Page 37

Even if it was because of me—no—especially if it is because of me.

I shudder from the way her lips kiss my neck, unlocking a door that has been sealed shut for centuries, only now a golden light shines through. She is the singular beam of hope that I can cling to amidst all my darkness and rage.

“Atlys.”

My name on her lips dissolves something within my chest.

“I need you.”

“I know, darling,” I purr into her ear then playfully bite her earlobe.

Her eyes roll to the ceiling as she moans. “How could you tell?”

Good, little human. “By the way you gasp when I do this.” I toss her up in the air with a slight twist so that I can pin her to the wall. Her legs are a belt I proudly brandish around my waist. “Yes, that’s the gasp I was referencing.”

Akemi flushes a pretty shade of pink.

“Or,” I continue as I trail a palm up her ribs to encase her peaked nipples. “By the way your body sings to mine.” She arches into my touch, her core undulating against my cock now straining painfully in my pants. “Or, finally, by the way you claim me with your sweet, sweet mouth.” I dive into another kiss, pressing myself into her, desperate for more contact. Akemi responds in turn, opening her kiss to accommodate my ravished soul.

Restraint is a distant weapon I’ve mastered at this moment, for all I want is to claim this human and mark her with my scent for the rest of eternity.

She reaches for my belt, and I break our kiss. “So?”

Akemi huffs and swipes a piece of golden brown hair away from her flushed face. “Fine. So you know that I want you without me having to say it.”

I chuckle darkly. “Oh, but I do like when you say my name…” I lean forward, boxing her in with my arms and thrusting against her clit. “When you beg…”

Her head falls back to the wall as those golden eyes that torment my every waking minute roll behind her lids. “Please, Atlys.” She reaches for my belt. “I need you inside me. Now.”

Shadows rip from my body, making easy work of our clothing. “As you command.”

In less than a heartbeat, our bodies touch, finally rid of our clothes. A deep rumble resonates in my chest at the contact of her supple body against mine. “Are you wet for me, my darling?”

“Yes,” Akemi pants.

Hoisting her up with one arm, I take the other to explore her center, trailing a finger along her stomach and relishing in the way she flexes under my touch. I pause at the apex of her thighs and look at the stunning creature writhing before me. Our eyes connect in a clash of silver and gold, pupils blown out with unfettered want and desire.

Water lines the inside of her eyes. “I missed you.”

“Knowing I couldn’t help drove me to insanity. I was so broken without you.”

“Sometimes, only my thoughts of you kept me going.” Her voice cracks at the end, and I have to squeeze my eyes shut, hating the way my rage twists with lust.

The ground shudders for a moment before I can twist on the cap to my unrelenting magic that currently wants to rip through layers of earth to destroy a family member.

I’ll do anything for this human before me.

I slide a finger into her pussy and hum in approval at how wet she is. All thoughts of destruction, murder, and revenge disappear from my soul. Right now, I am with the one person who cracked something so deep within me, my chest feels like it’s going to explode. She deserves my undivided attention.

So I give it to her. Pressing my fingers into her core. Stroking my thumb against her clit. Capturing her mouth in mine in claiming, sensual kisses.

“Atlys,” she begs.

“Ride my fingers, Akemi.” I add another finger into her slick heat. “Let me give you this first, because with what happens next, you’ll need to be stretched and ready for me.”

“Oh. Fucking. Gods.” She rides my fingers the way I knew my little champion would, rolling her hips until she crests with pleasure, still pinned against the wall.

“Good girl.” With ease, I carry her to my bed and set her down gently.