SILENT VOWS

22

When I nodded in response, his hand tightened on my neck with warning.

“Yes, I promise.” Anything to keep him from asking more questions and demanding answers.

I was devastated that he could conquer me so easily but also surprisingly relieved to finally have the first of my secrets revealed, even if it was by force. For six months, I’d borne the weight of my knowledge without the slightest reprieve from the burden. My body swayed in the aftermath of such an emotional release, drawing me closer to Conner’s warmth, my eyes falling to his chest.

Maybe the emotions had scrambled my brain, or maybe it was just sheer stupidity, but a part of me wanted to believe Conner was the safety I’d been searching for. My fingers curled into his designer suit jacket as I lifted my gaze back to his. The sapphire shards in his eyes were almost entirely consumed by shadow.

“You shouldn’t look at me like that, Noemi. I’m not anywhere near honorable enough to resist.”

I had no idea what I was doing except that it felt so good to hand over control to this man. To not be responsible for once and simply allow fate to lead the way. I’d spent every minute of every day for six months overthinking each of my actions. For better or worse, Conner was stripping away my choices and enabling me to just … be.

How could I resist that sort of temptation?

“Maybe … maybe I don’t want you to.”

Conner’s hand fisted in my hair, gently tugging my head back.

He groaned at whatever it was he saw shining in my eyes, then nipped my bottom lip between his teeth, languid and leisurely.

I gasped, feeling the scrape of his teeth as though they’d been somewhere further south. Another part of my body aching for his kiss and swollen with need. I was desperate for more. Leaning in, I tried to press my lips to his, but he kept his mouth just out of reach.

“My name. Say it,” he ordered softly.

I didn’t understand what this was about, but for the briefest second, I would have given him anything if it meant keeping him close.

“Conner,” I breathed.

“Fuck.” The violent curse tore from deep inside him before he claimed my lips with unrestrained savagery. I was rendered senseless, unable to comprehend anything beyond the taste of warm cinnamon and masculine hunger. Unable to breathe or think. Unwilling to resist.

He possessed me with unquenchable desire and lay siege to my heart in a way I never dreamed possible. Each seductive sweep of his tongue was another letter of his name etched into the surface of my soul. It would take no time at all for every thought and emotion to be centered around him.

He was too addicting. Too consuming.

A taste of his attention would never be enough. I’d crave it all, and he would become the center of my orbit. My entire purpose in life.

I pulled away from the kiss, my rational mind screaming with panic.

“I can’t do this,” I cried hoarsely, pulling from his grip.

“Tell me why.” The undercurrent of hurt in his harsh demand gutted me.

I shook my head. “It’s too much … I…”

“Then at least tell me why you were silent for so long.”

My lips clamped shut, and my body stiffened with steely resolve.

Conner must have seen the iron gate come crashing down behind my eyes because his hands relaxed and allowed me to tear myself free.

I shot him one last parting glare, demanding he let the subject go.

He answered with a stare equally as adamant.

Never.

Slippery slope was the understatement of the century. Kissing Noemi was more like walking up to a black hole—I was helpless against its gravitational pull. One taste of her, and there wasn’t a force on earth great enough to cleanse her from my system.

And her voice. Jesus Christ, her voice.

Husky but feminine, the sound of my name on her lips nearly buckled my knees. And to know I was the first to hear her speak? I didn’t care that the words were coerced from her. I loved knowing I was the only one who’d reached that part of her. Who’d seen past her barriers and coaxed her out from where she’d been hiding. I could have listened to her talk all damn day, but instead, she’d run from me, which sent me spiraling in an entirely different way.

The woman made me insane. I wanted to rage against her hold on me, but a bigger part of me was too preoccupied with need for her surrender. I didn’t want to bleed the truth from her like I would an enemy. I wanted her to lay it at my feet. Freely. Unconditionally.

It would happen, eventually.

For now, I’d give her the space she needed. Whatever had motivated her silence still bound her. It pissed me off that she wouldn’t give me an explanation. I’d get my answers one day soon, and then I’d have her, too.

When I felt madness sinking its claws deep inside me, I tried to convince myself that pursuing her would only make my life worse. Then the darkest parts of me spoke back, arguing that the clawing insistence would subside once I’d had her. That after I’d gained her surrender, the insatiable craving would finally disappear.

Those were blatant lies, and I knew it. Something I fed myself to rationalize away my growing compulsion.

As if the darkness in me had needed a rationale.

When it came to Noemi, I was beyond reason. Infatuation had seized me like a toxin in my blood.

“If that scowl deepens any farther, it’ll mar that pretty face of yours forever.” Shae winked at me, seating herself on my desk.

After my exchange with Noemi, I’d busied myself with errands to keep from thinking. Once I’d run out of tasks, I came in early to the office but had found myself hopelessly distracted.