A siphon, apparently.
Well, fuck that part. I wouldn’t do what Vivaxia claimed I was born to do. I’d rebel instead. I’d make my own choices.
Like mating Melek.
That was all me. My decision. My fate.
“How do we finish our bond?” I asked him. He knew that was what I’d meant when I’d asked him to tell me what to do. But he’d distracted me with his mouth. Now I wouldn’t let himinterpretmy words in any other way.
No games.
No riddles.
Just us.
Justthis.
He moved backward, his hands on the lapels of his jacket as he guided the fabric away from his shoulders and down his arms. “If we’re doing this, it’s only fair that I’m naked, too.” He folded the expensive-looking coat on a nearby chair, then loosened his tie to pull it over his head.
I swallowed as he took off his cuff links, then started on the buttons of his dark dress shirt. All black. A contrast to the gold-and-white feathers that I’d seen last week.
The feathers I’d remembered while lost in the mirage of the Virtuous Fae Realm.
Melek had been a big part of why Vivaxia’s mind manipulations hadn’t worked. My memories of him had kept pushing forward, helping me to see through the charade and remember who I was and who my mates were.
Az had also been integral to grounding me, his story about Vivaxia so powerful and profound that I’d been able to realize the woman’s true nature. Recall her history. To know her claims about Lucifer were lies.
Then there had been Ajax, our link an anchor that had held me captive in reality.
But it’d been Melek’s feathers I’d recalled first. Then the statue of Lucifer that Melek had shown me.
He was meant to be mine, my heart and soul knowing him in a time of intrinsic need.
I hadn’t meant to hurt him or lead him to feel rejected.
However, I fully meant to heal him now. To bring back the playful Melek, the one who exuded confidence in all ways.
Some of that confidence showed through as he lost his shirt, his sculpted form a pleasure to observe. He knew he was beautiful. But I confirmed it anyway by saying it aloud.
I specifically enjoyed his tattoos, the symbols ethereal and otherworldly in nature. They were practically glowing gold right now as well, suggesting they were tied to his Virtuous Fae heritage, and not necessarily art he’d imprinted on his body.
I would have to ask him more about those markings later.
Because right now, all I could focus on was his belt—and his hands unfastening said belt.
“Not as beautiful as you, little angel,” he murmured, replying to my comment regarding his beauty. His gaze ran over me with unrestrained interest as he undid the button of his pants and drew down the zipper.
I wasn’t surprised at all that he was bare beneath. It just seemed appropriate that Melek would forgo undergarments. Though, he would look really nice in a pair of silky black boxers.
“Next time,” he murmured, kicking off his shoes and bending to finish disrobing.
I assumed the “next time” referred to the silky black boxers I was currently fantasizing about.
But as he straightened to reveal himself in all his naked glory, I wondered if boxers would be uncomfortable. Because wow, Melek was… impressive. In every way.
Information I did not need to hear about Melek,Ajax grumbled into my mind.
Sorry,I said back to him, once again struggling to control the mental links within my head. Seeing Melek like this had broken my brain.
