Page 78 of Reckless: Chaos

God, he’s making this impossible. Making me want to stay, want to believe we could face Sterling together. Want to...

“You’re playing dirty,” I whisper against his thumb.

“No.” His smile holds sadness. “I’m playing honest. For once in my life, I’m showing all my cards.”

A crash from upstairs shatters the moment. Probably Jinx, still riding the high from tonight’s violence.

“I should—” Ryker starts to pull away, but I catch his jacket.

“Stay.” The word surprises us both. “Let them handle it for once.”

His eyes darken at my grip on his leather. “Thought you needed time to plan.”

“Maybe I need something else right now.”

“Cayenne.” My name comes out like a warning. “Don’t start something?—”

“That you won’t finish?” I challenge, not letting go of his jacket. “Pretty sure we’re past that point.”

His hand finds my throat again, thumb pressing against my pulse. “Last chance to back away. To think this through.”

Another crash, but neither of us moves. The air between us feels electric, charged with possibility and promises.

“I’m tired of thinking.” I tilt my chin up, baring my throat to his touch. “Show me what I’d be walking away from.”

His control splinters, visible in the way his pupils dilate. In how his grip tightens fractionally.

“Remember you asked for this,” he growls, and then there’s no more space for words at all.

Because he’s finally kissing me.

Not just a kiss—a claiming. A promise. A tactical assault on every defense I’ve built, and god help me, I want him to burn them all down.

Chapter 17

Cayenne

His kiss devoursevery thought of escape, every plan of sacrifice. One hand stays firm on my throat while the other tangles in my hair, controlling the angle, the depth, the surrender.

“Red stops everything,” he says against my lips. “Yellow slows down. Green means more. Give me a color.”

The tactical demand in the middle of this makes me want to laugh, but his grip tightens slightly. Right. Even now, he needs his control.

“Green,” I breathe, and his eyes darken.

“Good girl.” His thumb strokes over my pulse. “Now let’s see how long you can follow orders.”

The praise shoots straight through me right to my clit. “Thought you said this wasn’t strategy.”

“Everything’s strategy.” He stands, taking me with him like I weigh nothing. “But some battles are worth losing.”

My back hits the wall, his body caging me in. One thigh slides between mine as he pulls back just enough to study my face. “Keep your hands on the wall. Don’t move them unless I say.”

“Or what?”

His smile holds edges. “Or I stop. And we both know you don’t want that.”

He’s right. God help me, he’s right. I press my palms flat against the wall, already aching for his touch.

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