Shadow Falling (The Scorpius Syndrome #2) by Rebecca Zanetti Page A

thoughts. But it can’t be. So I—”
    “Vinnie.” One word stopped her tirade.
    “What?” She frowned.
    I’d love to have sex with you. I’d die for a condom. Don’t fucking move or it’s over
. The thoughts ran through his head like rapid fire. “It’s okay. Don’t worry about the thoughts. Let’s get breakfast.” If she rubbed against him again, he wasn’t entirely sure he wouldn’t toss her on her back and take his chances with Scorpius.
    She blew out air, and her gaze lowered to his chin. “You don’t like me.”
    “I like you fine.” Yet he had to betray her, and sleeping with her would only make things worse.
    “What are you hiding?” she whispered.
    His gut clenched. “What do you mean?”
    She looked up. “I’m pretty good at reading people and always have been. You’re hiding something, and I wishyou’d just say what it is so I can stop imagining worst-case scenarios.”
    The truth was the worst-case scenario. “Sometimes the ends justify the means,” he said, wanting nothing more than to give her honesty.
    She tilted her head to the side. “Are you here to betray Jax Mercury?”
    “No, but he’ll probably see the situation that way,” Raze said, focusing his gaze on her. For the first time he wondered if he could really turn her over to Greyson, but it was the only way to get Maureen back. He’d taken care of his sister his entire life and he couldn’t stop now. But an overwhelming sense of responsibility for the small blonde in his arms caught him by the throat and squeezed.
    Vinnie licked her lips.
    He groaned.
    She smiled and her eyes lit up. “You do kind of like me.”
    God, she was too cute for words. Brilliant, insightful, and cute—an unthinkable combination, and one he couldn’t turn away from. Slowly, deliberately, he slid his hand down her back and flattened his palm over her firm ass, pressing her onto his aching cock. “I like you a lot,” he rumbled.
    Heat sparked in her eyes and her breath caught. “I guess so.” Her thighs widened and she dropped her knees on either side of his legs.
    The heat from her core washed over him with a temptation that edged on pain.
    He was two seconds away from coming in his shorts. A guy had to have some pride. If there was a private shower somewhere, he’d find it and jack off until he could think again. As it was, he was out of luck, so he needed to get himself under control. “Enough, Vinnie.”
    She rubbed against him, arching like a cat. “Are you sure?”
    Hell no, he wasn’t sure. “Yes.” He released her and dugboth hands into her hair, lifting and easily controlling her head. “Don’t trust me, and for God’s sake, don’t give yourself to me. Trust me.”
    She laughed out loud. “What a contradiction you are.”
    “Look who’s talking,” he said, frustration lowering his voice to a near growl.
    “What makes you think I won’t tell Jax you’re going to betray him?” she asked without an ounce of coyness.
    “He already knows I have an agenda and doesn’t trust me,” Raze said evenly. “I’m needed right now because his forces are down, or he’d probably just shoot me in the head and neutralize any threat.”
    Vinnie sobered. “That’s just sad. Why don’t you tell me your agenda and I’ll help you? So long as nobody gets hurt.”
    “You’ll know soon enough, baby.” He rolled to the side and dumped her on the bed, his entire body aching for relief. “We need food. Get dressed and we’ll head down.” He had to stop saying
we
. There was no
we
.
    She grumbled but did as he said, rolling to the floor and heading for the defunct bathroom. The sound of her brushing out tangles in her thick hair filled the apartment with a domestic feel. A happy shout came from her. “You have the good toothpaste.”
    “Yep. There’s water in a jug under the sink.” He drew on fresh jeans and a faded Metallica T-shirt before taking his turn in the useless bathroom to brush his teeth.
    When he emerged, his