Pyromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 1)

She gripped him harder. “Fuck me and take what you think I owe you so you can get it out of your system and we can both move on.”

In a flash, his hand was around her neck, his fingers squeezing as he walked her backward until she hit the wall. “You think it’s that easy?” he asked with clenched teeth. “You think a fuck is going to do it?”

She flattened her body against the cold plaster, her bravado failing as she planted her palms next to her sides. “I don’t understand what you want from me.”

He worked his jaw, dissecting her with a mixture of raw hunger and devious anger. At long last, he said, “Everything,” shoving her away with a push.

She stumbled a step sideways, her hand going to her neck where the phantom heat of his fingers lingered.

“You know what?” he said, his eyes narrowing to slits. “Fuck it.”

Her breath escaped on a whoosh when he slammed his body against hers, pinning her back against the wall. He crushed his mouth on hers while his hands worked their way under her dress and up her thighs.

Caught off guard, she gasped into the kiss. She was both turned on and terrified. He didn’t give her time to examine the feelings. He locked his hands around her waist and lifted her.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he growled.

She obeyed automatically, the heat of his lust melting her reason. He kissed her again. Delicious pressure pushed on just the right spot when he rotated his hips.

The kiss turned wilder when he smoothed his hands over her breasts. He explored her mouth and curves while keeping her up with his body. Her arousal climbed, needy and demanding. He groaned, his teeth catching her lip when he palmed her breasts more greedily. Needing something to hold onto, she gripped his hair.

This was out of control. Wrong.

She needed him so badly she thought she’d go crazy. She pushed up the hem of his T-shirt so she could feel his skin. Her dress had shifted over her hips. His fingers dug into her globes, slightly parting them when she tilted her hips to bury his hardness between her legs.

Her body responded to him in ways that didn’t need teaching. She was frantic with lust. If he bruised her skin with how hard he was gripping her, she didn’t care. She needed more.

“More,” she said, just like on the yacht.

He stilled.

What?

He tore his mouth from hers, staring down at her face with a mixture of shock and fury. Dropping his hands from her breasts to her hips, he steadied her as he angled his hips away.

Her arms fell to her sides. The rejection stung, making her sound bitter. “Why did you stop? I thought this was what you wanted.”

A vein pulsed in his temple. “You have no idea.”

“What do you want?” she exclaimed.

He lowered her to her feet and tested her balance before taking a step back. “I already told you, everything.”

She gaped at him, her heart still racing.

“I know you have needs.” He rested his hands on his hips, regarding her like a rose with thorns that prick to the touch. “There are other ways I could satisfy you.” He looked into her eyes as if he was afraid to look lower, to the rest of her body. “I could make you come in ten different ways without undressing you.”

She took a tremulous breath and stepped away from him, leaning against the wall with her hands behind her back. “I don’t need that from you. I don’t need anything from you.”

Despite the muscle that ticked in his jaw, his voice was calm. “I could run you a bath if it would help you relax.”

Rejection morphed into anger. “Stop treating me like a child. I’ll run a damn bath if I want one.”

After another moment of studying her quietly, he said, “We should go out for dinner. There’s less chance of getting into a fight in front of spectators.”

Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. Being cooped up with Joss was infinitely worse. “At what time are we leaving for Larmor?”

“At 9 am.”

A whole night alone with Joss to get through. “We better have a long dinner,” she said, moving past him.

He caught her arm. “Will you say yes?”

“To what?” she whispered, her heart galloping in her chest as she stared up at his darkly handsome features.

“Just thinking out loud.” He let her go with a strained smile.Chapter 26Choosing a restaurant in the square, Joss ushered Clelia to a table by the window so his defiant little witch could benefit from the view. The cobblestone streets were alive with nightlife. It made a pretty scene.

He ordered for both of them when the waiter came over to take their order, ignoring her cutting look. There were many decisions he’d make on her behalf in the future. He guessed it was another thing she’d have to get used to.