Page 23 of Inflame Me
That is a very loaded question. I think I’m a little stunned more than bothered.
I shrug. “It’s my mother and Dagger’s life,” I finally say, because that fact is true. I can’t be the judge of any of that.
“I meant that I’m twenty-one years older than you.”
My eyes widen just as the air in the room starts crackling with a charge between us. Some invisible connection between the two of us flairs to life, and my breathing picks up as I feel it deep in my bones.
Rhys eyes me. “Fuck it,” he grinds out.
His hand on my chin leaves me and is placed behind my head. He pulls me to him, his lips touching mine. I take that back. His lips don’t touch mine; his lips devour mine. I’ve been kissed, but this isn’t kissing. What Rhys is doing to me is all-consuming, sucking every bit of breath out of me and leaving me so wanton I fall into it. His lips move with the precision of years of practice, knowing each movement with ease. They are soft yet demanding as he plunges his tongue in my mouth, taking everything I give and then taking more.
I wrap my arms around his hard body as he stands from the chair, pulling us together. Each plane of his defined body touches some part of mine. His hands move to my arms, pulling them away from him. I follow willingly, too involved with the kiss to give anything a second thought. All I can think of is him and the fire burning inside me.
He clutches my wrists in one of his big hands behind my back, subduing me. His other hand comes to my face, the warmth of it seeping into my blood.
He abruptly pulls away, and my wanting lips try to follow his to get them back, to get the glorious feeling that he gave me back.
“I’m going to tie you to my bed and fuck you all damn night.” The deep baritone of his voice, combined with the words he spoke, set off a fire so hot inside that it inflames me.
I have never been tied up, never thought I would want to be, but in this moment, I’m pretty sure I would do anything he said.
Rhys studies me intently. “Fuck. Your pupils are dilated and cheeks are pink. You fucking like it.” He doesn’t give me a second to answer as he collides his lips to mine again, taking me in a punishing, brutal, delectable kiss.
“Tanner!” Dagger’s voice booms through the closed door just as Rhys pulls back in a huff.
“Fuck,” Rhys growls. “In here!” he calls to the door as it swings open.
Dagger’s eyes scan me up and down, and I turn my head from his stare. I don’t feel bad about what I did, but he’s my father, and that has to be weird or something. Hell, I don’t know. My head and body are still so wrapped up in Rhys that I can’t think.
“Fucking hell, Rhys,” Dagger says in an annoyed tone.
“What do you fucking want?” Rhys growls, his hand still restraining mine.
I pull, trying to get away, but he only tightens his grip, so I look up at him.
“Stay,” is all he says to me, and I blink my eyes rapidly.
Did he just tell me to stay like some fucking dog? The fog he put me under starts to evaporate as anger replaces it.
“Let me go.” I give him my fuck-off voice and tug on my arms again.
“No,” he says then turns his attention back to Dagger. “What?”
“Brother, let her go.” The air in the room changes, becoming thick and dense. It’s coming off both Rhys and Dagger like a bulky smoke.
I suck in a deep breath, knowing I’ll only add fuel to this fire if I don’t tread carefully.
“Rhys,” I call, getting his attention back. “Please let me go. I have to go check on my mom.” I say it calmly, trying to defuse the bomb that I feel may go off at any moment.
“That’s why I came to find you. She’s awake and demanding she see you.” Dagger shakes his head from side to side. “She hasn’t changed a bit.”
There is so much I want to know to this story, but one situation at a time.
“See? I have to go,” I tell Rhys, whose eyes are pissed as hell and brows drawn together.
After what feels like the longest stare down in my life, he releases my hands, and I pull them in front of me then begin to rub my wrists, hoping he didn’t leave marks on my body. I already have enough of those.
I step back a few feet, giving us some distance. “Hope you feel better,” I tell him, still rubbing the sensitive skin as I turn to Dagger. “I’m going to her.”
