Page 13 of The Villain's Beloved (The Villain's Duet 2)

For a second, their gazes remained fixed on one another—a stare-off of giants. What the hell was going on?

Saint turned and nodded at James before both of them walked up to the deck. Once they were out of earshot, I shrugged out of Elijah’s hold and turned to face him. “What was that?”

“What was what?”

“That. You and Saint.”

He pulled a hand through his hair. “I told you. We’re good friends.”

“It sure didn’t look that way.”

“Saint and I have known each other for years. We have a…weird relationship.”

I scoffed. “No shit. For friends, it sure looked like you’d rather beat each other up than shake hands.”

He placed his hands on his sides, sighing as he looked up at the ceiling. “I was just a little on edge because of Saint’s unplanned visit.”

“Why, though?” I frowned. “It’s his yacht.”

“And this is your life on the line. I told you, we can’t afford to take any risks. And him coming here is a risk.”

“Why is it a risk?”

He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me closer, almost lifting me on my toes. “Everything that’s not part of my plan to protect you is a risk. Our first mistake will be underestimating the Bernardi family and their fucking desperation to get to you. I will not take any chances, Charlotte.” He brought his face inches from mine, his breath warm and eyes burning. “Not with you.”

His grip tightened around my arms, and I could feel the blood rushing to my skin, my heart pounding against my chest as Elijah’s expression darkened. “Don’t you get it? You are my number one priority.”

“Because of a debt.” The words slipped from my mouth, and I hated how insecure it sounded. But I couldn’t stop myself. “That’s what I am, right? A debt. That’s the reason you’re so desperate to protect me.”

He let go of my shoulders, stepping back, eyes leveling me with a gaze so dark I felt its chill inside my veins. “Is that what this is? You’re insecure and trying to get some kind of affirmation from me. For what?” He shifted closer. “To get some sort of commitment? To feel wanted? To know that you’re no longer my captive?”

I saw the challenge in his eyes. The malice. In that study with Saint, whatever went down had him riled up, and now I was on the receiving end.

Putting one foot in front of the other, I took a step that brought our bodies a breath apart, my neck craned back so I could look him in the eye. “Maybe I want affirmation that the man I share a bed with sees me as more than just a debt. Maybe I want to know that the man I allow to fuck me every goddamn night isn’t just using me as a pastime while we’re stuck on this yacht.”

The expression on his face turned to stone, and as he moved forward, I had no choice but to step back. “Youallowme to fuck you?”

“You know what I—”

“Is that what you’ve been doing every time I slipped my cock into your cunt? Youallowedme to fuck you?”

My heart started to beat incredibly fast. “That’s not what I meant.”

“You spread those thighs of yours, your pussy dripping while you pant for me to fuck you—yet now you say youallowme to be inside you?”

“Elijah—”

“There’s a difference between allowing something and wanting it, Charlotte.” My back hit the wall, and he cocooned me. “A huge motherfucking difference.”

“I know that.”

“No. I don’t think you do.” He leaned his head to the side as he dragged a finger down my cheek, his predator gaze studying me as if he couldn’t decide where to start tearing me apart. “Should I show you? Teach you the difference?”

“I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it.”

His fingers bit into my jaw as he forced my head to the side, causing me to flinch as he leaned in, lips touching my ear. “I think I should show you the difference by fucking you as my captive rather than my guest.”

“Elijah—” His arms roped around my waist and lifted me over his shoulder. “Elijah, what are you doing?”

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