Ruthless Heart

NERO

Lily Fordham.

Fuck.

Of all the ways I imagined us in the same room again, I didn’t picture this. Don’t get me wrong, the handcuffs and blindfold have made a few appearances in my fantasies, but those were always just that:

Fantasy.

After she left, she damn near drove me crazy, remembering. I couldn’t get her out of my mind, burying my cock in some other girl but thinking of Lily the whole time: The way she broke, sobbing with pleasure in my arms. The taste of her mouth, eager and willing.

The breathtaking grip of her slick cunt.

But Lily, here in the flesh after all this time?

Fuck.

I stand in the doorway, just taking in the sight of the woman who’s haunted me for the past two days since Vegas—and the past ten years. The blonde hair, tousled around her face. Those lush breasts, spilling over the neckline of her sheer blouse. Legs for days, stretching out from a tight miniskirt all the way down to a pair of kinky black leather sandals I want wrapped around my neck.

When I knew her last, Lily was barely sixteen. Still a girl.

Now, she’s all woman.

“Nero?”

She swallows, her breath hitching. Her breasts lift with the motion, tongue wetting her lips, and just like that, I’m hard. Imagining those nipples naked and stiff for me. Feeding every inch of my cock between those sweet lips.

“Nero, I came here to talk.”

“Really, princess?” I reply, strolling closer. “I thought you were here because I ordered it so.”

She stops, and shivers again. “Can you take this thing off?” she asks, her voice sweet and persuasive. “Come on, Nero. It’s not like I haven’t seen you before.”

Seen me. Betrayed me. Consumed me.

I feel the wave of old emotion rise up. I need to get a fucking grip. “You’ll do what I say, when I say it,” I grind out—and then I walk out, slamming the door behind me with a crash.

Goddammit.

I catch my breath, furious—at myself as much as her. How long has it been since she made a fucking fool of me? Ten long years. I’m not a lovesick kid anymore, I’m a man now.

Theman.

And Lily is going to have to realize, she can’t sweet-talk me this time around.

I head back to my office and pour myself a drink, trying to think straight. I’ve gone over it for days, ever since I stumbled over her in that alley in Vegas. I know what’s expected of me in this situation. No mercy. No exceptions. But I’ve got more in play than just an old vendetta, and I need to make sure that nothing screws up my plans.

“What do you think?” Chase saunters in, looking smug. “Like Christmas, all wrapped up with a pretty bow.”

I pour him a glass of whiskey too. He’s earned it.

“Not such a princess now, is she?” Chase snorts. “Man, I remember how she’d walk around, acting untouchable. Well, she’s not so untouchable anymore.”

There’s something to his sneer than makes me stop. “What did you do?” I demand, lunging for him before I can even think.

“Woah, nothing!” Chase puts up his hands, surprised. “Well, maybe just a little roughing up on the ride. But come on, that club we found her at? Guess Miss Innocent turned out to be nothing but a whore.”

I ignore the flare of jealousy. I already overreacted once on her behalf, disposing of that guy in the alleyway. Now I remind myself again, what Lily did, or who she’s been doing it with, is none of my concern.