Page 37 of Filthy Little Lies

I’ve been kissed before.

This is nothing like that. There’s a power to this kiss. A current of electricity runs along a live wire between him and me. My mind, on the brink of spiraling only a moment before, settles into calm.

When he breaks the kiss, he presses his forehead to mine, breathing in deeply. My lips tingle from his desertion.

“You don’t belong in this room unless you’re working. At night, you belong in my room. In my bed.” He sounds like his throat is tight. As though he’s trying to control the words from tumbling out.

“I don’t understand you.” I place my hand against his chest. “I don’t understand why I’m here.”

He lifts his head enough to line up our eyes. “It’s simple, Savvy. You’re here because I want you.”

Then he pulls me from the room and into his suite, kicking the door shut behind him.

“You were a very bad girl today.” His hands are already on his belt buckle as he stalks toward me. I stumble backward, knowing there’s nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. I’m trapped in here with this madman.

Only, the hunger shining in his eyes doesn’t set off my alarm bells. There’s an ache inside me that craves whatever is going to happen next.

His madness must be contagious.

“You weren’t home when you were supposed to be home; then I find you hustling strange men.” The leather zips through the loops of his pants, and he doubles it over in his hands. “What do you think your punishment should be?”

I eye the belt.

“I don’t understand why you need to punish me at all. I don’t belong to you⁠—”

“And now you’re lying. Right to my face.” He tsks his tongue with a slow shake of his head. “You decide, Savvy. Should I spank you, or do I fuck the naughtiness out of you?”

That one! Fortunately, I’m able to stop the horny part of my brain from sending that thought to my lips.

“Ah. I think I know your choice.” His lips pull up into a crooked smile filled with arrogance and promise.

It shouldn’t be as hot as it is. None of this should be hot. My panties should be bone dry right now, but they’re not.

He hooks the belt around his neck, letting the ends dangle over his chest. “Do you like the shirt you’re wearing?”

I cross my hands over my chest, grabbing at the shirt. “You’re not ripping it.”

He tilts his head. “Then you should probably take it off.” Leaning toward me, he speaks in a mock whisper. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a very patient man.”

“Maybe I don’t want to.” Great, now he has me sounding like a petulant child. “Maybe you pissed me off so much with your Neanderthal behavior, I don’t want you touching me.”

He cocks a grin. “Your cheeks are flushed, your pupils are dilated, and your panties are soaked.”

I clench my thighs together and he grabs the ends of the belt, laughing softly. “Make your choice, Savvy. Strip out of those clothes and bend over the bed, arm of the couch, or kneel in front of me if you want a fucking.”

My entire body erupts into flames.

How can he ask me to make this choice? It’s not really a choice at all, either way I lose.

“If you don’t get moving, I’ll bring my brother up here to decide for you.”

My jaw drops practically to the floor. “You’re crazy.”

He flashes one of the most depraved grins I’ve seen. It’s not fair! He’s having all this fun at my expense, and he’s doing it while being insanely hot, so my brain doesn’t work properly to stop him.

“No. Crazy would be letting him watch. But if I did that I’d have to pluck out his eyes.” He lifts a shoulder like the whole scenario makes perfect sense. “Three seconds to decide. I’ll give you another ten to get in position.”

Then he starts counting, and my nervous system short circuits. The logical part of my brain shuts down completely, leaving me only with vibes. He’s past the count of three, but is he going to ten or thirteen?