He kissed me like a man starving for something he hated needing.

Xavier’s mouth devoured mine, rough and unrelenting. Not gentle. Not kind. No slow tenderness like in the books I used to hide beneath my pillow. This was something else... darker. A kiss that tasted like punishment and worship all at once. And gods help me… I kissed him back.

I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to shatter every wall he built inside that iron heart. But when his hand gripped my waist and pulled me flush against ...