Page 31 of Forbidden Empire

He retreated half a step, but his body surged toward mine like a compass finding north. His gaze dropped to where my chest rose and fell, his fingers curling into fists then splaying wide, over and over.

I arched my neck in one fluid motion, exposing the pulse point where he couldn't help but stare. The corner of my mouth curled upward as I looked at him through a veil of lashes.

"Our little secret," I breathed, closing the space between us. My fingertip traced the vein running up his forearm, feeling it jump beneath my touch. "And afterward..." I let my nail scrape down his skin, watching goosebumps rise in its wake. "I'll make you forget your own name."

"Ma'am—" He leaned in, his breath hot on my face, pupils blown wide.

The word hit like a gunshot from down the hall. "Touch her and I’ll cut off your fucking hands."

Seth jerked away from me like he’d touched a live wire. I whipped my head toward the noise.

Aidon’s boots pounded down the marble hallway, every step a threat I could feel in my teeth. His jaw was clenched so hard I saw the muscle twitch, a vein showing at his temple.

I stumbled backward, slamming my shoulders into the wall.

Aidon never paused.

He grabbed Seth by the collar and tossed him aside like he weighed nothing. Seth crashed into a side table, glass shattering everywhere.

Before the sound even faded, Aidon’s hands were on me, his grip like iron around my wrists, pinning them over my head. No way I wasn’t going to have bruises tomorrow.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” His words broke in hot bursts against my face.

Seth’s footsteps disappeared down the hall, leaving just the two of us.

Me.

Aidon. And Aidon’s temper.

And, Jesus, the way my pussy clenched at the sound of his voice.

His grip was brutal this time, way harder than before, fingers digging into my wrists. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he wanted to leave marks to prove a point.

His eyes locked onto mine, all wild and furious, like he was two seconds from snapping.

Whatever cool, controlled version of Aidon I had met before? Gone. The guy staring me down now looked like he wanted to tear the world apart.

He shoved his body against mine, heartbeat pounding so hard I felt it everywhere. His pupils were blown wide, hardly any color left.

Sweat beaded along his forehead, his cologne fighting with something raw and almost animal, and it hit me all at once.

He leaned in, close enough that his lips brushed my ear. It made my skin prickle, every nerve snapping awake.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice you trying to leave, Esme?”

My pulse tried to jump out of my throat, but I kept my face blank, even when it felt like lightning shot through me from every place he touched.

“You’re playing dangerous games, woman.”

I snorted, or tried to, but then his thigh shoved between mine, rough fabric scraping and dragging heat up my skin.

The wall was hard behind me. My shoulders ached from how he pinned my arms overhead, fingers tight enough that my hands tingled.

And right there, pressing against me, his cock pulsed against my clit, making it throb even harder.

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying and failing to act like I didn’t care.

“Maybe you’re scared I’ll win, Aidon.” His name pushed out on a dare, curled sweet and pointed on my tongue.