Page 62 of Hell Bound

With a snarl lodged in my throat, I shoved the door open, fist already clenched.

Three pairs of eyes stared back at me, the laughter completely dying out.

Lilith was on the couch, curled up with a blanket around her shoulders and her legs pulled up comfortably beneath her. Killian sat on her left, beaming at her, and Deasley was on the right, wearing some kind of sport hat turned backwards.

“Uh-oh, Dad’s home,” Pypentha muttered under her breath, sprawled on the carpet near their feet with a human magazine open in front of her.

I teetered on the verge of an explosion.

My throat ached to demand what thefuckLilith was doing in pack quarters when even being caught outside of her room could get her punished. And why she was laughing like she didn’t have a care in the world, and why my pack was encouraging this insane behavior.

I took a breath and counted to five, clamping down on the anger until it wasn’t an inferno, but heated embers.

Things were different now. My pack didn’t deserve wrath for no reason.

Lilith didn’t deserve to have a small bit of happiness crushed, especially after the constant humiliation she endured.

“Your voices are audible in the hall,” I told them, closing the door behind me. The door frame might have splintered as I did so. Just a little bit. “Keep it down unless you’re looking for more trouble.”

Lilith’s dark eyes watched me sidelong, dipping down my chest and lower as her cheeks flushed, and I had to look at Deasley to prevent the inevitable physiological reaction.

“Yes, Commander,” he said, ducking his head in abashment.

I could still see Lilith way too clearly, and I liked the way she flushed.

She’d practically clawed my back open with her nails, and from the way she looked now…

Maybe all hope of having her back wasn’t lost. I may not be able to resurrect what we had, but perhaps there was a chance for us to have something new.

Something all our own.

But what could I do to make up for my reaction? I groped for anything that could make her happy, to make up for leaving her wet and aching. Not to mention her being treated like a dog…

“Are you still hungry?” I asked gruffly. “I could… get you a Pop-Tart. Or maybe there’s dessert left in the kitchens.”

Lilith raised her eyes to my face, and I could read the lingering anger there. But after a moment, she softened.

“I had some of Deasley’s popcorn,” she said. “But Ass-modeus had a cherry pie I really wanted to try…”

“Ass-modeus!” Deasley brayed laughter.

I narrowed my eyes at him, and he slapped a hand over his mouth, snorting around it. The last thing we needed was for an Infernal guard to investigate his howling.

“I can retrieve the pie for you,” I promised her, unable to tear my eyes away. Under the blanket, she still wore the sheer black gown she’d worn to dinner.

The neckline plunged down to her ribs, exposing the smooth expanse of skin I’d kissed my way down a few nights ago…

Lilith’s lips had parted, and she stared back at me like I was the cherry pie she was so desperate to taste, and she hadn’t eaten for three days.

Maybe this new, hot-tempered Lilith would let me make it up to her before she returned to her chambers..

Deasley and Pypentha shared a glance.

“Commander…” Deasley muttered.

Fuck.

Pypentha hurriedly threw me a pair of pants that had been crumpled in a mess on the floor, and I yanked them on.

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