“You’re helping me, you know.”
My eyes fly to his. He’s giving me a melty look, like I’m supposed to believe him. Like he’s telling the truth. “What do you mean?”
“That’s why I took you. It’s because I knew you could help me…us. The Kings.” Rory tries to clear up the point he’s making, but the damage is already done.
Inside, a fuzzy kind of warmth has begun to bloom and grow inside me.
Why does a tiny part of me enjoy that? Being helpful to him. To anyone.
Helping is such a pretty way to dress up what this actually is.
“You’re just using me,” I challenge.
Rory squeezes my hand, a dark gleam in his eyes. “So use me back.”
My heart pounds out a jagged beat.
“Rory, what are you talking about?” We face each other, my hand still in his.
“Your bucket list.” Rory shifts his weight and then brings my taped-up hand to rest against his sturdy chest. “I can’t send you to Paris or Marrakesh, but if sex with a willing participant is something you’re interested in…I volunteer.”
His eyes bore into mine, transferring a scorching heat. It’s invasive and exhilarating all at once.
Hunger radiates from Rory’s beautiful features, like the wolf inside him is desperate to claw its way out.
I shiver. If he’s a wolf, I must be Little Red Riding Hood, because he looks like he wants to devour me.
I want to trust him, but… “Is this some kind of joke?”
Rory offers the slightest headshake. “I’m one-hundred-percent serious.”
“You’re volunteering to…”
I can’t even finish my sentence. This is so absurd.
“Think of me like a sacrifice on the altar of your sexual education.” His gaze falls to my mouth. “If you want.”
If I want?
His offer is…unbelievable on its own, but what’s more astounding is how tempted I actually am.
It shouldn’t be tempting at all. I should be ripping away from him and racing out of this room. My eyes shouldn’t be undressing the man standing in front of me.
Get a grip.My brain begs me to snap out of it, but every time I close my eyes and re-open them, I’m still standing here, and Rory’s still standing there, volunteering to…sleep with me…as some kind of consolation prize for getting kidnapped?
Use me back.
Why do those words make me so wet?
I slap both my hands over my face. Oh my god, my vagina needs a time-out.
Rory is a very hot, very dangerous man, but he’s never hurt me. Physically.
Not like Leo. Or Enzo, or…
Nope. Not thinking about the third De Luca right now.
Focus, Kiara!
