Page 107 of Unforgiving Queen

One moment I was standing there and the next the breath was knocked out of my lungs when strong fingers wrapped around my throat and slammed me against the floor-to-ceiling window.

Amon’s face was inches from mine, my lungs greedily inhaling his addictive scent despite my clear distaste for the man. It’d been a long time since he was this close to me.

“Don’t mention him to me again, Reina, or I swear to God, I will end him and hang his body off this boat for all to see what happens to those who touch you.”

His nostrils flared and his jaw clenched as tension steamed from his body.

I swallowed, aware more than ever that the boy I fell for was gone. Although, my body clearly missed the memo because the throbbing ache between my legs was alarming. I had to get away from him before this carnal desire did something stupid and overrode my brain.

“Get your hands off me,” I said, my voice eerily calm. If the situation hadn’t been so dire, I would’ve mentally high-fived myself. “You lost the right to touch me.” And then, because I clearly had a death wish, I added, “I’m your brother’s now, and only he can touch me.”

Mental barf.There was zero chemistry between Dante and me, although there was plenty of animosity.

“What did you say?” His tone should have been enough.

“I said I prefer Dante to you,” I stated with foolish bravado.

He mustn’t have liked that at all because his grip on my throat tightened.

“Has he touched you?” I pressed my lips together, determined not to answer him. He lost the right to questions too. His voice dropped when he repeated, “Has Dante touched you?”

A war of shivers broke out over my skin at the way his voice darkened.

The battle of wills reflected in our gazes, my own resistance staring back at me in his dark eyes.

I lifted my chin. “None of your business.”

“It’s very much my business.” His grip tightened. The fucking nerve. “Answer, or there’s going to be punishment.”

“Debatable. You’re probably going to lose your hands when my family gets ahold of you,” I scoffed despite my trepidation and the unnatural way my heart shuddered. In fear, I convinced myself. “Now, for the last time, get your hands off me. I’m not game for whateverthisis.”

“You…” He trailed off, closing his eyes for a brief second. It was enough to soak in his features. He was so close but so far away.

I was no longer that innocent girl. He’d broken me. Killing his father had finished the job, extinguished my light, and made him forever unobtainable.

When his eyes opened again, I was dragged into their abyss against my will.

“You leave me no choice, then,” he remarked in a dark tone.

I barely had time to process his words when my yelp echoed in the air.

For the second time in less than a day, he yanked me off my feet and threw me over his shoulder. The world was upside down, Amon’s stride sure and confident as he made his way across the room and then unapologetically threw me on top of the mattress.

“What’s your problem?” I breathed, shuffling to prop myself up on my elbows. For a moment, we stared at each other, memories of the last time we were on this bed together dancing through the air. Judging by the look in his eyes, he was remembering the same.

I tried to control my wild thundering heartbeat with measured breaths.

Amon stood at the foot of the bed as I watched him peel his jacket off, revealing a white shirt that’d molded against his muscles. He was unbuttoning his cuffs and rolling the sleeves to his elbows when I spotted it.

For a moment, the world slipped away. The bracelet I gifted him three years ago—our matching yin and yang—wrapped around his wrist, the leather band worn thin. It wasn’t Japanese, it had nothing to do with either of our heritages, it just fit the story of the two of us. At least I thought so.

He followed my gaze, and when our eyes met, I saw the entire solar system in them.

“I never take it off.”

“I threw mine away,” I lied.

“But you’re still wearing the pendant,” he pointed out.