Page 30 of Marked By the Devil

I shook my head. “You can ask me a question once you’ve earned it with a kiss.”

She lowered her gaze for a moment. “Oh, so now you want to play games like that?” She rolled her eyes.

“I’m not playing at anything.” I gripped her hips and slid her to the edge of the sofa. “From now on…” I cupped her face and smoothed my thumb over her cheek. “If you want to ask me something…” I tucked her red hair back behind her ear on the opposite side of where I held her face. “Kiss me and earn the right to ask me whatever you want.”

She exhaled a long breath through her nose. “Whatever.” She leaned in and pecked a chaste kiss on my cheek.

I didn’t budge, holding her head as she reared back and gave me a smug look.

“I kissed you.”

“That wasn’t a kiss.”

“You didn’t specify what kind of a kiss.”

“Oh.” I lunged forward, sitting next to her and shifting her onto my lap. Before she could protest, I gripped her chin. “My bad. Like this, Red.”

I slammed my mouth to hers, taking the instant hit of lust like a punch in the gut. She stole my breath, stunning me with the primal need that singed me from the contact of her lips against mine.

She gasped in surprise, and I took advantage, tilting my head to ensure a better fit.

I pulled back and watched her.

“Viktor…” She licked her lips and didn’t retreat. “Do you really think your idea to seduce me can work?”

“That’s your question?” I mocked. “That’s what you want to know?”

She frowned. “No. That’s not…” She pressed her lips shut.

“Because I know I can seduce you.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“I’m not interested in playing games,” she insisted.

“What are you interested in?”

“Getting out of here. Returning to my normal life. Working in the field I will always be passionate about. As an agent.”

I didn’t back down, getting addicted to the idea of keeping her on my lap all night long. I’d humored her long enough, letting her sleep on this fucking couch. She belonged in my bed.

“What answers are you looking for to want to keep me against my will here?”

I smirked. “A kiss for a question.”

She sighed and leaned in to press her lips to mine. It wasn’t a too-quick, chaste peck again. She lingered, sagging against me for a moment.

“I’m looking for any intel that can help keep my family safe from enemies.”

She frowned. “You mean in keeping Adrik safe from another hit? I don’t know anything about that hit. I don’t know much about any of the cases this branch has going on. What enemies are you referring to?”

“A kiss for a⁠—”

She silenced my request, laying her lips against mine again. I threaded my fingers up into her glossy hair, so thankful that she’d switched to the contacts I’d ordered for her. I was sure she had more at her apartment, but since all her things were in boxes yet, I bet that it would’ve been a mess to have men find them. Ordering new ones was easiest.

She let out a breathy sigh when she pulled back.

“All of them, Red. I intend to find out whatever I can about anyone trying to bring us down. Even you and your agency.”