Page 49 of Crimson Fury

I practically admitted I was a made man, then I fucked her. And then I let her go. I should have chained her in her room. Should have—

“Blyad! You’re getting soft,” I mutter under my breath.

A sound comes from the hall outside. I freeze, straining to listen. Silence. Then another soft groan of wood.

My jaw clenches as I catch the faint sound of footsteps. There’s only one thing this could be at this time of night.

Goddammit!

She’s trying to escape. I thought we’d cleared this shit up. She had her chance. She didn’t take it. It’s not an option anymore.

I lunge for the door and fling it open. A flash of crimson hair vanishes around the corner, bare feet slapping on the floorboards as she realizes I’ve spotted her.

“Scarlett!” I snarl, breaking into a run.

She’s fast, but I’m faster. My fingers close around her arm and yank her back against me. Her breath leaves her in a frightened gasp.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” I bark.

“Anywhere but here! I don’t care about what’s outside – I’ll take my chances.” Her words are defiant but there’s fear in her eyes. This afternoon rattled her.

“You have no idea what you’re up against,” I warn.

“I have a pretty good idea!” she snaps. “You can’t keep me here forever,” she hisses, writhing in my grasp.

“I can do as I please.” I drag her back toward my room, fury burning hot in my veins. She struggles against me the whole way, cursing and clawing at my hands. I slam the door behind us and shove her up against the wall, pinning her there with my body.

“When will you learn?” I growl, grabbing her chin and forcing her to meet my gaze. Defiant eyes glare up at me, rage and something else simmering beneath their surface.

“I’ll never stop fighting you,” she snarls.

The words ignite something primal inside me. My grip on her tightens as I crush my mouth to hers in a bruising kiss. She jerks against me, but I feel the moment her resistance crumbles. A soft moan vibrates in her throat.

I break the kiss, panting. “You’re going nowhere, Scarlett. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for you.”

“Go to hell,” she spits, but there’s no venom in her tone. I can feel the pounding of her heart against my chest, the heat radiating from her body.

“You want this,” I say, watching defiance and need warring in her eyes.

“In your fucking dreams!” she grinds back.

I chuckle darkly. “You want this as much as I do,” I murmur, trailing my lips down her neck. She shudders, a faint whimper escaping her.

“No,” she gasps, but her hands are fisting in my shirt, pulling me closer.

“Liar,” I growl, lifting her off her feet. Her legs wrap around my waist as I carry her to the bed, desire burning away the last shreds of my control.

I toss her onto the bed, following her down to cage her beneath me. Her eyes blaze up at me, pupils blown wide with need.

“Get off me,” she demands, but there’s no force to it.

“I don’t think so.” I capture her wrists and pin them above her head, grinding my hips into hers. She arches up to meet me with a gasp.

“Please,” she whispers. I don’t know if she’s pleading for me to stop or begging for more, and I don’t care. All I want is to lose myself in her, to forget everything but the sweet heat of her body and the sounds of her cries.

I crush my mouth to hers again, swallowing her moans as I slide a hand between us, past the waistband of her pants and beneath her lace panties. She’s soaked, and I groan in satisfaction.

“You’re wet,” I growl against her lips.

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