Who will be Hollow’s next victim?
“Hello, dear maiden. May I accompany you to your room?”
I look up at Damien, who throws his arm over my shoulder. “Officer Delecroix, are you trying to take advantage of me?”
“Seeing as how I’m the one stumbling, I thinkyou’rethe one taking advantage ofme.”
“Well, in that case, follow me.” The two of us carry on while the rest of the group stumbles slowly behind us. Once we make it a few feet away from my room, I grab the tie that he loosened hours ago, guiding him to my door. When we get inside, I close the door behind me. “Take off your pants.”
Damien throws his hands in the air. “Yes, ma’am. Whatever you say.”
I push him onto my bed and climb on top of him. He instantly wraps his arms around me, pulling me into him. Our lips collide as our tongues fight for dominance over one another. I can still taste the sweet wine on his lips.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough of you,” he whispers into my ear.
“I hope you never do.” My heat begins to rise, but I push it back down.
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
Damien wraps one of my front curls around his finger. “Don’t extinguish yourself for me. I want to be with you as you truly are.”
“Are you sure?”
“I can handle you,” he promises with a deep kiss that makes my skin glow orange with power. When he pulls away, he slowly runs his eyes down my body. “I want to see them.”
I glance around the room at all the things that would catch fire if I released the hold on my wings.
“It’s too dangerous.”
His mouth curves into a mischievous grin. “It’s a good thing I already had a witch cast a protective spell then.”
“You what?” I sit up, taking in his perfect physique lying beneath me.
“I want you, Reign. All of you.” He runs his hands up my thighs, begging me with his pleading eyes. “You’re safe with me.”
It’s not like he hasn’t seen them before, but this feels different. It feels vulnerable and scary. I’ve spent so much of my life making myself invisible that it feels wrong to be seen. To be known.
“I’m scared,” I admit as he lightly traces my shoulder blades with his fingers.
“I’ll never not love you.” He sits up and kisses my forehead. “Your power is beautiful, just like your soul, and it deserves to be appreciated.”
I lean my forehead against his and close my eyes. The room immediately heats, but I keep my eyes tightly shut as my wings stretch out behind me.
Damien pulls away. “Can I touch them?”
My eyes fly open at his request. “You want to?”
He looks at me, running his finger down the side of my face. “I want to memorize every inch of you. Fiery wings and all.” He pulls my chin closer and kisses me so intensely that my stomach somersaults. “There’s no part of you I don’t want to explore.”
As if my wings have a mind of their own, they flare, and it’s all the permission he needs. I watch as his eyes drift to the top curve of my left wing. His touch is gentle, and yet the feeling of it electrifies my entire body. My fingers dig into his shoulders, and he immediately pulls his hand away.
“No, don’t stop,” I beg.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You’re not. Please keep going.”
