Page 377 of Coal Hearts

I wanted to tell him to stop. To shut up. To keep his perversions to himself.

Yet my ears rang for more.

My core fisted his penetrating length.

I throbbed.

I ached—

“Fucking hell.” His forehead landed on mine, our sweat mingling, our essence binding. “You’re perfect. So damn perfect.” Nuzzling my cheek, he whispered, “If I’m a sadist—if I’m finally ready to admit that word—then, I hate to tell you, little nightmare, but you—with all your morals and sweetness, beneath all your goodness and bravery—you are nothing more than my angry, dirty masochist.”

My eyes flew wide. “What—?”

“I’m not done.” He couldn’t look away from my mouth, his face tight with hunger. “And the best part is...you don’t even know it.”

Masochist.

The word echoed.

It grew teeth and chewed into me.

It became a dagger and slaughtered me.

Because I suddenly did know.

It answered my question.

T-That’s what’s wrong with me.

That’s why—

“The label fits, doesn’t it?” He swayed closer to my lips, hypnotized against his will. “I might not have seen who you truly are beneath your prickly ferocity, but I did wonder the moment I realised what I am. You grow so wet for me despite your hatred. You fuck me like you love me, all while despising my touch. You were desperate at dinner because I spanked you and didn’t finish you off, yet you covered it up with a nasty powerplay of taking from me.”

Lowering his voice, he came so close to my mouth. “Tell me, Ily...didn’t that feel wrong to you? Taking from me instead of letting me give you what you deserve?”

“What I deserve?” I glowered, doing my best to see straight when every molecule vibrated out of control. I swallowed a groan as he continued to rock into me. “You think I deserve all this pain?”

“Yes.” His gaze darkened to a flat sterling. “I do. Because you cause me pain just by existing.”

His mouth came closer, closer. His lips agonisingly near, too near, tinglingly near.

My heart kicked.

I swayed forward despite myself, summoned as if he was a necromancer bringing a black, black part of me to life.

That creature in the storm—the girl who was ready to murder and turn her back on everything—stalked bolder through my veins. My claws kept growing. My needs kept changing. Metamorphosing and rewiring the last of my pieces until I had no idea what I’d become.

His chest heaved, scattering the last remaining droplets on his skin.

I was afraid of him.

Wet for him.

Exhausted by him.

But I really, really needed him to kiss me.

A shocking, soul-wrenching connection weaved between us.