“So that’s it? We’re going to ignore the whole shitshow that just happened?” I flung my arm behind me, jabbing a finger down the throat of the cave. “No,hey, thanks for saving my life, by the way? Just—completely shutting me out?”
What the hell was I doing? My emotions were flying like a hormonal tween.
In an instant, he spun on me. The movement sent a gust of air sweeping across my cheek.
Something raged in his eyes—angry, punishing. Then, with a blink, it softened.
This man was so goddamn confusing. Maybe he was just perpetually confused himself.
His gazed locked on mine, scorching a hole in me. He looked like he was about to scream . . . or cut me down with words serrated enough to draw blood.
Eyebrows cinched together, taut and conflicted. As if he were being torn apart from the inside out.
Suddenly, a hand gripped around my throat. Not exactly choking, but firm.Controlled.
He pushed me back against the stone wall, pinning me there. Cool breath swept the bridge of my nose as his face hovered inches from mine.
Shock.I was completely taken back. Not scared, not hurt. Just?—
Fuck.What was this man doing to me?
It wasn’t a strong grip, if anything, it was carefully light. I knew I could easily knock it away. But I didn’t.
My breath caught, diaphragm rising and falling double-time. My breasts pressed against his chest in rhythm. Heat began to shoot through my veins, flooding my system.
Those cold eyes flicked between mine,uncertain. Then slowly, they lowered, caressing over my skin, dragging to my lips.
His thumb stroked gently over my choker. The touch was tender, before it slid up, skimming my full, bottom lip.
He breathed out . . . I breathed in.
Ever so slowly, as if Death had claimed time itself, his lips touched mine. A phantom of a kiss. Feather-light. Savoring.
My mouth parted. His lips pressed harder, fully encompassing mine.
Stolen breaths echoed between us. A symphony composed by lust and yearning, performed by hearts already damned. Anddamn—it was fierce, all-consuming.
A warm hand traced the curve of my waist, curling around possessively to secure me in place. The other migrated up, sliding under my jaw, grounding me as we spiraled in the storm together.
I didn’t need to open my eyes to know the darkness haddeepened. Shadows swarmed us, clinging to my skin as if marking their territory.
Tug.
Not the time,I swore at my inkling. My ever-so-inconvenient, cryptic sixth sense, sparked to life in the pit of my stomach.
Tug.
Pogue’s tongue found mine, and my back arched instinctually, deepening the kiss.
No. Piss off.
His lips would be my undoing. Way too good, way too addicting to give in and surrender to the better of my senses just yet. I had a taste, and now I wanted?—
An unexpected chill ghosted across my hip, slashing through the warmth his hand had left behind. And my mouth throbbed, half from the delicious brutality of his kiss, and half from the ache of abandonment.
“What—” I breathed, the word abruptly shriveling up.
Pogue pulled away, slow and smug, the corner of his lip ticking up devilishly. He swept a thumb across his bottom lip.
