Page 44 of Beneath the Thorned Crown

I’m not offended by that. Because for all his arrogance, there’s a hint of reluctance in his voice. Like he wishes he could push me out of this world entirely, but he knows it’s already too late.

I step closer, arms crossing over my chest. “Too bad. I’m not going anywhere.”

His face tenses, his grip tightening around the glass, but he doesn’t argue.

For once, he doesn’t have the last word.

Chapter 14 - Dominic

I stare at her, unblinking, my gaze pressing down on her. “Stubborn,” I murmur, almost to myself. “Reckless.”

“Determined,” Isabella corrects, taking a step closer.

The pull between us feels charged, overwhelming, and I have to steady myself, feeling the warmth radiating from her body.

I reach out, my hand brushing against her arm, and a shiver runs through her. It isn’t fear—it’s something darker, something that makes her skin prickle in ways I know she doesn’t want to ignore.

“You think you’re untouchable,” I say softly, my fingers trailing down her arm in a way that makes her breath hitch. “But you have no idea what you’re walking into.”

“Maybe,” she replies, her voice barely a whisper, “but I’m not afraid of you, Dominic.”

A tinge of surprise crosses my face, quickly replaced by intrigue. There’s a smoldering intensity in my gaze now, and my hand settles on her waist, fingers pressing just hard enough to make her pulse spike.

“You don’t need me to save you,” I murmur, “but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you walk into a death trap.”

Before she can reply, I pull her closer, and suddenly, the energy around us shifts, turning sharp, electric. My gaze dropsto her lips, and I feel my heart stutter, my pulse quickening in response.

Before I can second-guess my decision, I step closer to Isabella, drawn by instinct. My fingers tilt her chin up, guiding her gaze to mine—then, without hesitation, I kiss her. She stiffens for a brief moment before melting into me, her lips parting as she returns the kiss.

My hand tangles in her hair, my body pressing hers back against one of the towering bookshelves, and books rattle, some toppling onto the desk beside us, but I don’t care. I’m lost in the intensity of it, the way my mouth claims hers with a hunger that leaves us both breathless.

The kiss deepens, growing hotter, more urgent, and I can feel her surrendering to it, surrendering to me. My hands slide down her sides, my touch possessive, my grip hard enough to leave marks, and I feel a thrill rush through me at the intensity of it, at the way I don’t hold back.

I pull back just enough to look at her, my breathing ragged, my gaze burning with an intensity that makes her lips part slightly, her chest rising and falling with each shaky breath.

“Isabella,” I whisper her name, my voice rough and low.

I step closer, the space between us shrinking. Her eyes darken and I can sense the intrigue in the way her breath hitches. My eyes drink her in as if I’m weighing every part of her.

She trembles slightly, a mixture of anticipation and want, knowing that I could break her if I wanted to—and yet, she doesn’t look away.

I reach out, my hand sliding along her neck, my fingers grazing the sensitive skin there, and she trembles slightly. The light touch is enough to make her pulse race, her breath catching in her throat as I step even closer, my body towering over hers, the hard lines of my muscles flexing under my shirt.

I tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You want this, Isabella?” I murmur, my voice low and rough, the question more like a command than a request.

She barely finds her voice, but she nods, her throat too tight to form words.

The corners of my mouth lift in a dark smile, and I grip her chin just a bit tighter, holding her in place as my eyes roam over her face, studying her like she’s a meal I’m about to devour.

“I want to hear you say it,” I say, my voice a low growl. “Tell me you want me to fuck you.”

A thrill runs through her at my words, but she hesitates, her heart hammering in her chest as my fingers trail up, wrapping around her throat, my grip firm, unyielding.

I lean in, my lips brushing against her ear, my breath hot against her skin.

“Say it,” I murmur, tightening my hold just enough to make her gasp.

“Yes,” she finally breathes, the words spilling out before she can stop them. “Yes, Dominic, I want you to fuck me. Hard.”

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