25
Selma
It was the first time in what felt like a very long time that Selma woke up without need burning in her blood.
Sun bathed her face when she sluggishly cracked her eyelids, but the pleasant warmth penetrating all the way into her bones didn’t come from its rays. Instead it came from the big man who’d curled his massive body around hers while she’d slept.
Kain.
She remembered everything from that horrible auction, remembered her fear and the forced lust for every man who’d come close enough for her to smell him. And she remembered Kain winning the rights to mount her after bidding an outrageous amount of money.
A faint blush touched her cheeks at the thought of his claiming.
The last time she’d woken up in his arms they’d done pretty much everything but full intercourse, and at the time he’d been a stranger to her, but now… This time had been about so much more than sating the cruel ring.
She was his—and he was hers. The things he’d done to her to prove that fact made her toes curl.
The warm pulse between her legs at the memory of their wild sex quickly reminded her of the downsides to being fucked by a demon, especially one of Kain’s size. Though his semen had evidently ensured that she was not as bruised and battered as she should have been after the pounding he’d given her, her inner muscles were still tired beyond belief. He certainly gave new meaning to the concept of a demonic cock.
When she tried to experimentally move the rest of her body, the stiffness in every muscle and joint made it quite clear she’d be spending the day in bed, provided she got her way.
Of course, she had no idea if she would be getting her way or if Kain had plans.
Selma looked at the sleeping male who’d obviously ensured she was safe from any danger by shielding her body with his. His legs were wrapped securely around her lower half, not tight enough to cause her discomfort, but definitely enough that no one could snatch her away from him while they slept.
A smile tugged at her lips. Apparently his instincts had taken the full leap into Crazy Town after he’d given in and claimed her.
Her serious mate.
Gently she reached out a finger to trace his eyebrows, which for once weren’t locked in a frown. He looked peaceful in his sleep. Even beautiful. The lack of a scowl or a frown on his handsome face softened the sharp angles, and with his full lips gently parted, there was nothing to suggest he had any sort of trauma in his past or present.
Her heart clenched when she recalled what had happened to his mother and how that had made him swear to never claim a mate of his own. And yet here he was, lying next to her after taking her as his, because that had been the only way to protect her.
“Kain.”
Despite her soft whisper of his name, his eyelids immediately fluttered open and his black eyes found hers.
“Hey.” She couldn’t hold back a smile at the searching look he gave her—as if he thought she’d awoken him because she was in some sort of distress.
He didn’t reply, but he held her gaze. The frown was back.
Selma reached out to smooth the line between his brows with the tip of her finger. “I didn’t get to thank you before I fell asleep.”
“Thank me for what?” He pulled back a little, looking confused. And unhappy.
“For saving me. I thought you were angry with me—that I wouldn’t get to see you again. And I was so scared that I’d… that one of those monsters would take me away forever. But then you came.”
A small twinge pulled on his face and he breathed out sharply before lifting off her so he could sit up.
“Kain?”
The big male gathered his legs up underneath him and rested his face in his hands with a groan.
“What’s wrong?” Selma frowned and forced her own body to sit up, though her muscles protested wildly at the movement.
“What’s wrong?” He didn’t lower his hands—didn’t even attempt to look at her. “Don’t fucking thank me, Selma. I raped you. Don’t pretend like I’m some great fucking hero sweeping in to save the day. I did exactly what every other monster of my kind does to Breeders. And I liked it.”
Selma blinked. Repeatedly. “You… You think you raped me?”
