“The Order expects us to show up, even if it’s only for a few minutes,” Declan says. “It’s an open bar, so you’ll be fine.”
June slaps his arm. “Then what are we waiting for?” She turns to me, her expression mischievous. “This might not be as lame as I originally thought.”
Chapter 57
DELILAH
“Run, little raptor.”
Xavier’s whisper brushes my ear. I glance up at him. “Why?”
The graduation is in full swing, with students and families milling about the ballroom in the fraternity. There are tables full of food and alcohol. I’m buzzed, and June is one tequila away from dancing on the tables. It’s been a fun night.
He smiles, the expression wolfish. “Because if you don’t run, I’m going to fuck you here in front of everyone.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously,” he says. “I can’t wait anymore. I’ve been staring at you, seeing my ring on your finger, and it’s done something to me.”
“You’re a lunatic.”
“No, I’m a man on the verge of having his dick buried in his fiancée’s pussy.”
I shake my head. “This isn’t fair.” Even as I say the words, my pulse quickens and my skin heats. “You’ll use your watch to find me.”
“Run.” He’s no longer smiling, and his pupils are dilated, the black shining with hunger. The hunter has emerged. “Now.”
I don’t hesitate. I turn and dart through the crowd, weaving around the guests, ignoring Ben and June’s confused expressions. At the top of the stairs, I stop and look for Xavier. He watches me, unmoving. He’s giving me a head start, and I’m going to use every bit of it.
As soon as I’m through the door, I kick off my heels and fist my skirts with both hands, racing down the various hallways and taking the stairs two at a time. There are a few crows wandering around, and they stare at me as I rush past them.
I consider running to Xavier’s bedroom but change my mind. He can easily corner me in there, and I’m not going to make this easy for him. I take off toward the chapel, the place where I first saw his scars and his wing tattoos.
My bare feet hit the marble stairs, and the coolness soothes my throbbing soles. By the time I reach the top several minutes later, I’m breathing hard and regretting all my life choices.
Thankfully, the chapel is unlocked. And empty.
I step inside and wait for my eyes to adjust to the near darkness. Using the tiny bit of moonlight streaming through the windows, I hurry down the aisle, intent on ducking behind the podium. Just as I reach the large wooden altar, a door slams shut. I jerk my head in that direction.
Xavier is there, leaning against the door, my high heels dangling from his fingers. He looks like sin made flesh. His hair is slightly disheveled, his shirt halfway unbuttoned, and his slacks wrinkled. But it’s the mask covering his face that has my pussy clenching.
“Found you,” he says quietly.
He tosses my shoes and takes a step, and then another, slowly advancing. My heart pounds harder the closer he gets. Iwatch him, admiring the way he moves, before darting around the other side of the podium.
His eyes narrow. “I’m going to fuck you so hard you won’t be able to run anymore.”
Then Xavier stalks toward me, leaving me no choice but to leap onto the altar. I sprint to the end of the wooden platform with him right behind me. Before I can jump down, he wraps his arms around my waist and yanks me to him, hard enough to force the breath from my lungs.
He spins me around to face him and grabs my throat. “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he murmurs, digging his fingers into my tender skin. “My fiancé will be even more beautiful with bruises on her neck and my cock inside her.”
“Oh, God.”
“This might be a church, but when I’m inside you, you’ll pray to me. Now, get on your knees, bride.”
Using his grip on my neck, Xavier forces me to kneel in front of him on the altar. The hard wooden surface digs into my knees, but the discomfort barely registers when he unzips his pants and frees his cock. It’s thick and swollen, the tip already wet.
He releases my neck to stroke himself, his gaze shimmering with lust. “Open.”
