Page 84 of Painted Truths

Shaking my head at my absurd turn of phrase, I get all of two feet before being physically hoisted in the air, spun around, and thrown over Henry’s broad shoulder in one smooth movement.

Beginning to kick and scream at his sheer audacity, he enrages me further with a sharp swat to my ass, the bikini brief giving zero protection from his hot palm.

“Put me down right this second, you fucking neanderthal! Who do you think you are?”

Pounding my fist against his rock-hard ass is getting me nothing but a sore freaking hand, so I think of the long game and conserve my energy, going limp in his hold.

His feet step over the threshold, and as quickly as my world spun upside down, it returns to right again as he deposits me on my feet.

Hurriedly finding my bearings, I palm my long hair back from my face before hurling myself at him, fully intent on physical harm, though I’ve never hurt a fly in my life before now. That mishap with Andrea doesn’t count because I never actually hurt her. Well, maybe her ego.

Ugh!

This goddamn man.

Before I can land my clenched fist on his chest, he catches both of my wrists firmly, walking me backwards to the nearest wall and pinning my trapped hands above my head with only one of his own, much stronger hands.

Despite the anger flowing through me, a zap of lust shoots down my spine, straight to my pussy, making me even angrier that my body could even think of sexual gratification at a time like this.

She’s a dirty whore.

His eyes are stormy and unblinking, not a single golden fleck in sight as he glares down at me before speaking calmly and evenly.

“You will not be friends with someone you used to fuck. I won’t have it. End of discussion.”

Dropping my hands, he turns and walks away as though his word is law, but there’s no way in hell I’m having that happen.

Over my dead body.

So, I coolly and confidently reply to his retreating back, knowing entirely too well the outcome my words will produce and still not having enough clarity of mind to give a rat’s arse.

“I’ll fuck whoever I want, and you won’t stop me!”

He freezes, dead in his tracks, just as I’d known he would. And for a moment, spiteful delight surges through me at the knowledge that I’ve just gained the upper hand.

Until he leisurely turns to face me, his relaxed stance altogether at odds with the murderous look on his face.

Jaw clenched so tight it surely hurts, nostrils flaring with each deep inhalation he takes… and his eyes. Oh, his eyes are barely slitted and filled with unmitigated fury, sending a wave of panic right through me.

Realising I’ve gone too far, I murmur, “Oh shit,” and try to run just as he closes the gap between our bodies. He grabs one of my hands before spinning me to face the wall, pinning me there with his chest pressed hard against my back and my hand trapped between us.

He leans in close, so close that I can feel his lips ghost across the back of my neck, making my entire body break out in goosebumps. His breath is hot on my flesh as he speaks the most sinfully divine words.

“I’m going to pound all memory of him right out of your sweet cunt until the only name you remember is mine—when you’re screaming it at the top of your fucking lungs.”

He runs the thumb of his free hand along my petulant bottom lip in a back-and-forth motion as I shudder openly against him.

Forcing his thumb between my lips inside my panting mouth, he presses down on my tongue before swirling the digit around once. Then twice, before removing it to rest on my quivering lips.

“This is mine.”

Drawing his wet thumb down my chin to the curve of my breast, he splays his palm across my heaving chest before moving his hand down to tug my bikini top to one side roughly. He palms my exposed breast without mercy, my covered breast crying out for the same attention.

“And these are mine.”

He pinches my nipple between his fingers, tweaking the erect bud almost harshly before moving down onto my bare stomach. Stopping his descent to swirl his finger inside my belly button, the gesture causes butterflies to come to life inside of me before he trails his hand around my hip to caress my ass almost reverently.

“And this is mine.”