He smiled out at me. “It’s a well-developed skill.”

“I can see that.”

He sidled closer and started playing with my hair, curling some strands around his finger. “Did you want me?”

“What?”

“You heard me perfectly well.”

“You piqued my interest.”

“That’s all I get?”

“Your ego is too big to handle anything else.”

“Just my ego?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

The bastard had me laughing. These carefree moments of his were few and far between, but every time one of them happened, it seemed like a glimpse into the small sliver of innocence and boyishness remaining in him.

“No, not just your ego,” I admitted. “Actually, definitely not.”

He grinned. “That might be the first compliment you’ve actually given me.”

“I don’t think—”

“Not to worry,” he said, grasping my jaw. “We’ll start with my dick and work up from there.”

“You’re impossible,” I said, jerking out of his grip. “And as if you need compliments with that massive ego of yours.”

“I do. Fromyou, I do.”

Our eyes locked.

There seemed to actually be some… vulnerability from him. Some naked honesty and need that wasn’t just rooted in darkness and sex.

It had me smiling and telling him, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He stared at me then, not saying a word, but a whole lot of intensity from him mounting.

“What’s wrong?”

“I know how you wanted it from me last night and we fed amazingly well off each other, but… did I… are you okay? Julian said you were and you seem—”

“I’m fine.” I lifted a shoulder. “Sore, but that’s all.” I reached out and grimaced as I ran my fingers over a particularly nasty bite mark on his shoulder. “I got off easier than you.”

He closed his fingers over mine and stroked softly. “Stay here today. Work remotely if you really can’t take a single day.”

“Why?”

“For one, you need to rest and recover after last night. With our upcoming operation, you need to be in good physical condition. Plus, you’re not my whore, so I don’t like the idea of you taking off right after we fucked.”

“It’s not right after. It’s the next day.”

“You know what I mean.”

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