Page 86 of Red Retaliation

I’ll pass out.

Or die.

Orboth.

“Come for me, Arianna,” Red murmurs, the buzz of his voice against me increasing the building sensations.

“I want... I...” I don’t know what I’m saying. I don’t know what he’s asked either. I can’t function - only that the growing wave of this weird sensation unravels me, pulling me to a place I’ve never been.

It’s a place I’m not sure whether I want to reach as I fear I’ll never return, but nothing can stop the innate drive to reach the pinnacle.

That’s if there is a top to this bliss?

I hear a mewling sound. Is it me? “Oh God... I...”

It takes a second or two to work out that Red has moved. Blinking, I open my eyes to find him standing up. My eyes track to the enormous bulk straining the front of his trousers that, for the first time in my life, I want inside me.

It’s then I realize that of the two of us, Red is the one who’s seen sense.

CHAPTER

62

Red

“SHIT!” I MUTTER.Shit, shit and fucking shit!Turning my back, I rake my fingers through my hair and pace the room.

I force my breathing to steady, unable to look at the most gorgeous sight I’ve ever seen without continuing what I was doing. How can I look at the woman I want more than life itself lying on my bed with her legs open, dripping wet for me, without losing my mind?

I’m now even less sure whether I’ll ever be in a place where I can control the all-encompassing urge to possess her; to bury myself deep within her and never leave.

Arianna tasted every bit like I imagined. But better. The softness of her velvet skin against my face was more than I’d dreamed.

Stop it! Just fucking stop it!

Taking a deep breath, I turn around, dreading the epitome of all temptation to further fuel my raw lust. I’m not sure how I’ll cope.

It’s worse than I thought.

A needle passes through a part of my heart as Arianna averts her eyes and attempts to cover herself up, wearing an unmistakable look of hurt. I clear my throat. “Look, I...”

“You don’t need to explain.” Slipping her own mask back into place, Arianna gets off the bed and tugs her dress on, doing a sterling job of pretending not to be self-conscious.

I step forward, reaching for the zip I almost tore off in my haste to possess her. “Here, let me help you with...”

“I can manage!” Jutting out her chin, she moves out of my reach. “Youwere right to stop. We’re drunk and allowed ourselves to get carried away.”

I give an abrupt nod. “It’s something we’d both come to regret.” Except I’d love to make her fall apart at the seams.

I’d regretnothing, apart from everything. Once we step over that line, there is no turning back, and I cannot become distracted. Arianna distracts me - more than anyone ever has, and that’s dangerous. For me, for her - foreveryone.

I button up my shirt. Being distracted brings weakness, and that’s not something I can consider.

“We both know this is a business arrangement which I agreed to for my family’s sake,” Arianna continues. “So, like you said before, let’s keep it that way.”

“Agreed.” My voice sounds bright, but inside I want to kill someone. I want to dish out torture for allowing me to make decisions based on Lorna’s betrayal; because of the life I live; because of having to deal with ancient feuds; because of the whole fucking lot!

Arianna has reminded me, like a smack to the face, that we’re on opposite sides. Her sole reason for being here and marrying me is to protect her own. She’s attracted to me, but she doesn’twantme desperately.