Chapter 24. A Deal

Aaron POV

She kissed me back, just as fiercely, just as intensely. It was one of the many reasons I couldn’t figure her out, why this woman intrigued me so much.

Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling—hard. I broke the kiss for just a second to look at her, really look at her.

Her green eyes burned with that maddening mix of anger and desire, sharper now than it had ever been before.

I slid my hand down her back, gripping the back of her thighs and lifting her up. Her legs wrapped around my waist instinctively, like she belonged there.

“Tell me, kitten, is this what you want?” I asked, my voice low. I wasn’t the monster she thought I was—not entirely.

I wasn’t going to force anything on her. Whatever she thought of me, I was more than that.

Her head tilted slightly, green eyes dragging slowly over my face before settling on my lips.

“Backing out now, Thompson?” she shot back, and I gritted my teeth. This—this right here—was why