Ruthless Savior - Julia Sykes Page 0,29

his hold remained gentle on my face.

I blinked rapidly, struggling to clear the oncoming wash of tears from my eyes. I wanted so badly to believe him, but no one gave something away for nothing in return. That wasn’t how the world worked.

“But you won’t let me leave,” I said softly. “I know what that means. I know you want me.” I’d seen the hunger in his eyes ever since he’d captured me, and when he’d overwhelmed me with his soul-searing, domineering kiss, there’d been no doubt of his desire.

His sharp stare pierced my chest, pinning me in place. “And I know you want me, too. I won’t have to force you.”

My heart skipped a beat, and my mouth went dry. When he looked at me like this—like he knew every single one of my erotic secrets—my body couldn’t help but respond. All the traitorous pleasure points I’d forced myself to forget had been reawakened by his possessive kiss.

The return of my sensual nature was so intense that it felt like an overwhelming, uncontrollable force of nature; something that surged within me, overriding reason and driving me to reckless wantonness.

It scared me. I couldn’t trust myself when lust overtook me. I’d thrown myself into it with wild abandon once before, and I’d lost everything because of my selfish indulgence. Riding this wave of treacherous ecstasy was a giddy, thrilling, addictive adventure. I’d embraced it without a second thought when I’d fallen for Gehovany, too naïve to understand that something that burns so white-hot will ultimately destroy.

And now, I felt the swell of that wave with Raúl, excited by the fiery chemistry that I shared with a dangerous man. Even though he’d been nothing but good to me so far, he was an undeniably bad man. He was a criminal, and I’d seen him commit murder right before my eyes as though it was nothing.

Gehovany’s cruel nature paled in comparison to Raúl’s life of casual brutality.

I shook my head in weak denial. I wouldn’t bother saying that I didn’t want Raúl—we both knew that would be a lie—but I could deny my own compulsion to surrender. I refused to give in to my darkest impulses, no matter how they tempted me. It wasn’t worth the pain.

I doubted I’d survive the fallout a second time. And how many people around me would suffer the consequences for my sin?

Never again.

“I can’t,” I whispered. He hadn’t released my jaw, but I dropped my eyes, hiding behind my lowered lashes. “I can’t give you want you want. If that’s what you expect in exchange for all this…” I plucked at the pretty dress he’d bought for me. “I can’t stay with you.”

“This isn’t a transaction,” he snapped back. “I’m not providing these things for you because I intend to buy you. You’re staying with me, but I have no desire to keep you in rags. You’ll be comfortable and safe. You have no reason to leave.”

He applied more pressure beneath my jaw. “Look at me.” My eyes snapped up to his, compelled by his command. “You are not allowed to leave. If you try to run from me again, there will be consequences. I’ve decided to overlook your last escape attempt—when you left me for dead,” he added tersely, twisting the knife of guilt that was still lodged deep in my gut. “I won’t be so forgiving next time. No matter how sweetly you apologize.”

I swallowed hard, but no words came to mind. Traitorous heat had gathered at my core as he issued his low, rumbling threats. I should scream at him that he couldn’t keep me here against my will, that I wanted my freedom.

But he had provided for me. And he’d made it abundantly clear that my desperate plan to seek asylum in America was nothing more than a cruel fantasy. What freedom was I even seeking anymore? I couldn’t return home, but I had nowhere to go. There was no longer a dream of a safe haven at the end of my torturous journey.

Defeat settled over my shoulders. Staying with Raúl was dangerous. The longer I remained with him, the harder it would become to resist the fiery allure of the combustible chemistry between us.

There was nowhere in the world that was safe for me, not even in the strong arms of my fierce protector.

Chapter 11

Marisol

“Come on,” Raúl prompted, seeming to realize that I couldn’t muster up a response to his threats of consequences if I tried to run. He released my