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A puff falls from his lips. “Is it too much?”

He grips my hand, fisting it so it’s much tighter. “Like this, Sunshine. Don’t be afraid to break me. You won’t.”

“But forewarning,” he says, as I rise again. “I will not touch you. I will not make you come. You either do it yourself, or you give me back control and ask me to make you lose it.” His gaze glimmers with a predator’s intensity. “Right now, it’s your show.”

After a lifetime of being trapped and paraded around like a prize to be won, Briar treats me differently. This is my world, my show, and he’s my captive audience. Anything I want or need, he will make sure I get it.

Grabbing the tie, I force him forward, his cock hitting a spot inside of me that edges my vision. Dio. Sex shouldn’t feel this good.

“Touch me,” I demand.

He smirks, face slightly red. “Sign it.”

I do it with one hand, though it’s barely legible.

He claws at my hips, rocking me, so he hits that spot repeatedly. Bursts of light explode behind my eyes like fireworks. My hand fists the tie, yanking him closer. Chest to chest, we exchange hot breaths against feverish skin.

I bite my lower lip. I’m close. It won’t take much⁠—

“Let me up, Sunshine,” he growls, body tense. “Let me make you come.”

He could easily take it. Instead, he gives me the power to decide. Something I’ve never had before.

“Okay,” I breathe.

Shooting up, he lays me on his desk, back flat. I let go of the tie, but he forces it back into my hand, tightening it. He’s close to the edge too—too much pressure, and he’ll pass out.

But he’s trusting me not to do it.

I steal a kiss, whimpering into his mouth. Our skin slaps, slick with sweat, and we slide against the table. My entire body reaches its peak, limbs frozen, and it hits me at once.

Heat rushes through me, pulling a groan deep from my chest, and Briar stumbles. He curses into my throat and shudders, his searing release dripping between us.

He pulls back enough, fingers gliding along my damp legs. Gathering our mixed release, he paints my skin, over my dips and peaks. Grabbing his finger, I lap my tongue around the digit, tasting our essence. It’s musky, sweet, and wholly us.

It pops out, and he paints my lips, like a demented shade of lipstick.

Brushing the bangs out of his eyes, I whisper, “I’ll be careful. I have to do this. Otherwise, who knows what he will do?”

He shudders, pulling me closer. He’s not thrilled, but he doesn’t argue.

“You better be, Sunshine. Or so help me, if you die, I’ll die with you. But not before killing anyone who took you from me.”

32

VALENTINA

The wrought-iron gates open, and the first shred of apprehension rolls in my gut. Hayes seems to sense it, wrapping his larger hand in mine. His strength infuses my own.

When Briar and I decided on my return to the Bruno compound, he had one request: bring someone with me. I couldn’t disagree more. I chose the timing based on Roman’s schedule—right as the sun set, we’d return. He’d be at his club by now, and the guards would have abandoned the house, walking the grounds. It’d be essentially empty.

It’s the perfect time to get my things, leave a quick note, and go.

I’m sure Briar would’ve preferred the Reaper or his vicious sister as my partners, but bringing them to enemy territory would be a poor choice—regardless of who was here.

And I didn’t want them far from him. Today, the alarm would be sounded online, and he’d become walking bait. The plan was to attract as many players into the city, trap them, and kill them off. With their deaths, the interest in the bounty would diminish, and we’d be free.

That’s the hope, anyway.