Page 46 of Depraved

The longer I claimed her soft lips, the more I allowed myself to be consumed by it. My hands roughed up her body, underneath her shirt, desperate to explore. But as I flattened my palm against her belly, she pushed back.

I was so fucking lost in the moment I never saw it coming…not until I felt the burn against my cheek.

Alyx looked up at me, her eyes wide in shock while she held her hand in the other. I bet her palm stung just as much as my cheek did.

She retreated, taking a slow step back. “You had no right to do that.”

I rubbed my cheek. “Yet you kissed me back.”

“You caught me off guard.”

“Did I?”

“Yes.” She moved back some more. “If you think I’m one of those women who gets turned on by being kidnapped, you’re fucking wrong. I’m not the Stockholm Syndrome type.”

Jesus. I had to laugh. Her smart mouth was starting to amuse me.

With a smile, I stepped forward. “First of all, you kissed me back.”

“You took me⁠—”

“Shut up.”

Amazingly, she zipped her lip.

“Second of all, I’m well aware you’re not the Stockholm Syndrome type. Otherwise, you would have fucked my brother already since he’s been real nice to you…hasn’t he?”

“That’s not⁠—”

“I said shut up.” I pressed forward while she kept moving back, the look on her face similar to that of prey knowing it was only a matter of time before she got blocked in a corner with nowhere to go. The perfect, most beautiful, innocent little prey.

I tilted my head, scrutinizing her. “Now, since we’re on the topic of my little brother, that brings me to my third point.” Another step. “Stay away from him.”

“You can’t⁠—”

“It’s simple, Alyx.” Her back hit the wall, and I stepped right up to her, leaving nothing but a few breaths of space between us. “Stay. Away. From my brother.”

Our eyes remained locked. I was looking down, and she was looking up, our bodies so close I could feel the warmth emanate from her.

“And lastly…” My hand dropped, and my fingers gently brushed against her inner thigh. Her eyes became hooded, her lips slightly parted as my touch traveled upward. “Stop fighting me. You will lose.” My fingers eased up some more, her cheeks all pretty and flushed. “Next time you welcome my tongue in your mouth, you better be sure you’re ready to welcome me between your legs.” With a gentle slide of my finger, I touched her pussy, and it earned me a subtle whimper from her tempting lips. I leaned down closer, so close I felt her warm breath against my skin. “Next time, I won’t be walking away without making you bleed for me, ballerina girl. Remember that.”

The second I stepped back, she let out a breath, her body sagging against the wall. I straightened my cut and pulled my hand through my hair. “You should get some rest.”

With that, I left the room and locked the door behind me. I fell back against the door, tracing my thumb across my lips, still tasting her. It was the flavor of sweet, sweet innocence—something I made sure remained until I was ready to claim it for myself.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The mix of lust and anger was toxic and strong. If I didn’t get a handle on it, I wouldn’t be able to do what I needed to do next.

“Neon!” I called down the hall, and the blue-haired pixie appeared in the doorway.

“Will it help if I say I didn’t mean to?”

“No.” I started walking toward her while lighting a cigarette.

“Um…will it help if I say I’m really, really sorry?”

I blew out a cloud of smoke. “No.”

“Goddammit.”