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He listens to my plea, and his thumb presses into my ass. Lightning rips through me. He owns me completely. His fingers work my clit in a steady rhythm. Heat builds fast.

“We’re almost there, Lara. I feel you tightening.” His voice is low in my ear. The fingers in my pussy turn brutal, exactly how I asked. The one in my ass pushes me over.

I come hard, back bowing, body convulsing on his lap. He holds me through it with iron strength until I collapse against him.

He gives me just a second to breathe. Then his fingers start again. I’m oversensitive and raw. I try to twist away. He puts one hand over my mouth.

“You think it’s over?” He pumps deep, pulling his hand out completely before slamming back in, thumb never leaving my clit. “I decide when we’re done.”

I kick and thrash, but it does nothing to him. I squeeze my thighs together, but his hand stays buried deep inside me. I claw his forearm, moan into his palm. Tears spill down my cheeks. Another wave crashes through me. My shadows pour out with the orgasm, blackening his arm. I feel a low growl in his chest, as he keeps holding me through my pain. And his pain. This time everything hits deeper. Like I’m cleansing my body of sadness and sorrow.

“There we go. My shadow girl.”

He finally eases off as my body stops convulsing. He kisses my cheek softly. Silence falls. I have no strength left. He loosens his grip, sliding one hand to my thigh and brushing hair from my face with the other. He turns me sideways so I can rest my forehead against him and come down.

He gave me what I wanted and more.

“I told you I can be nice.” He sounds so fucking proud of himself. Prick. Maybe he’s expecting some kind of compliment, praise, a thank-you. He’s not getting any of that. I wipe the tears with the back of my hand. I look up and meet his eyes with a cold stare.

“Now pay me what you owe me.”

His eyes go dead.

“So I’m only money to you?”

The honesty on his face catches me off guard. I thought all wolves were the same, ruled by instinct, aggression and lust. His reaction scares me more than what he just did to me. I cling to the last of my control before I let him get any closer.

Shifting forward, I straddle him face-to-face. “You think you’re something more? Did I break your little wolf heart?” That leaves him speechless.

I stand and collect my underwear. There is no need to leave any souvenirs for Vito. I pull the stardust from my bag and toss it on the desk, fold my arms, and wait.

Nero sighs, brushes his tattooed hand through his black hair, rises from the couch, and counts out a thick stack of bills.

“I’m starting to suspect you’re more fucked up than I am.”

“I never said I wasn’t.” My hand snatches the cash, and I walk out without looking back.

CHAPTER 14

SOUTHSIDE

I’ve been in a cold bath since morning, and my body still burns. Even Sava gave me a strange look when I got in the car. Like he knew something had happened. The water has gone from freezing to lukewarm twice, and I keep draining it, refilling it, sinking back under until my skin prickles and my teeth almost chatter. It doesn’t help. Nothing helps. My blood runs at an inappropriate temperature, and I know exactly why.

Fucking wolf prince.

I get wet just thinking about him, which is humiliating enough to make me consider drowning myself for five quiet minutes. This is chemical. It has to be. I did everything to pretend it meant nothing in that office. But apparently, I need to add another item on to the long list of things I’m addicted to. Antonero Caruso. I thought, if I allowed myself more, it would be done. Scratched. Forgotten. But no. It’s worse.

I cut a fat line of stardust on the edge of the tub and snort it. Still nothing. The worst part is the quiet voice in my head that wants to go back to that office and do it all over again. Honestly, I didn’t think my body could still feel like this. I thought stardust had killed everything. Somehow, Nero has crawled deeper under my skin than anyone else in a long time.

I come up for air because I can’t hold my breath anymore. I check my watch and know I need to move. Dressed all in black, my working uniform. Let’s be honest, you don’t go to the Southside for glamour. You go there for trouble.

And that’s what I’m doing now.

Sava waits in the car. When I slide into the back seat and tell him to take me to Nova Belgrade, he doesn’t start the engine. He just looks at me through the rearview mirror.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I snap. “Do you think I want to go there? Do you have one hundred k? No? Then fucking drive.”

He shakes his head, adjusts his glasses, and pulls away from the curb.