Page 65 of Savage Hearts

“Yes.”

“Let me go.”

Gazing down at me with half-lidded eyes, he licks his lips.

His voice turns husky. “If I let you go, the towel goes, too.”

“I hate you!”

“Understandable.”

“You’re an asshole!”

“Guilty.”

All this agreeing with me he’s doing is driving me mad. “Yesterday, you threatened to kill me.”

“I decided there are other things I’d like to do to you first.” The tone of his voice leaves no question about his meaning.

“That’s just… argh! You’re a sick, twisted—”

“Blah, blah, blah, yes. Whatever other bad names you’re about to call me, yes, you’re right.” His voice drops. “Now give me that fucking mouth again. It’s all I’ve been able to think about for the last twenty-four hours.”

He lowers his head so our faces are an inch apart. His blazing gaze burns into mine.

“And kiss me like you mean it or the body count starts.”

After that, he does nothing. He simply remains still, staring into my eyes with one hand fisted in my hair at the scruff of my neck and his strong arm wound around my back, pinning me against him.

He’s waiting for me to kiss him, the bastard!

My whisper is vehement. “I don’t want to kiss you.”

“If I put my hand between your legs right now, I could prove you a liar.”

NASA must be able to hear me grinding my teeth in anger all the way into outer space.

I mean, he’s right, but I’d rather die than admit it. I bypass his comment instead.

“Fine. I’ll kiss you. After that, you’ll leave?”

“No. I just won’t kill anyone. Tonight.”

I blow out a hard breath and close my eyes. “How do I know you won’t change your mind?”

“I give you my word.”

“You gave me your word you wouldn’t hurt me, too. Since then, you’ve threatened to kill me several times.”

“That was before I knew who you were.”

I open my eyes and look at him. “I’m the exact same person.”

“Not to me.”

I take a moment to examine his expression, then say, “This isn’t a plea for my life. I know you wouldn’t care about that. But let’s be clear about this: I just met Declan. I haven’t seen my sister in three years. I have nothing to do with the Irish Mob. I had nothing to do with what happened to your brother.”

“Maybe not. But if anything happens to you, your sister will blame herself. Then she’ll blame Declan. Then his life will be miserable. I want him to be miserable for a while before I kill him. I want him to be so fucking miserable, he wishes he were never born.”