Page 28

But then again, so do I. At least where Ero is concerned.

“Or you could just quit being a sideline lackey, a worthless piece of shit?” I say, low and taunting, mocking him with every word.

He lurches toward me suddenly, his eyes flaring. “Only if you’ll quit being a wretched bitch. You want to talk about worthless? Ananke would throw you away in a heartbeat if it got her what she wants. That’s what people like herdo!”

“How would you know that?” I smirk, standing with him as our voices rise, matching his frustration with mine. “You’rea brain-dead marionette, just waiting for someone to pull the strings.”

“Better than being herpuppet. She’s got her hand shoved so far up your?—”

“We are in the same boat, Ero. I do not have a choice. I owe her. You owe me for saving your life.”

“The only thing we have in common is that we are both alone. You’re just too blind to see it.” Ero snaps, his shoulders sagging slightly, a grimace twisting his stunning face. “You don’t believe in her mission.”

“I believe in getting my life back. In getting my memories back and finding the person responsible.” Careful. Keep him off balance…

“Dom Vipera. You said his name before. And let me guess…Ananke has the information on him you need, right? Just like she has a way to restore my memories and make everything better.”

“Yes.” It’s all I can think of to say. He’s too damn clever and I can never know what he remembers, the pieces he’s put together.

“And what the fuck does that have to do with me?” Ero’s gaining steam again, his gaze narrowing on me.

“It has everything to do with you. You’re the only person capable of helping me track him down and killing him. He’s an evil man.”

“So am I.”

I huff a little laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t know if I disagree with you.”

“You really are as fucked-up as me.”

“Less foul, maybe.”

“Then why do you want me so badly?” he whispers, inches from my face.

My body reacts, inhaling deeply, my pulse quickening, my shoulders dropping back slightly. I’m such a fucking idiot.

Not that I have time to dwell on that as his lips crash into mine with cataclysmic force. Every neuron in my brain fires off in the same instant, colliding with that sweet pang of fluttering shock filling my chest, making my knees weak.

Ero’s palms cup the sides and back of my head, drawing me in, right before I press mine into his chest, shoving him back against the wall.

Hands graze down my shoulders, my arms, then my hips, finding every curve of me eager and willing. Fingertips claw over my ass, up the back of my shirt, tingling along the skin of my back sumptuously.

Our tongues intertwine, seeking, exploring, and every lash sends mini explosions of desire shivering through my entire nervous system. No one has ever had this effect on me before.

Except him …

Shoving those fleeting images aside, I lose myself in the moment.

“Ero…” I gasp as he nips along my collarbone, pulling lightly at my off-the-shoulder blouse to give him more access, let him kiss more of my skin.

I shouldn’t be doing this?—

You really should, CC. At least for my sake?—

Oh fuck, his tongue is?—

Magic. In the heat of the moment, I barely noticed his fingers unhooking my bra, until he’s drawing one of my nipples into his mouth, swirling in tantalizing flicks of a very talented mouth.

The button on my pants pops with barely an effort, letting him slip his hand down my front, sliding along the silk of my black thong, teasing me through the smooth fabric.