Page 105 of Die for You

Bending down, he bites over my pulse.

Gripping the collar of his shirt, I yank it apart, the buttons scattering all over the floor. He smells fucking delicious, like blood and sex.

We bite and tear at each other, intent on eating the other alive.

I can’t stand it a second longer.

I need to taste him.

Licking across his mouth in one slow sweep, I lick away the blood I spilled. I then work my way down the side of his throat, over his Adam’s apple, then down the front of his chest. I have always been a sucker for the soft dark hair that paints his chest.

I rub my face in it, inhaling deeply because he smells like home. Even in the direst of circumstances, his scent calms me.

A low growl vibrates in his chest.

He drags me up by my hair to meet his lips, where we kiss passionately, like we’re each other’s lifeline.

It’s a kiss of desperation.

A kiss of hope.

This may be the beginning…of the end.

“I love you,” he whispers against my mouth.

After everything I’ve done, to hear those words…I feel undeserving.

So all I can do is love Lennon Shepherd back for the rest of my life. “I love you too.”

We press our foreheads together, savoring this moment of peace because the next few moments will be anything but.

Eventually, we break apart, but not before I slap his cheek—just for old times’ sake.

He rubs his cheek, smirking.

Pulling up a chair beside Bria, he sits down and places his hands behind his back.

With regret, I fasten the zip ties around his wrists, ensuring they’re done up tight.

Stepping back, I take in the scene. We’re all battered and bloody, but Gianna won’t believe I was able to subdue Lenny without him submitting. He’s stronger than I am, and although it looks like I put up one hell of a fight, she’ll know something is off.

“You submitted because of Bria,” I instruct Lenny. “She won’t believe us otherwise.”

“What’s the story?”

“We fought, but I’m stronger. You surrendered because I threatened to kill Bria. It’s hardly credible, but Gianna won’t care because she has you both where she wants you.”

“You trust her?”

“No. I’ll most likely be sitting next to you soon.”

“Weapons?”

He reads my face as that would be a negative.

“Backup?” I ask him.

He nods. “They’re far enough away that they won’t be detected, but close enough to come if needed. But I can’t trust them.”