Lords of the Underworld Bundle (105 page)

“I was like I am now, only…more relaxed, I suppose.” He chuckled, a memory probably playing through his mind. That chuckle slid over her like a caress. “I did have a teasing side and used to torment Aeron relentlessly, hiding his weapons, cutting his hair while he slept. Finally, he started shaving it.”

“I wish I could've known you.”

“Perhaps it's good you didn't. We were like children back then. We were born fully formed of body, but our minds were new and we constantly marveled at the world around us. We trained to be warriors, yet had only the gods and their amusements as our role models.”

Even with his description in her mind, she couldn't picture him so childlike, laughing and running and teasing. “How is it possible you were born a fully grown man?”

“You mix the blood of a god, earth, fire, water…” His voice trailed off. “At least, that's what we were told. And you? What were you like as a child?”

“Typical, I suppose. Tantrums and whining to get what I wanted. My mother used to call me her Tasmanian devil.”

“You probably looked like an angel, even then.”

Angel.
Her heart skipped a beat. “Reyes,” she said breathlessly.

“Yes,” he replied with resignation.

“I want to be with you again.”

The silence returned, a snake that slithered around its prey and choked. Had he truly stopped wanting her? Despite everything he'd just said? He'd had a taste of her, and that had been enough? Or had he just not liked what he'd tasted?

“Danika—”

She growled in frustration.
Danika
again. “Never mind. Just…shut up and go to sleep.” She flipped angrily to her stomach and pounded her fist into the pillow to flatten it.

There was no sound to alert her of any movement on Reyes's part, but suddenly he was on top of her, his heavy body pinning her down and smashing her face into the mattress. She gasped.

His fingers gripped her neck tightly, turning her face and allowing her to breathe. He didn't shift, though, didn't roll off and free her. He kept her pinned. He hovered over her, warm breath lashing out like a whip. From the corner of her eye, she could see his face in profile. His eyes glowed with fire, and his teeth were bared.

Moonlight finally found him, casting a golden glow over his dark, honey-colored skin. He was panting, sweat was glistening. His long, thick erection pressed against her bottom, and she shivered.

“I will not taint you,” he snarled. “Do you understand? If that means I cannot have you again, then I will not have you.”

“Then you're dumb! You've said that before, and I'm tired of hearing it.”

“You have no idea what could happen to you. You have no concept of—”

“You're afraid I'll become pain hungry like those women. Well, guess what? That isn't my nature! I killed a man, Reyes. A human. A Hunter. I hurt him and then I killed him. Have I since attacked everyone I've encountered? Did I attack you and your friends when I had every reason to do so?”

“No.” Reyes arched into her. “No.”

She couldn't stop her moan. “I made love to you, yet I didn't then start plotting the deaths of your friends, wanting to hurt them. In fact, immediately afterward I tried to
protect
you.” Made love, she'd said. Before, she'd insisted it was only sex.

“Because I was gentle. Because I kept my demon away from you.”

He wanted her to demand gentleness again. He wanted her to demand he keep his demon away from her again. She knew it, felt it, but wasn't going to do it. “Give me everything you've got this time. Let me prove I'm not going to change.”

“No. I am not willing to risk it.” But he didn't stop moving against her, rubbing that erection between her cheeks. His hands slid down her arms and latched on to her wrists. He moved them over her head and gripped them with one hand while tracing the other along her side, stopping at the curve of her breast.

Her teeth had long since sunk into her bottom lip. She nibbled, drawing blood. “Yes,” she groaned. “Keep going. Touch.”

His fingers dug around her, between her body and the mattress, and then he was cupping her breast fully, the nipple locked between two fingers.

A spear of pleasure shot through her. She raised her hips, meeting his erection, silently begging for a more intimate touch. “Remove my shirt. Touch my skin.”

“Too dangerous.”

“We're doing this.”

“You plan to force me?” he asked with amusement.

“If need be. Now remove my shirt.”

Growling as if in pain—sweet pain—he released her only long enough to drag the material over her head and toss the shirt aside. “Gods,” he growled. “You're not wearing any panties.”

“I was hopeful.” She could feel his jeans against her lower body, rough, like calluses. “Done resisting me?”

How many minutes passed before he spoke, she didn't know. Finally, he said, “We'll be gentle.” The words were so low, so rough she had trouble understanding them. “We'll be slow. Like before.”

Danika shook her head, hair batting against her temple. “Hard. Fast.”

“No. I've already cut myself and have no more need for pain.”

He'd already cut himself? Since leaving the bathroom? As for the other, she knew he was lying. He'd sounded too reluctant; he would need more. “But—”

His hand once again dug and cupped and she forgot her protest.

“Oh, God,” she shouted. “Yes. More.”

“Are you wet, little angel?”

She felt as if she'd been waiting for him, for his touch, forever. Desperate and eager. “Find out for yourself.”

A moment later, she was flipped over and peering up at him. He was a god, strong and fierce, all of his intense sexuality focused solely on her. His gaze glided over her breasts, and he licked his lips. Then that gaze moved to her stomach, and her muscles quivered.

He stopped and lingered at the fine patch of curls between her legs. Lines of tension branched around his eyes as his hands gripped her knees and spread them wide. His gaze heated, flames actually crackling inside the black-as-night, starless depths.

“Grip the headboard,” he commanded.

She'd been reaching for him, meaning to scrape her nails over his chest. Perhaps draw blood. “But—”

Once again he stopped her from finishing a sentence. “Grip. The. Headboard. Now. Or I'll return to my pallet.”

Was he close to losing control? If so, he needed her to hurt him. Right? She could finally prove to him—and herself—that she was capable of doing this. “Let me, Reyes. Please.”

“No. I will not tell you again. Grip the headboard or this ends now.”

“Fine. But I am not always going to be so accommodating. Understand?” Eyes narrowed, she slowly reached behind her and clutched the iron rails. They were cold, drawing goose bumps from her flesh. “Happy?”

“Not yet. Not until I taste you.”

God, yes. “I want to taste
you
this time, too.”

A moan separated his lips. He liked the idea, but she suspected he wouldn't cave. He probably assumed she'd explore his body, trying to hurt him while doing so. He assumed correctly.

What would she have to do to prove to him that she wouldn't be tainted by the violence he needed?

“So pretty,” he cooed, all of his anger gone. Two of his fingers played between her damp folds, circling her clitoris.

Her hips arched of their own accord, her body desperate for more of him. “Reyes,” she breathed.

“More?”

“Please.”

Those two fingers pushed inside her, pumped once, twice, ratcheting up her desire to an uncontrollable degree.

“You're soaking my hand,” he said, pride in his tone.

“Lick me. Please.” She had to have his fingers, had to have his tongue. All of him she could get, she craved. And yet, she suspected it might never be enough.

Rather than grant her plea, he pulled from her and severed contact.

“No!” she cried. “What are you doing?”

“Getting naked.” He shed his jeans, tossed them aside.

Oh. “Hurry!”

But he didn't return to her right away. She couldn't stop writhing as he leaned down toward the floor.

“Reyes?”

“Condom.” He straightened, a silver packet glinting in the moonlight.

“Not so indifferent, after all, hmm?”

“Bought them this morning. Knew my resolve was weak.” The packet disappeared from her view, and there was a rustle of sheets.

Then his fingers were back inside her. Three this time. “God, yes. Yes.”

And then his mouth was on hers, hot tongue stroking inside her.

So good. Felt so good. His cock rubbed against her, smooth and hot. There was another flash of silver, he moaned in bliss, and she thought,
Another condom?
Surely not. He didn't need two. What…why…Oh, God. He kissed down her body, knew just where to lick, just where to suck and lave.

“Stop for a minute,” she gasped out. She needed to think, and she couldn't do it with his mouth on her.

“Why?” he asked, sucking on her clitoris as he pulled back. She nearly came, the pleasure was so intense.

Silver.
What had that second flash of silver been? What would cause him to moan like that?

“Danika?”

A knife, she suddenly realized. He'd cut himself. She knew it, and she didn't like it. Her eyes closed briefly, blocking the sight of him. Her arousal had glistened on his lips, and he'd been in the process of licking it away.

“Hand over the blade,” she commanded. “Now.”

 

R
EYES WAS SHOCKED
by Danika's order, aroused to the point of that delicious pain. He marveled that he hadn't needed to cut himself to sustain his erection, but he'd done it because he hadn't wanted Pain to rear its ugly head. He hadn't wanted his resolve to weaken, giving Danika an opportunity to pounce.

Like now.

Even still, less and less did he want to stop her. More and more, he liked the thought of being hurt by her.

Won't taint her, can't taint her. Too precious. Too mine.

Too long without her.

He tossed the blade so that it embedded in the far wall, the hilt swaying mockingly.

“No,” he said, glaring down at this woman who so consumed his thoughts.

He'd had her once and shouldn't have desired her so fiercely again. But he needed her. Craved her like air. And he could have her, if he remained gentle.

“The knife,” she said tightly. “Get it for me.”

Scowling, he leaned down until they were nose to nose. She hadn't released the headboard, so her back was arched. Her hard nipples pressed into his chest, a temptation he wanted in his mouth.

Soon.

He gripped his swollen shaft with one hand and her chin with the other. “Do you want me?”

Her pupils, already dilated, swallowed the rest of that lush jade. “Yes. You know I do.”

“You'll take me, then, without hurting me. And I'll give it, without hurting you. That is the only way this can work.”

He waited for her response, the tip of his erection pressing into her. When a minute dragged by without a word from her, he leaned down and sucked her nipple into his mouth.

Another gasp from her, this one layered with need.

“Tell me I'm right,” he insisted. He sucked on the other nipple, hard, then licked the sting away.

“Yes. Yes.”

All he needed to hear.

He shoved to the hilt, and they cried out in unison. Her inner walls were hot and wet, silk forged by liquid fire. All of his muscles strained for release, for the exquisite pleasure he had never really experienced with anyone else.

From the beginning, his heart had recognized this woman as his. Like the demon, she was part of him, a part needed to make him whole. Her courage delighted him. Her teasing way, now that he'd experienced it, tempted him. Her willingness to help him despite everything that had happened touched him.

Right here, right now, she was his. A ticket out of hell and into heaven.

He did not know if he would ever be able to let her go, but he knew that he needed to try. For her safety. As she had once pointed out, his life was one of war and torment and that would not change. She deserved better.

He'd tried to distance himself from her, but had failed. Tomorrow, he thought, pumping and gliding in and out of her.

She writhed, her head thrashing. She moaned and chanted his name. “How is it so good?”