Page 63 of Villainous Intent

I bucked, twisting my hips, trying to throw him off.

He didn’t budge.

“What’s going on in that deliciously violent mind of yours, Bishop?” he murmured, his face inches from mine.

My breath hitched as his fingers traced the line of my stomach. My skin tingled where he touched, confusing fear with desire.

“Nothing to say?” His thumb brushed across my hipbone.

I glared up at him. I hated him. I hated how small I felt beneath him. I hated how much I wanted him to keep touching me as each touch sent sparks of electricity through my body, making it harder to remember why this was a terrible idea.

“What do you want, Cipher?” I demanded.

His silver eyes darkened as his gaze dropped to my lips. “I think that’s becoming increasingly obvious, Annie.”

He shifted his grip on my wrists, sliding his hand down my arm until his fingers wrapped around my cuff.

“While I enjoy your spirit,” he murmured, his thumb stroking the metal band, “I don’t fancy being stunned at the moment.”

He squeezed and the metal groaned.

Horror flooded through me.

“No! Don’t break it!”

Cipher paused. The lust in his eyes cooled, replaced by a sharp curiosity. He didn’t let go.

“Please,” I whispered, unable to hide the tremor in my voice. “Don’t.”

He studied my face, clearly surprised by my reaction. “It’s just a stunner, Annie. You can get another one.”

My mind raced for a plausible explanation. Something he’d believe. Something that didn’t involve the truth.

“If you destroy it,” I said, forcing my voice to steady, “Havoc will know immediately. It’s linked to his systems.”

Cipher’s eyebrow rose skeptically.

“He’ll come here,” I continued. I held my breath, praying he would listen to me because I didn’t want to have to explain to Havoc what had happened.

He bent his head down, his lips hovering above my neck. Not quite touching, but close enough that I felt the ghost of contact. I wanted to arch upward into him, seek more of that almost-touch.

“Let him come.” His lips trailed up my neck to my ear. “Let him see who actually has you.”

His fingers tightened around my cuff again, the metal creaking ominously under his grip. Panic exploded through me, overwhelming everything else. The unwanted desire, the confusion, all of it vanished beneath my terror.

“No!”

Pure instinct took over as I jerked my head forward and slammed my forehead directly into his face.

Pain exploded across my skull. Stars burst behind my eyes as agony radiated from the point of impact. It felt like I’d headbutted a brick wall.

I howled in pain, tears springing to my eyes. I tried to curl into myself, but Cipher’s weight still pinned me down. “Goddamnit!”

Through watery eyes, I glared up at him. He hadn’t even flinched. His expression was a mixture of shock and horror, not a mark on his perfect face.

“Annie!” Dawn yelled.

Cipher simply ceased to exist.