He bowed his head. “Even with the warning, you fought with unrivaled grace, speed, and beauty.”
My lips twitched. “Good evening, Tygrio. Enjoy the play.”
The crimson hummed. “I shall… Syera.”
I hadn’t managed to be rid of my smile before I sat next to Carmine. At least Tygrio had served as a distraction. So much so that I’d forgotten my feelings of shame and dread until sitting here.
Carmine’s hand curled into a fist on his armrest. “What do you suppose I should do to a male who brings a lingering smile to the face of my mate?”
Mate-intended.
The action was painful, but I forced my gaze to Carmine’s. “Aboywho brings a smile to my face, Carmine.”
Tygrio was just a boy. I’d destroy him in a week. He was meant for a normal female demon.
Carmine didn’t answer. His focus drifted over the ribbons around my upper arms and boobs, then lower.
I didn’t care, because there was only theusualpresence of lust in me tonight. The mindless lust was nowhere to be felt. My shoulders relaxed. I wouldn’t make a fool of myself again. Tonight, anyway.
His tone was bored and icy. “You have regained control then.”
I didn’t react to the barb. “Disappointed?”
“Yes, though not in the way you suppose. I’m disappointed you cracked so easily. All your declarations had raised my hopes on the matter for a long chase. The hunt was a bore.”
Ouch.That was salt in every one of my wounds. Shame filled me, but I tucked it away for later. If I was to feel shame, then that shame was mine alone. Not his to wield as a weapon.
“That must be why things were so one-sided,” I said on a sigh. “I’d expected more of you. Disappointment sums up my feelings too.”
He pulled his attention from the stage to me. “Do you suppose that Iwantedyou writhing over my cock, demon? Do you suppose I wanted to give you any pleasure after what you’ve done to me?”
A new brand of shame trickled through me. That was unexpected. “If you didn’t want any part of that, then I am very sorry.”
In both the humananddemon senses of the word.
“Why didn’t you just leave?” I asked him.
“I was in control enough to do so,” Carmine said, returning his view to the play as the curtains drew back. “Then in the next breath I was not. I managed to freeze myself somewhat to… prevent the matter going too far.”
He’d remained in control enough not to take part as I’d used him like a vibrator. “Thank you for doing that… and thank you for putting me in bed after.”
“I left you on the floor. A servant must have found you.”
My cheeks warmed at that, and Carmine chuckled dark and low at the sight. I didn’t care about his approval, but Ididcare that a servant had found me in that state and reeking of what Carmine and I had done. It would be all over the realm by the next round.
Grandfather would hear.
I forced my focus to the stage, barely noticing that a woman was sandwiched between two males. A stock was behind them, so no doubt she would be locked in there in Act One, and would have to bargain her way out through seductive methods during Act Two. Though sometimes one of the guys was put in that situation.Demon porn.
Carmine stroked my cheek, and I slapped his hand away. I was so relieved when lust didn’t overrun me that I didn’t immediately hear his growl.
But those in the lower rows did. They craned to steal a peek.
I fixed my sights on the stage as more and more demons turned to look. Carmine stroked his thumb over my cheek again, and I remained frozen in place. He trailed his fingertips over my jaw and then hooked his thumb on my lower lip to push it down.
My chest rose and fell, but I stayed put under the gleeful gaze of the other royals.
Carmine gripped my chin and forced me to look at him.
