“And why is that, Eve?”
She didn’t answer. Her fingers tightened around the chains. She tried again to summon her abilities to melt the chain. Darn. Still nothing—not even a chink in the stupid links. Almost like she no longer possessed that skill.
“I didn’t die, okay?”
“You could have.”
Oh, hell. That chill in his voice didn’t bode well for her. She tugged uneasily on the restraints holding her prisoner. His attention shifted to the rattling fetters, reminding her of a predator toying with prey.
He stopped his torture with the blade and stepped back. “Those chains were made by the god Hephaestus,” he said softly. “They won’t be affected by your capabilities. Now answer me. Why did I not want you anywhere near Inanna?”
“I had to see it to the end,” she evaded. “Or you’d be tied to her for eternity. And that, I refused to let happen.”
At his unrelenting stare, she finally caved. “Because I’m mortal, and I can die—you don’t want anything to happen to me—oh, yeah, and I'm your mate.” She threw the last one in quickly, hoping to pacify him.
He didn’t say a word. His eyes still retained that icy edge. Damn. He closed the space between them. Then the gleaming tip of the blade glided lightly down her chest, over the curve of her breast to circle her nipple. She trembled. He bent his head, and his warm tongue followed the path of his weapon.
A hiss of desire escaped her. The chain rattled when she tried to hold him, and she remembered that she was still anchored to the wall. But she lost her train of thought when he trailed his lips to her other breast. He licked her nipple once, twice, only to bite down. Hard. Her moan turned to a sharp yelp.
“Owww!”She glowered at him. “You bit me.”
“So you’d know never to put your life in danger like that again.”
Was he freaking kidding her? She’d do it all over again. Only this time, she would keep her mouth shut.
“Don’t even consider it, Eve,” he murmured as if he’d read her mind. “Or I’ll keep you at Exilum for as long as we both live.” He lowered his head and his warm mouth suckled her abused nipple. A moan broke free. “Reynner, please, release me.”
A moment, then two passed before he pulled his mouth away from her breast. He didn’t respond to her plea, but traced the dagger down her abdomen, past her navel, stopping at the edges of her panties. Then his lips followed the path made by his dagger.
Déjà vu hit her hard. Her dream from what seemed like a lifetime ago took hold of her.
On his haunches in front of her, he looked up—his eyes glowing an intense blue. The rasp in his voice set her senses alight. “What do you want, Eve?”
“You, just you.” The words tangled in her throat.
His gaze holding hers, he stroked a fingertip between her legs over the barrier of her silky panties. A moan tore out of her. Desire like red-hot lava rose, spiking her arousal.
A quick slash of the blade and her panties fell from her. He tossed his weapon and her ruined underwear aside then slid his fingers through her wet, feminine flesh. She jolted, her mind in a haze. The chains rattled.
“Reynner, please. Take off the cuffs.” She yanked at the chain again.
“Not yet.”
“Yes, now,” she growled.
***
Reynner bit back his smile as he rose. He was so bloody hard, he wanted nothing more than to end this torment. But his mate had to learn she couldn’t put her life at risk.
He trailed soft kisses over the curve of her breast and suckled the perky nub, a shade darker than her gorgeous skin. A husky whimper filled his ears. Parting her legs with his knee, he skimmed his hand down the length of her body and then finally between her legs. Lightly, he stroked her slick flesh, avoiding the spot where she needed his touch the most.
She squirmed against his hand, her body undulating against him. The seductive, musky scent of her arousal clouded his mind, fisting his cock into painful rigidity. Too bad for his mate, he’d learned control trapped in the deepest, darkest pit of Hell.
He eased back, ignoring her low whimper of frustration. “You will never endanger yourself again, understand?”
She tried to find his mouth with hers, but he held her off. She whined. He ran his finger down her center, avoiding her clit. She shuddered. He circled her point of pleasure and drifted away. She cursed.
“I'm waiting.”
