His breathing quickened, but he didn’t reciprocate. Usually, Vinn didn’t hesitate to take control of me. He’d crush me in his embrace and rip off my clothes if I let him, but suddenly he refused to yield.
“Vinn, I only went there to help you. I’ve had a crush on you since I was four.”
“That’s touching.”
“It’s the truth!”
A dark smile carved into his cheek as he straightened, his imperial frame towering over mine. “You are such a liar.”
My spark of hope vanished.
“I’m not lying.”
“I caught you trying to leave.”
His palm lifted to my face and stroked me. He was like marble pressing into me, the coolness sinking into my chin. Normally, his touch warmed me like the sun, but cold shivered down my spine instead of excitement. I was wet for him because his attention was on me, but my desire was toxic.
Ill-fated.
I clenched my jaw to kill the shaking. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“Shut the hell up.”
“Why would I lie?”
He lowered, hissing into my ear. “Because you’re in love with another man.”
Shit.
It was my fault he believed that in the first place. I’d only provoked him out of a selfish need for vengeance. My stupid lie had gone way too far.
He cupped my face and leaned in, brushing his lips across mine. His whisper breezed my mouth.
“Stay. Here.”
“Vinny—”
His fingers tightened, catching my breath before it escaped. “Don’t call me that ever again.”
The pulsing knot inside me demanded me to argue.
How many times had I visited him in the hospital and rehab? I cared about him. How did he not know that in his marrow?
I had to prove it.
Witnessing him in this state twisted my guts. I’d jabbed a knife between his ribs, and he’d bleed to death if he went outside. If I let him go, there was a good chance he’d do something reckless. He would die like Daniel, who was ruled by his emotions. Daniel did whatever he felt like, and that attitude had gotten him killed.
A horrific image of Vinn in a coffin burned me like acid. Desperation clawed my throat as I dug into his back. I sank my nails into him, determined to stop him.
“Vinn, let’s talk.” I shoved myself in between him and the door. “Vinn, wait.”
“Out of the way.”
“Let me prove it!”
“What?”
I detached from the wall, sliding my arms around his waist. I tried to squeeze ten years’ worth of affection into his stiffening body.
It was a one-sided hug, but Vinn’s smoldering gaze didn’t make me feel unwanted. Something of the boy he was flashed through his ebony pools. I anchored my hands on his shoulders. My lips pressed into his cold cheek.
“You want to convince me?” he said gruffly.
“Yes.”
Vinn considered me, eyes slanting. “Kneel.”
“W-what?”
“Get on the fucking floor and kneel.”
His tone froze me like the ocean in winter.
“Vinny.”
“I’m not your Vinny.”
Eighteen
Liana
I kneeled.
Heat stole into my face as my legs struck the marble. I lowered my gaze, unable to stomach the cruel twist of his mouth. I didn’t want to degrade myself, but the alternative was letting him go.
I’d cried all the tears when my brother called a year ago with the horrible news that Vinn had been shot. I couldn’t swallow my sobbing fast enough to breathe. His shooting had detonated me. If he walked out the door, the same thing might happen.
He couldn’t leave.
His jacket and keys hit the tile. I was the third inanimate object he’d discarded. A dull ache pulsed in my skull as he curled a finger around my chin, the gesture unbearable in its tenderness.
“Good girl,” he praised. “Now beg me to fuck you.”
I looked up from the floor pinching my flesh, his slacks, over the bulge that jolted me with hope.
“W-what?”
“Beg me to fuck you.”
I fingered my throat, the burn from my cheeks spreading like a head-to-toe bath. Fantasizing about sex with Vinn wasn’t the same as committing to the act.
“You want me? Right now?”
He nodded, his expression marked with loathing.
I’d pictured my first time like a sweet montage in a romantic comedy, sparkling conversation over a dinner table and then stumbling to bed, not this intoxicating submission. Spirals of heat stroked my nipples as he clenched his fists. His jaw ticked with a savage tempo as his possessive gaze zeroed on me. He could’ve strangled me just as soon as fucked me.
“Beg me, or I’m gone.”
Panic gnawed at my confidence.
Then he stepped away, heading for the door.
“Take me. Fuck me.” I sucked in breath as he stopped, wreathed in darkness. “Do what you want with my body.”
His stare impaled me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Desperation swelled beneath my ribs, but the same sick longing seemed to grasp Vinn. He approached, sweeping his knuckles over my cheek.
“I’m not using a condom.”
A thrill of anticipation touched my nipples. “Vinn, I’m not on birth control.”
“Is that a no?”
“I-I won’t stop you.”
A war raged in his eyes. “You should.”
“You were going to keep me, but never fuck me?”
“I would’ve been nice. I’ve always held back around you.” His fingers knotted my hair. “You drive me crazy, Liana.”
He affected me, too.
My ragged breaths cut the air as he restrained me, so intoxicated by him that I wavered.
“Do anything you want.”
“You shouldn’t say that. You’re handing over power, giving me the tools to manipulate you.”
“You won’t do that.”
“Yes, I will.” Vinn tightened his hold, his chest pulsing. “Killian would eat you alive.”
“He doesn’t have my trust. You do.”
I turned, grazing my lips on his leg. I kissed him through the fabric. My hands smoothed over hard muscle before sweeping up his thigh. My fingers brushed his blazing-hot bulge. I closed my fist over him.
His cock jumped. As I stroked him, he released a low hiss. He anchored behind my head, shoving my face into his groin. He rubbed his stiff cock over my cheek, his body melting me through the cotton.
It should’ve been degrading, but it wasn’t.
“Liana, this is your last fucking chance.” He backed away, still gripping my hair. “Otherwise you will be wrecked, possessed, owned, and fucked.”
I had no other choice.
Even if my panties weren’t soaked, I would’ve let him take me. I’d rather be fucked within an inch of my life than put Vinn in harm’s way, so I signed on the dotted line.
I leaned forward. My lips teased his length, tracing his mushroom-shaped head.
His eyelids flickered, and he smirked. “Get up. Kiss me like you kissed Vincent.”
I shot upright and stumbled toward him. I took his waist, leaning into him. My clumsy kiss landed on his chin before Vinn stooped, allowing me to crush his rigid lips. They parted with a breeze of heat.