"Apology accepted," Yelena said and smiled brightly at him. "If the hand works, then I can use magic to heal whatever hasn't already."
"Good point." Valentine crouched back down and held the hand out to her like a glove. "Ready when you are."
Yelena could already feel the hum of it before he slid the cool metal onto her arm. "It fits perfectly."
"I may have taken your measurements when you were still asleep," Valentine said, without an ounce of shame. "Now comes the binding part. It's probably going to hurt."
"I'm ready," she replied, lifting her chin.
Valentine began to move his hands. Yelena recognized the movements as a variation of the ones she had taught him. The silver around her wrist went warm, and the edges turned to liquid. They slid higher up her forearm like fine roots. Yelena's teeth clenched as the roots pierced her skin like a thousand needles.
"Keep going," she ground out, sweat picking her forehead. The roots of the hand connected to the threads of power already inside of her. Magic,hermagic, rushed through all the connections, and the engravings on the hand glowed with light.
Yelena laughed, high off the power, and wriggled her fingers. The hand responded, and pale silvery light danced at her fingertips.
"Holy shit, it's working," Valentine said and began to laugh with her. It wasn't bitter or flirtatious like his other laughs had been. This was pure delight infused with the love of magic. "Do something else?"
Blood and desire pounded through Yelena's body, and with the barest of thoughts, she raised her hands. Silvery chains burst free from her palms and wrapped about Valentine before he could react. Yelena got to her feet and raised her silver hand, the chains lifting Valentine to hover in front of her.
His smile was a dark and wicked thing. "What now, baby girl?"
Yelena's silver hand grabbed the front of his shirt, pulled him closer, and pressed her mouth to his.
Valentine's lips were soft and tasted sweet from the wine. Yelena moaned as his tongue flicked against hers and the taste of his magic filled her mouth. Her whole body was shaking as her lips brushed against his over and over. She could have spent the rest of the night just doing that, but there were other parts of her body demanding attention. She needed to touch him like she needed to breathe.
Yelena's hand slid up his neck and into his hair. She tugged, forcing his head back.
"Magic is over," she whispered against his lips, violent lust surging through her so hard it made her dizzy.
Valentine's eyes burned with scarlet fire. "I guess that makes it time for sex."
20
Yelena made a flicking gesture with her fingers, and Valentine was pulled backward through the open door of her bed chamber. She followed behind him, her power lighting up the candles in the room.
Valentine was pressed with his back to the bed's headboard. The silver chains were keeping his arms raised and anchored to the wall. His expression promised revenge, and it sent a dark thrill through her.
"You think these chains are going to bother me, baby girl?" he asked, soft and mocking.
Yelena smiled. "I'm sure you could figure out how to break free if you really wanted to."
"I don't want to. I had one brother shift into a dragon while having sex, so it's better to keep these on," Valentine replied.
The predator in Yelena liked to see him all bound and helpless so that she could do whatever she liked to him.
"Why is that? Afraid you're going to lose some of that precious control of yours?" she asked sweetly.
"I…" Valentine stopped talking as she pulled on the tie of her shirt, letting it fall to the floor.
With every step toward the bed, another piece came off. Valentine's arms strained against the chains, making her laugh. Power slid up her body, unravelling her braid. Her hair streamed around her on unseen currents as she crawled up the bed toward him.
If he could burn someone alive with a look alone, Yelena would have been nothing but ashes.
"Take advantage while you can, baby girl, because when I get free…" he growled.
"We will see how long you can think about magic," she replied, and her hand closed around his ankle. "And stay very still."
Valentine stilled as her magic slid over his skin. He wasn't scared. He was watchful. With a soft rip of fabric, her power shredded his pants.
