Page 21 of Vicious Seduction

“Regardless, I decided I wanted to hear it from you instead. I don’t want to ask your mother why you hate her. I wantyouto tell me.”

I want to tell you, too. I’m tired of carrying this burden alone.

God, I did want to tell him. I was shocked at how strong the compulsion was to lay all my problems at his feet, but I couldn’t give in. He was doing business with Lawrence, andthe two had some sort of past. I couldn’t afford to forget that he was one of them, no matter how tempting the lure.

“I never should have said those things—I was lashing out. If you were hoping for an explanation, I’m afraid you’re in for a disappointment.”

The heat in his eyes smoldered. He seemed to contemplate his next move when his gaze snagged on the bag in my hand. He might not have known the store, but it wasn’t hard to guess what sort of shopping I’d done. I held a small white gift sack-type bag with black tissue paper. The name of the store was scribed in elegant black script on the side. It practically screamed intimates.

Oran held out his hand in a silent demand.

I smugly handed over the bag. Let him squirm, knowing what I wore beneath my clothes. It served him right, considering how thoroughly he’d distracted me lately.

I watched him intently as his large, strong fingers lifted the delicate red silk from the bag. The molten desire I expected in his stare never appeared. Instead, he turned eyes sharp as silver daggers on me, every muscle in his body stiffening.

“You are not fucking wearing this forhim.”

CHAPTER 11

ORAN

I was toopissed to play Prince Charming. Fuck that. I’d sooner throw her over my shoulder and lock her away than let that geriatric bastard see her in what should have been meant for me.

Jesus, I didn’t know where these thoughts were coming from.

I was out of control and couldn’t find it in me to care.

She started to answer, and I could tell by the fire in her eyes that I wouldn’t like what she was going to say. I cut her off before she got the chance to say a word. Clutching her wrist, I hauled her around to the alley on the side of the building. It wasn’t particularly private, but it was better than having it out with her on thegoddamn sidewalk.

“Is Wellington taking you to the club for dinner tonight?” Just saying the words made my jaw ache with strain.

“Yes.” Defiance. So much bloody defiance.

“You don’t want to be with him, I know it. You came to Bastion for a reason. I didn’t make you—you came on your own. So why the fuck are you still going to see him?”

“I told you, it’s complicated.”

“Nothing’s that fucking complicated.”

“Maybe for you,” she shot back angrily.

My mind raced as I stared her down. I needed to handle this carefully, but my frustration tinged my vision with red, making it hard to see anything but my need to gain her submission.

The lighter was in my hand before I knew it, and I flicked it open.

“Can you swear on your life he’ll never see it?”

“Youwouldn’t.” She gaped at me.

“Baby, you have no idea the lengths I’d go to.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed angry blue eyes at me. “Fine, I swear no other man will see the lingerie.”

My smile was slow and lupine as it crept across my face.

“Wrong answer.”

She could try to sass me, but it wouldn’t get her far. The small flame barely kissed the thin black tissue before the hungry flame devoured the paper.

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