Page 126 of Lies (Wicked Empire 1)

I stood, and he did too. When I went to walk past him, he stopped me, his grip on my elbow firm but not punishing.

I stared at him, wondering if he had made me a monster or if I had already been one.

I didn’t know.

Didn’t know anything at all.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. I did know that despite everything, I wanted him.

From the look he gave me, one that was somehow both detached and incredibly intense, he felt the same.

I moved without conscious thought, my fingers along his stubbled cheek, then through his hair.

Like always, touching him set something off in me. Made it possible for me to forget absolutely everything.

Right now, I needed to forget.

Needed the escape, the mindlessness that only he could give.

I stepped closer to him, and though he released my elbow, he made no other move to touch me.

That wasn’t like him. He usually touched me with an eagerness that made me blush, making me feel more desired than I ever had before.

But then again, I guessed I could understand.

If I looked anything like I felt, I could see why he would be reluctant. I stared at him and was again hit with the realization that everything was spinning out of control.

I let out a humorless laugh. Who was I kidding? Everything had spun out of control the moment he’d told me his real name.

At the same time, I was hit with another irrefutable truth. I was completely adrift, lost in a world I didn’t understand, one that I couldn’t control.

And he was my only anchor.

Did that make me a bad person?

Did ideas like “good” or “bad” matter in this world?

I lifted my gaze to meet his. “What have you made me?” I whispered.

I kissed him before he could answer.

If he was going to answer, I stopped him. Instead of speaking, he kissed me back, his tongue exploring my mouth, sending my thoughts scattering just like I’d hoped they would.

And like always, I fell into that feeling, knew that it said something terrible about me, but I was unable to deny myself the comfort, the pleasure, the peace that he brought me.

He pulled me closer, and I went without hesitation, letting my hands trail down his strong arms before resting my hands on his belt buckle.

Lingered for just a moment, then moved down to grip his cock. My heart was racing, a feeling that only increased as he hardened against my palm.

I broke the kiss and then stared at him, needing to feel him inside me, needing him to keep my thoughts at bay.

Praying he could sense that need and feel the urgency that would not be denied.

He did.

He kissed me hard and then led me down the hall and laid me on the bed in a tender way that was at odds with his efficient movements.

My heart was racing, my desire desperate, but he touched me slowly, leisurely, withholding what I wanted.

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