“If I woke up, would you have stopped if I asked?”
Ezra hooks his finger under my chin and leans back so he can brush his lips against mine.
“Yes, darling. I would have stopped. I always will.”
The moment he says it, his shadows thicken, darkening at the edges of the room, coiling with the slow hunger of something that’s been promised blood.
“I just …” He swallows like the words are heavier than they should be.
“I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you. It makes me reckless.”
He looks away, jaw working, as if he’s trying to bite back the rest. When he speaks again, it’s quieter—the words bleeding out through a crack in his resolve.
“I don’t want one night with you. I wantyou. You don’t flinch when you see the monster. You look right at it … and stay. You accept every fucked-up part of me. Even these inky little bastards.”
He leans in, breath warm against my skin.
“I just … I want more. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t even know what ‘more’ looks like. But if it’s you …”
His voice dips, warping under the weight of the moment.
“I’ll fucking learn.”
Yep. That’ll do it. My stupid, traitorous body straddles Ezra as I crash my mouth against his. Strong hands fall to my hips and squeeze while his tongue invades my mouth.
I roll my hips over his hard cock and softly moan against Ezra’s lips.
Fuck, he’s huge.
I’m not sure why my injuries aren’t more severe, but right now, it doesn’t matter. When I slip my hands under his sweater, Ezra growls, pulls my hands away from his chest, then cups my face.
“Not tonight, Aurora.”
He exhales, eyes closed, his body so still it feels final.
Whatever was holding me together starts to wilt.
“Why? Is it because of what happened? You don’t want me anymore?”
Maybe I read this all wrong. He may feel protective of me, but that doesn’t mean he wants me the way I obviously want him.
Tears drip from my chin as my heart cracks and shatters.
For a second, I swear I feel his breath again.
Not Ezra’s—his.
That cold, smug voice echoing in the dark.
“See? I told you. Right now, he’s imagining every pretty sound you made for me. Every time you choked on my cock. How fucking wet you were for me. It’s okay, baby girl. You’re still my good little whore. I’ll always want you.”
I squeeze my eyes shut.
That voice isn’t real.
Not now. Not here.
But before the voice can sink its claws in, Ezra’s hands are on my face, pulling me back from the edge.
