Page 99 of Vicious Temptation

“I know you will.”

The bastard actually sounds sincere. His hands close around my waist, and he hoists me over his shoulder like a sack of goddamn potatoes.

Oh, he’s fucking dead.

“Put me down,” I snap, kicking against him. “And uncuff me. Now.”

“Not until you hear me out first.”

There’s a saying for situations like this. Something about keeping a cool head and playing the game long enough to get what you want.

If violence isn’t solving your problems, you’re not using enough of it.

No, that’s definitely not the one.

Something about catching flies with honey instead of vinegar.

That’s the one.

I stop fighting and consider my options.

The sooner I cooperate, the sooner he’ll let me go, and then I can properly throat punch him.

“Fine,” I mutter. “I’ll let you have your little kink. Just know this won’t end well for you.”

A laugh rumbles out of him before he drops onto the sofa with me still thrown over his shoulder, then shifts me across his lap as if it takes no effort at all.

Deeply offensive.

Even worse is how quickly my body reacts to being pressed against him.

You are not actually falling for this caveman bullshit, are you?

Unfortunately, I absolutely am.

I keep my expression flat anyway and glare at him.

“Talk fast.”

“First,” he says, one hand resting firmly against my hip, “I owe you an apology for last night. I shouldn’t have asked that question when I did.”

I look away as if I’m completely unaffected, trying very hard not to focus on the fact that this man is obnoxiously large and painfully warm beneath me.

“I came here because I wanted to see you.” He pauses. “And because I wanted to be the first to tell you what happened.”

The change in his tone pulls my attention back to him.

“What happened now?”

He hesitates before answering. “Your mugshot is trending.”

I stare at him for a breath, then smile.

“As it should. What can I say? Give a girl the perfect red lip, and she’ll rule the goddamn world.”

Thiago rolls his eyes. “I’m glad you find this amusing. You haven’t seen the vile shit people are saying online.”

“Why would I care what a bunch of strangers think about me?”