Reign of a Billionaire : A Dark Mafia Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

My heart drummed in my ears, and a part of me hated feeling so vulnerable. The other, more dominant part of me just wanted to let go, knowing he’d catch me.

His eyes were dark and his hand slid up my neck, fisting in my hair. He traced my lips with his thumb. Fire and adrenaline shot through my blood while he watched me.

Like I was everything he wanted. Like I was the only thing he needed.

The press of his lips against mine made my blood sizzle. My lips parted, welcoming the heat of his tongue, and when he nipped at my bottom lip, then licked it, an explosion of fire burst inside me. A moan traveled up my throat and he swallowed it, sliding his tongue inside my mouth.

My hands came to his shoulders, not to push him away but to pull him closer. The warmth of his chest against mine sent a tremble through me, my nipples tightening. The heat of his body alone stole my breath away. My body melted against his, like he was a piece of me that had been missing forever. He deepened the kiss and my fingers curled, digging nails into his shoulders. I panted against his lips while his mouth traveled down my neck, nipping and sucking at my throat.

Then, without a warning, he pulled away, his eyes on me, full of promises.

“Let’s go home.” His rough voice blazed a path down my spine, his words soft and desperate like my need to feel him inside me.

Home. Somewhere along the way, his prison had become home.

Chapter 47Liana

Twenty-four hours had gone by since that searing, unforgettable kiss.

To my dismay, once we got back to the island, Kingston didn’t scoop me off my feet and ravish me. In fact, he acted as if nothing had happened. It left me no other choice but to behave the same.

I’d rather die than beg a man—even one as hot as Kingston Ashford—for attention.

And then there was the guilt that gnawed at me. Kingston was Lou’s love, not mine. So why did it feel so right? I pulled at my hair and groaned. It might be for the best that we didn’t stoke the fire.

Although, it didn’t stop me from lounging here on the beach, gawking at Kingston’s muscled forearms, unable to tear my gaze away. If he’d only discard his swimming shorts, he’d be gloriously naked and my eyes could have their fill.

My thighs tightened and my skin flushed. It wasn’t a hard fantasy to come up with—even to someone as inexperienced as me. His muscular body would cover mine, giving me toe-curling pleasure as he fucked me… if that kiss and our hook-up in his penthouse were any preview.

Good Lord in heaven. I should have looked away, but I physically couldn’t. His tanned, olive skin rippled. He had not an ounce of fat on him. His broad chest was inked with tattoos that begged to be explored. And then those six-pack abs…

But it was the ink on his strong forearms that always held my interest—almost like an angel wing wrapping its feathers around his forearm protectively.

My breath caught, and every part of me was suddenly in flames. My mouth parted and I discreetly checked to ensure I wasn’t drooling. Thankfully, I wasn’t that far gone. Yet.

It should be forbidden for someone that good-looking to walk around in swim shorts. He should be made to wear a full bodysuit to ensure every woman’s safety.

You’re the only woman here, dork, I reminded myself. I dropped my head, hoping he didn’t see me staring. He shook his head, droplets from his hair sprinkling my skin and doing nothing to cool me off.

“I don’t remember you having a staring problem.”

“I don’t,” I snapped, my voice too breathy. “Maybe I’m not the only one with a memory problem.”

“Uh-huh.”

My gaze shifted back to him without my permission and my belly pooled with warmth, catching his eyes exploring my nearly naked body. I exhaled a shuddering breath and looked away again, but not before seeing the flash of a smirk on Kingston’s face.

He was an enigma, and I wasn’t quite sure why. Maybe it was this gaping hole in my memory, or maybe it was something else.

He sat beside me, not even bothering with a towel, and I couldn’t resist. “The sand is going to be up your ass.”

He flashed me a smile, taking my breath away, before he lay down and tipped his face up to the sun. His face, stoic even when sunbathing, tugged at my heartstrings. I stared at him, deciding whether to bring up our kiss and short conversation about not turning back.

“Still not done staring?”

I swallowed, my need to lash out and raise my walls insistent. It was a necessity around my mother and her associates, but around Kingston, I didn’t want to be like that. Some habits were hard to break though.

“Why do you have so many tattoos?”

He didn’t move, but his body stiffened. He didn’t open his eyes. “They invoke fear. Scars draw pity.”

I froze, unable to even breathe.

“Did my mother and Ivan…”

My voice cracked. The words were lost. My thoughts scattered in the wake of the violent hatred that flowed through my veins like lava. For a long moment, we remained quiet, our bodies almost touching.