Page 165 of The Bonds of Indigo

Now I can appreciate her.

Her figure is a damn masterpiece. From the fullness of her bust to the curve of her hips—round, soft and perfect—she’s breathtaking. The black dress does everything for her, and while I know it’s probably a size too small, I love it even more because of that. The thin straps rest against the small swoop of her shoulders, and although I noticed before, now I truly take in the twin puncture marks right where a Vampire claimed her.

When I was holding her in the tub, that was where I rested my head. Right against the marks. The smell of both of them was intoxicating, and if it weren’t for how traumatic her response was when I told her I needed to feed from her, I don’t know if I would’ve had the strength to stop myself from taking her right there. It’s why I kept my jeans on; I didn’t want any extra temptation.

“What?”

I lift my gaze to hers, and the uncertainty in her eyes makes me clear my throat. “Just appreciating you.”

Her cheeks flush, the red pooling beneath her freckles, and it only enhances her natural beauty.

“Why do you want to change? You’re stunning.”

She crosses the room, one hand wrapped protectively around her waist while the other rubs at the back of her shoulder. “It’s just… a lot of skin showing.”

“We’re in a world built on lust, dollface. You’re practically modest compared to the women we’ll come across.”

Slowly, she wets her lips, drawing her bottom one between her teeth. It’s insane how attracted I am to her. The memory of kissing her—her taste, the sounds she made—I can feel myself drooling over a moment that lasted mere seconds.

“It’s… alright. This is fine. Let’s just get this over with.”

I step beside her and rest my arm across her shoulders. She doesn’t tense or pull away, and my Vigoro hums in satisfaction.

“I’ve got you. I promise nothing is going to happen to you.”

She lets out a sigh. “Lucifer… you may be having a meal with your family, but to me, you’re taking me to dinner with Belial. The ruler of the Beyond. The thirteenth banished from the Vayl. This isn’t a simple ‘promise to keep me safe’ situation.”

I let out a soft chuckle and place my fingers under her chin, tipping her face up to mine. “Trust me.”

Her chest lifts as she draws in a deep breath. “I want to. I do.”

I nod. “Good enough for me.”

Leaving my bedroom, I guide us into the open foyer. Four floors spiral around the main entrance, each level wrapping the double staircase that sweeps upward into the rest of the manor.

The moment we turn toward it, she stops dead.

“Where are we?” she whispers. “That door did not lead to this when we came in.”

“You probably came through the Expressway, which by the way, is something I want clarification on. Not just anyone can land here. How exactly did you end up in my bedroom?”

She slides an arm around my back, fiddling with my black button up shirt. “Luck, I suppose. This place looks like a gothic mansion.”

Guess that’s one way to describe it.

Everything is dark gray or black, with painted murals of creatures from the Beyond. Dozens of chandeliers, candles, and ornate rugs fill the forty-plus-bedroom home of my father. Not every room is occupied, but enough are that I’m not surprised when a few maidens pass by with their Blightborns: Mundanes who sold their souls.

“Lucifer,” one of the women says, bowing her head. “His lady.”

Great.

“Carry on.” I pull Amarah closer and guide us toward the stairway.

“His… lady?” she says with a bit of irritation.

“Everyone belongs to my father.” She tenses, and on instinct alone, I tighten my hold on her upper arm. “Don’t worry. You’re mine here.”

I glance down at her as she clears her throat. “Why does your father want me to come eat with you?” Cute deflection, dollface. “I wasn’t even aware you Demons eat.”