“Yes, really. I still might sign them.”
She comes closer and leans up against the mantle. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I’m extremely embarrassed.”
“I understand.”
She snorts and glances at me. “That’s not reassuring.”
“Should I tell you everything will be okay? You fucked William Crawford. I can’t imagine you’re anywhere near this being over.”
She groans. “Why am I so stupid?”
“You’re not stupid.” I say the words before I mean to, but they still out anyway. “You’re passionate. You care about people.”
“How do you know that?”
“I went to that show tonight because of the way you spoke about that band. There are a million bands that sound like them, and some are even better, but I’ve never seen a talent scout so invested before. You genuinely care about them, and that makes me intrigued. You screwed over William Crawford instead of letting him walk all over you, which would’ve been much smarter, by the way, and I admire that as well. Yes, you’re a mess. But an impressive mess.”
She stares at me, mouth open. I look back at that pink tongue and those lips, swelling now, cold from the ice. I move closer to her, too close, way too fucking close. She’s small, petite, easily swallowed up by my bulky frame. She doesn’t back away as my hand presses against the small of her back and I feel her trembling, and I wonder if she can feel how hard my cock is in return.
“An impressive mess,” she whispers, shaking her head. “You should kick me out. If you were smart, you’d get me the hell away from here and start apologizing to the Crawfords.”
“I’ll deal with them. Don’t worry about me.”
“Right, you will. You’re Ansell Drake. For a second, I forgot.”
“You’re right, I am Ansell Drake.” I lean down and brush my lips against hers. I shiver with delight. They’re freezing from the ice, and I taste a bit of blood and tears. My cock is trembling with need. “I do what I please and I take what I want. I know what my employees call me behind my back.”
She sucks in a breath. “You do?”
“Ice King. I like it. The name suits me. And do you know why I haven’t sent you away yet?”
“No,” she says, staring into my eyes.
My hand moves up to snake into her hair. “Because right now, I find you so sexy it’s like my body can’t control itself. I know I should throw you out on the street and yet looking at you, with your swollen and bloody lips, and your tear-streaked cheeks, I want to destroy you even more, Pearce. I want to taste your sorrow, lick your tongue, suck your tears dry, and fuck you until you scream. I want to ruin you. You are at your lowest and, god, you are so fucking beautiful, it kills me.”
She releases a soft moan as I press my lips against hers and kiss her hard.
She moans into my mouth. I release a pent-up growl, warring with myself. This is wrong, this is stupid, and yet she tastes like blood and tears and sweat and, fuck, I love it. She grinds her hips against me, feeling my hardness now, my cock like a steel rock. I want to drive it between her lips and make her tear up again. I want to slam it between her legs and make her scream.
I pull back, buzzing with lust and she stares back at me, lips kiss-bitten and beautiful.
“I should go,” she whispers, extracting herself from my arms. “I should really go. Oh my god, I think I’ve embarrassed myself enough tonight.” She hurries over to her phone and I only watch her hips sway, barely controlling myself. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have imposed. Just, please, don’t take it out on Pride, okay?” She shoves her phone into her bag and hurries toward my elevator.
“Wait.” I bark the word. She pauses and looks back. There’s fear in her eyes, but something else as well.
Fear, mixed with lust.
“Stay the night.”
Her mouth opens. Her eyes widen.
“I don’t—”
“If you go back to your apartment, he’ll be waiting.” I don’t move toward her. Right now, she’s balanced on a knife’s edge, and she could tip either direction. “Even if he’s not, he’ll find you there sooner or later. My apartment is safe. Spend the night here and figure out what you’re going to do in the morning.”
“Ansell, I don’t know. I’ve imposed enough already.”
“If you’re afraid of me breaking down the door in the middle of the night to have my way with you, don’t be. When I fuck you, you’ll come begging for it first.”
She stares at me and I feel that desire pinging between us. It’s a signal, strong and undeniable.
“Are you sure?” She barely whispers the words.
“I’ll show you to the extra room. Lock your door if you’re afraid of me.” I tilt my head, still not smiling. “It wouldn’t be the dumbest thing you’ve done recently.”