Ruthless Heart

Nero’s grip tightens on my shoulder. “That’s my Lily,” he says, staring Drew down. The other man dips his head, as if recognizing Nero’s dominance.

“Have a good night,” he mutters, and retreats.

Nero yanks me to the door. “Time for bed, sweetheart.” He says, loud enough for everyone to hear.

I have no choice but to follow him back to the cabin. But the second we’re alone, I wrench away.

“What the hell was that?” I snap. “You’re supposed to be making friends, not having a pissing contest with every man who looks at me. I’m not your property,” I add, furious.

“Yes, you are.” Nero growls. “As long as you’re under my protection, playing at being my fiancée, you belong to me!”

I gape at the raw possession in his voice.

He angrily tears his shirt off and begins to undress, revealing the hard muscular planes of his chest.

I shiver at the sight. “Can you not do that in front of me?” I protest, my voice coming out high-pitched.

He just curls his lip in a cruel smirk. “What’s the problem, Princess? I thought you liked to watch.”

Oh God. The memory of him jacking off in the shower slams through me in a rush of heat and desire. But I’d rather die than let him know just how much it turned me on, so I raise my chin and sneer.

“You can keep the show to yourself. The preview didn’t exactly whet my appetite, if you know what I mean. Besides, you said it yourself, we’ve both been there, done that. Although, it’s all kind of hazy, when I think about it,” I can’t help adding. “Guess it wasn’t so memorable for me.”

The moment the words are out of my mouth, I know I’ve pushed him too far. All amusement vanishes from Nero’s features and is replaced with something dark, almost predatory.

“Bullshit.”

He takes a step forward. I take a step back. My mouth is dry and my heart is pounding, but still, I force myself to give a careless shrug. “It was nothing. We were kids. I’m sure you did the best you could, at the time.”

Nero gives a sharp laugh. “That what you’ve been telling yourself, Princess? When you’re laying in bed late at night, rubbing that sweet clit of yours, we both know I’m the only one on your mind.”

Heat spirals through me. Heat—and shame.

How does he know?

Nero’s smile grows, stalking closer. “Yeah, I thought so. When those fingers are moving faster, and you’re whimpering for more, I’m the one you want, aren’t I, Princess? It’s my hands you want, pinning you to the mattress. My cock you need, filling that tight cunt all the to the fucking limit. Because you know damn well, you’ve never had it so good.”

Oh my God.

“But as good as those memories are, you’re forgetting one thing, Princess,” Nero growls, taking another step closer. “I’m not a fucking kid anymore. I’m all man.”

There’s silence for a moment, our eyes locked. The air thick with sex.

Then he lunges for me, and our mouths lock in a red-hot inferno of a kiss.

Fuck.

It’s been building so long between us, I couldn’t have stopped it if I tried. His lips are hard on mine, punishing and ravenous as he slams me back against the wall. I melt into it, returning the kiss, but he immediately takes control. Licking his way into my mouth, he roams his hands all over my body, igniting a fire in my blood.

God, he still knows everything I like as he grips the back of my neck, his fingers tangled in my hair. I moan into his mouth, desperately writhing closer as his free hand finds my breast, his thumb running over the hardened bud of my nipple through my thin dress. Our tongues tangle as he pins me against the wall, trapped there and oh, so willing.

My palms land on his chest, feeling the hard muscle and trailing up until my arms are wrapped around his neck. I can barely catch my breath as he leaves bruising kisses on my lips, bucking his hard body against me, leaving me damp and mewling, arching up for more.

“That’s right,” he growls, nipping at my neck, thrusting his thick length between my thighs. “Beg for it, baby. We both know you want to.”

But I bite my lip, the last part of my brain refusing to give him what he wants. Nero lets out a harsh chuckle, squeezing at my nipple again. “Not there just yet? Don’t worry. You will be.”

His hand moves down, skimming over my ribcage as his other grabs my wrists and pins them up above my head, immobilizing me. He hikes up my dress and presses his fingers between my thighs against my panties, right over my clit.