A whimper slips from my lips when he leans in, his mouth brushing over mine. His hands slide to my throat, long fingers wrapping around my neck. “You want pain?” His voice is low. “You take it from me. No one else. Not even yourself. Do you understand?”
My chest tightens and it hurts more than the knife ever could. He sees me. He saw all of me, and he didn’t leave. I slowly nod, my body relaxing enough that the cuffs catch my weight.
Heat follows his hand as it traces my collarbone. “Good, because your body is mine, Melita.”
A shiver runs through me, my fingers curling against the cuffs. I’m ready. I want to be his.
He gently cups my cheeks, tilting my face to his, eyes steady on mine. “I just need one more thing from you before we start,” he says, softer now. “When you come, you stay with me. No more thinking of him.”
My head pulls back, anger returning once again. What the hell? I narrow my eyes at him. “You think I choose that?”
“No.” His fingers lift my chin. “But if you let me in, I can help you stop it.”
My nose tingles and I’m about to cry. I want to let him in, but I don’t know what to do. “How?”
He brushes a piece of hair from my face, his eyes a warm amber. “If you feel him, you reach for me. If you hear him, you listen to me. If you fall, you come back to me.”
I nod my head. I want this, but I’m afraid I’ll fuck it up. “I’ll try. Just don’t let me fall.”
“I won’t.”
This time, I’m the one who leans forward and brushes my lips over his. I trust him.
His hand moves to my jaw as I open to him, his mouth pressing deeper into mine. I catch his lower lip lightly between my teeth and tug.
He pulls away, flames burning in his eyes once more. “Mm.” His voice is lower now. “There she is.”
His eyes fall to my lips while his thumb traces over them. “Last chance to change your mind, little mate.” He pulls his eyes back up to mine, and heat is already building between my legs.
I don’t speak. Instead, I sink a fang into my bottom lip, knowing it’ll drive him crazy.
He smiles, and I can’t wait for what’s to come next.
“All right then,” he says, voice deepening. “Let’s have some fun.”
His smile sharpens when he releases my face. Bending down, he reaches for his ankle and pulls out another knife. A big one.
My heart rate picks up. Is this his idea of fun? I’m not ready for a blade yet, not if I’m going to stop turning to one. “Zarreth.” My voice is fragile. “I promise I won’t cut again.”
“I know you won't, baby. We’ll make sure of that.” What does he mean? Is he going to cut me? Teach me a lesson? Normally I would welcome it, but not now. Not today.
His fingers curl around the top of my corset and tug it away from my skin. I sag in relief when he slices from the top all the way to the bottom, avoiding my flesh, leaving my breasts bare to him.
I try reading his eyes, but his expression gives nothing away. It’s okay, I trust him. I really do. He always pushes my boundaries, but he knows how to listen to my body. He won’t cross that line…I hope.
He tears away a strip of fabric and lets the rest fall to the floor.Oh, God.He wraps it around my eyes, knotting it behind my head, leaving me in total darkness. My pulse is so loud now I can barely hear my thoughts. I hold my breath, trying to focus on what’s about to happen.
He knows I’m not ready, right? I don’t hear him put the blade away. Maybe I’m wrong. My entire body tenses, expecting to feel the bite of the blade splitting my skin. “Please, I don’t…”
He leans in so close, I can feel the heat from his breath. “I do like to hear you beg, but not with your words.” Something blunt taps my mouth, not sharp, and my panic eases. “Open up.”
I immediately obey and part my lips.
“Wider, as wide as you can.”
I open my jaw until it hurts, stretching my lips as far as they will go. I know better than to hold back.
“Beautiful. Stick out that little pink tongue.”
