Her teeth gritted at my choice of words, her mind changingplaytocheat. Normally, I would have some qualms about that phrasing and quickly correct her. But I knew this was the fresh mating bond talking more than Camillia.
She was experiencing a new wave of possessiveness and desperately trying to fight it.
Rather than wait for her to reply, I attempted to put her out of her misery by answering my own question. “He let me play because he knew I needed the outlet. He’s known for a very long time that I would eventually take another mate because he’s aware that he couldn’t give me certain things. And he wants me to be happy.”
I palmed her cheek, my eyes going to her lips before slowly tracking back up to her stormy gaze.
“Camillia, you give me the things he can’t. You give me everything I desire.” The words were like a benediction, one I hoped she understood and felt as a vow.
Because I meant it.
She was my world now.
“I’ve been looking for a mate like you for thousands of years, and now that I have you, there will be noothersfor me, Camillia. It will only be you and our mate-circle.Us. That’s what I need. What I want. What Icrave.”
I leaned in to press my lips to her ear, her resulting tremble one I felt to my very soul.
“I’m going to give you more than loyalty, Camillia De la Croix. You have my heart. My utmost devotion. Myfaith.”
Releasing her face, I grabbed the ribbon on either side of her abdomen, the rope tightening beneath my grip.
“And now I’m going to show you what that means. So I need you to close your eyes again and focus on what you feel. Because you’re my life now, and I fully intend to tie you up for eternity.”
CHAPTER 25
CAMI
Iclosed my eyes, my mind and heart a mess from Melek’s words.
Loyalty.
Devotion.
Faith.
My possessive instincts had flared when he’d mentioned Lucifer being okay with him playing with others. Because I’d realized that I… I wasn’t okay with that.
Melek playing with Lucifer was fine.
Melek indulging others… was not.
The distinction was confounding, and a bit hypocritical given my relationships with Ajax and Az. None of us had discussed monogamy. It’d just been an instinctual expectation, but Melek tested the boundaries of my instincts. He always did things I didn’t anticipate.
Like now with the ribbon.
He was wrapping it around my upper abdomen, his fingers smoothing the flat silk against my skin as he carefully maneuvered upward to my breasts.
The sensuous touch had goose bumps pebbling across my chest, my nipples beading in expectation. It almost distractedme from my thoughts. From Melek’s words playing through my mind.
They’d resembled promises I longed to believe in, statements I hoped were true.
The tiny hint of hesitation inside me—the voice that questioned Melek’s motives—confirmed what he’d said about trust. The fact that he knew we were still growing in that area, and respected that growth, spoke volumes about our impending relationship.
He paid attention to details. Paid attention tome. And honored my feelings.
It surprised me. I’d assumed Melek simply enjoyed chaos and riddles, that he liked playing games with me. And he did; that much was true.
But his games possessed layers, all of them built with good intentions.
