Page 26 of Matrix

He rests his chin on the top of my head and sighs. “If you knew the details, you’d agree.”

“Tell me what happened.”

“It’s bad, Daisy. If I told you about the things he did, you couldn’t handle it.”

“I’m an FBI agent. I may look like a sweet girl, but I assure you, I’ve seen the depths of depravity a person can go to. Before I became a field agent, I spent all my time searching computers for evidence. I’ve helped to put away some truly disgusting perps.”

“What kind of things did you see?”

“Unbelievably vile stuff. A lot of porn. Videos. Sick, perverted, absolutely criminal acts committed by warped people. Men and women who shouldn’t be allowed to take another breath on this earth.” I shudder as images I’ll never unsee flash before my eyes like stills from an old 8mm film.

“Anything from Blackstone?” His entire body goes rigid.

“Just the video you leaked to the press. How did you get that anyway?”

He relaxes slightly. “I have my ways.”

“What happened to you, Matrix? How’s Blackstone involved in it? There’s a connection, isn’t there?”

“Yes, but I don’t want to talk about it. Not with you.”

“Why not?”

“Some things are impossible to put into words.”

“Try.” I adjust my position so that I’m half-facing him. “Talk to me.”

He stares into my eyes for what feels like an eternity before his gaze finally drops to my lips. I suck in a breath because I know what he’s going to do even before he moves. The magnetism drawing us together is inescapable. I’m pulled to him, unable to resist. Unwilling to do anything but succumb to this burning attraction.

When his lips meet mine, it’s not sweet or gentle or even affectionate. His kiss is hard, rough, and demanding. It scalds my soul and makes me want more. I push my tongue past his lips, taking control of the kiss. I’ve wanted to do this since the first day we met. Denying it is pointless. The fire burning between us was destined to explode into an inferno; it was just a matter of time before it happened.

“Daisy,” he groans.

“Shut up and kiss me.”

He glides his tongue across mine, stealing my breath and making me want to shred every bit of clothing between us. In the back of my mind, I know he’s only kissing me so I’ll stop asking him questions, but I don’t care. After all the stress and tension of the last forty-eight hours, I need this. I want him. And now, I’m going to have him.

Chapter 7: Matrix

I’ve wanted Daisy for months. Trying to resist her has been slowly driving me insane, but relationships are fucking terrifying. I prefer to avoid them. I’m happy to live in my virtual world without the complications of reality. Also, I’m still not entirely convinced I’m not living in a simulation. For all I know, Daisy’s an NPC, a non-player character, in a sick world designed by some cruel entity for its perverse pleasure. Maybe none of this is real.

“Stay with me,” Daisy whispers.

The fact that she realizes I’m drifting away shocks me to the core. I’m usually so good at hiding what’s going on inside me, but when she’s around, I seem to lose control. That’s why I beat that Demon Rider to death. He was talking shit about Daisy, and I couldn’t stand it. The thought of some lowlife piece of shit getting his hands on her pushed me into the worst dissociative episode I’ve ever had. Killing isn’t new to me, but being unable to control my blind rage is a new experience. I hate it.

“If you don’t stop thinking, I’m going to send you back to your bed,” she murmurs before nibbling on my earlobe.

Desire floods my body. My cock swells with every kiss and wanton caress. As she glides her tongue down the curve of my neck, I force myself to stay present. I can’t black out during this. I’ve wanted her since the day we met. She was so fucking cute in her little cut-off shorts and crop-top shirt, and those ribbons she wears in her hair have inspired more than one bondage fantasy. Visions of tying her down and licking her until she screamed quickly became my favorite way to get off. She’d probably be revolted to know how many times I wrapped my hand around my cock and stroked it while my fantasy version of her lay bound on my bed.

“Okay, I warned you.” She pushes at my chest, but I don’t budge. “If you’re not going to participate, I’m going to—” I flip her onto her back, grab her wrists, and pin them over her head. “Ah!”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, babe. Once I get started, I don’t stop.”

“Prove it.”

The challenge in her eyes makes my cock jerk. Trying to maneuver on this shitty little bed isn’t going to work for me. I slide off the mattress and stand beside it. She props up on her elbows, frowning. I smirk before grabbing her around the waist and hoisting her over my shoulder.

“Matrix! Put me down!”

---