Page 25 of Relentless

His grip on my throat tightens, cutting off my air.

“You survived your near-death experience the last time you were on this couch.” He growls, his voice so deep I can barely make out the words. “You might not be so lucky a second time.”

My fingers curl into a fist as my palm burns from the collision. The bright red print on his cheek makes the pain so worth it, though.

My lungs burn with the need for more air. But he doesn’t allow it.

Time is suspended with us locked in our stare-off, my head beginning to swim. Only inches separate our noses, his breath heating my face, the heat of our barely covered bodies burning between us.

Nothing else matters. Nothing but the promise of what could come.

My thighs rub and my back arches in the hope of finding some friction, but I’m met with nothing but his dark stare.

His fingers twitch around my throat. I’ve no idea if he’s aware of the slight movement, but it tells me everything I need to know. He’s holding back just as much as I am.

A smile curls at my lips, making his press into a thin line.

“And you think you’re so different from all the others.”

Reaching between us, I wrap my fingers around his hard dick.

His nostrils flare as he sucks in a sharp breath.

“But really, you’re all the same. Horny little boys who’ll do anything for good pussy,” I taunt.

“You’re wrong,” he spits.

I stroke him, amazed he’s letting this continue, and his jaw ticks.

“JD’s right. You really do need to get laid,” I taunt. “I wonder if you’d even smile after.”

He bares his teeth on a growl.

“You know what? I’m feeling charitable.” Planting my feet on the couch cushions, I part my thighs, exposing myself to him, not that he can see. “I won’t even fight.”

“You’re fucked up, Pet,” he accuses.

I smile, taking his words as a compliment they certainly weren’t delivered as. “Takes one to know one, don’t you think?”

I squeeze him tighter and he grunts in pleasure.

“You act all high and mighty, but you are just as weak as all the others. Say what you like about Mav, but at least he can make a decision and have the willpower to see it through.” Even if it drives me to the brink of insanity.

His grip tightens again, and I smile in accomplishment, but then there’s a noise from another room, and he’s gone in a flash.

My attention turns toward the doorway, waiting for someone—JD—to emerge, although I don’t miss Reid shoving his hand into his boxers beside me to rearrange himself.

Something flickers in my mind, a barely there grasp on a memory. It’s not an uncommon feeling for me. There are so many awful memories I’ve tried to suppress over the years that often get triggered by something.

But this is different.

When nothing else happens and I’m unable to reveal any more of the image that’s wanting to break through, I push to my feet, letting Reid’s tank fall back into place, covering me up.

“What’s that look?” I ask, staring at Reid’s profile as he looks across the room as if I’m not here and those last few minutes never happened. “Guilt?”

“Unless you want to return to your cell, I suggest you get out of my fucking sight,” he warns.

The temptation to push him is right there. I could, and something tells me that I’d break him eventually. But in the end, I decide against it and walk toward the doorway that was trying to tell me something only seconds ago.

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