“So? What are you going to do? Tie me down and force feed me?” I ask sarcastically, still not believing he’s truly the least bit concerned about me.
He’s only concerned about whatever he needs from me.
Jaw tensing, his eyes continue to bore into my eyes, trying to glare me into submission. “If it comes to that…”
And it’s just too much. Too damn much.
Making a sound of disgust, I roll my eyes. But before I can do much more, his hand is on my jaw. His grip forcing me to look at him.
“There are ways, Sophia… Many unpleasant ways to keep you safe and healthy…”
I suck in a shrill breath at the threat. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him to elaborate.
But the way his gaze glitters at me, I get the impression he wants just that. He wants to describe what he would do to me, against my will.
No doubt, bullying grieving, defenseless women is what gives him his jollies in life.
“You’re a bastard,” I hiss at him.
“Oh, you have no idea,” he says in full agreement, his lips curving with a hint of a smirk.
Does he think I’m stupid? That I wouldn’t immediately investigate him after that night? Does he still not understand I know exactly who he is and what he’s capable of?
“Oh, I think I do,” I sneer back.
“Do you?” James asks, his left brow cocking with interest as his smirk grows. He presses closer and alarm bells start to go off in my head as his voice grows softer, huskier. “Do you really know how much of a bastard I am, Sophia?”
I can’t back down as his eyes search my face, waiting for my response. My sheer stubbornness refuses to give him that satisfaction, even though on some level I’m aware that this is another one of his traps.
“Yes, James. I know exactly how big of a bastard you are,” I confirm with a scowl.
“Then…” he drawls out, his eyes lighting up with heat as they drop to scorch my lips. “You won’t be surprised by this.”
Without any other warning, he pushes his body against mine and grabs the back of my head. I’m so shocked by the turn of events, by the utter audacity of it, I don’t do anything to stop him.
Fingers twisting in my hair, he jerks my head up and crushes his mouth against my mouth.
And suddenly it’s the night we met all over again.
Echoes of it come back to me as his soft lips press against mine.
The warmth after being so cold…
The relief of finally feeling safe…
Then the abandonment.
I thought I was over him. I thought I hated him enough to never be affected by him again.
But I was wrong.
So very wrong.
Even now, I can feel he has this unexplainable power over me. A power that instantly makes me weak and open to being hurt again.
My hands push at his chest, finally reacting.
Undeterred, James growls and presses closer. His kiss becoming deeper, harder.
It’s slow at first, the ability to feel anything other than anger and surprise.
But it’s there.
I can sense it.
Buried deep inside under a layer of ice.
As if he knows, James works to draw it out of me with each hot, searing pull of his mouth.
Unable to shove him away, pure panic washes over me as I start to feel.
Oh god, I don’t want to feel anything right now.
Especially not for him. The man who pushed me away when I needed him the most.
Lashing out in pure desperation, I start to pound on his chest and try to twist away.
Snarling, James fists his hand in my hair, tugs, and nips at my bottom lip.
A hot jolt of intense sensation courses through me, shattering the last of the ice as his teeth awaken the little nerves there.
Gasping, I inadvertently leave myself open.
Seizing the opportunity, he thrusts his tongue into my mouth, hungrily stroking it against my tongue.
And I start to melt.
For the past four days, I’ve been dead inside. A hollow, empty, aching shell.
But his touch, his taste, is somehow making me feel something other than pain. Something other than despair.
My hands grab at him with a mind of their own, trying to pull him closer instead of pushing him away.
Knowing damn well he could walk away again, and not caring…
I don’t need him forever, I decide, finally giving up on fighting him.
I just need him for now.
Growling into my mouth as my nails scratch at his warm skin, he deepens the kiss even more. Thrusting his tongue so deep, he forces my neck to arch back for him.
Time seems to stand still as I give in and let him devour me.
Let his kiss light me on fire and burn everything away.
Only the loss of his lips and the sudden sound of his voice pulls me back to reality.