“Haven.” He groans my name like it pains him. “I’ve decided what I want.”
Opening my eyes, I realize he’s closer. Hovering over me, his hold isn’t as tight on my wrists. His eyes are fixed on me, so focused that I don’t think the world exists in his eyes.
“You’ll go and save him?” The tiny hope that’s still there bubbles up, forcing the words out despite my wanting to shove them back down. “What is it?”
The anger on his face melts away, leaving a blank slate. It’s hard to tell what he’s thinking. Even more when he releases my wrists, much to my surprise. When his fingers find my jaw, his thumb ghosts over my bottom lip.
“I want one kiss, sweetheart.” His demand rings clear, making me realize the truth of who I’m dealing with.
Ripper isn’t just dangerous. He’s absolutely insane.
4
Ripper
“If she’s a spy, what’s to say she isn’t trying to lead you to your death? Don’t let a woman be what kills you.”
Judge’s words linger in the back of my head, alongside his lack of permission. He denied my request, no shocker there. He’s not a fearful man, but he’s doing everything possible to avoid bringing a war here. To destroy all the work he’s put in over the last couple of years.
“If she doesn’t have proof that Eliza was here, then let her go. She can return empty-handed, and the world can move on.”
Let her go back to them? What does that even mean? They’ll kill her if she has nothing to give them.
Looking down at her now, face flushed, hair spread out across the grass and spilling against her cheeks, I let out a shaky breath.
How can one woman be what causes all ofmywork to come undone? A nobody who has no right stepping into my world?
I should be furious that she ran, but now that she’s here, I can’t even think about her defiance. All I can focus on isher.
“What?” The word spills from her lips, confusion filling her eyes.
I really am going to defy Judge to help her out. Now isn’t the time to laugh, but fuck, do I want to.
“If I’m going to get myself killed, then at least let me enjoy one last kiss from a beauty.” Leaning down, I hear her breath catch. “Paulie, right? I’ll free him. Just put me out of my misery.”
“That’s all?” Her words are soft, vulnerable.Nervous.
If I weren’t worried about scaring her off, I’d ask her to let me taste her entirely. There’s this greedy ache that demands I get my tongue where I know she’ll be the sweetest.
I’ve got a gut intuition that this woman’s a virgin, too. Probably never had her pussy licked. Never moaned a man’s name before.
Instead of turning me off like normal, I can feel my cock weeping in jealousy and longing that I can’t demand more than what I have.
The wind picks up, causing tree limbs to sway as I stare down at her. The longer she remains silent, the more a voice in the back of my mind demands that I do it for free.
Would I risk my life for nothing in return for a woman I’ve just met?
The way my eyes catch the flicker of her tongue as she swipes it across her bottom lip tells me all I need to know to answer my question.
I’m willing to risk it all.
“One kiss.” Ever so softly, her words ring clear. “Just one.”
A hungry, guttural sound tears from my throat. I can’t remember the last time I wanted anything this much—it’s a physical ache, a deep, hollow starvation. The sight of her bitingthat plump lip, as if to keep its sweetness for herself, is pure, exquisite torture.
“Open up,” I breathe. “Let me in.”
A shiver wracks her entire frame before her lips part on a soft, surrendering sigh.
