Concede (The Diamond Empire Book 1) by Kathy Coopmans (bts book recommendations .TXT) 📕

our paths crossed until she moved to Houston a while back to work and be close to my sister-in-law, Sienna. Now I find myself wanting her in all the ways I never thought I could.

And fuck, do I ever want Victoria Hughes—the woman who, in some ways, is indeed an angel. But in bed, she’s a kinky one with needs that fulfill my own.

Silky skin. Eyes shining like stars when playing on the floor with my niece, Lexi, nephew, Braxton, and her attention fully engaging with every word my nephew Luca says.

She drew me in more than I’d ever been by another woman. Sucked in like a planet orbiting the sun.

Scorched.

And, her curves, damn, she has them in all the right places—legs for miles. Lips stained fire engine red, which I’ve known for years, is her signature color.

She’s rocked me to the core.

Fucking awestruck.

The only problem, I’m sure those walls Victoria has around her heart when it comes to me want to crumble. But something is holding her back, and I’m not ashamed to admit, I’ll do everything I can to knock them down even if I have to level them in one clean sweep.

Because I’m positive she cares about me. She’s readable when she opens herself up like an unputdownable book.

I have a long way to go until I get to the best parts. I’d imagine once I do, there’s going to be a fire burning so damn hot within those pages, even a man like me with flames flowing through his veins will singe.

But I’m a patient man, and I know she’s worth the wait—worth the anger, as well as the tension—rolling off her at this moment and filling the room.

No doubt directed at both her and me.

“This is a one-time thing. A mistake that won’t be happening again. We will continue pretending to like each other for our families’ and friends’ sake and forget we slept together. Do you understand me? I mean it. Don’t call me. Don’t look at me. Just leave me alone,” she says with so much heat in her tone, I’m surprised she isn’t following it with a breath of fire.

My hands still to where I’d been buttoning up my shirt, and I lift my head to watch Victoria wrap the sheet around her body, tucking it tight under her arms as if that would stop me from taking what I wanted. She should know by now that it wouldn’t.

That it doesn’t. That it never will again.

She is mine.

“You don’t have the upper hand here, Victoria. I do, always have when it comes to you.”

She lifts her chin, eyes narrowing on mine with all that defiance and strength I’ve known for a long time she’s had.

Her long-thick black hair is a wild mess from my fists. Lips swollen, bite marks on her shoulders. She’s never looked more beautiful to me than right this very minute.

It makes my cock throb.

“You’ve never had the upper hand with me. Today was nothing more than hate fucking. A way to rid each other out of our systems.”

Such a pretty little liar she is. We’ve been under each other’s skin since the day we met. I plan on getting much deeper. As deep as I can.

It only took two damn decades and one-touch to make me realize it. Stupid fucking idiot that I am.

I smirk when Victoria gets onto her knees and slowly inches toward me, stopping within an inch of my face. Her eyes stunning me momentarily as the seductive green dances around the edges of the golden flecks.

Jesus, a man could get lost in those eyes.

“Just because I let you inside me does not mean you’ll have the privilege of doing it again. God, I’m such a stupid woman. We didn’t use a condom. God knows what diseases you’ve given me. Do you even care?” She smiles. The beauty mark of a mole above her lip would make it all the more exquisite if it were friendly.

“I do care, and so do you. There’s a word called no, Victoria, and for your peace of mind, I don’t fuck women without protection. You were my first. Go get checked out if it’ll make you feel better.” I won’t bother telling her I’ll be going with—doctor or not, no one will be getting a look at her pretty pussy except me.

Ever again.

Call me an asshole. I don’t care. I’m a possessive fucker.

“Oh, you can count on me doing just that.” Her smile falls, and she replaces it with a scowl.

If I had the time, I’d wipe it off her mouth with my tongue, bend her over my knee, and paint her lush ass red, and in no time, she’d be begging me to fuck her again.

With no protection.

Placing a knee to the bed, I palm her chin and cage her cheeks between my fingers and thumb. The woman is so damn gorgeous. I could stare at her for hours.

My words come out on a hiss flamed with fire. “I claimed your soul the minute you touched my lips, Victoria Hughes. No, I take that back. It was the minute I laid eyes on you. You should have known that once you climb in bed with the Devil, you can never leave.”

CHAPTER ONE

Victoria

“While I’m sorry for your loss, Miss Hughes, don’t think I won’t clip your pretty little wings to expose who you are if you aren’t honest with me today. As I indicated when you arrived, I’d like to go over your statement again. There are also a few things I’ve found out while investigating.”

Judging by the harsh, hurtful words, FBI Agent Greg Wozniak isn’t sorry at all. But I am. I’m silently apologizing about what will happen to him when he least expects it. Based on whether that something else, which he’s just now making me aware of, is a threat to me or The Diamond Empire—otherwise known as an American mafia.

I also don’t like how he’s staring at me with pure, angry lust behind