“And is that where you killed for the first time?”
“My only time,” I answered.
“Doyouregret it?”
It was my turn to answer the same question I’d asked him.
“No.” I was going to admit something to him I’d never revealed to anyone. Why? I don’t know. I just felt like I could. “I enjoyed it,” I confessed. “The guywantedto hurt me, and it filled me with so much rage. I let myself go in that moment and just rode the high as I beat him.”
Seth’s gaze softened, and he gently lifted his hand to brush my cheek. “You and I are not so different, Wren,” he murmured.
The words penetrated me like an arrow, piercing my inner being with their truth. The movie wasn’t over yet, but I had to get out of there.
“I’m going to turn in for the night,” I said, standing quickly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I took a deep breath and tried to walk away but didn’t get far. Seth’s strong fingers clasped my wrist, halting me in mid-motion, and before I could fully understand what was happening, his lips were on mine. They were warm and demanding as he pressed them against my own, his hands cupping my face as if memorizing it for eternity. My pulse roared in my ears as I returned the kiss until rationality caught up with me, and the realization of what I was doing slammed into me like a freight train.
Seth pulled away first, keeping me close as his heated gaze searched my face for a response. “I’ve been dying to do that since the first moment I saw you,” he said in a husky voice, sending another flurry of tremors through me.
Swallowing hard, I stepped back out of his grip, keeping my expression blank so he wouldn’t see how much he affected me.
“Good night, Seth.”
The corner of his lips tilted mischievously. “Sweet dreams, Wren.”
Without another word, I walked out of the room and didn’t dare look back.
CHAPTER16
WREN
Most of the time, I could never remember my dreams, but last night I remembered every single one, all of them featuring Seth. We did things together that I’d never done with anyone before.
When I woke up, I was exhausted and covered in sweat. The last thing I wanted was to see him today, but I knew that wouldn’t happen. That was why I decided to spend as much time in the gym as possible.
“All right, Wren, you about ready to call it a day? We’ve been at this for hours.”
Ripp lowered the punching pads, but I slammed my fists together and bounced on my feet.
“Two more sets.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Damn, woman. I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as you.” I punched the pads and ducked as he swung them over my head.
“I want to be the best,” I said. “I have to win my first fight.”
We finished the two sets, and he tossed the pads on the mat. “Oh, you’re going to win, Wren. I’m certain of that.”
He wiped the sweat off his forehead with a hand towel and draped it over his shoulder. There was an urgency to his movements, as if there was somewhere he had to be.
“Why are you in a rush?” I asked.
Ripp winked and flexed his tattooed muscles at me. “I have a fight tonight at the Labyrinth. Kase asked, and I said yes.” When I didn’t say anything, his smile faded.
“Is there money involved?” I inquired.
He slung his head back and groaned. “Yes, Wren, there’s going to be money. Are you mad at me now?”
I held up my hands. “Hey, I love that you’re fighting. I wish I could come watch you. The problem is Nikolai. What if he has you followed and tries to get into the club? Kase doesn’t want him anywhere near there.”
