Twisted Hate: An Enemies with Benefits Romance

Part of me was disgusted. Another part sang with exhilaration.
In a world that expected politeness and praised restraint, there was
nothing more freeing than finally letting it all out. No holds barred.
Fury carved savage lines into Josh’s face. “Fuck. You.”
“You. Wish.”
The white plumes of our breaths mingled in the cold. The air around us
fell unnaturally still, like it was waiting with bated breath for our next move.
“I don’t need to wish, Red.” His voice turned dark. Smoky. It slithered
past my defenses and kindled a heat in my lower belly that had both nothing
and everything to do with my anger. “I could fuck your brains out right now.
Make you take back every word you said and have you begging for more by
the end of it.”

---

It was a warning, not seduction. And it made the fire burn even hotter in
my veins.
“You know what they say about men who talk a big game.” Anticipation
climbed up my spine at the danger swirling in the air. We were one step away
from crossing a line we couldn’t come back from, and I was riding high
enough I didn’t care. “They’re overcompensating for the smallest packages.”
A smile slashed across Josh’s face, vicious enough it introduced a seed of
trepidation.
“Oh, Red. You’re about to find out just how untrue that is,” he said softly.
He moved so fast I didn’t get the chance to draw another breath before he
yanked me against him and crushed his mouth against mine.
And my world as I knew it shattered into a million pieces.

---

18

---

JULES
S
HOCK
GLUED
MY
FEET
TO
THE
FLOOR
. I’
D
SUSPECTED
THIS
WOULD
HAPPEN
,
that I would push Josh past his breaking point. I’d goaded him into it, after
all.
But now that it was happening, I couldn’t formulate a response. No
words, no movement, just utter disbelief and dark, disturbing heat that raced
through my veins like wildfire.
The warmth from earlier had erupted into a full-blown volcano, dripping
lava until every nerve ending blazed with sensation. My heart thundered with
the force of a thousand galloping horses, and the pounding spread until it
throbbed in every part of me—my head, my throat, the suddenly, agonizingly
sensitive spot between my legs.
Josh curled his hand around the back of my neck, holding me captive
while he plundered my mouth.
He kissed the way we fought. Hard. Rough. Explosive.
I hated how much I loved it.
I regained control of my limbs and raised my hands to push him away,
but to my surprise, I fisted his shirt instead. I gathered handfuls of the white
cotton and yanking him closer until we were pressed so tight against each
other I wasn’t sure where I ended and he began.
A small moan escaped when Josh shifted his hips just enough so his
hardness rubbed against my core.
“Can’t get enough of me, can you?” His mocking whisper ghosted over
my lips, its softness a sharp contrast to the force with which he tugged on my
hair.
Tears sprang to my eyes at the flash of pain. The throbbing in my lower

---

belly intensified. “Fuck you,” I hissed.
“I already know that’s what you want, Red.” He closed his teeth around
my bottom lip and tugged hard enough to send another twin frisson of pain
and pleasure spiraling through my body. “No need to beg for it.”
A low growl rose in my throat. I finally shoved him off me, my heart
racing and my lips and pussy throbbing in equal measure. “I will never beg
you for anything.”
Josh wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, the movement so slow
and deliberate it became more sexual than it should’ve been. A flush of
arousal colored his high cheekbones, and the intensity of his gaze as he
dragged it over my face to where my coat gaped open seared into my flesh.
“Don’t be too sure about that.” The embers in his eyes burned brighter.
“Let’s make another bet, Red. I bet if I bent you over and yanked up that little
skirt of yours, I’d find you soaking for me. And I bet I could have you
begging for my cock, for me to make you come so hard you’ll see fucking
stars before the night is over.”
My teeth clenched in aggravation. I hated his ego, his arrogant smirk, his