Page 99 of Cruel Abandon (Fallen Royals 5)

I stay still as he frees the pins from my hair and runs his fingers through the strands. The gash on my head from the fall has almost completely closed up, shockingly fast for how it happened. I’m glad Taryn didn’t try to cover it with makeup.

“You seem younger without so much black shit around your eyes.” His voice is low, almost too low to hear. “More innocent.”

I take a shaky breath and focus straight ahead. My line of sight is even with his collarbone. “Maybe that’s the problem. I don’t want to look innocent.”

He cocks his head. “No, you don’t.”

I meet his gaze.

He’s going to kiss me. The thought sails through my mind a second before his attention lands on my lips. He cups my face in both his hands and leans down. The brush of his lips against mine is soft, almost hesitant.

So unlike how he’s kissed me before.

And I don’t need soft—I don’t want soft.

I stretch up and capture his lower lip in my teeth, tugging.

He groans, and his hands release my face. They go directly to my ass, and he lifts me. At the same time, his tongue slips into my mouth.

I wrap my legs around his waist, my arms around his shoulders. He holds me to him and heads toward the bedroom. I should care that we’re moving fast, but right now he’s breathing life into me.

Literally.

The numbness blows away, replaced by electricity and nerves.

“Sky,” he says against my lips. “You’re fucking mine. Got it?”

I shake my head, and he pauses. Withdraws.

“I’m not an object,” I reply.

He smirks. “No, but haven’t you noticed? I’m possessive.”

“Scaring all the boys away from me in high school—that was on purpose?” I narrow my eyes. “Well, it didn’t work when you left.”

His expression darkens. “Who?”

I shrug. “Does it matter?”

“No.” He kisses me again, pulling my arms up over my head.

Something soft slides around my wrists, and I open my eyes. He’s watching me as he kisses me, and once he sees my eyes, he draws back.

“Breathe,” he whispers.

I try to yank my arms down, but I’m caught. Again. A silk tie is knotted around my wrists, keeping them close to his headboard.

“Why?” I twist, trying to get him off me. “This isn’t fun for me, you asshole.”

He trails kisses down my neck. “I’m trying to help you.”

I kick at him, but he grabs my ankle. Kisses the inside of it. The bottoms of my feet are all scraped up, and he contemplates them for a moment before scooting back.

“What—”

“Skylar,” he says. “Don’t you trust me?”

“I… I guess I do. Sort of.”

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