Page 50 of Damaged Beast
“For what reason?”
“You don’t need to know the rest.”
“Prime—“
“I mean it, Deanna. Some of my life is better left unspoken.”
I take a tentative step toward the bed. “Like your special deal with David? Don’t act like I’m an idiot.”
“David’s the fucking idiot for speaking out of turn,” he murmurs angrily.
“Prime, who are you? No, don’t give me the bullshit answer. Tell me the truth. Where does all your money come from?”
“Parking lots and real estate.”
“No, yourrealmoney. The money that pays for all this—“ I gesture around us. “And everything else.”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Tell me, damn it, Prime, or I’m getting dressed and getting the hell out of here. Who did I marry? What did I get myself into?” I reach down and grab the folder from the bedspread, gripping it tightly. “I’ve seen your books. I know what you earn. Hell, I’ve practically been running your business for years now.”
“I wouldn’t go that far?—“
“Don’t mess with me, Prime.” I wave it at him. “I’ll shred this stupid thing if you can’t be straight with me for once in your life.”
He doesn’t move. His muscles are tense and glorious and a dangerous aura rolls from his shoulders. “I wouldn’t threaten me, wife. I’ve been nothing but honest.”
“Bullshit. Whoareyou?”
“My name is Prime Spadaro. I carry my scars like medals. I am not a good man and never have been and you arenotentitled to my secrets.”
“Screw this.” I start to rip the folder. “I’m so done?—“
He moves fast. I hardly see him coming. A big man like Prime shouldn’t be that quick, but he collapses the space between us, slamming into me, both of us hitting the floor in a tangle. I snarl angrily, thrashing and kicking, but he wrestles the folder from my hands before I can do much more than bend it out of shape.
“Get off me, you fucking prick!” I buck into his grip, but his weight keeps me pinned, his thigh between my legs and a single hand securing both my wrists above my head. “Fuck you, Prime!”
“I told you not to threaten me.” He casually tosses the folder aside. Pages flutter and land askew.
“I just want to know what you dragged me into.”
His body is warm against mine. I breathe hard, breasts rising and falling, my core throbbing with the feeling of his skin between my legs for the second time tonight. But now there’s nobody to interrupt. There’s nobody to save me when I break.
Shatter against him like porcelain. Spill on his lips like wine.
His eyes are hooded with hunger. He dips his mouth to my neck, nipping, kissing. My frustrated growl turns into a moan.
“I’m a bad man, Deanna. If you knew the half of what I’ve done, you’d run screaming.”
“I don’t care.”
“You won’t look at me the same. I don’t want to lose that.”
“How do I look at you now?”
“Like I’m not a monster.” He bites the top of my left breast and pulls back. “Fuck, Deanna. You have no idea how close I am right now.”
“Please.” I arch, grinding against his leg. I struggle, but his grip is iron. A single hand is all he needs to keep me in place. It’s maddening and impressive. “Please,Prime.”
