“Stay with me,” he breathes, as if he knows how my mind has turned. The ghosts are threatening to intervene. “Safe word, Princess. I need it.Please give it to me.”
He’s begging me, and it’s a powerful draw. More powerful than the doubt, than the voices. Than the fear.
“Who are you to me?”
He swallows, pausing, his heat searing my back. Carefully, he leans down, our eyes meeting over stuttering breaths.
“Yours,” he murmurs, watching my mouth. “I have been and will always be yours, Princess. Every horrible part of me is yours—for as long as you’ll have me. It’s not much, but whatever I have is yours. Just like this,” he says, tapping my forehead, then over my heart. “Belongs to me. The ghosts can’t have you—I won’t let them.”
Closing his eyes, he begs, “Please, Maeve.Please.”
My heart soars even as my pussy flutters. “Mors.”
He hauls me up with a firm grip on my neck, back bowed. The sound of his zipper has anticipation coursing through my veins. Strong, warm fingers cut into my throat as he crushes my hip. Leveraging me, his cock nudges my entrance, and I whimper.
“There it is,” he murmurs. “The noise that haunts my dreams.”
Smiling, I rest against him, pushing the taunts away. Slowly, he teases me, not quite entering me. Nails rake his forearm as I pull him closer, his heart beating furiously through me.
“Tell me again.”
“I’m yours,” he vows. “I’vealwaysonly been yours, Princess.”
Slamming into me, I moan, fighting the pain. Held immobile, I’m nothing to be used by him. But like this, I know I’m cherished, that the worries can’t get me with the Reaper surrounding me.
His thrusts are hard, powerful, and I gasp with each withdrawal. He’s not gentle. He bites my shoulder, teeth sinking deep, and his nails claw into my neck. I accept it. The pain grounds me, brings back my confidence, as I melt into his type of damage.
Throwing me forward, he yanks my hips higher, driving deeper. Over and over, I’m lost to the spiking pain and ebbing pleasure. Outside my body, I completely surrender to Killian and pray it’s enough to keep me whole.
“Tell me again,” I pant, orgasm building. He goes harder, the desk biting into my stomach. I don’t dare say the safe word—I need the pain to feel alive. I need to hear Killian Linwood is mine.
“I’m fucking yours,” he says behind gritted teeth. “Now, call me a good boy, and I’ll keep reminding you I’m yours, Princess. Until the day we fucking die.”
I’m on the edge. “Good boy, Pup.”
I lose it, screaming his name. Blinding pleasure rips through me, stealing all noise, and my lungs burn with my exhale. He falters, growling into my back, nails cutting my sides. He bruises me as he holds me tight and empties inside. Warmth fills me, and I drop, forehead to the desk, him collapsing on top of me. Here, his scent, his heat on me, the demons don’t bother to attack. I’m at peace—and my confidence rises.
Gently turning my head, he kisses my lips softly. Brushing hair from my face, he looks at me like I’m art to be studied—a portrait on display. Maybe to the Reaper I am—something cherished. Something important.
“How are they now?”
“Quiet,” I admit.
He nuzzles my neck. “Good. And what are we going to do?”
We. Not me—but us. Further proof he’s going to stay.
Lying there, dripping from where we’re still connected, I sigh. I wait for the voices, but their taunts don’t come. It’s silent.
“I’m going to destroy all of them,” I promise darkly. “And I’m going to be the fucking captain I always meant to be.”
Smiling like the wraith that haunts children’s dreams, he exhales loudly. “There she is.” Pressing a kiss to my temple, I feel his delight. “Burn them all, Princess.”
30
MAEVE
Ending the call, I look over the building, bracing against the cold wind. It blows across my cheeks and nose, turning my pale skin cherry red. I don’t feel it, though—my face, my fingers, my toes are frozen.
