Page 47 of The Forbidden
I feel his smile against my skin. “Do you know what I think?” It’s not a question though it is presented as one. “I think you’re so used to getting what you want, it kills you to not get the one thing you desire. So you act out, dress like this, hoping to get my attention.” I inhale sharply at his words, my heart thundering in my chest. “I think, in that delusional head of yours.” He reaches up, tapping my head gently as if to prove a point, “You believe if you push hard enough, I’ll drop down to my knees, beg for you, and declare my undying love,” he continues softly, inhaling and did he just…sniff me? Evan pulls back, and with his eyes on mine, I see cold indifference staring back at me. “But here’s the thing, Brat. I don’t beg. Ever. And I certainly don’t get down on my knees.” He smirks. “The only people on their knees are the women lucky enough to suck my cock.” I gasp at his crude words, shoving him again, trying to put distance between us. He steps back, his arms dropping to his sides.
I glare at him, my chest heaving as if I just ran a damn marathon. This hot son of a bitch… I frown at my thoughts. I take that back. Elena is not a bitch, but her son is an asshole, and I stand by that statement.
“Why drag me in here, Evan?” I demand, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Because this isn’t theAnaisshowcase.” He bites out. “You’re not for sale.”
“Fuck you,” I grate out.
“You’ve made that offer before. I declined,” he drawls obnoxiously.
Jesus Christ. After the elevator incident, I thought maybe Evan had softened toward me. Clearly, I was wrong. Because this version of Evan is even worse.
I turn toward the door, over his attitude. Hand on the handle, I pull it open, but a large hand presses down on it, and it slams shut. He spins me around, and I yelp in shock.
My heart hammers in my chest and I stuck in a breath when his wild eyes scan my face. I swallow down my uncertainty.
“Evan,” I breathe his name like a prayer. “What’re you doing?”
“I don’t know,” he responds, his voice guttural.
His chest rises and falls with his ragged breaths. I glance at his lips just as his eyes drop to mine. Slowly, I run my tongue across my lower lip. His eyes track the movement like prey. My heart flips.
And in this moment, I know I’m not being delusional, not imagining it. I see it clear as day.
Evan wants me. He just doesn’t want to want me.
Frozen to the spot, I wait for his next move. For a long minute, nothing happens. Suddenly, it all becomes clear, and dejection hits me like a ton of bricks. Evan isn’t going to act on this.
Then in the blink of an eye, everything changes. He growls, closing the space between us, and crushes his mouth to mine. My eyes widen, and all the air leaves my lungs. It’s messy, all heat and hunger. Tongue and teeth fight for a dominance I know I won’t win. And truthfully, I don’t want to.
I like his dominant side.
I don’t have time to process anything, because only one thought echoes in my mind.
Holy shit.
Evan Maxwell is kissing me.
Chapter 23
Evan
Imust have officially lost my god damn mind.
It’s the only possible explanation for why my lips are currently pressed to Anais Lauder’s, devouring her like she’s oxygen and I’m suffocating.
But I can’t stop.
Don’t want to stop…
And that’s a huge fucking problem.
The second I saw the prince – along with most of the men in the room – eyeing her like she was up for auction, I saw red. Before I could question what I was doing, I was dragging her out of the ballroom and into this one. Something inside me snapped the minute I blocked her exit. The need to claim her, to make it clear she belongs to me.
And now, I’m spiraling. Crossing a line, I swore I never would.
But Christ… she tastes like sin.
