Page 107 of Twisting Beauty

He gave me a pleading look. Or as much of a pleading look that Lorcan Lasair could give. “I don’t know.”

I turned away and started walking again, stomping down the stairs, really.

Of course he didn’t fucking know. This was all just a game to him. I was a fucking toy. A whatever. Something with a point that he hadn’t bothered to think about.

“Christ, Gray. Stop.”

His hand caught my arm and he turned me to face him.

“No, you stop,” I snapped, trying to wrench free.

His grip only tightened as he pushed me against the railing, the balustrade pressing into my spine.

“I can’t,” he said, the words coming out rough and angry. “I’ve tried.”

I went still.

“Despite everything, my reputation, my father, my better judgment,” he said, his features contorting with anger as he got in my face, “you’re in my fucking head and I can’t get you out.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“You’re blowing up my phone. Following me around. And somehow, I’m the problem?”

“Yes.”

“That is⁠—”

“You make me want you,” he said, the words breaking out sharp and ugly. “You make me want things I shouldn’t fucking want, and what exactly am I supposed to do with that?”

Vindication flared hot and vicious through me. He wanted me. He felt something for me, and the fury in his face told me it frightened him. For one sharp second, I wanted to savor that.

Then I remembered Lorcan was still a bastard. Still my enemy. Wanting me was not enough.

I tried to fight my way out of his grasp. “Well, you’ll just have to choke on that wanting, Lorcan. Because I don’t want you.”

“Don’t lie.” He crushed me even farther against the low balustrade with his body, the foyer gaping open below in a marble drop. “I can see how I affect you.”

I hated that he was right. Heat pooled low and unwanted, my pulse jumping at his nearness, at the utter completeness with which he blocked out anything that wasn’t him.

But I was stronger than my desires.

“Just because,” I grit out through my teeth, “you trick my body into reacting doesn’t mean I’m interested in giving in.”

“You think I trick you?”

“You’re an arrogant, cruel bully, so utterly devoid of any real emotion it’s like talking to a wall. So, yeah, you trick my eejit body because I don’t like you.”

His mouth flattened, his entire body going still except for his fingers that flexed into my arm.

“You take that back, Gray.” His voice had gone low enough to vibrate against my skin. There was no tease left in it now. Only cold fury and a possession he had no right to.

“No.”

His free hand slid onto my thigh and moved higher, up between my legs.

I grabbed his wrist, pushing against him. To my surprise, he stopped moving, his hand mere millimeters away from the soaking mutinous part of me.