“That’s ridiculous.”
“You don’t understand our ways, Sophia. They have worked for hundreds if not thousands of years.”
“Neanderthal. What about love? What about romance?” she asked, uncertain if she wanted to hear any more.
“Love comes with time. And yes, finding a special woman is all I’ve ever wanted but something I can never achieve. There will never be a happy ever after for a man like me. How could there be?”
She was sliding down a slippery slope as she mulled over his words, fragments of his very soul. There was such passion inhis voice, such intensity that she realized she’d been holding her breath. “Wrath, I…”
“Sshhh…” Wrath placed two fingers over her lips. “Il mio bel fiore. We do not need to get any more personal than we have already. I know you will never understand why I made certain decisions that I’ve come to terms with. This is a business arrangement. Just the way you prefer,” he said then snorted. “One I must admit I am enjoying, even if I will lose my freedom.”
“I don’t need to?—”
Capturing her mouth, he pulled her into his arms, one hand wrapped around her neck in a gentle hold, the other caressing her back.
As he danced his fingers up and down, an incredible series of vibrations rocketed throughout her body. She was on fire, the once smoldering embers roaring with the kind of desire that could consume her. She fisted his shirt with one hand and eased her other arm around his neck, clinging to him. The taste of him was sweet, exotic, and she parted her lips readily, accepting his tongue as he explored her mouth.
The kiss became wild, a greediness in him creating an almost desperate series of actions. Lifting Sophia off her feet, he cupped her bottom as their tongues entwined.
She heard the soft growling sounds and shivered given the way his hard cock pushed hard against her stomach. Everything about this was so wrong, but she was lightheaded, her heart racing, wanting nothing more than for him to be inside of her.
Easing her down, he broke the kiss, immediately mouthing her lips and cheek, her chin and jaw. “My beautiful flower, my sweet Sophia.” He licked across the seam of her mouth beforedropping his head, peppering kisses against her neck. His arm held her just above her hipbones, his fingers digging in.
She tilted her head, arching her back even further and clinging to his arms. The same draw as before, the powerful intoxication she’d experienced was once again overpowering, drawing her into his world. The passion was unstoppable, the need increasing between them. She was breathless, her pussy clenching. The sash on her robe slipped, revealing her breasts, the slight breeze tickling her skin. Closing her eyes, she imagined a different time and place, sharing a love story, one of her complete submission. This was exactly what fantasies were made of.
Wrath dragged his lips across her heated skin, licking and nipping as he moved down until he was able to take her nipple into his mouth.
“Oh… Yes.” She was tingling all over, a blissful smile crossing her face. Her rational mind knew she should fight the effects, adhering to the business proposition, but his touch alone was far too enigmatic.
He moved to her other nipple, flicking his tongue back and forth. Biting down, he took her tender flesh into his mouth, holding. Sucking.
Her pussy clenched, juices trickling down the insides of her thighs. This was heaven. This was perfect. This was… An unsettling feeling slithered in against her promise of ecstasy and she could feel her body tensing.
As if knowing she was overcome by fear and worry, he pulled away, lifting his head ever so slowly. Planting another kiss on her lips, he whispered, the tone husky and full of sensuality. “Iwant you, but even though you belong to me for these two days, making love will be your choice. Discipline will be all mine.”
She was shocked when he walked away, leaving her dazed and confused. The wind seemed colder, bitter against her skin and she jerked the robe closed, holding both sides. Had she done something wrong? She remained unblinking as he walked away, taking his drink and swigging the remainder. There were no words that came to mind, no method of rekindling what had just occurred. He was giving her a choice.
The man was utterly confusing, treating this as if they had all the time in the world. Within three days, he’d be locked away, never to see the light of day again. And for her? She bit back a groan.
Loneliness.
Whether or not she would be disobeying the rules, she fumbled to untie the sash, dropping the robe and slipping into the water. A cool rush enveloped her system and she remained underneath, kicking her legs as she shot past the various lights hugging the bottom of the pool and closer to the waterfall. She had never been allowed to be herself and while this foray into sin was forbidden on several levels, she was more relaxed than she’d been in years.
A deal with a monster.
Surfacing, she wiped water from her eyes then searched for him immediately. He was nowhere to be seen. A moment of frustration crowded her system, but she was undaunted, swimming closer to the waterfall. The entire setting was serene, let alone gorgeous and she found herself laughing as she headed under the flowing water. Her choice. To make love to him? Her enemy? The thoughts were sinful, delicious.Ridiculous.Hewas everything she’d worked so hard to annihilate. But God, she wanted the man because of his stature and prowess, his dominating ways and his kiss. Fuck, the man could kiss like no other.
A part of her even longed for the intense discipline. A rush of shame filtered into her mind, yet another painful reminder that this was merely a job. She’d rid the world of a horrible killer, perhaps even making inroads in order to hunt down the consortium. Anything was possible.
As long as he trusted her.
She eased her hand down from her neck, cupping and squeezing her breast. She could almost taste his lips, the slight hint of scotch lingering.
Whew. She was hot, wet, and so turned on.What are you thinking? What are you doing?The questions would never be answered to anyone’s satisfaction, including the respectable woman the rest of the world knew.
If only her partner could see her now. She shuddered and headed closer to the rocky surface, a structured wall no doubt holding the various controls. Sliding against the cool material, she studied the cascading water, wondering what Wrath’s life was really like. Living out of a suitcase, moving from country to country in order to assassinate a particular target certainly took a toll.
But had juicy perks.
