Page 82 of Beautiful Lies

It’s the thing that’s been building between us all night—all these days—burning hotter with every touch, every challenge, every moment we're in the same room or sharing the same air.

Fire.

“Looks like I win, love.” His lips dip into a cutting smile filled with a million unspoken things.

“What do you want from me?”

His smile morphs into something ruthless and triumphant. It's the smile of a conqueror who's about to claim his prize, the kind of expression that belongs on ancient battlefields after decisive victories.

“You, love. I want you,” he murmurs, leaning so close I can feel the heat radiating from his body. “I want to taste you.”

My pulse erupts into a wild rhythm, and every nerve ending in my body comes alive. Like I'm standing too close to a live wire, electricity crackling through my veins. “What?”

The devil tilts his head, and his eyes roam over me, leisurely, as if he’s taking his time to memorize me. “I want to lay you out on my desk. Naked and bare of that hateful look in your eyes while I taste you everywhere and eat out your pussy. That’s what I want.”

Chapter Eighteen

Isla

I've been struckby lightning.

My entire body goes rigid, and blood roars through my ears.

My vision actually blurs for a second, and I feel like the floor has disappeared beneath my feet, leaving me suspended in free fall.

I stare at Knox, my hands trembling, and I can't seem to get enough air into my lungs. Or to my brain.

Damn it to hell.

I keep thinking he trapped me and planned this whole thing knowing I’d lose. But how could he have known that?

I had just as much of a chance to win as he did. And to be honest…his riddles were easy. He didn’t come up with something I’d never, ever guess.

I just didn’t get them right.

Now he wantsme.

Me naked and him tasting me.

My breath stops completely at the thought. Just stops. Then my heart hammers so violently it feels like it might burst.

“That is crazy.” I find my voice, but I can barely get the words out. “You can’t have me. Not like that.”

“So, you forfeit, then?”

I gaze at him and shake my head.

Yes, I had just as much of a chance to win as he did, but he knew he would win. “You’re such an asshole. You knew this was going to happen.”

“How would I know that? Am I psychic?”

No, he’s not Madame Corvina, but he’s just as horrid. “You could have anything you want, but you want me?”

“Yes.”

Why?

I want to ask him why, but I already know. It’s so I can humiliate myself, so he can take more from me. So he can make me feel even more helpless than I am and assert his dominance over me. It’s a win-win for him.