Page 58 of On Edge

“Go where? There’s nowhere to run and hide. This is my house, my island. Water surrounds us. Wherever you go, I will find you, little finch.”

At that, a shiver runs through me, making my toes curl. And not from fear. “I-I made a mistake.” Yes, I did. I can’t do this.

“I warned you, you would regret staying.”

“Please. I just want to go home.”

“Too late.”

His mouth slams into mine.

15

SAGE

Troy Severin is kissing me. Again.

Though it’s not really a kiss, this time, it’s a claim. A brutal one.

His mouth is merciless as his tongue plunges inside. He tastes of alcohol, sharp and burning. He smells like a storm coming. For a single, horrifying, heart-stopping moment, heat flares deep in my core and….

I kiss him back.

The heat of his body, every inch of him, solid and imposing, crashes against me, grinding me into the staircase. His fingers dig in, bruising around the skin of my rib cage. But instead of pulling away, my body melts into him like I’ve been starved of affection for too long.

At first, his touch burns as he shovesroughly under the cool silk of my pajama top, squeezing my breasts, pinching my bullet-like nipples until it hurts. Until a needy moan escapes my lips.

I arch against him.

The useless knife slips from my grasp.

Metal clatters against the wood. And my hand, suddenly lighter, moves up, tangling his silky hair, grabbing a fistful.

Harder.

He groans into me, kissing me like he’s devouring me whole. His teeth scrape and bite my lower lip as he nudges my legs apart. I feel him, solid through his black joggers, as he presses against the silk I’m wearing, and I can’t help but buck my hips and cry out into his mouth.

More.

His lips and teeth travel down to my neck, his breath warming my throat.

“Is this what you want?”

“Y-Yes.”

Reaching down, lower, he shoves under the waistband of my pajama bottoms. And then his fingers are inside me. I gasp as he teases the wetness there, sparking me to life…

Owning me.

A silent promise that I belong to him now,his to do with what he wants,

Just like he threatened.

“Or is this it?”

I’m breathless as he curls his fingers, delving deeper, touching places that stir something to life in me that feels feral and wild.

“No. That’s not?—”