Page 77 of Court of Evil

“Because I trust you.” She startles at that. “No matter what you do to finish this, I know you will never hurt an innocent. You will never betray this world. I want you, Tate, because you are a good person . . . because where others would run scared or choose the easy path, you never will. You are filled with arighteous fire that I want to burn in,” I admit. I glance at her lips before I drag my gaze back up. “So, angel, are you with me?”

She watches me for a moment before she seems to decide something, and when Tate makes a decision, she sticks to it, but her next move shocks me.

Gripping the back of my head, she pulls me close, and for a second time tonight, she gets the drop on me. “Then let’s do this together.” She slants her lips over mine, kissing me hard and fast. I taste my own blood with the knock of our teeth, and then she pulls back, smirking. “To seal the deal.” She pushes away from me and tries to escape, but I cannot let her.

I was going to before she kissed me.

Grabbing her arm, I jerk her back and wrap my arms around her, my mouth brushing her ear. “You cannot escape me, angel. You forget how I got this position.”

“And you forget who I am.” The move is quick as she frees herself and tries to throw me, but I dodge it and slip my arm around her, spinning her until she’s bent over the desk.

“I have watched you fight for years, Tate. I know all your moves.” I hold her face against the desk as I press against her from behind. Nobody spars with me, plays with me, or challenges me, and I want this.

I want her under me and over me. I want Tate in a way I’ve never wanted anyone in any of my lifetimes. I have been drawn to her since the moment I laid eyes on her, and for years, I have resisted, trying to keep this line between us, but she won’t let me anymore, and honestly, I’m glad. I’m tired of fighting this. I know all too well how short our life spans are, so I will make this one count with her.

“Not all of them,” she says, and then she seems to relax into my hold. It could be a trap though, so I don’t let go, but a groan slips free as she presses back into me, rubbing her perfect assagainst my cock, which is ridiculously hard from sparring with her.

Nobody stands up to me like her. Nobody dares to speak to me like her.

That fire and bravery is so fucking attractive.

“Angel,” I warn, my voice a growl as I try to ignore my body. Tate still hates me in a way, and she probably doesn’t even trust me to a certain degree, so I should take this slowly and win her trust before I take her body, but I can’t ignore the way she rubs against me.

“Isn’t this what you want? I see the way you look at me when you think I’m not looking,” she purrs, arching back to rub against me. I remind myself she’s a weapon, but I’m helpless against her. I always have been.

With my guard dropping, she takes advantage, and before I know it, I’m pinned to my chair. She swings her leg over mine and straddles my lap, her lips tilted in a cocky, victorious smirk. She leans in and brushes her lips across mine until I chase after her. “I feel the same,” she whispers. “I hate that I want you, but neither of us can ignore this. We’ll probably end up dead before all this is through, so fuck it.”

Her mouth crashes against mine again. Groaning, I tug her down so she’s pressed against me, my hands sliding down to her ass as her tongue invades my mouth.

Both of us battle for dominance. Our teeth snap together, our lips bleed, and we still don’t stop until she abruptly pulls away.

“We’ll finish this when I’m back,” she murmurs, her tongue darting out to trace my lips. “Maybe take some more fighting lessons, commander. You’ll need them if you want to win me.”

Sliding from my lap, she strolls towards the door, leaving me there.

“Fuck it,” I mutter, leaping to my feet. I slam into her, letting go of all my control. I stop pretending to be the good guy, and instead I show her the warrior we both know I am.

She hits the wall, but before I can pin her, she slips under my arm, her foot going to the back of my knees, making them crumple. I spin and reach for her when she leaps back, out of the way.

Smirking, she wags her finger at me. I prowl before her, feeling like an animal rather than a man. “You think you can get past me to the door?” I spread my arms. “Make it and you’re safe. Otherwise, when I catch you, you’re mine.”

Her tongue presses to the side of her cheek as she watches me. “Weapons?”

“None.” I smirk. “Unless you’re scared, angel?”

“Never,” she replies, rolling her shoulders back. “Fine. Bring it, commander. Let’s see if you are as ruthless as they say or if sitting behind that desk has made you . . .” Her eyes drop to my crotch. “Limp.”

She’s taunting me, but all it does is make me more determined. She feints left and then right before moving left again, but I catch her and push her back. “You’ll have to do better than that, angel.”

I see the moment she snaps. She isn’t playing anymore.

She dives right at me, slamming her fist into my face before sliding to her knees and through my legs. She takes two steps, no doubt seeing her path to the door, when I wrap my arm around her waist, lift her into the air, and drag her back. I turn and toss her across the room. She lands hard on the floor, rolling before pushing to her knees in a slick move, and then she is on me again. Her legs wrap around my neck and knock me down to the floor before she scrambles up and leaps for the door once more.

Snarling, I grip her ankle, and she hits the floor, hard. I crawl over her body then flip her, but her legs wrap around my waist,and she flips us until she’s on top. I roll us again, and we end up tumbling across the floor, fighting for control. She smacks into the table, and something crashes from the top. She catches it—a tray, I realise—and tries to bring it down on my head. I lift my arm at the last minute, blocking it, and it breaks across my forearm. The resounding pain makes my arm ache, but I don’t care.

She’s worth it.

I throw her again and come down on top of her, managing to pin her wrists above her in one hand.

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