Page 42 of The Devil

JET

Amal’s heartbeat is a wild staccato against my chest. It matches the pounding of my own heart. I’m breathless, every muscle tensed, my cock throbbing as I slowly draw out, come and blood warm and slippery as I ease my hold on Amal, realizing how tight my grip had been, how, even as I tried to keep my full weight off her, I’m crushing her.

She draws a trembling breath in. Her body eases into the bed and I look between us to see the blood staining the white sheets, her thighs smeared with it. Mine too. The long shaft of my cock pink with a mixture of blood and come.

A virgin bride no longer.

A wife claimed.

Mine.

Those words circle my brain. They seem to be the only coherent thoughts I’m capable of.

She pulls her hands from my shoulders, and I feel where her nails dug in, where she, too, drew blood.

I brush a curly lock from her face. “You are so beautiful. Do you know that?”

She pushes a hand through my hair. I don’t miss how it trembles. How her whole body begins to shiver.

I hug her to me and she curls up, her arms close to her body, her cheek pressed to my chest.

“Baby. You okay?” I hold her to me, kiss the top of her head. I think she needs me to hold her tight. When she doesn’t answer, I nudge. “Amal?”

She makes a sound and buries her face deeper into my chest. I’m not sure if she’s embarrassed or just doesn’t know how to be or if I hurt her too badly. It’s her first time. But then I feel the warmth of tears on my skin and understand that she’s crying.

“Hey,” I say, pulling back to look at her. She resists and swipes at her face angrily before finally looking up at me. “Did I hurt you?” I touch her face, brushing away a tear.

She shakes her head and I’m not sure she can speak.

“It’s okay. I have you. I have you now. Cry. Let it out.”

Her back stiffens like she’s steeling herself and she finally opens her eyes.

“I’m fine. I just… I need a minute,” she says, and tries to scoot away.

I hold onto her, searching her face.

“Please, Jet.”

“One minute,” I say, and reluctantly let her go.

She slips away the moment I release her, snatching her ruined dress from the floor and cover herself, failing to and hurrying to the bathroom.

I note the prints of my hand on her ass before she disappears and closes the door behind her. I roll onto my back and stare up at the elaborately decorated ceiling. Even the ceilings in this hotel are something else and so completely different to my own home.

I hear the water switch on. A bath in the two-person tub is a great idea. I’ll join her, but first, I need to take care of business.

Although reluctant, I get up out of the bed. I cross the room to get my cell phone. Time to get back to reality. I switch it back on to find several missed calls, three from Cassian and two from Severin. Sev doesn’t usually call. He’s more a man to text, which I appreciate.

I listen to Cassian’s first message. It’s a two-word pissed off message to match all the texts, as if he wanted to make sure I got his tone. I had. I don’t bother listening to the rest. I’ll call him in a minute.

Sev’s message is different. More ominous. “Where are you? I need you at the club. We have a fucking problem. Wherever you are, either fucking pick up your phone or get here. Pronto.”

Pronto.

Fuck you, Sev. I give my phone the finger and delete the message then scroll to Cassian’s number and hit the call button. I’m ready for him to answer on the first ring, pissed as fuck, but he doesn’t. The call goes to voice mail. I try again. Same thing. I leave him a voice mail asking him where he is for a change, then drop my phone on the dresser and walk to the bathroom.

All is quiet and, because I’m polite, I knock.