Crimson Truth (Onyx Assassins 4)

“Then we should have wended.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you said that to him! You ruined any potential match! He’s humiliated!”

I scoffed. “Trust me, little witch, if he was ready to bed you without knowing how to get you off, he’s already humiliated.”

“And what about your date?” she countered. “Little miss aristocrat doesn’t seem too experienced.”

“She wasn’t the one lying.” The corner of my mouth lifted in a smirk as we hit the city limit and I hit the gas.

“That could have been an important political alliance!”

“Like you were ever going to marry him. Consort him. Whatever it is you do.” I kept my attention on the road specifically to keep it off her. Driving was a familiar, predictable rush in an eternity of the blasé, but Jocelyn? There was nothing predictable about her.

“We don’t marry,” she snapped. “We choose male consorts who give us the best chance of blending new abilities into our bloodlines or forging alliances.”

“Now, that’s romance.” I slowed at the curve, turning easily onto the road that led to the manor.

“And you were honestly, romantically interested in the simpering girl who had zero opinions of her own?” Jocelyn’s voice rose.

“Probably not, but now we’ll never know since you ruined my date!” We passed the magical barrier that deterred humans and other species as I lost my temper, but the sight of the manor had me taking a deep breath as I curved around the Domum—the official palace—and drove toward the garage at the back of the manor, where only Assassins...and one witch...lived with the royal family.

“No, you ruined mine!”

“That wasn’t a date. That was a treaty negotiation or at best, the most awkward proposal in the history of proposals.” I pulled the car into the garage and put it in park. “You were supposed to stay here!”

Her mouth dropped open. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Benedict. I get that you’re the big, strong, alpha male, but guess what? In my world, I’m the top—whatever—in that analogy.” She waved her hands in frustration, her hair flying as if on its own breeze.

“What the hell did you expect by showing up there tonight?” I got out of the car and closed the door, finding she’d already climbed out her side.

Heaven forbid anyone help Jocelyn with her door.

“Well? What were you looking for? You knew where I was and what I was doing, Jocelyn.” I flicked my fingers, and my keys flew from my hand, hanging themselves up on the correct peg.

“I…” She swallowed, her hands fisting in my jacket as she pulled it tight around her. “I don’t know. I guess I thought I could kill two birds with one stone.”

“What the hell does that mean?” This female—this woman—was driving me up the fucking wall, and I had the feeling she not only knew it, but enjoyed it.

“I figured you’d tell me if he was lying—”

“Which is exactly what happened, so why are you pissed?” I walked forward, backing her against the car in the next spot—a bright yellow Hummer. “I’m the one who gets to be angry here.”

“I didn’t think you’d call him out right there at the table!” Her violet eyes had specks of swirling magic, as if there was an entire galaxy inside her as she glared up at me.

“What’s the phrase?” I tilted my head. “Fuck around and find out. Besides, do you honestly want to end up in bed with a guy who can’t get you there?”

“Why does it matter, Benedict? Because you can?” She arched slightly, bringing my hips flush against hers.

I growled, my hands slamming into the car on either side of her head, caging her in. “Don’t even go there.”

“You can’t tell me that I didn’t just save you from a lackluster sex life, too,” she purred, her gaze dropping to my mouth.

Fuck.

“I’ve seen what you look like when you want someone,” she whispered, rising up so her lips were at my throat.

Fuck.

“Your eyes darken just a little, and your hands clench. Your pulse—” She licked my neck, “—skyrockets, and you lose that infamous control of yours.” She rolled her shoulders and my jacket fell to the ground. Her nipples were hard, pushing through the satin fabric, and my mouth watered.

Fuuuuuuck.

“I know, because I’ve only seen you look at one woman that way,” she whispered, her hands rising, her fingers sinking into my hair. “And too bad for both of us, that woman is me.”

I fucking snapped.

My lips took hers in a brutal kiss, my tongue sliding into her mouth like I owned it, my hand sliding up her dress to cup her—oh hell yes—bare ass cheek. My little witch liked thongs.

She gasped, and I kissed her deeper pushing my body against hers even as I lifted her, bringing our mouths level. Her legs wrapped around my waist. I speared my empty hand into her hair, cradling her head while I took everything she had to give and then demanded more.