Page 23 of Hate Mates

But it’s my attention to detail that has her breath coming in short staccato pants—a long, hooded black coat, black leather motorcycle gloves, and black shading around the one thing I know she’ll recognize most.

“Your eyes…” she says, her voice barely a whisper. “They’re…”

“Ice blue?” I give her a low rumbling chuckle. “Yes, I’ve been told they’re hypnotic, enchanting, captivating…”

“Terrifying.”

My smile widens. “That, too.”

“How did you know…?” Her pupils dilate as a few of the scattered pieces start falling into place. “I was right. Youhave been watching me.” Her chin swings toward the open bedroom door. “But how did you get in the?—?”

“I told you—I know everything.”

She stares at my face, taking it all in as if she’s seeing everything and nothing all at once. For a moment, I wonder if she sees through the facade, but then she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip and looks up at me through those long eyelashes. “Are you really here?”

I press against her, biting back a groan at finally feeling the curves of her soft body. “What do you think, love? Do I feel real?”

The broken whimper that vibrates in her chest has me ready to ditch the game and skip to the end. But that’s not what she wants and certainly not what she deserves. We’re doing this my way, and the reward is going to be so worth the wait.

She lowers her chin, her eyes downcast. “Are you going to hurt me?”

Yes, and you’re going to beg for more.

“I’m here to do more than hurt you, Izzy.” I trace her bottom lip with my gloved thumb, slowly dragging it past her chin and down her slim neck. “I’ve come to collect.”

Her head snaps up, eyes wide with horror and something else she doesn’t want to acknowledge. “Y-you want my soul?”

“I want it all.”

“But I thought that was just?—”

“A joke? A meaningless role play concession?” Her weak nod draws a guttural laugh. “Always read the fine print, love. It holds hidden clauses.”

Her muscles pull taut. “Oh, God.”

“Try again.”

The words spark Izzy’s fight-or-flight instinct. A burst of adrenaline propels her into trying to kick and twist her way out of my hold. All her struggling does is harden my dick. “Let me go, or I’ll scream!”

I crush her against the wall so hard I hear the soft wheeze of air leave her lungs. Clicking my tongue, I brush the loose strands of hair away from her face. “Oh, sweet Izzy… You’re going to scream either way.”

I wait for her to mention there’s a third person passed out downstairs. When her mouth stays closed, I know all this victim posturing is for both our benefits. She gets to pretend she’s not a dirty little succubus, and I get to sink deeper into the fantasy of the chase.

“What do you want from me?” she chokes out, her body sagging.

I’m so glad she asked.

I drop my mouth to her ear, my lips so close I can taste her skin. “I want you to run, love,” I say darkly. “Run hard and run fast. If you can get away from me, you get to keep your soul.”

“And if I can’t?”

“I’m taking it.”

We both know I’m talking about more than her soul. I’m taking her body, her mind, her hang-ups, and her reservations. Every piece of her I’ve spent the last few years forcing myself to ignore during the day while jerking my dick raw over at night. I’ve felt dirty. I’ve felt ashamed. I’ve told myself she’s off limits and too pure to be obsessed over.

But that was before she tempted the demon within.

I’m not a man who denies himself anything. Money paves any road I want to travel. Except the one leading to her.Her self-absorbed, piece-of-shit ex-boyfriend stole from me for three years. He touched what was mine, mistreated it, devalued it, and hurt it. I don’t forgive, and I don’t get even.

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