Page 110 of Villainous Rise

She sat up suddenly, clutching the sheet to her chest, eyes wide. A blush crept up her neck.

There it is. The panic. Right on schedule.

“Oh god.” Her words began tumbling out in a rush. “Did you want me to go last night? Was I not supposed to stay? I didn’t even think—I just fell asleep and—“ She was already shifting away, one leg sliding toward the edge of the bed. “I’ll go now. I should go.”

A laugh burst out of me unexpectedly. I reached for her, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her back down against my chest.

“Yes, you were supposed to fucking stay,” I said, still laughing as I tucked her body against mine. “Christ, Annie. That’s not what I meant.”

She blinked up at me. “Then what⁠—”

“I don’t understand why you didn’t try to bolt the second you woke up.”

Her body relaxed slightly against mine, though wariness remained in her eyes. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.” I tightened my grip on her, unwilling to let her escape now that I had her. “So forgive me for being suspicious when you woke up and decided to have a cuddle instead.”

Annie’s fingers resumed their exploration of my chest, tracing one of the tattoo lines that ran along my collarbone. “Maybe I was just comfortable.”

“Bullshit.” I caught her wandering hand, pressing it flat against my heart. “You’re never comfortable with me unless you’re wearing a mask or I’m inside you.”

Her pulse jumped, I could feel it where our wrists crossed. “That’s not⁠—“

“It’s exactly true,” I cut her off, voice dropping lower. “But I’m not complaining. If you want to pretend this is normal for five minutes, I’ll take it.”

The morning light caught in her eyes, turning them to sapphire.

“That’s not true,” Annie said, her voice hardening with unexpected offense. “I’m comfortable with you.”

I raised a brow, scanning her face for the lie. “Since when?”

“Since...” She faltered, then squared her shoulders. “Maybe I just am. Would you prefer I act uncomfortable? Should I be climbing the walls to escape?”

“No,” I admitted, my thumb tracing the curve of her hip. “I prefer you exactly like this.”

“Then be quiet and let me enjoy being with you.”

My brain scrambled to recalibrate. Annie Bishop, willingly in my bed, admitting she enjoyed being with me. No mask. No anger. No excuses.

“Enjoy being with me?” I couldn’t help the smirk that spread across my face. “Careful, Sparks. That almost sounds like you like me.”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “I do like you.”

“Is that so?”

The challenge hung in the air for exactly two seconds before Annie lunged forward and sank her teeth into my pec.

“Fuck!” I jerked in surprise and laughed. “You vicious little thing.”

Annie pulled back. “Stop provoking me then.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” I traced my finger along her jawline, deliberately provocative. “Besides, you’re fucking magnificent when provoked.”

She struck again, this time catching the muscle between neck and shoulder, the sharp sting of her teeth made my already hardened cock twitch. My hand fisted in her hair automatically, holding her against me.

“So if I don’t provoke you,” I murmured, “you wouldn’t bite me? Seems like a poor trade-off.”

Annie released my flesh, replacing teeth with lips as she pressed a soft kiss to the spot she’d bitten. The tenderness of the gesture was more shocking than the bite had been.