Page 44 of Claimed By the Villain

The strength of my attraction to Jackie caught me off guard. Once I got past the barrier of seeing her as a sister until recently, I never imagined, even with her beauty, that the moment I touched her, I’d be hooked. I want to take her body in every way, and the idea of being tied to her for a set number of years doesn’t feel unbearable. If I’m being honest, I like the thought of having her bound to me.

I turn off the water, dry myself, and pull on a pair of boxer briefs.

I’m heading toward the bed when I hear a noise in the hallway.

I open the door, and Jackie is walking past, heading to the room she picked.

“I was thirsty,” she says when she sees me, holding up a glass of water.

I nod as if to say I understand.

“What does this connection you’re talking about mean?” I ask.

“Make me want to give you more than my body. I can’t fight the attraction I feel for you, Lucifer. With one touch, you can own me, but I want more. I don’t want to feel empty afterward.”

“Catching feelings for me is a bad idea, Jackie.”

“I can decide that for myself. And I’m not talking about love, I’m talking about a desire that lasts. I don’t even know you. Out of nowhere, you come to me with a proposal to get married for my protection. I trust you, and I know you wouldn’t take such a drastic step if there were another way, but I don’t want to feel used or obligated to have sex just because we’re husband and wife.”

“From where I’m standing, that’s a damn good reason.”

She’s wearing the T-shirt I lent her, which almost reaches her knees, her hair still damp from her shower. My eyes drop to her legs and slowly trail upward as I try to guess if she’s not wearing anything underneath.

She seems to know what I’m thinking, because her hands tug the shirt even lower, as if to cover herself.

I take a step forward, even though I have no intention of touching her.

“I’m not an animal. I’d never touch you against your will.”

“It would never be against my will.”

“I could turn the tables on you. Give you a taste of your own medicine.”

“How?”

“I could make you ache for me, Jackie. Make you come just from me telling you what I want from you.”

I watch her throat move as she swallows hard.

“Come here.”

“I…”

“Come. You said you wanted connection. It’s a two-way street.”

She hesitates for a moment before stopping in front of me.

“Touch me.”

“Where?” she asks.

“Wherever you want.”

She sets the glass down on a console table and comes back to me. I know she’s focused, her eyes on my tattoos, and I press my hands to my sides to keep from touching her.

I stay still, even when her palms land on my chest.

“I love all your ink.”