“I’ll let you live.” His hand ghosts down my arm, slow and intentional. “If you spend the rest of the night naked in my bed with your legs spread for me.”
 
 “Excuse me?” I say to stall, even though I heard every word.
 
 And so did my core.
 
 Meow.
 
 “Sleep with me, Venom,” he murmurs with a sinfully charming smile. “Let me fuck your sweet, tight cunt all night long.”
 
 My neck heats up like a ball of flames is licking my throat. Cocky bastard.
 
 The idea of fucking him again has me wet between the legs. But I can’t give in that easily.
 
 “Why the hell would I agree to that?”
 
 His smirk deepens. “Because if you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to treat you the way I’d treat any assassin who comes to kill me. Male or female.”
 
 “And would you ask a male assassin to fuck you?”
 
 Connor roars with laughter. “My siblings have kids, and it’s all they fucking talk about.” He wraps a strand of my hair around his thumb. “Me fucking a dude would get their attention.”
 
 “I bet.” I bite my upper lip.
 
 His fingers sweep across my collarbone. “What will it be, Venom?”
 
 I swallow even harder this time, ignoring the way my skin tingles beneath his touch.
 
 He pushes his face into mine. “If you were anyone else, you’d be dead.”
 
 I’m horrified at how badly I want to feel him inside me again, too. And knowing how dangerous and powerful he is only makes the ache stronger.
 
 “I’m thinking the people who want you dead won’t like it if I spent all night in your bed. Willingly.”
 
 “I should torture you until you tell me who sent you so I can killthem.” He unbuckles his belt.
 
 “By putting me over your knee and using that belt on me?” I start to back up toward the door.
 
 “Something tells me you’ll like it.” His eyes sizzle with a hunger I’ve never seen before on a man.
 
 I assess my choices. “I’m not leaving unless I spread my legs for you?”
 
 “Your choice of words, not mine.”
 
 “Do you plan to rape me?” I choke out.
 
 “Wrong.” Stunned into sickness, he releases me, allowing me to take a refreshing breath. “I’m insulted at the implication.”
 
 I scope out more of this apartment to make a run for it. “Then how will you get me into your bed if I don’t want to sleep with you?”
 
 “Iknowthat you do.” He slowly slides off the black leather belt from his slacks.
 
 “Coercion is dubious consent.”
 
 “Coercion, cute.” He takes a step toward me, slapping the belt in his hand. “Look out the window.”
 
 “Window?” I hold my throat. “Which one?”
 
 “The front window.” He gives me the freedom to pass him.