Page 31 of Madness & Mercy

Not when his mouth opens for me like he’s been waiting. Not when his hands slip beneath my jacket, clawing at my shoulders like he wants to tear me open and see what’s underneath.

When I finally pull back, both of us breathing hard, I hold his face in my hand and stare at him.

His lips are swollen. His chest heaving. His eyes…hungry.

“Still think I won’t kill you?” I murmur, my voice low and dangerous as I drag the blade of my stare across his face.

Julian licks the blood off his lip, his smile all teeth and insolence. “I think if you were going to,” he says, “you’d have done it already.”

I laugh, dark and humorless. I step in until I’m crowding him again, until his back hits the wall and he has nowhere else to go. I brace a hand beside his head, lean in until his breath hitches.

“No,” I whisper. “I’m just waiting for the perfect moment.”

He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t blink. Just tilts his chin like he’s daring me to get closer.“Then do your worst.”

God, he’s infuriating.

I slam my hand to his chest and press him harder into the wall. He exhales sharply, and for a moment I think he’s going to hit me back.

But he doesn’t.

He just stares, throat bobbing, jaw tight.

I reach up, run my thumb across the blood smeared at the corner of his mouth, then drag it down the curve of his throat. He tenses beneath me, but not in fear. Inwant.

“You like this,” I murmur.

He scoffs, but it’s not convincing. “You’re delusional.”

“Am I?” I trail the same thumb along his jaw, watching the flicker in his expression, something between restraint and desire. “You snuck out of my estate, broke into my club, risked your life just to come face me again. Either you’re suicidal… or you want something.”

He doesn’t answer. I press my advantage.

“I think you like pushing men like me. Seeing how far I’ll go before I break you.”

“No one breaks me,” he says, but his voice lacks conviction.

I lean in, my breath brushing his ear. “Everyone breaks, Julian. The question is…how loud will you scream when you do?”

He shudders. It’s slight, but I feel it.

“You think this scares me?” he bites out, turning his head just enough to look me in the eye. “I’ve seen worse. I’vedoneworse.”

I grab his chin, force his gaze to lock with mine. “Then show me.”

His pupils dilate. His chest rises faster now. But he still doesn’t move.

And that’s the tell.

Hewantsto be pushed.

I step even closer, the space between us dissolving. My fingers tighten under his jaw, tilting his head back just slightly, exposing the vulnerable line of his throat. The room hums with silence and heat.

“You want control?” I whisper. “Then take it.”

I release him suddenly, take a single step back. My eyes drag over him slowly. “Let’s see what happens when no one’s watching. When it’s just you and me and nothing left to hide behind.”

He’s breathing hard now. Still trying to look unfazed, but the flush creeping up his neck betrays him.