Page 33 of Scarred Angel

Party trick.

My jaw tightens, and all I can picture is her surrounded by drunk college idiots, showing off that same move while their eyes crawl over her. Just like mine.

She graduated last year, from what I know. Not that it makes the image any easier to swallow.

Without giving me a moment to recover, Valentina crosses her arms. “Truth or Dare?”

“Dare,” I answer without hesitation.

Her smile widens, eyes dark with mischief. In that instant, I know I’m fucked whether I win or lose.

“The speakers,” she says, nodding toward the corner, “Bluetooth?”

I nod once. She extends her hand, motioning to my phone on the coffee table. I hand it to her, already knowing I’m going to regret it.

Seconds later, a filthy bassline floods the room, and her hips start to move.

“Dance with me.”

Win or lose.

“I don’t dance.” I tip my head back and drain the last of my drink.

“You do now. Rules are rules, Maxy. You can’t back out.”

She grabs a fistful of my shirt and tugs until I give in and stand.

“Fine,” I murmur, my mouth brushing her ear as my hands slide to her hips, pulling her against me. “Then dance for me, Valentina. Show me how you move.”

Her sharp inhale trembles through us both as the space between us vanishes.

She rolls her hips, and I match her rhythm, letting the music move through us.

“I’ll give you this,” she teases breathlessly. “You’re not terrible at it.”

Another slow grind of her hips against my hard cock.

“Dancing’s the last thing on my mind right now.”

Valentina turns, pressing her back to my chest, fingers sliding into my hair, nails scraping the base of my neck. Her ass moves against me in a steady, torturous rhythm.

“Tell me then…” Her voice is a whisper meant to ruin me, I just know it. “What is on your mind?”

If she knew.

If she could see the things running through my head, the ways I want to bend, taste, and completely undo her, she’d stop pretending this is just a little game.

Because there’s no coming back from where we’re going.

The only way off this ledge is down.

I spin her around, my hand finding her throat, eyes locking on hers. No words, just breath, tension, and need. I press her close, letting her feel every brush, every heartbeat,everystrained thread of control ready to snap. Showing her exactly what she does to me.

But when Valentina closes her eyes, my name escaping her lips in a broken whimper, the cord holding me together gives way.

My grip tightens at her throat as I lean in, voice rough against her ear.

“You need to go home. Now.”