Page 5 of Savage Ambition

Things were progressing way too fast for me. “What the hell are you doing?” I flinched at how panicked I sounded.

“I have no intention of answering your question,” he said, each button revealing more skin beneath, “so we’re moving on.”

“You don’t get to decide that!” I forced my eyes to stay on his face and not on the tempting expanse of his body being bared.

“If you want to pay someone to listen to your bullshit, you should have gone to a therapist.” His smile was razor-sharp. “I refuse to endure your self-righteous protests for the next two hours, so spare us both and shut up about it. That’s not why you’re here.”

He shrugged out of the dress shirt, revealing his toned body marked by scars that told stories of violence I couldn’t begin to imagine. It looked like a map of survival in a world where weakness meant death. When he sold his body for pleasure, it shocked me to see it in such an abused state.

My stomach lurched at the implications of what he had endured. “You don’t think I’m here for that, do you?”

“Considering how many people would fuck you for free, it surprises me you would resort to this. Even if you’re only here to babysit that worthless asshole you call a friend, you’ve already paid, so we might as well make the most of it.”

“You can’t be serious.” My mind reeled at his casual acceptance. “And stop insulting Jace!”

His smile turned predatory. “You’re not backing down from a challenge, are you?”

My nails bit into my palms as I tried not to let myself get drawn into his game. “This isn’t a challenge. There’s no victory here.”

“I would beg to differ.” Without warning, his tongue traced a hot path from my neck to my ear.

My protests died in my throat. “Did you lick me?” My voice betrayed me, rising an octave in shock.

“Huh, I never would have pegged you for the blushing virgin type.” His words dripped with mockery.

Humiliation burned through me. “What the hell is your problem?”

“That’s almost cute,” he cooed, his voice honeyed with false sweetness.

I struggled for words, but my indignation choked me. “No, it’s not cute! None of this is!”

“We’re not in the right room for that.” The casual reference to other rooms, other scenarios, made me wonder what else happened in the building.

Running my fingers through my hair to calm down, it took effort to restrain myself from pacing like a trapped animal. “I don’t get it.”

“I’m grateful you’re not always this dense.” His backhanded compliment left me floundering.

He pressed closer, his confidence suffocating. The heat of his body provided a stark contrast to the cold calculation in his gaze. “Are you going to pretend you haven’t thought about us fucking?”

“Have you?” My voice sounded foreign to my own ears.

“I won’t deny it.”

My body went rigid with a noise of disbelief.

“The thought of you moaning under me as I demolish that obnoxious composure in the most pleasurable way possible has crossed my mind before.” He gave me a heated look. “Watching you come apart piece by piece until you’re begging to come.”

Against my will, an image of what he had described popped into my mind. It deepened the flush on my cheeks because it was a fantasy I had enjoyed in the privacy of my room too many times to count.

“You’re thinking about it right now.” It wasn’t a question but an accusation from someone who could read my darkest desires.

“Why are you doing this?” I hated how breathless I sounded. “You’re not even into guys!”

“Are you sure?” His lips curved into a smile that promised violence disguised as pleasure. “Because I know you are.”

I wanted to ask how he knew, but terror sealed my lips. Trent and my uncle were the only ones whom I’d told the truth about my sexuality. “Why would you think that?”

“You have no idea how you look at me, do you?” The question carried genuine curiosity beneath the mockery.