She inched back, the teasing glint in her eyes replaced with equal parts trepidation and anticipation.
“Pride and Prejudicewhen I was younger,” she finished breathlessly.
Her back hit one of the bookshelves.
I stopped a hair’s breadth away from her, so close the beads of her dress grazed the front of my suit.
“Are you baiting me,mia cara?” A dangerous edge ran beneath the soft inquiry.
I hated the sound of Kai’s name on her tongue.
I hated the way she laughed so easily in his presence.
And I hated how much I cared about either of those things.
Vivian’s throat rippled with a swallow. “Simply making an observation.”
The library’s hushed silence buckled beneath the weight of the gathering tension. It hissed and sparked like crackles of electricity, barreling down my spine and lighting up my blood.
I tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the movement gentle, almost tender before my hand skimmed down the side of her neck and curled around the back.
“You forget.” I pressed my fingers against her nape, forcing her to look up at me. “You’remyfiancée. Not Kai’s. Not anyone else’s. I don’t give a fuck howhandsomethey are or what type of accent they have. You’re mine, and no one…” I dipped my head, my lips brushing hers with each word. “Touches what’s mine.”
Vivian’s breathing shallowed, but a hint of fire returned to her voice when she spoke again. “I’mnotyours. Our engagement is, as you’ve told me many times, just business. Or are you the one who’s forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten anything.” I grazed my knuckles up her bare thigh, inch by inch, until I hit the hem of her dress.
Her body drew taut, its heat a wild temptation that sank into my bones and urged me to close the remaining, infinitesimal space between us. To crush my mouth to hers and smear her perfect lipstick so thoroughly no one would doubt for a fucking second who she belonged to.
“If you want me to stop, just say the word.” I pushed my leg between her knees, nudging them apart.
Vivian opened her mouth, then closed it when my thumb traced a small circle over her soft skin. The flush on her cheeks spread to her neck and chest.
“Say it.” I trailed my fingers up her inner thigh in a lazy caress. My cock strained against my zipper, begging for attention, but I ignored it. “You can’t, can you?” I mocked.
Her teeth sank into her bottom lip. Lust and defiance battled for dominance in her eyes. “You’re an asshole.”
My fingers brushed against drenched silk.
She grasped my shoulders, her nails digging into my back when I slid her underwear aside and rubbed my thumb over her swollen clit.
Her body jerked. Small trembles ran through her as her teeth dug deeper into her lip.
“I’m an asshole, yet you’re dripping all over my hand.” I kept my thumb on her clit while I slipped a finger inside her. “What does that say about you?”
I slid a second finger inside, filling her. Stretching her. Stroking and curling until I hit her most sensitive spot.
The trembles gave way to a full-body shudder. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she remained stubbornly silent.
“Answer me.” Command hardened my voice into steel.
Vivian shook her head.
“If you won’t say it, I will.” I slowly withdrew both fingers, then thrust them inside her again. “It says you’re mine.Puoi negarlo quanto vuoi, ma è la verità.”
“You don’t even like me,” she panted.
“Likehas nothing to do with this.”