Page 55 of Brutal Obsession

“Don’t pretend to be offended.” My upper lip curls because he disgusts me almost as much as I disgust myself. “You’ve had your fun. So, you’ve always wanted todefileme like every other enforcer who works for my dad. Well, congratulations. You win.”

The storm cloud gathering on his face darkens. “Now’s a good time to shut your mouth.”

“What does it matter?” I erupt. “You don’t give a fuck about me. No one does! To you, I’m just some dumb slut who betrayed the family. If I had a different father, mine would have ordered you to kill me by now. And you would have. So please spare me?—”

“Why do you think I would ever hurt you?” He roars at me so loud, my ears ring. I’d be shocked if the whole restaurant didn’t hear him.

The mood shifts all over again.

What’s he playing at?

I exhale sharply. “Oh, I don’t know. It’s not like you’re a professionally trained killer, or you treat women like tissue. One blow, and it’s into the trash can. Real mystery, that one.”

“So what?” he growls. “When did I ever treatyoulike that?”

I blink as doubt rises because, the man has a point. Then I shake it off. “I’m supposed to take it as a compliment that you never fucked me and ghosted after, the way you do with every other woman who crosses your path?”

“For fuck’s sake, Harper. Stop twisting every word I say.”

“Doesn’t feel very good, does it?”

“Why,” he snarls, shoving his face into mine, “do you have to be such a colossal pain in my ass?”

Fury boils my blood. I’d love to punch that snarl off his face, but I have no interest in breaking my hand.

“Can we just…” I don’t even want to finish this dumbass sentence. Blowing out another breath, I try to calm down. “Cian, please. Can we just…start this conversation over?”

“You have my attention.”

And that’s not all. Cian’s dick is upright again, cocked at me like a gun between our tightly pressed bodies.

Really?I want to bust his balls.Fighting in a supply closet is what does it for you?

But also, who am I, with my damp panties, to judge?

I guess that means we’re both twisted.

“There’s nothing going on between Paul and me.” Resigned, I rest my head against his. He’s got me pinned. What the hell else can I do? “Ever. I swear.”

“Yeah, and you weren’t trying to escape either.”

“I don’t know why you think I’m as notorious a player as you are. I can count all the people I’ve slept with on one hand and still have fingers leftover. Until yesterday, I didn’t even know what that kind of orgasm was like.”

“What do you mean?”

For the first time since we ducked in here, I think Cian’s actually listening to me. Figures.

“Don’t make me say it.” My cheeks burn so hot with shame that steam probably wafts off my face.

Today may have just played out in the worst possible way.

“Explain yourself.” His hand on my waist slips down and around, attaching to my ass like an oversized paw. “Now.” After a beat, he grinds out, “Please.”

Between his grip on my ass andplease,I would have told him national security secrets if I had any. Lust poisons me against myself.

My attraction to this man is literally ruining my life.

“I’ve never…” I roll my lips together. “You know…comelike that. Before.”

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