Page 34 of Infernal Bindings

Except neither of us know how many ‘laters’ we’ll have.

Daemon pulls his hand away, and it comes back glistening. Instead of wiping his fingers off, he licks them clean and moans, actually moans. Did he just—

“Fuck, you taste good.” He must see my horrified expression because he rolls his eyes. “I’m an incubus, Annie. Your pussy is basically candy to me.”

“You did not just say that.”

Daemon arches a brow. “What if I did?”

This is starting to feel like dangerous territory, like this is about more than just the mission, and I can’t deal with that right now—not when Christopher is at the condo, waiting for me. Daemon must see the conflict in my thoughts because he immediately straightens, going stiff as a board.

“Right. Your mate.” He says the word like it’s a curse, his lip curling in revulsion. “Strictly business then.”

As strictly business as it can be while performing sexual favors for each other.

When I nod, something shifts in Daemon. Suddenly, this cold expression comes over him. His red eyes darken, and his normally playful smile twists into a smug smirk. It’s like he’s a totally different person—not my friend, but my master. “Fine. We’ll start now,” he says. “From here on out, I’m in charge. If you need to address me, you’ll call me Sir.”

I snort, but there’s no indication that this is a joke. “Come on, Daemon, we’re the same age. That’s ridiculous.”

“Sir,” he corrects. “You can’t use my name in there. Pets aren’t told them.” Before I can complain again, he gestures to the bed. “You should get dressed now.”

“Fine,” I hiss.

“And lose the attitude.”

I flip him off.

Slipping past him, I yank the bodysuit off the bed and tug it on one strap at a time, snapping the bands into place. None of them shield my nipples. A lone strap comes between my thighs, buckling together at my entrance. It provides little protection and no privacy. I tighten the buckle into place and sigh in exasperation before spinning.

“Happy now?” I ask.

“Not quite.” Daemon snaps his fingers. Something thick and supple tightens around my wrists, my ankles, my neck. When I peer down at them, I see the leather cuffs. When I grasp my throat, I feel the collar. An actual dog collar.

I gulp, the weight of this performance finally hitting home. It’s fucking terrifying, especially knowing that Daemon has the power to glamour me whenever he wants. When I’m trapped in Hell with him, will this be my future? Or will it be even worse than that?

Daemon grabs the jewelry box from my jeans pocket and opens it. He makes quick work of removing the grounding stone from Christopher’s golden chain, then reattaching it to my collar’s D-ring. All the while, I never meet his gaze.

More stones dangle from my collar, grazing my neck whenever I move. They’re gray to match the smoky quartz, and I’ll admit, it does seem to blend in. Looming over me, Daemon runs a finger along the grounding stone before tilting my chin, forcing me to look at him.