His eyes narrow, and for a second, I swear he fights the urge to laugh.Instead, his hand tightens around Cleo, as if reminding me who he’s holding, who he’s keeping pressed against him.
“You’d talk that loud with her right here?”His voice is low, dangerous, yet laced with something that makes my pulse stutter.
I smirk and step closer to the bed.“Maybe I like testing your restraint.”
“You’re pushing it,” he mutters.
“Am I?”I crouch near the mattress, close enough to see the faint flush climbing his throat.“Because from where I’m standing, you don’t look like you hate it.”
His gaze locks on mine, the silence between us stretched taut.Cleo shifts slightly, sighing in her sleep, pressing closer into him.He strokes her back absentmindedly, but his attention never leaves me.
“You’re reckless,” he says finally, though his lips twitch like he’s fighting a smile.
“And you’re pretending you don’t like it,” I shoot back.
“Hetfield ...”The warning in his tone should cool me off.It doesn’t.
“Reznor ...”I mimic his voice, dragging it out just to watch his jaw tighten.“You know I live for this.You’re trying so hard to play calm, but I can see it—” I tilt my head, grin widening, “—you’re tempted.”
His mouth curves, all teeth now, the challenge unmistakable.“One day you’re gonna push too far.”
I lean in, close enough that I can feel his breath fan against my lips.“Maybe that’s the point.”
His eyes darken, voice dropping into a growl sparking my pulse.“Keep it up, and I’ll fuck you so hard you won’t be able to smart off for days.”
The smirk falters for half a second, heat slamming through me.“Promises, promises ...”
He tilts his head, his gaze flicking deliberately toward Cleo.“You want to taste her?”His tone is filthy, taunting.“She came in my mouth earlier.Come here and kiss me—see for yourself.”
My throat goes dry, the image ripping through me like fire.“You’d risk waking her?”
He doesn’t even hesitate.“She might wake up.”A wicked glint sparks in his eyes.“And if she does, she’ll love watching.”
The room feels charged, like the air itself is daring me to move closer.
“You’re dangerous,” I murmur, though I’m already leaning closer, like gravity itself is pulling me toward him.
Eddie’s lips curve into something feral.“Then stop provoking me.Or I’ll shut you up the way you’ve been begging for.”
I don’t even have time to retort before his free hand shoots out, fingers tangling in my shirt, yanking me forward.The motion jostles Cleo slightly—she shifts, sighs, but doesn’t wake.My heart slams against my ribs as I brace myself on the mattress, half over them both.
“Eddie—”
His mouth crashes against mine, brutal and claiming.Heat punches through me, stealing every thought, every ounce of air.His tongue pushes past my lips like he owns me, and, fuck, maybe he does.
I groan into him, clutching his shoulder for balance.He tastes like sin, like Cleo, like everything I shouldn’t have but can’t resist.
He breaks the kiss just long enough to growl, “Taste her.I wasn’t lying.”
The words wreck me.I dive back in, lips hungry, tongue desperate, chasing that proof, that intimacy he’s taunting me with.It’s filthy and perfect, and I want more.
Cleo stirs, murmurs something incoherent, pressing deeper into Eddie’s chest.The danger spikes my pulse, makes my cock ache harder.
“She’s gonna wake up,” I rasp against his mouth.
“Let her,” he whispers, his grip tightening on me.“She’ll love watching you fall apart for me.”
His hand slides to the back of my neck, forcing me closer, deeper, until I’m kissing him like I’ll drown if I stop.My body presses against the edge of the mattress, straining toward him, aching for more.
