Page 39 of Intense (Beneath The Blaze #3)

STEPHANIE

I have this funny feeling this isn’t the end of my encounter with Finn tonight.

But I don’t know how much more my body, my mind… or maybe even my heart can take.

He destroys my resolve.

Breaks down the walls I’ve spent years constructing since I was twelve years old.

If I’m not careful, he’ll find my weakness. He’ll peel me open and take it.

So, I do what I always do. I go back out there. I dance on stage.

And I watch him with his friends, pretending he’s not watching me just as hard.

I have my money; there’s no need for me to keep dancing. I’m doing it for him. And I get a thrill out of it, making him squirm in his seat.

Every time I make eye contact, it burns. I can still feel his touch. The way he commands me.

The music blares, yet all I can hear is him calling me temptress.

This is for my husband. Revenge for not giving me what I need.

And once I’m done, I wink right at him and blow him a kiss. Almost dedicating that dance to him. His face remains still, while his friends all whistle. Check. Mate.

Before the night ends, I dash back to the dressing room, change out of the costume, pull on my leggings and black tank, and shove everything into my purse. I race down the hallway and straight into Paulie’s office.

He’s in his usual spot, cigar burning low between his fingers.

Groaning.

Oh no.

There’s a woman under the desk. Fucking hell.

“Out!” he shouts, not even glancing up.

I hold up the cash. “Your money.”

He squeezes his eyes shut and moans again.

Disgusting.

I wonder how much money he waved in that poor girl’s face to do that.

I make a run for it, slam the cash down on the corner of his desk, ignore the slurping sound beneath, and escape at record speed, clutching my purse like it’s a lifeline.

Once I’m outside, I gulp in the cool air.

His Mercedes is easy to spot. Parked way too cockily under the streetlight.

And… I can’t feel him behind me.

Good.

I slip the flip knife from my bag and stab it clean into the front passenger-side tire. It hisses, spitting air like it’s screaming for help.

I smile. A twisted thrill zips down my spine. It feels good being bad. Maybe I could lower the severity of my crimes from now on.

I cross over to the back wheel and jam the blade in again.

Then, I move to the front driver’s side.

The second the knife sinks in, a hand wraps around the back of my neck.

And I’m slammed down, face first, onto the hood.

“Fuck,” I hiss, cheek pressed to the warm metal.

“Fuck, indeed,” Finn growls behind me.

His grip is punishing.

Dominating.

Fucking perfect.

He presses into me from behind. His hard chest, thick thighs, and the bulge of his cock resting right against my ass like a silent threat.

“You little fucking menace,” he rasps in my ear. “Three tires?”

“I was going for four,” I pant. “I don’t like odd numbers.”

He chuckles darkly. He’s not amused. Not even close.

It’s the sound of someone losing his last shred of patience.

With me.

He drags the flat of his palm down my spine until he reaches my waistband and dips his hand under, digging his fingers into my ass, which drags a gasp from my lips.

“Why are you trying to cause problems for me, love?”

“I don’t recall signing a non-destruction clause.”

He laughs again. This one deeper, darker. Meaner.

His hand snakes under my top, his palm against my bare stomach. I shiver beneath him.

“You get off on testing me, don’t you?” he whispers, lips brushing the shell of my ear. “You want me to lose it. You want to be punished. That’s why you went back in and danced, right?”

I smile, even as my breath hitches.

“Y-yes. Why did you go back in? To watch other women dance?” I whisper. I can’t seem to hide the hurt inside me.

“I went to get my friends, love. No other woman on this Earth interests me. Only you,” he growls against my skin.

My ears ring as I squeeze my eyes shut.

“Now, you’ve got my full attention, and I want to see if you can handle me,” he tells me.

In a flash, he grabs the back of my neck again and grinds me harder against the hood. My pulse pounds. My legs shake. I don’t fight back because I don’t want to.

And maybe, it’s about time he had a taste of his own medicine.

“Are you gonna take your belt off, Dr. Quinn?” I taunt. “Or are you too scared someone might see how desperate you are to fuck your stripper wife?”

He groans. It’s filthy and primal and entirely feral. Everything I want. He seems to make my control slip; now it’s his turn.

“You don’t get it, do you?” His hand slides down and cups me between the legs through my pants, his fingers applying just enough pressure to make me squirm. “I don’t give a fuck who sees. When I’m near you, nothing else seems to matter anymore.”

I blow out a breath. That’s how it’s always felt for me. Finn consumes me.

His other hand snakes around to my throat, tilting my head back so I’m forced to meet his eyes in the reflection of the windshield.

Christ.

That look.

Predator locked onto prey. So intense I can’t look away.

“Want to know what I’d do? I’d keep you over the hood, tear your panties off, and fuck you until you cry if it meant making you understand?—”

He presses harder against my pussy.

“—that you’re mine. You are my wife.”

My lips part. A soft moan escapes before I can stop it.

“I’m not crying for anyone,” I whisper.

“Not yet.”

His hand is suddenly gone, and I’m flipped like a ragdoll, my back slamming into the car as he cages me in. One arm above my head, the other at my throat.

His thigh pushes between my legs. His face, too close. His breath, mint and whiskey and a violence I need.

“The more you push me, the harder I drag you closer, temptress.”

His lips graze against mine, but he doesn’t give me what I want.

No. Of course not.

He lets go of me and stands straight, leaving me panting on his car. He doesn’t say a word, just backs away.

This seems to be how our game is going. Almost breaking for each other.

“Where are you going? Don’t you want a ride home?” I ask, standing back up.

He chuckles.

“Nah, I’m all good. Check the license plate, temptress,” he winks.

Oh fuck.

I slashed someone else’s tires.

Paulie will go crazy if he finds out. So I run.

Heading straight for my car, hearing Finn still laughing as I do.

And that’s when I see it. His Mercedes, next to mine. Fucking mocking me.