“Can’t take anymore,” he ground out.
Before I could react, his hands gripped meunder my arms and he pulled me away. I didn’t have time to protesthim touching me as he carried me three steps and rested my backagainst a tree. He grabbed my wrists, securing them above myhead.
My chest heaved as he kept me pinned beforehim; the rapid inhalations of breath caused my aching breasts torub enticingly against his sweat-slicked flesh. His eyes burnedinto mine as he gazed at me with a mix of awe and a hunger sointense I found myself grinding against him in a silent plea toease the torment of both our bodies. I’d expected him to plungeinto me deeply, but he only stood and stared at me.
“You have no idea the effect you have onme,” he murmured as his gaze fell to my lips.
I couldn’t help but smile as I thrust myhips forward. “You could always show me.”
His mouth curved into a wicked grin thatshould have served as a warning, but I was unprepared when hereleased my wrists, seized my waist, and lifted me in one fluidmotion. I gasped when my thighs came down on his shoulders; itquickly turned into a moan when his warm breath blew over my achingcore. His mouth settled against my aroused flesh, which was nowlevel with his unrelenting mouth and tongue.
A wave of liquid heat coursed through me asmy fingers entangled in the thick waves of his hair. I pressedcloser to him when his tongue delved into me and licked in greedyswipes that had me on the edge of release. His hands supported myass as he held me more firmly against him.
I nearly screamed aloud when one of hisfangs scraped over my clit. My body writhed as it demanded more; mybreath came in shallow pants as he pushed my body to higher andhigher levels of sensuality until I didn’t think I could take thepressure building within me anymore. Words spilled from my mouth,pleas for him to end my torment.
“Come for me, Mah Kush-la.” His breathagainst my center and the greedy possession of his tongue had mehelpless to do anything but obey. My head fell back, and I criedout in ecstasy as waves of pleasure racked my body.
I didn’t have time to gather my scatteredthoughts before he lifted me off his shoulders and settled me onthe ground. My body was still shaking when he placed me on my handsand knees before him.
His powerful body knelt behind mine; one ofhis arms latched around my waist while the other entangled in myhair. I felt the head of his shaft probing my sex as he pulled myhair back and thrust into me at the same time. My arms gave out atthe sensation of him stretching and filling me completely, of thetwo of us being joined once more. His arm around my waist kept mefrom going down as he held me up before him.
“So wet, so tight,” he groaned in my ear ashe relentlessly pulled me back and forward, on and off of his stiffcock. My head fell forward as he released my hair to slide his handbetween my legs. His palm and fingers rubbed my clit.“Mine.”
“Yes!” I panted as I felt myself spiralingtoward the edge again.
His fangs sank into my shoulder as my bodysplintered apart once more. His guttural shout reverberated againstmy flesh as he jerked out of my body. I knew we couldn’t take therisk of me getting pregnant now, but I still felt a sense of losswhen he pulled out of me to spill his seed against my back.
Gathering me within his arms, he cradled meto him as his fangs withdrew from my shoulder.
CHAPTER 6
Kobal
Tucked against my side, River had her headon her hands as she slept soundly, oblivious to the world aroundher. I’d realized she only felt this secure when she was with me. Isaw the way her eyes constantly moved, the way she warily took ineverything when I wasn’t beside her. My fingers slid over hergolden skin and across the dusting of freckles on her nose beforebrushing against the small scar on her eyebrow.
“Stupidity,”she’d once told me.“I accidentally hooked myself on one of my first fishingtrips.”
Fishing had once been her trade, the way shesurvived, and now her life was completely different from what she’dknown in her youth. She’d gone from a young woman struggling tokeep herself and her brothers alive to being the possible key todefeating Lucifer. I’d dragged her through the wilds beyond thewall—wilds full of horrors that most of the human populationremained peacefully oblivious to. I’d brought her to a place thatate at her soul, yet she still faced it all with unwaveringdetermination.
One of three things had to happen soon. One,she had to figure out if she could close the gate. Two, we went insearch of her creator to see if, with her, we could finally defeathim. Or three, we returned to the wall.
With her ability to wield life, there mightbe a chance she could take out Lucifer. She’d stunned the fallenangel, Azote, in battle, and she’d only grown more powerful sincethen. However, getting her to Lucifer would be a huge endeavor, onethat may leave her more exhausted and broken than prepared tofight.
The demons were itching for action, forresolution. They wanted to go into Hell to put a stop to what washappening with the seals, and confront Lucifer. They were tired ofwaiting, as was I, but I’d never been able to defeat Lucifer bycharging at him head-on before. Unfortunately, there may be noother alternative.
I’d wait to see how she reacted today toentering Hell before making a decision on how to continue with allof this. Returning to the wall most likely meant certain death forall if Lucifer continued to break through the seals, but it may bethe only option. I had to return to Hell; there was no choice forme. I had to know what had happened to the hounds I’d left to guardthe seals, and stop the seals from continuing to fall, but I wouldmake sure River was somewhere safer before I returned.
River stirred beside me; her sweeping lashesfluttered open to reveal her angelic, violet eyes. Her fingers slidacross my chest before her palm flattened over my heart. I didn’tknow how I’d do it, but I would find a way to keep those sealsclosed and her protected, even if it meant giving up my ownlife.
“I’m not so sure about you entering Helltoday,” I said to her.
“Icando this. If it becomesnecessary, I will enter and I will fight him.”
I brushed back a tendril of her midnighthair and tucked it behind her ear. “You may not be able towithstand Hell, River. We always knew that was a possibility.”
“I’m not giving up.”
“It won’t be giving up if you’re not able todo this. We will come up with something else.”
