Page 95 of Merciless

“Fine,” I grit out.

Elijah relaxes and straightens the cuff of his long-sleeved shirt.

Taking a deep breath, I kick off my shoes, then peel my shirt over my head. Elijah’s gaze drops to my bra. His features remain blank, his eyes never changing. The way he’s looking at me is apathetic at best and disinterested at worst.

I hesitate on the third clothing item.

I don’t know if I should remove my bra or if I should strip out of my skirt instead.

Not wanting to be topless, I shove my skirt down and kick it aside. Elijah watches my movements, never showing a reaction.

“There.” I hold out my arms and let them drop to my sides. “Happy?”

He purses his lips. “No.”

I huff. “I don’t know what else to do.”

“Take off the third clothing item.”

“I did.”

“No.” He looks up at my face. “You didn’t. Shoes don’t count.”

I glare at him, unable to find any words within my anger. Gritting my teeth, I reach behind and unhook my bra, then rip it off. My breasts spill from the cups, and cool air kisses my pebbled nipples.

“Better?” I growl.

Elijah stares at my chest with the same blank expression. His finger pauses mid-stroke on his jaw. Slowly, he raises his gaze to my face and briefly nods. “Your turn.”

I fold my arms over my breasts to hide them from his view. “Truth or kiss?”

Elijah leans on his hands and breaks the blank mask with a devilish smile. “Kiss.”

“Why do you want to—” His answer sinks in, and I clamp my mouth shut.

Elijah arches an eyebrow, still smiling like the cat that finally caught the mouse.

“Did you just say kiss?” I whisper.

“I did.”

“Why?”

He cocks his head. “I said kiss. Not truth. Now come here.”

“What happens if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll have to remove your panties, and I’m sure you’d hate to do that.”

My cheeks heat with another blush. I ease toward him, each step making my heart thump faster and harder against my chest.

Elijah pats his lap. “Straddle me.”

I stop in front of him and ball my hands into fists at my sides. Elijah openly roves his gaze down my body and fixes it on my breasts. His eyes darken, and he raises them to my face, waiting.

Swallowing my pride and nerves, I straddle his lap with my knees on each side of him. Elijah cups my waist, his fingertips digging into the flesh and holding me in place.

“I’m still waiting,” he says, his words a purr.