Page 40 of Bound to a Killer

This is just another fuckup, but who’s keeping track?

So when she leans into me again, I let her, thinking she’ll come to her senses on her own and back out at the last second.

But she doesn’t.

Her lips are soft and hesitant as they press into mine.

Just like that, she’s kissing me. Trying to remedy her pain, not realizing that I’m the venom, not the cure.

Throwing my inhibitions to the side, I let my urges take over, my lips parting to let her in. My hand slips into her hair, holding her close to me, hoping she won’t change her mind and pull away now that we are getting somewhere.

I take control, deepening the kiss.

She tastes sweet. Sweet and forbidden.

My pulse races, my chest thundering, each beat pounding against my ribcage. Her little breaths hitch against my lips, sending a violent wave of desire through me. I groan at the soft, uncertain touch of her fingers as they brush my sleeve, trailing tentatively, afraid but determined to discover more.

What I’d give to hear her pant my name into my mouth, just once, while I ruin her, destroying her innocence the way I’ve destroyed everything else in my life. But she doesn’t know my name. Never cared to ask.

My jaw flexes. That’s fine. If she wants to use me as a nameless tool to explore and escape her inner turmoil, then so be it. Who am I to deprive her of choice?

Pulling back slightly, I bite her tender lip harder than I should, craving her reaction. I want her to feel the pain thatI feelknowing I can’t have her. Not in the way I want.

She gasps, then moans softly into my mouth when I claim her lips again in another punishing kiss. The sounds she makes send heat straight to my groin, my erection straining painfully against my jeans, begging for release.

Then a sudden, loud knock comes from the door, startling us both. We tear apart, like opposite ends of a magnet, and I observe as her face pales, her body trembling with the reminder of yesterday.

Grunting under my breath, I briefly adjust myself before standing to open the door, already knowing exactly who it is.

My message said to hurry things along, but that didn’t mean come banging on the door at the crack of dawn.

Unlocking it, I expect to only see Tanner, but Frankie’s also at his side.

“What the hell?” I snap.

She rolls her eyes dramatically and brushes past me. “Well, nice to see you, too, brother,” she says, her long, dark ponytail swinging slightly behind her.

Tanner shrugs, looking grim, as he follows her inside. “What? You said all of us in your text.”

“That doesn’t mean bringherhere,” I bite out, my eyes narrowed at him.

He glances over at Aria, still sprawled on the bed. “Someone has to keep an eye on her, anyway.” Then he looks back at me. “Big man wants a word with us. Urgent.”

Fuck my life.

I look over to Aria, her cheeks flushed, biting her perfectly swollen lips that I got to tease seconds ago. She’s so fucking beautiful. Her eyes hold mine, frightened and confused.

If Antonio needs to see us now, that means there isn’t another option besides leaving her here until the meeting’s over. I hold off on pressing questions until we’re out of earshot.

“So, we’re just supposed to leave Frankie with her?” I ask, looking back at Tanner.

“I’m not a child,” Frankie retorts with another eye roll. “We’ll be fine. Tanner clued me in already; just go.”

Tanner rubs his temples before sliding his hands down his face. “It’s not the best course of action, but what else do yousuggest right now? We don’t have much time left. If you’d just done what I told you earlier?—”

“What are you talking about?” Frankie juts in.

Gritting my teeth, I snap back at her, “Nothing concerning you.”