Page 108 of Their Reckless Thief
“Handle yourself?” I scoffed, circling her like a predator. “That’s why you nearly got killed on your job last week, right? Because you can handle yourself?”
Her jaw tightened, eyes flashing with anger. Good. Let her be angry. I needed her to fight me. She needed to know this wasn’t some game she could win on pure guts alone.
“You don’t know what it’s like out there, Celeste. Not like I do. You think you’ve seen danger? You haven’t seen a fraction of what I have. You don’t know how far this world can go to break you.”
She stepped forward, her fists raised, her body trembling with frustration. “You think I don’t know danger, Luca? I’ve been living with it my whole fucking life. I’m not some fragile little thing you need to protect.”
“Is that so?” I stepped into her space, so close I could see the way her chest rose and fell rapidly. I could feel the heat radiating from her skin. “Prove it.”
She lunged.
Her fists flew, but I was ready. I deflected the blows with ease, letting her swing and tire herself out. Her punches were fast, and she was skilled for a human, but she was relying too much on brute strength and not enough on precision. I let her get close enough to think she had me, then sidestepped, twisting her arm behind her back in a fluid motion.
She gasped and struggled in my grip. The way her body pressed against mine sent a wave of heat through me that I shoved down hard.
“Too slow,” I muttered against her ear, releasing her and stepping back before she could catch her breath. “Again.”
Her frustration was palpable, but it fueled her. She came at me harder and faster this time, but she was still reckless. I dodged her easily, catching her wrist and spinning her around, pinning her to the mat beneath me in one swift motion. Her breath was ragged, her face inches from mine, eyes blazing with fury.
“You’re not invincible, princess,” I growled, my hand pressing her wrists to the mat. “You keep fighting like this, and someone’s going to put you down for good.”
She glared at me, refusing to submit, her chest heaving against mine. “You won’t hurt me. I’ve been around you long enough to know that you’d go to great lengths to keep me from getting hurt. I’m not afraid of you, Luca. You won’t hurt me.”
I froze, something dark twisting inside me at her words. “You don’t know that.”
“I do,” she whispered, her gaze unwavering. “You won’t hurt me.”
My grip tightened on her wrists, my shadows curling around us both like a vice. “You think you know me?” I hissed, leaning closer until my breath fanned her cheek. “You have no idea what I’m capable of. You think I wouldn’t hurt you, princess? I absolutely would.”
Her lips parted slightly, her eyes locked on mine. She didn’t back down, didn’t flinch. “No, you wouldn’t.”
My blood roared in my ears, every instinct telling me to push her away, to keep her at arm’s length. The scent of her, the heat of her body beneath mine… it was driving me insane. Graphic,dark thoughts surged through me, and I battled them back with everything I had.
I wanted to tear her clothes from her body and fuck her until she begged me to stop. I wanted my shadows to enter her from behind, while I pounded my cock into her sweet, wet pussy. I wanted to tie her down and force my dick down her throat.
She was too close. I was too close.
My grip on her wrists loosened, just slightly, but the tension between us crackled, thick and dangerous. Her gaze didn’t waver, and I realized in that moment, she wasn’t even a little scared of me.
That fucking terrified me.
“You should be scared of me,” I whispered.
Celeste’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “I’m not.”
For a long, agonizing moment, neither of us moved. The space between us became electric with desire. With a growl of frustration, I pushed off her and stood abruptly.
I turned away, refusing to look at her again. “We’re done for today.”
As I walked away, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were far from done. This dangerous, twisted pull between us was only going to get worse.
And that scared the hell out of me.
32
CELESTE
The summons arrived justafter midnight. I was in the study with Vincenzo, helping him organize some intel on the latest shipments, when he froze, his attention snapping to the envelope on the desk. His eyes narrowed as he broke the fancy wax seal, scanning the letter quickly before cursing under his breath.
