Page 95 of King of Ruin

She reached down, lightly resting her fingers over the hand holding her wrist, hoping to reassure him without making ascene. "Don't worry about it. Let's go back inside. I'm sure there are plenty of people waiting to talk business with you."

With gentle persistence, she eased herself free from his grasp and turned toward the passerrail once more.

She hadn't managed more than a single step before his hand caught her again.

This time, there was nothing gentle about it.

His fingers wrapped securely around her wrist, and before she could protest, he drew her back toward him, turned on his heel, and led her away from the crowd without saying a single word.

"Xavier..." she called softly, hurrying to match his long strides.

He didn't slow down.

He guided her along the quieter side of the yacht where the music became little more than a distant hum and the cheerful conversations faded into the background. The further they walked, the fewer people they passed, until they reached a secluded corner hidden from the guests by the yacht's towering white structure.

Only then did he stop.

The sudden halt caught Elise off guard. She took one more step before her back met the cool exterior wall of the yacht. She barely had time to steady herself before Xavier stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

In an instant, his hand cradled her face, fingers brushing against her skin as his mouth crashed onto hers with a fierce urgency that stole her breath. She trembled under the weight of his kiss, her body responding instinctively to his commanding presence.His lips enveloped hers, pulling her into a passionate embrace that left her quaking, caught between pleasure and surprise.

He pressed her firmly against the wall, his mouth asserting complete dominance as he captured her lower lip, sucking on it with such fervor that a cry escaped her lips. Desperation surged within her, and she clung to him for support, her fingers digging into his shoulders.

But he wasn’t ready to release her; instead, he tightened his grip, one hand anchoring her waist while the other held her face steady, kissing her with a rough hunger that made her gasp for air.

Just as she began to feel lightheaded, he finally loosened his hold slightly, allowing his hand to slide down to grasp her wrist while keeping her pinned against the wall. Breathless gasps spilled from her lips as he trailed his kisses from her mouth to her throat.

When he bit the side of her neck, a sharp gasp escaped her, the sudden pain sending a jolt through her body as he licked and sucked at the sensitive skin with ravenous intent.

His mouth shifted to the opposite side of her neck, his tongue gliding over the mark he had just created before he took it into his mouth, sucking with an insatiable hunger that left her gasping again.

Elise shuddered, her entire body tensing and trembling under his relentless attention. He explored every inch of her skin as though he had been starving for her touch.

Growing more impatient, he lavished her neck with fervent kisses and bites until it was adorned with a tapestry of red marks and hickeys. Then he finally lifted his head, his dark eyes sweeping slowly over her flushed face. He looked down at her fora long moment, his gaze heavy with restrained hunger as he took in every trembling breath she drew.

One hand came up beside her head, bracing against the wall.

The other still held her wrist.

His broad shoulders blocked the light behind him, surrounding her completely. The familiar scent of his cologne lingered in the small space between them, and although he hadn't raised his voice, the restrained anger radiating from him was impossible to miss.

Slowly, she lifted her eyes to his.

His jaw was rigid.

The muscle there flexed once.

Twice.

He looked like a man forcing himself to stay in control.

"What the hell is going on, Elise?" he asked quietly.

There was no warmth in his voice now. Only restraint stretched dangerously thin. His eyes searched hers with relentless intensity before his grip unconsciously tightened around her wrist.

"Who was he?"

The question hung between them.