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“Raiden—” Kitt begins.

“Stop. You do not control us no matter how much you think you do,” Raiden snarls, his eyes flashing. His hair floats in the air, letting me know his storm is close to the surface.

Kitt snarls, sparing me a look, but then he storms from the room, and Raiden and I watch him go. I’m coming between them. I can see it happening, but what can I do? I tell myself it’s a good thing because it will make it easier when I have to break the bond and kill them, but it hurts as well.

His smirk grows as he looks at me. “I wasn’t joking.”

“I’m not in the mood,” I dismiss as I turn away, but he turns me back.

“I wasn’t,” he replies, and his anger and jealousy flee in the wake of something vulnerable and real. “I want you so badly it hurts.” I swallow his words, peering into those glowing eyes. “It’s quickly becoming my favourite colour,” Raiden whispers, staring at me.

“What is?” I ask, confused.

“Your eyes,” he murmurs, and my heart skips a beat as his hands slide up and cup my cheeks. “One kiss, please, one taste.”

“Alright, pretty boy.” I see his glee and feel his happiness at the nickname that started out as a cruel taunt, but has quickly changed into something far scarier.

One kiss can’t hurt, right?

When his lips press to mine, I lose myself in the softness and grab his shoulders. He presses closer as his tongue sweeps in, tangling with mine and making me moan. I tear myself away, staring breathlessly into his beautiful face. “There, one kiss.” My voice is rough with desire, and he smiles as he reaches for me, but I back away, watching his smile drop.

He can no doubt feel my need for him, even as I hold back, so he changes tactics, advancing on me and pressing his face to my neck. “I need you.”

It’s raw and honest, and it does more to me than any pretty words he could offer, but I still stand my ground. Every time we touch, it brings us closer together, and I don’t know how I will ever be able to walk away. He doesn’t seem to care as he kisses my neck, making me jerk as he slides down my body.

His face presses to my stomach before he sinks farther down. “I’ll be good. I promise,” he whispers, meeting my eyes as he presses open-mouthed kisses across my skin. This is a bad idea, a really bad idea. I can’t keep getting close to them and letting my guard down.

This is more than sex between us. It’s changing what and who we are. I need to put a stop to it, but all that resolve weakens as I stare into his puppy-dog eyes.

“I swear it, I’ll be a good boy. I’ll do whatever you ask.” His pretty lips part as he shuffles closer, so no room exists between us. “Please, play with me. I’ll be good. I’ll be so good.”

Raiden is a walking juxtaposition. He likes to be in control, aloof, and cruel with words, but when it comes to it, deep down, he wants to be dominated, to be put in his place and used.

Swallowing my shrieking thoughts at what a bad decision this is, I fist his hair, watching his eyes fill with pleasure at the pain. “You’ll be good?” I ask.

“Good,” he repeats breathily as I lean down.

“How good?” I whisper.

“So good,” he croaks, arching up to kiss me, but I keep him away, and I swear his eyes are glassy with tears.

Need her so much. I need to know this is real, that I’m not going crazy. I need to feel whole⁠—

His thoughts filter through me, and despite this being a bad fucking decision, what little control I have left snaps. I have a beautiful, powerful man begging on his knees for me. How can I resist?

Lifting him by his hair, I drag him across the kitchen and toss him. If he wanted to, he could stop it, but he doesn’t. He lets me have my way.

His back hits the booth, and before he can reach for me, I swing my leg across his waist, straddling him as my eyes sweep over his beautiful face. I cup his sharp cheeks with my palms, rubbing my thumb across his pouty lips. “You really are a pretty boy.”

“And all yours,” he whispers before sucking my thumb, electricity arcing from him to me, but I’m used to it by now. It’s part of him. “Don’t you want me as badly as I want you?” he whispers around my flesh.

“You know I do. You can feel it,” I murmur as I stroke under his eyes.

“I want your words. I’ve lived with the others’ thoughts my whole life, but now I’ve become addicted to hearing yours from your own lips,” he admits, kissing my thumb.

Leaning down, I nip his lip until he gasps. “You were supposed to be good, but right now, Ray, I want you so badly it hurts. I think you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and even when you drive me crazy, I still want you and dream of these plump lips and perfect hands.”

His eyes slide shut for a moment as he shudders below me, and when they open, they blaze with lightning. “Then take me. I’m yours.”