The Blood Debt

Big mistake.

Because he takes it as an invitation to lean in even closer, practically smelling my skin. Goose bumps erupt on every inch of my skin.

“I could …” he murmurs into my ear, the blade sliding down my chest, pointing at my heart. “If you don’t behave.”

His hand suddenly curls around my throat. I gasp for air as he squeezes, holding me tight while gazing at me with full intent on letting me know who’s in charge. “For a girl who didn’t want to be trapped, you sure as hell stumbled into my grasp quite easily.”

“Please,” I mutter, but it comes out in a short gasp.

“Please, what?” he muses, tilting his head.

He’s smiling at my inability to breathe. Asshole.

When his thumbs release slightly, I suck in the greedy gulps of air. He looks so deep into my eyes that it’s hard to look away. But I have to force myself to focus and remind myself why I’m here. What I’m trying to protect.

And when I part my lips, my voice signs my soul away. “I’ll do anything.”

The left side of his lip quirks up into a filthy smile. “I won’t let you take that back, little devil.”

Devil? Who? Me?

But before I can process what he just called me, the knife slips farther down my chest, and…

RIP!

All the buttons of my top fly away as the fabric parts, leaving only a bra between him and my naked skin.

His hand leaves my throat, but I still can’t breathe.

Because it moves down my neck all the way to my chest, along with his greedy eyes, and my cheeks flush red from the idea of him looking at me like that.

“My memories aren’t what they used to be, but I do remember looking,” he murmurs, his hand traveling down across my breasts. I shudder in place as my nipples grow taut under his touch. “Wondering what it would feel like.”

The cold blade pushes against my skin, and when I hold my breath, he tilts it underneath the band of my bra.

He wouldn’t, would he?

This isn’t him, this isn’t how Liam would act, this isn’t—

SNAP!

I’m frozen as he rips the bra away as though it was easy for him. Natural.

But the shock is quickly replaced by piles of shame and red blotches all over my body.

Because he’s literally staring at my breasts.

And his tongue dips out slowly, tracing the seam of his lips.

“Wondering what you would look like.”

Fuck. Me.

I don’t know why, but the way he looks at me and talks about me is almost… sexy.

What’s wrong with me? I shouldn’t even consider that at all, yet—

He pinches my nipple, and a tiny squeal leaves my mouth.