Page 140 of Marrying the Savage

“I am.”

“Refreshing honesty.”

“You should still eat.”

“I love how your concern always sounds like an order.”

“It usually is.”

“Then perhaps I enjoy disobeying.”

His gaze drops to my mouth.

I know how to distract him. Unfortunately, I also know how badly this particular distraction can backfire.

I lift my free hand and press one finger lightly to the center of his chest. “You can’t keep dragging me into rooms, giving me rules, and expecting me to behave.”

His eyes darken. “You have not behaved once since I met you.”

“Exactly. Adjust your expectations.”

His hand moves from my wrist to my waist, and my breath catches. Traitor.

“Sofia,” he says quietly.

My name in that voice is not fair. It moves over my skin before his hand does.

“I’m still angry with you,” I say.

“I know.”

“I’m very angry.”

“Yes.”

“Unbelievably angry.”

His thumb strokes once through the fabric at my waist. “You are also trying to distract me.”

I lift my chin. “Maybe I just enjoy being wanted.”

His gaze turns hotter. More dangerous. “You are.”

The words land low in my body.

Instead of moving away, I rise onto my toes and kiss him.

It’s meant to be a tactic. That’s the lie I tell myself for the first three seconds. Then his hand tightens at my waist, his mouth opens over mine, and the tactic dissolves into heat so fast I almost forget my own name.

Damir kisses like he controls even surrender. One hand in my hair, one at my back, turning me until I’m against the wall before I realize we have moved. The book falls from my hand and hits the floor with a soft thud.

He lifts his head just enough to look at me. “Still angry?”

“Yes,” I breathe.

“Good.”

Then his mouth is on mine again. Harder.