Page 77 of Demonic Affliction

This will have to be enough.

A soft rustle sounds beside me, and I turn to find Noox already there, coiled and watching through those glowing serpentine eyes.

I never heard the familiar arrive, and I don’t know how it got down here. But I do know why he’s here. I’ve been through this three separate times before with my other mates.

Even though it is familiar, my pulse pounds like it’s my very first time.

Noox slides closer without a sound, gliding up over my stomach and settling around my throat like a dangerous necklace. His scales are cool against my heated skin, and it actually feels kind of nice.

“Hi, Noox.” I gently slide the tip of my finger across his body. He’s being far gentler with me than his size and reputation should ever allow. In fact, he’s coiled so loose that if I wanted to, I could easily pull away.

I look down into his slitted eyes, and I understand. Noox is waiting for permission.

Cin's palm finds my cheek, tilting my face up to his. His hand is trembling, and his voice comes out quieter than I've ever heard it. "Is this truly what you want, Willow?"

I know what he’s really asking. Would I really bind myself to a monster like him?

Instead of answering with words, I turn to look into Noox’s eyes, nodding my head once.

I choose this. I choose Cin.

Noox opens his mouth slowly, leaning in and clipping the side of my neck with his teeth. It's no more than a pinch, the pain gone before I can even flinch, and then he’s sliding off my shoulder and away into the dark, having completed what it was brought here to do.

I meet Cin’s heated gaze, and the air crackles with electricity. The bond floods into me before I can brace for it, building fast and spreading outward toward my fingertips as it solidifies. Bliss comes first, filling me with endless pleasure and bursts of starlight. Then, right behind it, something heavier follows. It’s darker, heavier—an infected vein, a river of ancient evil.

For one moment, I feel exactly what Cin carries every single day, and the weight of it steals the air from my lungs. Tears spring to my eyes before I can stop them.

“Cin…” I reach out, cupping his face in both hands. “My poor, poor Cin…”

He shakes his head slowly, never blinking or taking his eyes off mine. “Do not pity me, my love. Not tonight. Not now.” He presses his forehead to mine, his eyes finally closing as he takes a deep, steadying breath. “Right now, at this moment with you, I am the happiest I have ever been. I have never felt so totally complete.”

His hand slides up my spine, curling gently around my neck—his thumb resting on the new glowing mate symbol. “You are finally mine—and I will gladly bear it all in order to keep you.”

He carefully takes my suit off with trembling hands, then lays me down gently on the furs. His large, warm body moves over me, settling between my thighs, one strong arm braced on either side of my head.

A rumbling growl echoes deep in his chest as he leans down, nuzzling my neck. The cool steel of his mask feels amazing on my heated skin, and I let out a low moan.

“My mate,” he growls, sliding his hand slowly over my body, feeling each dip and curve, worshipping every part of me. It's loving, and tender, and torturous, and it drives me insane with need.

“Cin,” I gasp. “Cin, please. I need… I need to feel you.” My skin is burning up, the mate bond spreading liquid fire through my veins.

Cin's hand slides lower, cupping my wet, heated center. At the feel of my arousal, his eyes go wide, hungry. “Gods…”

Cin moves lower, positioning his head between my thighs, watching my pussy clench around his thick fingers. He works them slow and deep, stretching me open and curling against all the right spots. I wrap my fists around his horns, holding on tight as my back arches off the furs and a moan tears from my throat.

At the sound, Cin’s body shudders with a groan, his eyes going white with primal need and raw hunger. He presses his thumb against my swollen clit, and I cry out as pleasure spreads through my body and makes me see stars.

“God, yes! Right there!”

Pleased with my reaction, Cin gently works my clit, never taking his gaze off my slicked center. His fingers curl inside me, pressing against the perfect spot over, and over, and over…

I come apart with a scream, my blood turning to starlight and my vision going white as I fall over the edge and into blissful oblivion.

“That’s it. Come for me, beautiful. Come for your mate.”

When I finally come down and my sight returns, Cin is on his knees between my thighs, palming his long, hard cock. My throat works around a hard swallow as I take in him and all his glory, wondering how in the hell I’m going to take him.

The velvety projections at the base of his cock move of their own free will, restless with the same hunger radiating from his skin. They writhe and strain toward me, and when they cannot get close enough, they wind around Cin’s fist, locking him in place.