Page 90 of Nefarious
Finally, he said, “Just adding the email addresses now.”
“Be sure to CC me.” Val stretched languidly. She felt like the cat who’d caught the mouse. The past three weeks—no, the past three years—had been leading to this moment.
“And sent.”
She clapped her hands and reached for her phone. She opened the email and read eagerly. “Oh, delicious. But you forgot to copy Noelle.” She hit the forward link and scrolled to find Noelle’s email address in her contacts.
Dane bounded toward her, snatching at the phone. “What are you doing?”
Val spun away before he could thwart her, disappointed that he’d failed that little test. She held the phone out where he could see it and hit send.
He yelled, “Do you know what you’ve done?”
Val chuckled. “Yes, I do.” She dropped her phone onto the sofa, like a mic. “I just shot an arrow. Unless I’ve misjudged, and I rarely do, I made a direct hit to the heart.”
Dane raked his hands through his hair, eyes wild, like a trapped animal. His display of weakness disgusted her.
“Do you think Noelle wasn’t going to find out when the board brought the charges against her? Were you thinking you could send that email and then fix everything before she found out?”
“Of course not.” He squeezed his fists, then slowly pulled himself back together, apparently as insouciant as ever. “I’m here, aren’t I? You can stop aiming your weapons at Noelle.”
There was the Dane she knew and loved. But it was a lie.
“You foolish boy.” She smiled. She loved knocking him off balance. “I wasn’t aiming at her.” She had to laugh at his confusion. “I was aiming atyou.”
He narrowed one eye, and she knew she’d hit her target.
“You are so stupid. You always want what you can’t have. God, you’re pathetic. You managed to coax Noelle into your arms, and you’ve pissed it away to win a wager? You think you can beat me while you keep Noelle ignorant of your betrayal?”
She ran a finger down Dane’s cheek. “The sad thing is that even now, you don’t know what you’ve lost. What I’ve cost you. You loved that woman. You’ve loved her since the first time you lost her.” Dane’s mask cracked enough for her to see beyond his anger, beyond his need for revenge. She watched as the last of his hope crumbled. “Oh my, God. You really didn’t know, did you? You realize that once she reads that email, she’ll never want to speak to you again.”
All at once, his demeanor shifted, as if he’d made a decision. He stood straight, eyes now hard and focused. He stepped into her, grabbing her by the shirt collar. “May I remind you: Youdidlose the wager. I’ve come to collect.”
There he was. “Yes. That was the point of all this. I wondered if you were really so vain you’d rather sacrifice Noelle than lose face with me.”
Dane took a step, forcing Val to stumble back.
“Oh, Dane. You are so adorable. Did you really think you could win?”
His eyes dilated black. “What are you talking about? I have.”
“And what? You’re going to take me like the spoils of war?
“You promised. I won. Now you’re mine. Tonight. You don’t have a say.”
Dane held her shoulders and pressed his mouth against hers. Despite his brutality, she nearly collapsed with the pleasure of his long-dreamed-of lips. His anger fueled her desire. She wanted him to force her down, to take her. His teeth raked her neck, fingers unfastened her shirt.
Her hands reached for him, but she regained control, grasped his palm, and twisted hard, breaking his hold on her. He was such a mess, she wanted to let him have his way, but not like this.
“Regardless of the situation, it’s still against the law to take a woman against her will.”
He froze in place, but he only seemed to be recalculating.
She chuckled, goading him. “I know what you’re planning. You think you’re going to take your revenge on me for what happened years ago.”
He leered, his whole face a mask of hate. “Years ago? Try minutes.”
“Oh, truly unfortunate.” She jerked her arm free and walked toward the front door. “Perhaps it would be best if you come back a little later when you’ve calmed down.” This had to end with her on top, or not at all. “I’ll have you again, but not until you’re in control of yourself.”
