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What could I do to stop this? What excuse was good enough to override the enticing sway of his body with mine? I could say Bunny was watching, or that people would gossip, or I had to get back to the games room.
But any argument I had fell flat when I saw the ten rings riding his right ear. All his piercings were gone, apart from the ones for his parents and those rings. They were the deal breakers, what sent me over the edge last time, and it was happening again, heat pooling between my thighs as I fought the tremor in my chest.
“The stylist told me to remove them all.” He caught me staring. “I couldn’t let them take the rings. They’re always going to be a part of me, so I never forget you.”
What a bastard he was. I despised how well he knew me. Why couldn’t I let go and be done with him? I should just walk away and leave him there.
He beamed at me, turning us in perfect time to an old classic I knew but couldn’t name. I had to let him lead, my stupid heart in my throat and my legs weak. I didn’t know he could dance so well. He held my gloved hand high, his arm snaking around my side, unfailingly locking his attention on me while gliding around the room without hesitation.
“Let me go.” I sounded fierce, but he caught the undertones of desire, his eyes flashing in response.
I should have followed through, pushed him away, gone back to Dom and my family, and let him go. It was what I’d been telling myself when preparing for this all week.
If he gets you alone, move. Don’t let him catch you. Don’t let him speak. Don’t look at his ear or his throat. Don’t let him smile at you, or listen to his voice, or stare deep into his grass-green eyes.
“I’ll scream.” That just made him happier.
“Baby, I’ve been waiting ten years to hear you scream again. Please, don’t let me stop you.”
The intensity of his hold swept me away. Had he been this confident the last time we were together, when he was begging me to touch him, to lay into him with my hate?
He looked so goddamn pleased with himself, and a thrill coursed through me as he offered me a challenge.
I tried looking for Bunny as we turned, hoping I would find her glaring at us, but I caught sight of her in the arms of Darcy Hastings, her smile sultry, his hands riding her hips as she thrust her breasts against his chest, their lips dangerously close.
I wanted an excuse, but seeing Bunny only gave me more reasons to give in to Max. I wanted to curve my body against his and make him lose control, watch him stumble and fall, maybe even kick him as he went down. So many delicious ways I could leave marks on his body, but that first time… the first time he showed me what he was capable of… when showed me how he could surrender...
My eyes sank to the dark silk covering his throat. Were the marks still strong enough for him to look at every morning, or did he have to make do with the memories of my fingers?
“They’re still there,” he said, his voice a low whisper, “but they’re fading. I don’t want them to leave.”
My gaze shot up to meet his with passionate fire. “You need more proof of how much I hate you?”
‘Hate’ was losing its potency. Each time I said it, I grew less convinced it was what I felt.
He smiled softly. “Are you sure it’s hate?”
He didn’t hold a single thing back as he captured my eyes. Everything he wanted was evident in his gaze, and that everything was me.
“What else could it be?” I smiled, mocking him.
I was being drawn towards him and I was letting it happen. It was too easy to give in to this thing, even though it had ended so badly the last time we were together. I had to straighten up, be strong, hard, and rooted.
“I think there’s something inside you that wants more.” His voice was too dangerous, making me need more than I should.
“I want to hurt you more.”
Like he’d hurt me: rip his heart out and crush it, still beating between my hands. Torture him by bringing him to the edge over and over again until he was begging me for release.
“How would you do it, Kitty Cat?” His voice was rough and needy, his fingers pressing through my gloves, pulling me in with the same heat that caught me when I held his face in my palms. “How else would you hurt me?”
I couldn’t resist meeting his challenge. I was strong enough to tease him and remain calm, right?
I lifted my hand from his shoulder, running my finger behind his ear, flicking those ten golden rings that had become my hangman’s noose. He hissed, his eyelids shuddering as heat sizzled between us.
“If you’re a good boy,” I murmured, “I’ll give you a better present than my fingers around your throat.”
Max didn’t hold back the groan of raw pleasure that flew from him, captivating me. He trembled under my finger. He missed his step, and I took the lead, controlling the dance.
