Gods, she was more alluring than I remember. Miranda’s face was tight, full lips pursed together. The muscles of her body grew tighter with each step she took further into my own personal hell. Either she had a rough day, or she was girding herself against the waves of power that arced and flowed off from me like the sun.
If you think that hurts, my little badass, try being me.
An insane titter escaped me. I worked to swallow down the power, not wanting to scare her off. The feral, wild side of me longed to be free of this cage, to unleash my power and show her the full extent of my madness. To explode with all my pent-up energies. But if I shifted or went berserk, I would scare her off. I couldn’t afford that.
“I had to go home to pick up this,” Miranda explained, lifting the sheathed blade of bane. “I don’t typically carry it with me on a normal workday.”
She lifted the blade of bane, and a surge of hunger swept through me. I craved death, and she held the power to grant it. My heart raced. The sheer force of her presence unleashed a whirlwind of emotions, cascading over me like a waterfall of exhilaration. I grew dizzy from the thrill of being near my dark angel.
Gone was the athletic goddess of yesternight, in a tank top and leggings that embraced her every toned, muscular curve. Today, she was a figure of authority, clad in the formal armor of her station. The forest green of her jacket made her eyes appear lighter, more luminescent. Or maybe I was hallucinating again?
But I knew underneath her garb, she had a body like a battle-axe. I couldn’t forget. That same body danced around my dreams all last night, taunting and tempting me. Beckoning to bend her, break her, claim her until she killed me.
It had been a long time since I had seen such a beautiful woman. Maybe I hadnevermet such a beautiful woman. Maybe I had never metanywoman.
I clenched my fist instead of using the hand to knock sense into my rattled brain.
“Since you’ve brought it all this way,” I said, trying to remain coy. If I weren’t in my cage I would have hurled myself at her and upon the blade she held. To contain my erratic desires, I gripped the cage bars so hard they groaned.
Miranda eyed my white knuckles.
Steady, Xander.
Instead of coming closer and stabbing me as she’d done yesterday she asked, “Why didn’t it work?”
Oh for fuck’s sake. They didn’t tell her? They couldn’t bother to save me the trouble?
“It did work,” I answered.
She raised an eyebrow at the same time she cocked a hip and set a hand on it. I was struck by the amount of sass she packed into that posture. I absolutely loved it.
More more more. Lick her sass, make her yours,my brain singsonged.
Then I remembered yesterday how for a moment I thought she was going to kiss me. I knew the effect I have on humans as an immortal, enough to not take it seriously. Her attraction to me was a byproduct of being a god. But for a heart stopping moment, I almost gave in despite knowing better. I wanted her to close those seductive eyes and surrender those impossibly seductive lips to me.
But then she gave me an even better gift. Death.
“I died for a little while. That’s never happened before, no matter what I’ve tried. I always stayed in perfect consciousness.”
Her lips twisted into a scowl, the sass in her eyes replaced by a look of confusion. “They said you had too much power.”
I nodded and stretched, leveraging myself against the bars, and a vertebra popped. Miranda’s eyes flitted to my flexing arms before returning to my eyes. I knew it must be painful for her to be down here, this close to me. Yet she still put off the relief she’d get from killing me right away to assess the situation. She certainly was unusual.
“Yes, far too much power. But when I awoke after regenerating, some of it was missing. I believe you killed some of it off when you stabbed me.”
“Oh,” was all she said, her hard gaze back on my face. I flexed my muscles to see if I could draw her attention even if for a moment.
Her eyes swept down my bare abdomen, her mouth parting ever so slightly.
Heat rushed south as I felt something I hadn’t in years. Pleasure. My mouth instantly went dry. I was hungry for her. Starving.
Miranda cleared her throat and looked away. Even as she swallowed hard, I knew she wanted me. The crazy god in a cage. Any mortal would likely have the same reaction, but she fought it.
It made me want to push her further until she gave into the desire swirling around her. Let it off the tight leash she had on it.
I was a god. She must want to worship me. But I wanted to worship her. Feel the soft touch of a woman again.
My curiosity and pleasure shattered abruptly, replaced by pain. Buzzing assaulted my brain. I shut my eyes, my head snapping to the side as I braced myself against it. Retreating, I clutched at my ears. I unleashed a primal howl, a vain attempt to drown out the onslaught. Every nerve vibrated like a tuning fork, the agonizing ache radiating throughout my frame.No. No. No.
