Page 123 of Black Sea

Tears got stuck between my lashes as I continued pushing against his invisible shield, whispering hotly, “ Why?”

He looked at me as if he was enjoying watching my heart breaking apart piece by piece. He opened his mouth to answer me and . . .

“Nauriel!”

We both whipped our heads toward the temple entrance.

“Araton!” I screamed.

But before my brother could even appear at the threshold with the soldiers I heard him running with, the heavy doors magically closed with a resounding thud.

In the next instant, an invisible force slammed me against the wall behind me, holding me against the cold stone as the one who controlled it approached me with eerie calm.

“Drop it,” he ordered.

I felt his power forcing me to open the fingers with which I was still gripping the sword, but I gritted my teeth and resisted.

He barely raised his left hand, and as he slowly closed it, his invisible grasp tightened. “ Drop. It,” he repeated in a monstrous hiss.

The pain became unbearable, and with a suffering, enraged grunt, I let the hilt go.

The weapon clanged to the floor. Araton started shoulder-pushing the door alongside the soldiers, roaring my name over and over.

However, I could barely hear his voice because my world had shrunk to the terrible person who towered over me in all his invincibility.

I couldn’t tolerate the sight of him.

Still, I couldn’t drag my eyes away from him.

“You know, I’m almost regretting not being able to wait a bit longer before coming to the Crystal,” he said softly.

I despised the way he looked at me— all of me.

I despised the way my body trembled.

“We could have had so much more fun . . .” he added, trailing the back of his index finger along the curve of my breast.

I tried to move, but his invisible power restrained me completely. “Don’t you dare touch me,” I snarled.

His expression darkened further as, to my horror, he moved two fingers from bottom to top, creating a deep slit in my skirt. “Don’t you dare push me away,” he hissed.

And he slid his index and middle fingers inside me.

I hated myself for the moan I made and punished myself by hitting my head against the wall. He spread my arousal over my clit, pressing so hard I had to bite my lip to stop any more shameful sounds of pleasure from spilling out of my mouth, turning my head to the side to avoid his gaze.

Trying to disappear.

He grasped my chin with his other hand and forced me to turn my face toward him. “Look at me, Nauriel.” I refused. “Look at me.” He penetrated me again, with such force that my eyes widened at the blend of pain and pleasure he had taught me to crave. “ Always.”

Hearing him repeat the exact words he had spoken to me last night, as he possessed me for the first time, devastated me.

“Nauriel!” shouted my father from outside the temple.

The enemy’s mouth twisted cruelly to one side. “Imagine if I let him in now . . .” He traced my upper lip with his tongue. “Imagine if he saw you like this . . . If he saw how much you’re enjoying getting off on my hand.”

“Please, no,” I gasped in fear between my moans.

He quickened the pace of his fingers, with the heel of his hand pressing steadily against my clit. “Then come,” he ordered.