Lily's accusation hung in the air, her chest heaving with anger. But instead of looking guilty or defensive, Chris's lips twitched into an amused smile. This only infuriated Lily more.
"You think this is funny?!" she sputtered, her face flushing red.
Chris couldn't hold back anymore. He burst into laughter, the sound rich and deep, filling the small room. He slumped onto the couch, holding his sides as if Lily's anger was the most entertaining thing he'd seen in years.
Lily felt her blood boil. How dare he laugh at her? "You son of a—" she started, but Chris's laughter only intensified, cutting off her words.
Her eyes darted around the room, searching for something, anything to wipe that smirk off his face. That's when she spotted it – an old hunting rifle mounted on the wall. Without thinking, Lily's petite frame strode over and yanked it down. She whirled around, pointing the gun directly at Chris's chest.
"I dare you," she growled, her hands shaking slightly as she gripped the weapon. "Laugh now, you jerk!"
But Chris's reaction wasn't what she expected. Instead of fear or surprise, he simply leaned back, a lazy smile playing on his annoyingly sensual lips. His blue eyes locked onto hers, calm and unworried.
"Go ahead," he said softly, his voice a challenge.
Lily's jaw dropped. Why wasn't he afraid? Why wasn't he fighting back or trying to disarm her? The gun felt heavy in her hands, and doubt began to creep in. Was it even loaded? Did he know something she didn't?
"What's wrong, Lily?" Chris asked, his voice maddeningly gentle. "Isn't this what you wanted? To have the upper hand?"
Lily's mind raced. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. He should be begging, explaining himself, not... whatever this was. The certainty she'd felt moments ago began to crumble.
"I... I..." she stammered, the gun wavering in her grip.
Chris stood slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. He took a step toward her, then another. Lily's heart pounded in her chest, but she couldn't move, couldn't look away from those intense blue eyes.
"Put the gun down, Lily," Chris said softly, now close enough that the barrel of the rifle almost touched his chest. "We both know you're not going to use it."
"Why?! You think I'm weak, huh? I'll definitely shoot your chest," Lily snarled, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
Chris's lips twitched, amusement dancing in his mischievous blue eyes. "Oh, I don't doubt your determination, Lily," he said, his voice low and teasing. "But for that, you might want to hold it the right way first."
Lily's brow furrowed in confusion. Chris gently tapped the barrel of the gun with his finger. "You're holding it upside down, sweetheart."
Heat rushed to Lily's cheeks as embarrassment flooded through her. How could she have been so stupid? Flustered, she fumbled with the gun, trying to turn it around.
In that split second of distraction, Chris moved. His hand shot out, lightning-fast, and snatched the rifle from her grasp. Lily gasped, realizing her mistake too late.
"No!" she cried, lunging forward to reclaim the weapon. But her momentum was too much, and Chris wasn't prepared for her sudden movement.
They toppled backwards, Chris landing on his back with an "oof" as the air rushed out of his lungs. Lily fell on top of him, their bodies pressed together from chest to thigh.
Time seemed to stop as their eyes locked. Lily found herself lost in the depths of Chris's ocean-blue gaze, mere inches from her own. She could feel the rapid rise and fall of his chest against hers, smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne mixed with something uniquely him.
Her fiery brown eyes searched his face, looking for... what? Mischievousness? Amusement? But all she saw was an intensity that made her breath catch in her throat. Chris's hands had somehow found their way to her waist, steadying her, and Lily was acutely aware of every point of contact between them.
For a moment, the icy-world outside ceased to exist. There was only this – the warmth of Chris's body beneath hers, the electricity crackling in the air between them, and the sudden, inexplicable urge to close the final inches separating their lips.
Lily's senses suddenly kicked in, jolting her back to reality. 'Why the hell was she romancing her villain?' Scrambling to her feet, she frowned at Chris, who was getting up with an infuriatingly sensual smirk playing on his lips.
"I understand what you're trying to do," Lily spat, her voice laced with venom as Chris calmly walked over to replace the gun on its mount. "You're purposely creating situations so I'll get closer to you."
Chris sighed, turning to face her. "Lily... no—"
But Lily was on a roll, her anger and frustration pouring out. "I know that you're trying hard to get me in bed with you. Don't think that I'm stupid. I might look innocent, but I'm not."
"But... I didn't—" Chris tried to interject, but Lily bulldozed over him.
"You... you are the worst human being. If you try touching me again, then—"
"LILY!" Chris's shout cut through her tirade, stunning her into silence. His blue eyes blazed with an intensity that made her breath catch.
"You are so mistaken about me, Lily," he said, his voice low and controlled. "You think that I'm trying to get you in bed. But trust me, if I tried to seduce you, you would have fallen for me long ago."
Lily blinked, her mind struggling to process his words. Chris crossed the distance between them in two long strides. His hand came up, fingers gently grasping her chin, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. Lily's heart thundered in her chest.
"And if I decided to take you by force," he continued, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine, "Trust me, you would have been tied up to my bed in my bdsm room and your legs splayed like an eagle on my bed a long time ago—and I would have taken you in all possible ways, and fulfill all of my darkest fantasies."
Lily tensed, her imagination betraying her as it conjured vivid images of exactly what Chris described. He has a bdsm room?! And he likes bondage sex?!
Heat flooded her cheeks, and she prayed he couldn't feel how fast her pulse was racing.
"It's not that difficult for me to take you by force, Lily dear. You are tamed after all," Chris went on and Lily shivered at the way he explicitly flirted with her.
"It's too bad that I've decided to be gentle and liberal with you," Chris sighed, his thumb brushing ever so slightly across her lower lip.
Lily's mind was in chaos. One part of her wanted to slap him, to rail against his arrogance and presumption. But another part, a part she didn't want to acknowledge, thrilled at his words. The raw power in his voice, the confidence in his stance – it awakened something primal within her.
She wanted to hate him. She should hate him. But standing this close, feeling the warmth radiating from his body, breathing in his intoxicating scent – hate was the furthest thing from what she felt.
Confusion, desire, and a healthy dose of fear warred within her. Chris was dangerous, she realized. Not because he had the power to force himself on her - but because he could make her want him without even trying.
"I... I don't understand," Lily finally managed to whisper, hating how breathless she sounded.
Chris's eyes softened slightly. "No, you don't," he agreed. "But you will, Lily. In time, you'll see who I really am. And who you really are, too."
With that cryptic statement, he released her chin and stepped back. Lily felt the loss of his touch like a physical ache, even as relief flooded through her. She watched, still stunned, as Chris turned and walked towards the bathroom.
"Get some rest," he called over his shoulder. "We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
As the bathroom door closed behind him, Lily sank onto the bed, her legs suddenly weak. What had just happened? And more importantly, why did she feel so disappointed that nothing more had happened than that with Chris?!
'Earth to Lily…' she cursed herself. 'He is Eaton. Your enemy. Don't forget it.'