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Christian notches the smooth, slick head of his dick at my heat; bouncing me enough so that my legs steady around his waist.

“Tonight, we die so we must live,” I echo his earlier statement.

The rope suspends me, unable to reach out to him, to wipe away the errant locks of hair plastered to his forehead.

There is a brief moment where fear locks in, where I’m afraid that this may not exist beyond this world. What if I lose my memories again? Would I lose him?

Christian gives me no time to wallow. A cry sings from my lips as he fills me completely. The noise of the rain, and the chill of the night does nothing for the ravenous heat that travels through me.

“You’re so perfect. So perfect.” His praises morph into a groan that vibrates deep in his chest. He pushes deep, spreading me to take all of him.

Christian’s heavy breaths fall against the curve of my neck. This is for him—this entire moment. What comes after will have to wait.

His pace quickens, his biceps flexing with every lift of my body against his, displaying the sheer strength that protected me when I had no way to understand this world’s monsters. His mouth latches onto my right nipple, biting hard then sucking. The action causes a string of profanities to escape my lips, clenching tighter around him.

“Whatever happens, do not forget me—” He ruts into me with a harsh thrust. It’s as if he buries himself deep, he’ll carve out a little corner of me with him in it.

He takes me without soft kisses or sweet words. Christian unravels. Whatever silent mysteries live within him, he pours it into me, and when every thrust of his dick hits the deepest parts of me, I allow him to fill me so deeply.

It is within him that I have found pieces of me. My wrists bound, legs numb and skin raw from the brutality he gives me, waves of pleasure surge through me. I’m so close, I feel it.

“Yes. Yes. Yes. Take me, take all —” Thrust. “Of me.” The melody of his raw, unfiltered caress will live on forever in my empty mind.

Is this what they call the ‘little death’? If so, this is the only death I’d like to experience over and over again.

A guttural draw of curses echoes along the stone walls as Christian spills inside of me, and I follow, wild at the idea that I can make a man bend to my body, his own sacred altar.

Christian slips out of me, leaving me hollow, dropping to his knees. His warm mouth trails open mouth kisses along my pelvis, while his hands keep prop me up.

“Is this love? Am I insane?” He smiles against my warm skin.

“You’re insane, my shadow,” I say running a hand through his hair.

Reality digs deep as we lay against each other. Christian rubs gentle circles on my wrist as I curl into him, his back against stone. Just a few more minutes and we’ll have to return to the hunt.

“What’s your deal with Kieran, truly?” Breaking the silence is not what I want, but I must.

“We hate each other,” Christian says, plainly.

“I understand that much…but why? A prank is hardly enough to warrant a lifetime of hate.” Turning around, I meet his gaze. Christian wasn’t married to Daisy, didn’t have an affair; the only other variable is Sara—or me.

“You’re asking the wrong questions,” he chides.

Before I can respond, his body goes rigid. “Get deeper into the cave.”

A voice, easily recognized as Kieran’s carries through the dark space. “Don’t you think this has gone too far?”

“I don’t care as long as we profit from this. And—you save Killian for me. I don’t care for Irene and Arian.” Cassandra’s voice rings clear.

Shuffling out of his hold, I crouch closer to the pair, hoping to eavesdrop.

The darkness envelops everything, marring any sight of the woman belonging to the voice. Icy rain lashes across the forest, stitching the darkness together with silver spears of storm light. Christian holds up a hand, stopping me in my tracks. “Get back, now.” Forcefully he pulls me to him, walking us backward and out of the open. A small sliver of shadow covers our position as Christian grabs my waist and twists my body into his. My face lands haphazardly into his jacket, muffling the sounds of my breathing. Both figures sweep into the cave’s mouth.

“She needs to die,” Cassandra pleads.

Christian’s hold tightens.

“You know that’s not possible…” Kieran trails off.