Page 107 of Villainous Rise

My pulse kicked up as I took in the familiar space with its black furniture, the wall of implements, and the large bed dominating the center of the room.

I knew exactly what this space would be again. Our sanctuary. Our battlefield. Our confessional.

“I’ve missed having you here,” Cipher whispered against my skin. “Missed you in this room.”

He set me down, my back against the wall, his body caging me in. His hands slid under my shirt, palms hot against my ribs before cupping my breasts. My nipples hardened instantly beneath his touch.

“Tell me what you need,” he whispered. “Whatever you want, whatever you need to break apart, just tell me.”

I love you, and I don’t know how to make you believe it. But I couldn’t say that.

I gasped as his teeth grazed the sensitive spot below my ear and his thumbs brushed over my nipples, my body arching into his touch.

No. Not like this. Not again.

With effort, I placed my hands on his chest, not pushing him away exactly, but creating space between us. “What do you need, Cipher?”

He froze, eyes narrowing in confusion. “What?”

“What do you need?” I repeated. “It’s your celebration. Your victory. What do you need from me?”

His expression shifted, that calculating look I knew so well sliding into place despite the alcohol. “That’s not how this works.”

“Tonight it does.” I held his gaze, refusing to back down. “I’m not going to use you like last time.”

I stood my ground, chin lifted. “You promised to be whatever I wanted you to be, remember? Tonight, I want you to be the Villain triumphant. The man who just fought Havoc to a standstill. The Super Villain who’s achieved everything he’s worked for.”

His eyes darkened, something dangerous flickering behind them. “I don’t have everything yet.”

I heard it. The unspoken ‘I don’t have you yet.’ I had to force the confession that I loved him down. Handing him that declaration right now wouldn’t go well.

“Then pretend. For tonight, just pretend you have it all.”

A devastating hunger bled through his expression. He was so desperate for my love he was willing to accept a counterfeit version of it. He had no idea the real thing had belonged to him for months.

His mouth went to mine, desperate. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer. I matched his intensity, my fingers fumbling with the fastenings of his suit.

He tore at my clothes between kisses, discarding pieces of his own suit until clothing littered the floor around us. Neither of us spoke, we didn’t need to. Every touch, every kiss communicated what words couldn’t.

I want you. I need you.

When we were finally naked, skin against skin, he pressed me against the wall, his body hard and unyielding against mine. His erection pressed against my stomach, hot and insistent.

“Tell me what you want,” he growled against my throat, teeth grazing my skin.

“You,” I gasped as his hand slid between my legs, finding me already wet for him. “I want you to take me however you’d like. All of it. Everything.”

“Everything?”

I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Everything.”

His eyes darkened, pupils dilating until only a thin ring of silver remained. “I want to watch you break under my hands. I want to see you shatter and know I’m the one who did it.”

“Then break me,” I whispered.

He tightened his fingers in my hair, yanking my head back until my throat was exposed. The sudden pain made me gasp, but my pussy ached for him.

“Are you sure about that? Because once I start, I won’t stop until you’re in pieces.”