Page 23 of How to Kill Your Rival

‘Someone called the police tonight. I only just made it out of my mark’s house in time.’

James’ fingers tense against the desk, and a little sliver of warmth crawls up my spine. I love that he cares. Even if I don’t like to admit it.

‘A neighbour?’ he asks.

‘I don’t know, but I don’t think so.’ There were no signs of being overlooked, and with the voided contracts, it’s all too timely.

‘So whoever it is wants more than just to undermine you. They want you to get caught. But why?’

Well, I did kill one of them… but no one knows about that. ‘It could be anyone on the Death Council. Anyone who’s pissed that I’m taking over my dad’s seat. Anyone who doesn’t want a woman in charge.’

James looks at me, all serious and annoyed on my behalf.

‘I don’t mind you being in charge,’ he says.

Good lord.

It should be illegal to be as handsome as he is. Those dark lashes framing his grey eyes. The old scar on his upper lip that I can’t keep my eyes off.

You’re just horny. Get a grip. But I can’t stop thinking about his mouth. Not romantically, God no, but his mouth… His one kiss has ruined me.

‘If you don’t mind me being in charge, you could get on your knees…’

James holds my gaze for a heartbeat, and I think for a moment he’ll refuse.

The chair squeaks against the floor as I push it back, sliding my shorts down to my feet and spreading my thighs. His throat bobs as he looks down. The rush of need momentarily clogs my brain cells.

‘Get on your knees, James.’ The shake in my voice gives my uncertainty away. It’s not that I haven’t considered rolling into bed with James before, but past experiences tell me that jumping into bed with a man is aligning yourself with the Devil.

But if it’s not in the bed… maybe it doesn’t count.

The moment stretches between us, and I worry he might decline, leaving me both wet and embarrassed.

His eyes slide from my face down to the spot between my thighs. My pulse thunders when he licks his fucking lips.

‘You want me here?’ he asks, dropping to the floor and grazing his fingers over my bare thighs.

God, he’s delicious there. Looking up at me like I’m a goddess. Knowing that a powerful man will sink to his knees on one sentence is a heady rush. Whether I’m trying to best him, or annoy him, or whatever this is.

If it’s just oral, it doesn’t count as sex.

‘And what do you want me to do with you?’ The throatiness in his voice makes me wet.

‘Make me forget about all this shit.’

When he leans forward and drags his tongue across my pussy, I have to grip the chair to stop myself from keeling over.

‘Oh God,’ I moan, arching my hips.

‘You can call me God if you like, but I intend to drag you to hell with me, Eliza; now that you’ve let me taste you, there’s no going back.’

As if that’s not where we’re going anyway…

‘You’ve yet to show me whether that mouth of yours can live up to all your bragging, James.’

‘Don’t worry, Sweetheart, I intend to make the most of my time here. To ruin any other man’s tongue for you.’

Pleasure coils deep as he sets his mouth over me, that delicious tongue sliding against my clit until I’m writhing against his face.