My wedding day.
I watch Phoenix yank pins out of her hair, wincing as each one pulls. Her beauty makes me ache the way I always do when I’m around her—deep in my empty belly, the constant hunger gnaws. I want to walk closer and help her with those pins. But mainly, I just want to touch her.
But my hunger has always been dangerous, so I stay back. I still ask, “Can I help?”
She pauses mid-pin extraction, glances at me in the mirror. For a second, something softens in her expression. Then it’s gone. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a while now.”
I’ll take that as a no.
Today’s “celebration” wasn’t anything like an ordinary wedding day. More like a merger between two powerful families, solidifying the blood oath that Phoenix’s vampire grandfather tricked one of my monstrous angel brothers into. The terms won’t be contractually fulfilled until Phoenix has a baby by me. She’s not a vampire, but she’s still a powerful being. Any progeny we produce would be highly coveted by Vlad.
My mouth goes dry and my gaze shoots toward the central piece of furniture in the newlywed suite Vlad had set up in anorth room of the compound—a giant four-poster bed with silk sheets and too many decorative pillows.
“So.” I swallow hard, trying to keep the craving edge out of my voice.
Phoenix’s head comes up. She stares at me for a long moment, reading something in my face. Then her lips purse. “We might as well get it over with.”
She walks toward the bed, movements deliberate. She looks small, sitting on the edge of that suddenly looming mattress and leaning over to unbuckle the strap of her white high heels.
The line of her neck is exposed, along with the curve of her back in that dress.
“Um.” I blink hard.Stay calm. Don’t be a ravenous beast. “Right.”
I shrug off my suit coat, and start undoing buttons at the top of my shirt. Then I just tug the whole thing off over my head. Except I didn’t undo enough buttons, so it catches on my shoulders and I have to wrestle with the fabric before finally yanking it free.
When I emerge from the shirt, Phoenix is staring at me with wide eyes. I’m standing there holding my shirt awkwardly in front of me like an idiot. Her gaze dances down to my abs before snapping back to my face.
“What are you doing?” Her voice comes out breathy.
“I—” Heat creeps up my neck. My fist clenches in the fabric. “Do you want some champagne first? To get in the mood?” I glance back at the setup near the mini-fridge—expensive bottles, crystal glasses, strawberries.
She reaches over and slaps my shoulder, but there’s no real force behind it. Almost... playful? “Now is not the time for jokes, angel boy.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Come on, we’ve got to make this believable. They’ll be listening, the creeps.”
My shoulder tingles where she touched me.
But it’s nothing compared to the low swoop in my groin when she suddenly lets out a loud, theatrical moan. At the same time, she grabs the bed’s top frame and bangs it against the wall.
“Oh.” Her groan fills the room, loud enough to carry through the door. “Layden,yes. Just like that.”
My brain short-circuits even though I’m quick to catch on. It’s just that her moans sound very convincing—a littletooconvincing—and I shift so I’m standing with my hips pressed firmly against the tall mattress to hide the front of my suddenly tightening pants.
“Oh god, yes,” Phoenix continues, really committing to the performance. “Right there. Touch me right there!”
She waves a hand at me impatiently, eyebrows raised. Right. My turn.
Time to pretend I’m not the big bad wolf I know I am. That I don’t devour cities. That I’m just your friendly neighborhood Devourer.
“Baby,” I try, and she mouths ‘seriously?’ with an almost-smile tugging at her lips.
So I deepen my voice. Honestly, it’s not difficult to make my voice low and lust-filled when I’m staring into those blue eyes. “You like it when I touch you there?”
She blinks. For a second, I think I see her pupils dilate. Then she seems to get her wits back, nodding along with another breathy moan. “Yes, just like that.” She catches my eyes, holds them. “You make me so wet.”
Christ.
“I can feel it.” The words come out rougher than I intended. Her breath hitches in response. “Are you ready for me, Phoenix?”
“I’m ready.” She’s still holding my gaze. “You’re so big. So hard.”
