Page 212 of Vicious Temptation

“I already know you’re not the woman strangers online think they know. I’ve seen enough of the real you to know she’s the one I want to keep getting to know.”

I study his face, searching for even a hint of hesitation, but there isn’t one.

“And yes, I might have more questions about how the hell you and your mom cleared a highway full of murderous assholes. But I’m still here, aren’t I?”

I smile and nod. “So you’re saying I’m not as scary as I thought?”

“Baby, you’re terrifying.” He laughs. “And I never want to piss your mom off.”

“That’s probably wise.”

Thiago’s hand comes to rest against the side of my neck. “But you can’t scare me away.”

“I hear you, but…you don’t know what it’s like inside my head. I can’t shut it off. Sometimes…” My voice softens. “Sometimes I forget to breathe. Or to latch the enclosure of a deadly snake.”

He chuckles and brushes his lips against mine. “Then I’ll remind you to breathe and to double-check the damn snake enclosure.”

I smile against his mouth. “You make this sound easy.”

“I didn’t say it would be easy. I said I’m not going anywhere.” He kisses me again, slower, softer. “You make me feel something I haven’t felt in a long time, Remi.”

“What’s that?” I whisper.

He goes quiet, looking at me with an intensity that makes it impossible to look anywhere else. “Alive.”

The word knocks the air from my lungs.

Oh, I’m so fucked.

“This is exactly why I hate you,” I murmur.

“I hate you too, chama.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” His thumb traces the curve of my jaw. “I hate those beautiful blue eyes.”

“Everyone does.” I shift over his lap and loop my arms around his neck.

“I hate your smart mouth.”

“You seemed pretty fond of it the other night.”

His eyes darken. “Very fond.”

I grin. “What else?”

“I hate that fucking lollipop.”

I gasp. “Take it back.”

“Never.”

“That might actually be a dealbreaker, Braga.”

His hand slides into mine, and he turns it over before pressing a kiss onto it.

“And I really fucking hate how right this feels.”