Claimed by the Sicilian Tycoon (Criminal Seduction #3)(50)

“I have already told you what I feel,” he roared. “What more do you want from me?”

“Outside of the desire, the lust, all of that,” Lyra demanded. “What do you feel for me, Andros? Is there anything else?”

“I…”

He shook his head, making Lyra’s heart dropped to her knees, realization hitting like a sucker punch. The possessiveness, the anger, the hard, dirty sex, always it had been about that. She had been so stupid to think otherwise. Confusing your own feelings for his, she thought, and gasped, as the reality of those feelings made themselves known.

How could she have missed it? How could she have not realized sooner? It had been there from the very beginning, and because it was there, Lyra knew she had no choice but to say the next words.

“Exactly. This is over, Andros. So over.”

He shook his head, almost automatically, she thought, surprise darkening his features. “You are ending us?”

“I have no choice,” she said, and the words were wrenched from her.

“You do not want to do this, Lyra,” he said, stepping forward, closing the distance between them, and gripping her arms.

“Then give me a reason not to,” she said.

His grip tightened. “I have given you my reasons.”

“One that doesn’t involve sex.”

“I cannot.”

“No. Of course you can’t. I don’t even know why I expected any different. Too many happy ever afters going on around me, clearly.” She shook her head and laughed bitterly. “Why else would I be such an idiot?”

“Lyra, you are not making sense. What is it you are trying to say?”

“Nothing you’ll ever want to hear.” Because it wasn’t, Lyra realized. Not in a million years.

“Try me,” he demanded, but she shook her head harder, as if the action might make it all go away. Because there was no way in hell she was going to tell him the truth. The truth that she herself had only just realized. No f*cking way. I love you, Andros, love you… She shivered, imagining the horror that would fill his eyes, the panic as realization hit. That she’d fallen for him, desperately, irrevocably.

No f*cking way! And so there was only one thing left to do now. Only one way out, and Lyra’s heart squeezed as she realized the truth of it all.

Checkmate at last.





Chapter Twenty-Seven



“I need to leave.”

Andros held Lyra tighter as she spoke the words, wondering as he did so how the f*ck the situation had gotten so out of control. He had not expected this at all. After the amazing sex in the car, and the realization that he could not stay away from her again, he’d thought to tell Lyra how much he wanted her, how much he needed her, and of course she would comply. The fact that she wasn’t complying? It baffled him, angered him, and he had to make her see sense.

“You need to stop being so hysterical,” he said.

She tugged her arms, but he held fast. “I’m not being hysterical. I’m stating a fact. I am leaving. Now.”

Andros pulled her closer so that the length of her body was flush with his. He looked down, letting his gaze travel from her kiss sore lips, to her flushed chest. Her nipples were hard, bulleting through the thin cotton of her dress. Christ, it was the dead of winter, why wasn’t she dressed more warmly? Because you weren’t here to make sure of it. He nodded inwardly at that thought. Whether she knew it or not Lyra needed him to take care of her.


“You’re going nowhere,” he said. “Nowhere.”

She wiggled against him. The action only made his cock thicken. “You can’t keep me here.”

“I can and I will.”

“How dare you?” she demanded.

“Just stay still and think this through,” he said, ignoring her words. “Think about how you feel next to me like this.”

“I have thought it through,” she hissed. “How I feel standing next to you is the entire problem!”

“What do you mean?” he asked, unable to comprehend her words.

“You’re so f*cking dumb,” she replied. “You just don’t get it.”

“Get what?” he demanded. “What the hell are you trying to say?”

“I’m not trying to say anything,” she hissed. “Just leave it. Let me go. Jesus, Andros, just let me go.”

Her voice broke on the last word, her lip wobbling, and, looking down at her, out of nowhere, it was like a light switched on. Andros realized exactly what she was trying to say, exactly what she meant. Fuck.

Silence fell and held. Andros let go of her arms without even realizing that he had. “Are you saying—”

“I’m saying nothing.” She stepped around him, her hair falling to cover her flushed face. “My decision remains the same. We are done, Andros. So f*cking done.”

Shock turned into anger the moment she uttered her dismissive words. His chest felt…weird…and Andros shook his head against it all. His feelings, Lyra’s words, everything. Nothing was as he imagined. Everything was going wrong. Why couldn’t she just do as he wanted? Be the Lyra she had been before? Where everything worked. Where she expected only what he gave?

“So now it all becomes clear,” he said slowly, his accent marked.