of his humanity. But since he was separated from Nonna, he turned into a monster and he seems pretty satisfied with it.
“Do you like being hollow?” I ask because I genuinely want to know.
His posture turns rigid even though he’s still hiding behind that atrocious grin. “Do you want me to fuck you here?”
I scowl.
“You prefer inside where your boyfriend just fucked you?” His smirk widens. “Kinky.”
“All you had to say is that you like being hollow and I'll figure out the rest. There’s no need to deflate. I don’t even know why I bother with you.” I sigh and stride towards the lake house to take my bag. The sooner I’m out of here, the better.
I’m barely inside when he clutches my wrist and flings me around to face him. Under the soft light, the five o’clock shadow give him a warrior-like aura.
“What do you mean by ‘you will figure out the rest’?”
“Do you even care?”
He pauses for a second, and for once, his atrocious grin disappears. “I might.”
“Let me know when you do.” I reach for my bag on the cushion.
He tightens his hold on my wrist, causing me to wince. “Why do you hate being on your knees?”
Dread trickles down my spine and blood pumps into my ears. I attempt to move away. Shadow puts two fingers under my chin and forces me to stare into the storm in his eyes. Those deep greys are starting to give me whiplash. Most of the time, they’re a hollow calculative maze, but at other times, it’s a hurricane near eruption.
“You asked if I care.” His forefinger traces the line of my jaw. “I care about that.”
I revert my gaze to stare anywhere but at his face. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Does he expect me to tell him my darkest secret just like that? Even Elle and Liam don’t know this part of me.
His index finger and thumb clutch my jaw and he squeezes. It’s not that hard, but it’s enough to make me aware of his strength.
“You will break up with your boyfriend.”
“Excuse me?”
This time, he flashes me a grin. “I told you that you’re mine now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I agree while in comatose or something?”
“Keep it up, beautiful.”
Using his grip on my wrist, he yanks me towards him. My breasts crush against his hard chest. I gasp when an unmistakable bulge presses at the bottom of my stomach.
“See what that smart mouth of yours does?” His voice drops an octave.
My breathing deepens until I’m struggling to consume air. I should push him away, but I can’t help soaking in the effect I have on him. He’s so hard and thick, and suddenly, I hate my dress.
I huff, pretending not to be impressed. “Why should I care?”
His tone turns playful. “Because you will take care of it?”
“In your dreams,” I say when all I mean is Make me.
My thighs clench in remembrance of the wrestling we had the other time. My bloodstream pumps in anticipation and thrill.
What type of person craves a wrestling round with a monster?
Me, apparently.
Shadow must’ve caught the double meaning behind my words because a spark gleams in the usually-dead grey of his eyes. I suspect that mine look the same.
He reaches for my dress’s zipper. I shove him away. He lets me, and I know he’s taking it easy on me because his actual grip is steel-like. If he wants, he can break my arm with a single twist, but he isn’t.
Shadow is taking part in the sick game with me.
I am playing with a monster and I couldn’t be more excited.
Adrenaline shoots into my limbs as I rush away from him. Strong arms surround my waist from behind and haul me off the ground. I thrash and wiggle in his hold like a marionette. When he doesn’t let go, I bite his arm. Hard. My teeth almost puncture the skin.
He loosens his hold and I fall. I land on my feet and rear back with a kick. He catches my dominant leg and meets my gaze. His eyes are shining with a hazy lust and energetic fire. I’m sure mine reflect the same.
I didn’t know it was possible to want to ruin someone and kiss them to bloody death. In the past, when I craved more, I thought I wanted the foreplay. I didn’t know that lust and hate would be wrecking my senses like this.
A part of me wants to murder Shadow for all the confliction, but the other part