Page 43 of Taking

Flicked on the light.

She blinked twice, but no shock widened her eyes as they focused on me in the bedroom doorway. I gave her a few seconds of freedom, gave her enough to hope for release, for an escape in her future.

And she took those few seconds to look over my six-foot-three inches, the extra pounds I’d added on, the shorter hair atop my head, and the dark scruff along my jaw.

Our gazes finally collided—and fucking held as that connection I remembered between us once more rose to choking levels. Fucking stole my breath. Ripped every idea for revenge from my goddamn head.

Calmed my inner anger…

So much for that fucking plan of taking her pussy in order to break her.

I stared. Unable to think, unable to move. Caught up in her eyes, clear and seeing. Accepting. That draw deep inside, like our souls entwined was same as it had been all those years ago—as though no fucking time had passed.

Without a word, she stood. Licked her goddamn lower lip and approached me on whisper-quiet feet, every step causing a shot of adrenaline to pulse through my blood while I stood frozen.

Unfucking hinged.

Big blue eyes unafraid, without a hint of her usual snobbery, peered up at me. Held me ensnared.

She laid her palm against my chest. So tiny and yet so warm…the touch melted clear to my cold heart.

A shudder ripped through me, tempting me to like her again.

“Don’t touch me,” I stated through clenched teeth, hands fisted at my sides.

“You won’t hurt me,” she whispered, glancing down at her fingertips that had to feel the pounding of my heart beneath my shirt.

“I could,” I tossed out with a sneer.

“But you won’t. I know you.” Those blue eyes once more lifted, pupils dilating as though she wanted to fucking pick up right where we’d left off five years ago.

Her, a supposed grieving girl, while I’d been hauled off in cuffs, powerless to stay with her and protect her, like every inch of my body had longed to do.

But not anymore.

My blood pumped harder at the memories of her whispering the word that had sealed my fate. How she’d refused to look at me while walking out of the courtroom, her chin lifted like the haughty bitch she was. Roused back to life, my anger clenched my jaw once more.

The princess thought she knew me…she had no fucking clue the man I’d become after her betrayal and my stint in jail. An aggressive predator in sheep’s clothing.

Stupid, stupid girl.

I could wreck her.

I would.

The drive for revenge over the previous five years demanded it.

My hand found her neck, and she grabbed at my wrist, her lips parting on a gasp.

My adrenaline and lust spiked at the fear filling her eyes, and I stalked forward, pushing her backward until she slammed against the wall.

17

Addilyn

My nerve endings sparked to life like a burst of fireworks, igniting raging need inside me. Arousal swelled between my thighs, hot and heavy, causing my nipples to pebble and my heart to pound.

His grasp on my neck scared the shit out of me, but holy fucking hell…

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