His eyes snapped open, bright and unearthly, pinning me in place. Slowly, almost sloppily, he leaned in, brushing his lips against the curve of my neck. A shiver tore through my body.
“Sweetie,” he purred against my skin, and I felt the smile in his voice. “Do you have any idea what you’re offering me?”
Before I could answer, his teeth sank in. The pain was sharp enough to make me gasp, my grip in his hair tightening, dragging him closer rather than pushing him away. Warmth trickled down my collarbone as my magic bled into him, my head spinning under the pull.
Something cracked, and I glanced down in time to see the first shard of quartz shatter against the stone floor, expelled from his body. Then, I saw red threads slash against the chain that was holding his right hand—it broke instantly.
My free hand pressed against his chest, a weak attempt to slow him, but he only groaned low in his throat, a sound that went straight through me. He caught the back of my head in his free hand, holding me there as if daring me to try again.
“Malakai,” I tried to speak, but my own voice betrayed me, sounding too much like a plea.
The other chain broke with a metallic snap. His newly freed hand slid possessively along my lower back, pulling me flush against him. His teeth retreated, but only so that his tongue could lap at the mark he left, sending a dizzying rush of heat through me. The wound burned hot, but the pain disappeared completely. Had he used his magic to stop the bleeding?
“Delicious,” he murmured, almost reverent, before his hands shifted lower, gripping my thighs. In one effortless motion, he lifted me, my legs locking around his waist.
I barely had time to gasp before he turned, slamming me against the cold wall, hard enough to knock the air from my lungs. His glowing eyes burned brighter now, and the blood on his lips steamed, turning to ash.
I couldn’t stop staring at his lips, couldn’t stop wanting…
Two fingers caught my chin, forcing my gaze up. His glowing eyes burned hotter than hellfire. “You chose to bleed for me,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “You think you get to walk away after that?”
I swallowed hard, my heart stuttering.
He leaned in, lips brushing the shell of my ear. “No,” he growled softly. “You wanted me free, kitten? Then you’d better understand what you just unleashed.”
His lips claimed mine before I could take a breath, the kiss deep and punishing, dragging a whimper out of my throat. His hand tangled into my hair, holding me right where he wanted me, as if daring me to pull away.
I didn’t, I couldn’t. My fingers curled tighter in his hair, my legs locking around him. He pressed me harder against the wall, until I could feel every line of his body, his heat sinking into my bones.
I welcomed it,gods, my entire body rejoiced in it. Every touch from him made my body shiver in delight, as if it had waited for this exact moment, craving it longer than I had realised.
The kiss broke only for him to nip my lower lip, a wicked smile tugging at his mouth. But my body was aflame, almost disappointed by the sudden withdrawal.
“Look at you,” he murmured, breathless but amused. “Shaking for me already.”
“Malakai…” My voice was barely a sound, as I tried to catch his lips again with my own.
His glowing eyes sharpened, predatory and knowing. “If you want me, say it.”
My chest ached from holding my breath. “I… I don’t know.” It was a mere whisper, raw with honesty.
What did I want?
My head felt dizzy.
A dark, satisfied hum rumbled in his throat and his thumb brushed my lower lip gently.
“Then I’ll make you sure.” His grin widened, slow and deliberate. “I’ll be patient… until the words spill from you.”
He kissed me again, slower this time but no less consuming, his hand sliding possessively along my thigh. His tongue slipped inside my mouth, making me melt a little more, until the world narrowed to nothing but him, the taste of him and the pressure of him. My flames sparked and burned under my skin like they wanted him too.
My arms wrapped around his neck, as I shamelessly pushed myself harder against him, wanting to eradicate any space between us.
When he finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard, foreheads pressed together.
“Careful,” he murmured, his thumb lingering at my lips. “You keep kissing me like this, sweetie, I won’t stop until there’s nothing left between us.”
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath. The cell felt too small now, too hot, my heart still hammering from more than just the kiss.
