Page 92 of River of Deceit

“Do you think he’d scream and beg, or would he try to be brave for you?” I continue. “He wouldn’t want you to think less of him, after all.”

“You think they’d get away with that without the entire Bouchard Syndicate getting involved?” Asch asks, grabbing my hand and pulling it away from his face. “If you think so, you’d be in for a rude awakening. You think you’re untouchable, but you aren’t.”

“I haven’t felt a lot of touching from you,” I taunt. “You don’t particularly scare me, Asch.”

I want to see what Blaze sees in him. It can’t just be his pretty face. Whatever’s underneath the surface, I want it.

“It’s easy to say that when we’re in the middle of the open, isn’t it?” he says. “Of course I don’t scare you when all you have to do is play the victim, and anyone around here would run to your rescue.”

My eyes light up with excitement. “You think I wouldn’t do the same in private? Come on, then. Where do you want to go? My bedroom? I’ve got a snake you can meet there. Or would you prefer the tunnels? Still unused this time of year. Your bedroom? Can we even get through the door, or will we have to fuck on Blaze’s bed again?”

His jaw clenches. “Why are you so determined to get a rise out of me?”

I don’t even know, except that he’s important to Blaze.

Blaze, who I’m supposed to be investigating.

“Why are you determined to be so boring?” I counter with a pout. “Seriously. I know you aren’t actually dull, but if you’re going to be like that maybe Ishouldgo catch up to Reaper and have him throw me down onto the grass.”

“Why would I care if you fucked him or not?” Asch counters, but there’s something in his eyes that makes me think he would. “I thought I made it pretty clear that I don’t actually want you.”

“Well, for the record, I’d probably have to gouge an eye out if I caught you with another woman,” I say, keeping my voice light. “Youreye, to be clear.”

It was supposed to be a joke, maybe, but I realize I’m being serious.

I don’t want Asch to be with anyone else.

I guess he could be with Blaze, or River, but any other person?

Something starts scratching inside my chest.

He steps into my personal space, and his voice is low and menacing as he replies, “You think you get a say on who I’m with?”

“Who does?” I ask, grinning up at him. “Blaze? If he tells you to keep your cock to yourself, would you listen? Or do you dream of having him fuck you open? Do youwanthim to claim you?”

“Shut the fuck up,” he snarls in my face, his hand coming up so fast that for a second, I think he’s going to slap me. Instead, he traces his fingers along my cheek, and he laughs like he hadn’t just snapped at me. “You want to be hurt, Pandora? Is that what this is? A cry for attention?”

“Oh, Asch,” I answer, leaning into his touch. “I don’t need to cry for attention. I can just go grab Blaze, and he’ll give it to me, no questions asked.”

He grabs me by the hair, twisting painfully,deliciously. “You want to hyperfocus on someone, you hyperfocus onme. Get Blaze out of your head. He’s not yours to play with.”

“You’d have to actually play with me for that to work,” I point out, struggling only so I can get more of the stinging pain as he pulls on my hair.

Please, do something about this already, Asch.

My cunt is throbbing so hard now.

“I don’t want toplay,” he replies. He abruptly releases my hair, only to grab my wrist.

We’ve attracted a small audience, but he ignores them.

“Let’s go.”

Finally.

I reach down to pick up my backpack. I manage to grab it before Asch yanks me onward.

My mind is swimming with arousal, and I can’t help but smile widely as I let him drag me along.