Her head spun, flashing back to the moment suspended above the crevice—when she had seen herself through his eyes, blazing against the moon.
The plan had been simple. She would have him bound, wrists and ankles tied so she could take her time, do whatever she pleased with him. The thought of Kazuma helpless beneath her, reduced to trembling jelly under her touch…
She would wring him out, keep him moaning until he begged—and then she’d finally pry some answers loose.
His refusal to tell her what he had been searching for that day of the attack continued. Every attempt to corner him ended the same way: deflection and redirection into questions she wasn’t ready to answer.
But—
“Aimee?” His voice slipped under her skin as he let her hand go, palm sliding beneath her tunic, fingers grazing up the slope of her stomach until they found the swell of her breast. “Why the hesitation?”
Her back arched in a violent shiver when his fingers closed on her nipple, pinching until it ached.
“You know I will gladly give whatever you ask.” He pushed himself upright, fingers tracing down her spine.
“I can see the outlines of…restraints? In your mind.” One canine sank into his lower lip, and a bead of red welled bright against the white of his teeth. “The idea is…not something I’d be opposed to.”
Her pulse roared in her ears, eyes locking on that glistening drop.
“Not fair, Kaz.” The words tore out in a gasp, her body strung taut between his hands on her back, the hard line of his cock beneath her, and that tempting shine of crimson hovering just beyond reach.
“So tell me what you want.” His tongue flicked out, swiping the drop away, the wound gone as quickly as it had appeared. “Let me give it to you.”
“I…” Her gaze clung to his mouth, lips parting. “I…”
What did she want? Was it really answers—truths that would break her confusion and pin her to the duties on this world? She still had no idea why she was here.
Her lips trembled as she finally looked up, eyes burning into his. “Will you stay with me? Whatever is happening out there—whyever you are here to begin with…”
“Aimee…” The sound came out rough as he tore his eyes away, head turning from her.
“I’m not asking you to tell me why. Or your Haven secrets.” Her voice shook. “I’m asking you to stay.”
She reached across the bond, unable to voice the next words.For as long as I’m here. Please—stay with me.
Kazuma turned back to her slowly, brows furrowing. “You thought I would leave?” His forehead dropped to hers. “H… how? How would that even be possible?”
Idon’t understand.Her thoughts fractured beneath the Pattern’s demand for clarity, for distance. Attachment was forbidden. Dangerous. She couldn’t afford it, couldn’t let herself need—
“How could I leave when there is nothing out there? That wider world? It doesn’t even exist. Not while you’rehere.”
Her whole body buzzed, every nerve lit. Fingers dug into the solid muscle of his forearms, trying to ground herself against the spiral. What was he saying?
Aimee.His voice rang inside her head now, deep and sure.I haven’t answered your questions, not because I wish to hide anything from you…but because none of that matters anymore. It doesn’t even exist for me. I…
He exhaled, and the sound punched through her ribcage.
Panic welled up inside her, and her stomach lurched as nausea blurred her vision, the edges narrowing until only his face remained.
It was impossible—terrifying, unattainable. If he said it, if the word left his mouth, it would unmake her.
“Aimee. I l—”
Her fingers clawed into his tunic, mouth crushing against his, hauling him down in a desperate collision that swallowed the confession whole.
No more words.Her fangs dropped as his tongue crashed into her mouth.
This is what I want now.Her hand shoved into his pants, tugging the fabric down his hips until her fingers closed around the hot, thick length of him. Catching his lower lip between her teeth, she sucked until another bead of blood burst free, the copper rush pouring over her tongue and drowning out the fear raging within her.
