Page 70 of Ruthless God

Got you.

“If Gabriel isn’t dead and comes back to kill you,” I say smoothly, “you’ll go down in history as the man who died saving the Head of the Defiant God Brotherhood.”

His jaw tightens. The air between us crackles, heavy and charged. It’s probably not wise to sit here and push his buttons, but I can’t seem to stop myself. Maybe it’s because I want to see just how far I can go. Or maybe it’s because I want to see him break.

Claudius’ voice is calm, but there’s something lethal beneath it. “You never answered my question.”

I tilt my head, pretending to think. “Which one? You ask so many.”

“Did you sleep with my brother?”

I shake my head slowly. “No.”

For a split second, I see relief flicker in his eyes. I let him have it, just long enough for it to settle. Then I shatter it.

“There wasn’t muchsleepingdone.”

His gaze sharpens, but I’m not finished.

“I did, however, let him fuck me senseless.”

His body goes rigid. Good. I lean in slightly, dropping my voice to something dangerous and taunting.

“He made me come so hard I almost passed out.”

His breath hitches, barely perceptible. But I catch it. And I don’t stop.

“We did dirty, depraved things.”

He’s so tense that I think he might spring out of his chair at any moment.

“The kicker?” I let the words linger, savoring them. “I’d do it again.”

A slow, sharp silence stretches between us. Tension thick and suffocating. His gaze burns into mine, something dark and dangerous swirling behind his eyes.

I tilt my chin up, unflinching.

“Sothat’swhy my face turns red when you mention that night.” I lean back, arms crossing over my chest. “Anything else you want to know?”

The air between us is static, heavy, charged. And for the first time, I think I’ve truly gotten under his skin.

He takes another slow pull from his cigar, exhaling deliberately, the smoke curling between us before drifting my way. The scent is rich, smoky, intoxicating. It shouldn’t smell this good. But it does. Still, I know it’s probably not good for the baby. So I stand, smoothing my hands down my jeans before crossing the room to the window.

Outside, the sunlight dances across the water, turning the waves into a sheet of liquid gold and sapphire. For a moment,I let myself breathe. Then my gaze snags on the cliffs. Jagged. Dark. Unforgiving.

“Was it that cliff over there?” I ask, my voice softer than I intend.

“Yes.”

The word is low. Close. Too close. I jump, my breath catching, as I realize he’s right behind me. So close I can feel the heat radiating from his body. A slow, deliberate warmth pressing into my back. My pulse skips, stutters, then quickens.

I should step away.

I don’t.

I just stand there, staring at the cliff and water that swallowed his twin whole, with the man who pushed him standing so dangerously near. And I wonder which one of us is really in control right now?

As if answering my unspoken question, his breath fans my ear.

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