Page 138 of Villainous Intent

“Cipher,” he drawled. He sauntered up to the railing, his eyes sliding over me before locking onto Annie. “Nice accessory. New model?”

Annie went perfectly still on my lap.

“Something like that.” I kept my voice casual, but I was already calculating the trajectory required to snap his hyoid bone.

Thief stepped closer. He looked Annie up and down, his gaze lingering on her exposed legs, then drifting up to her breasts. He licked his lips.

“She come with special features?” he asked, leering. “Or just the standard package?”

“Standard,” I lied. “Tight cunt. Decent mouth. Follows instructions if you hold the leash tight enough.”

Annie flinched and I regretted every fucking word I’d just said.

Thief laughed, the sound grating. “When you’re done breaking her in, maybe pass her my way? I’ve got some motivational techniques she might appreciate.”

The roar of the crowd faded into a dull buzz as my vision sharpened, focusing on the pulse beating in Thief’s throat.

“Thief.”

He stopped laughing and looked at me.

“I don’t share,” I said softly. “And if you look at her like that again, I will remove your eyes.”

Thief swallowed and took a step back, his bravado evaporating. “Right. Got it. Touchy.”

He retreated, disappearing into the crowd.

I looked down at Annie. I expected gratitude that I’d sent him and his friends on their way and kept the interaction brief. Instead, she turned to me, her eyes burning behind her mask.

“A decent mouth?” she whispered.

“I got rid of him.”

“You humiliated me.” She tried to stand, but I clamped my arm around her waist, keeping her right where she was.

“What did you expect? That I’d tell him about your sparkling personality and how we discuss Super philosophy after I fuck you?” I tightened my grip on her, feeling her muscles tense beneath my fingers. “I’m a Villain. You’re my plaything. That’s the story and it’s not far from the actual mark. If you want to keep your cover and survive in my world, you’ll let me tell it.”

Annie’s eyes narrowed behind her mask. “So I’m just a ‘decent mouth’ and a ‘tight cunt’ to you?”

The scent of her subtle vanilla perfume was fucking distracting.

“I’m not the fantasy Cipher from your favorite fanfictions, Sparks. I’m an actual bastard.”

“You think I could forget?” Her eyes flashed. “I’m sitting on your lap in a dress that barely covers my ass while you talk about my ‘decent mouth’ to other Villains.”

“And yet here you are.” I slipped my thumb under the edge of her panties, feeling her shiver despite her anger. “Letting me touch you.”

A small part of my brain calculated the exact pressure needed to make her gasp versus make her slap me.

“Maybe I’m just doing my job,” she whispered.

“Keep telling yourself that.” I shifted her slightly on my lap. “We both know the truth.”

Annie’s breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling against the tight confines of her dress. The arena lights caught the flush creeping up her neck, highlighting the pulse point where I’d left a mark the night before.

She leaned forward and bit my lower lip hard. It was a genuine bite with enough force that if I were a regular man I knew I’d be tasting copper.

My cock throbbed, straining against my suit.