Page 63 of Of Desire And Deception

Every breath intensified the overwhelming sensation that I wasn’t alone in my home. All of my training was useless at that moment because what I should have done was race for my gun. What I did instead was take another breath, close my eyes, and wonder if he’d ever forgive me for my betrayal. No. I wouldn’t forgive myself.

When I opened them again, the air whooshed from my lungs. Cosimo was standing in my bedroom doorway, those dark eyes filled with rage and determination.

“Remington Black,” he purred tauntingly, making the fine hairs on the back of my neck rise. “You lied to me, goldilocks.”

He stepped forward, and I got a rush of adrenaline, moving my feet and spinning, running toward the door. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew that the look on his face promised retribution, and I knew his reputation. Death wasn’t on my to-do list.

He barreled into me from behind, and I slammed into the wall, the breath knocked from me. I dropped, ignoring the wall scraping against my face, freeing myself and setting him off balance by going for his knees. I’d barely stood when he was coming at me again. He wrapped me in a hold, and I went limp until he came down with me, throwing him over me, his body landing with a hard thud.

“Fuck,” Cosimo grunted.

I was on him then, going for a chokehold, letting rage fuel my attack. “You fucking killed my partner!”

He was stronger, shoving me to my back and looming over me. Before he could close the distance, I kicked out, missing and clasping my thighs around his neck. I squeezed with all my might, but he only laughed.

“You’ve got my cock hard, goldilocks.”

I faltered, and that was the chance he needed to overtake me entirely. Striking out mindlessly, I clawed and punched him, but it was futile. He was bigger, and now he had the advantage. A couple of times, I sank my teeth into his jacket, but the leather protected his skin.

I fought and fought, but finally, my body betrayed me, wearing out when Cosimo seemed to have endless energy. It was then I realized he’d been toying with me the entire time.

“The flowers,” I gasped out.

He smirked. “All me. I knew you’d take them.”

Tears trailed down my face as his hands wrapped around my throat. The room began to dim.

“Please,” I rasped.

He leaned down and whispered, “These lips that lie and betray can beg so prettily.”

His mouth touched mine, soft and warm. Then I felt the sharp sting of his teeth on my bottom lip. I whimpered, and he released me, his lip dotted with my blood.

“I don’t want to die,” I whispered desperately, panic setting in as I struggled to breathe. This wasn’t a pleasurable chokehold. It was deadly.

“I thought about killing you right here.” Cosimo left one hand on my neck, keeping me hovering on the edge of unconsciousness while he straddled me, pinning my body to the floor. He withdrew a syringe from his jacket and pulled the cap free with his teeth, spitting it to the side. The needle glinted in the light, and my eyes popped wide as I tried to struggle weakly. He took my jaw in a bruising grip and turned my head to the side. There was a sharp pinch at the side of my neck, then a slight burn.

He stroked my cheek, holding my gaze as the world faded, and growled, “I couldn’t give you up, goldilocks. Not even the devil can have you.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Hauling an unconscious female out of a building and into my dungeon was far easier than moving a man twice her size. I’d honed my ability to walk with someone and hold them up enough to make it appear as if they were simply inebriated, but I didn’t have to employ that skill tonight. Nobody was around when I took Remington, thanks to the snow.

I entered the code on my dungeon door and carried the most important guest I’d ever hosted to her new home. The mattress sat in the corner of the room, complete with crisp white sheets and a pillowy comforter. Remington might be my prisoner, but I intended to employ alternate methods to punish her for the transgressions against my family.

Her limbs sprawled as I laid her on the bed, running my nose over her cheek and breathing in her hair. Why did she have to smell like sunshine when she’d caused my soul to dim a shade darker? I grabbed my safety shears and carefully removed every article of clothing she wore. Nothing would touch her body unless I provided it.

I gazed down at Remington’s bare body, and my cock hardened with need. Her blonde hair was a golden halo of disarray, and her nipples hardened from the cool air. Those perfect pink lips were parted slightly as she slept, and I could still feel them against mine. She was there, entirely at my mercy, and the temptation to cover her body with mine and wake her with my cock in her cunt tested my restraint. I knelt between her legs, palming my length through my jeans, teasing myself.

No. I wanted to watch her eyes as I entered her again. I could wait.

My timeline was flexible, but I didn’t want to sit there for the eight to twelve hours Remington could take to regain consciousness. Blowing out a long breath, I sidestepped the lump underneath a tarp and gathered a metal bowl and a pre-filled syringe from my accessories table. She’d need the bowl when I woke her. I gave her the reversal agent and felt her pulse pick up as she came to.

She was initially sweet as I stroked her arm, smiling sleepily and murmuring my name like she was having a pleasant dream. Then she opened her eyes, and everything changed. Her jaw dropped, and panic filled her gaze. Her movements were sloppy and slow, but she pushed herself into the corner, huddling with her knees clasped to her chest.

“Wh-where am I?” Remi slurred, looking around the sparse space. Then she looked down and shrieked. “What did you do with my clothes?”

“Oh, come now, Agent Black,” I cajoled, holding the bowl in front of her as she began to dry heave. She tried to take it from me, but I batted her fingers away. “You’ve studied me. Where do you think you are?”

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