Cara stands her ground, eyes flashing. “I had no fucking clue. Like I said.”
We’re standing just inches apart now. Her chin jerks up, allowing her to look directly into my eyes. I can’t tell if what I see in them is the truth or not. My hand shoots out, gripping the back of her neck, yanking her closer. Her hands press against my chest, catching herself from stumbling further.
“If I find out you’re lying….”
“You won’t,” she breathes.
“I fucking swear, Cara. You won’t have to worry about the Russians because I’ll end you myself.”
“I’m not lying.” She says it with so much force that I want to believe she’s telling the truth. Her body presses against mine, distracting me. The scent of her perfume intoxicating me.
I brush her ponytail over her shoulder, letting my fingers trail along her collarbone. “I won’t go easy on you,” I murmur. “I don’t forgive liars.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not one,” she whispers.
I stare down at her, at those perfect lips, the large dark eyes. Cara is a lot of things, but I can’t imagine her to be a liar. She’s too good. Too perfect. Too untouchable in so many ways. A reminder of just how different we are. Her father had used her for his own gain, to cover up for his own mistakes. She’s innocent.
Unlike me.
All she wanted was to be accepted, just as I had. I can see it in the way she worked hard to get this degree, to help her father. All she wants to do is please him. And he’d taken advantage of that. She’d been too trusting, too naive to believe that her father would ever lie and betray her. She might have been raised in this world, but in a lot of ways, she’s still far too innocent.
Before I can even think about what I’m doing, my lips are on hers. At first, she tenses, nails digging into my chest as if to push me away. But she never does. Maybe this perfect little angel isn’t as good as everyone thinks. My teeth drag across her lower lip, my tongue tasting her as she sighs against me. Her innocence is like a drug, an addiction.
And all I want to do is ruin it.
Ruin her.
I step forward, forcing her back until she hits the wall. My lips trail down her neck, my teeth dragging against her skin. She gasps, music to my ears as her hands pull me closer. I can feel the heat of her anger, the fury that her father had lied to her, used her. I can feel exactly how she feels—the burning betrayal, the hurt. And I want it all.
Her father might not have been able to protect her. But I can.
I will.
31
CARA
Arage of heat drops to my core at the slightest touch of his hands, the softest brush of his lips against mine. I can practically feel the anger vibrating beneath his skin, matching mine in more ways than one. But his touch is gentle, hesitant. As if I’m fragile. Breakable.
Yet I need more. So much more.
A distraction. Something to take away the pain of betrayal, of being lied to. A temporary bandage to smooth the hurt. An outlet to escape the anger burning within me.
My hand runs along his cheek and into his hair as he pulls my lips against his once again. The graze of his teeth elicits a desperate sigh, a need to feel the biting sting. Every inch of me seems to hum at his touch in anticipation.
The tension between us becomes more desperate. He drags his lips past my collarbone, nipping at the soft flesh at the crook of my shoulder. My nipples tighten as I imagine the heat and wetness of his mouth sucking them. But he’s slow, careful. Dragging this out just so I’d lose my mind. His hands slip down my hips, tugging me closer.
I pull away sharply, almost begging. “Touch me.”
A warning flashes in his eyes, but his hands slowly circle my wrist, bringing them above my head. His thigh presses between mine, right against my clit, and I pant. A wave of pleasure slips down my spine. I rock against it, needing to feel that sweet release. Because, at that moment, that’s all I am—nothing but need, want, and desire.
Lust.
Killian pulls back, his eyes narrowing but full of heat as he watches my hips roll against his thigh. His shoulders are tense, the muscles of his arm tight as he pins me to the wall. I can see his hesitation, trying to gauge how far he wants to let this go. Just the thought of him trying to put a stop to this only makes me more desperate.
Because if he stops, I might be forced to think about how the only man I trusted in my life had used me. Lied to me. Hid the truth from me.
And I wanted to forget it all, just for a few stolen moments.