Page 26 of Sin and Deception

Nine

XANDER

I leaned in close, my breath mingling with hers in the charged space between us. I could feel her shallow exhales against my skin, each a reminder of her presence and vulnerability.

Her lips quivered, and for a moment, I hated how much I wanted to consume her, to claim her as my own. But this wasn’t about pleasure; it was about uncovering the truth.

"You're going to confess everything, Angel," I whispered, my voice low and dangerous. "Every last detail."

Theo tightened his grip on her arms, holding her still as she looked back and forth between us, frantic and desperate.

A flicker of defiance shone in her eyes despite the fear.

She still had some fight left in her. Good. Lether try.

Because there was no escaping us this time.

"You abandoned us," I growled, my voice sinking into a guttural snarl. "Now you will experience that feeling."

Her chest heaved as she geared up to respond, but it didn't matter. Nothing she could say would alter the truth.

Theo's grasp on her shifted, and he leaned in close, his lips grazing her ear. “We're not letting you go, Nerine. Not now. Not ever.”

Our words hung heavily in the air, final and unforgiving.

Nerine trembled between us, her body betraying her even as her mind fought against us.

She was where she belonged for the first time in two years.

And we were never going to let her forget it.

Her lips trembled under my grasp, the blush on her cheeks spreading to her neck and chest. It drove me insane how she fought against us with every ounce of defiance she had left while her body betrayed her with every ragged breath. I wanted to break her, to make her feel the same pain and betrayal that consumed me, but at the same time, I couldn't help wanting to worship her.

I tightened my grip on her, my thumb tracing her quivering bottom lip.

"Do you have any idea what you've done to us?" I snarled, my voice filled with anger and longing. "What you made me do? Every damn night, I thought you were dead. I thought I would never touch you again."

Her breath caught, and her eyes widened as she looked up at me with fear and arousal in equal measure.

The mix was intoxicating, sharp and heady, and I couldn't help but resent her for making me crave her even now when all I wanted to do was punish her.

“I—” Her voice broke before she pressed her lips together and shook her head. Yet, her defiance only stoked the fire burning within me.

“You left us,” I said, pulling her closer until our bodies pressed together. “You fucking abandoned us. And you think you get to stand here and pretend it never happened?”

"I had no choice!" she spat back, her voice rising with the flicker of the fire that had always drawn me to her—and pushed me away. "You don't understand…"

“Then make me understand,” I snapped, interrupting her. “Go on, Angel. Explain why you ran. Explain why you let us think you were dead while you played house in this fucking city.”

She attempted to pull away, but my grip remained firm. I wasn't letting go this time. My other hand reached out, grasping her hip and drawing her close against me. She gasped as she felt my hard cock pressing into her softness.

“Xander, stop—” Her words faltered as her gaze darted toward Theo, searching for some salvation, but he merely smirked.

He wasn't going to save her. Neither of us was.

“Stop?” I asked, leaning in until our noses nearly touched. “Is that really what you want?”

The silence between us was deafening, a heavy weight hanging in the air, making breathing difficult. Heat radiated from our bodies, building and intensifyingwith every passing second. I could feel her trembling beneath my touch, her body betraying her desire despite her attempts to resist.

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