Page 23 of Orion: Galaxy Huntress

“Breathe, kitten,” I instructed her, and the gush of air she held onto came rushing out. “That’s it.”

“Next move.” She hurriedly flicked the spinner and waited for it to land, distraction from her rising arousal and the hard thud of the pulse on her neck. “Left hand red.”

I assessed the move. That put me right in between her legs. A place I was very happy to dive. “Excuse me, Hell kitten.” I slid into place, and she squeaked, jolting upright as my arm struck the space between her legs. “Something wrong, kitten?” I purposefully flexed my muscles, making her work her lip between her teeth and slam her eyes shut.

“Fine,” she ground out.

“There’s no way I can spin from this position.” At least, not without magick.

“Me either.”

I wanted us tangled further and sent that dial spinning and it landed on the best possible combination.

“Oops.” I shrugged and grinned from upside down.

She slowly maneuvered into position, muscles straining to hold her in place, contorting around me, trying not to touch me. Lord, this woman could move. I’d never seen anyone so flexible. Put a gymnast to shame. My dick punched against my slacks to get at her pussy, desperate to see what she could do in the bedroom department. She quivered and I could tell it wouldn’t be long until she folded. I may have sped that process up with a quick splash of demon magick. In the end, her body gave in, she collapsed on me, and I let us fall to a heap in the ground.

“Did I win?” Her breaths heaved in and out.

“Yes, you did kitten.” Hell knew that I won for getting her to relax. For getting close to her. For letting her drop her guard a little. A magnificent achievement after she’d threatened to slice me with a knife. Having her fall into my arms, where I held her, crushed her to me, making her body tighten was even more rewarding.

“Told you I always win,” she panted, her body temperature soaring, fire blazing along her skin, in her eyes, in the hot stream she fanned on my neck. Competitive little thing. Loved to win. Probably loved to be conquered in the bedroom.

“Few have bested me, kitten. You’re a worthy adversary.” I played her little game. Let her have the small win if it boosted her confidence and basked me in her radiant smile. A warm murmur started in my chest.

Fuck, I’d never done anything so selfless before. Never been so kind to someone without wanting something in return. I scratched at the back of my neck, worried that I’d lost my touch and how much this woman affected me. I couldn’t afford to fail if I wanted to divorce myself from Hell and Dad.

I had to peer into her soul, find something I could manipulate, throw her off course. Seduce her, get her into bed, have my way with her and take what I wanted before she knew what I’d done. Leave her behind before she warmed more of my heart and dark soul. Before she convinced me to turn my back on my wicked ways. Only then could I be a free agent. Freelance and make deals for whatever payment I saw fit. No more of this soul bullshit.

I dove into her soul, reading it, searching for a weakness, a crack, anything to grasp and manipulate. A giant pit opened up in her soul, a canyon, split down the middle. Dry, barren, and bleak. Nothing there but pain and memory. Someone had cheated her. Betrayed her. Tore her heart to pieces then burned every last one and scattered the ashes, leaving a desolate landscape in her chest. Glittering drops burned paths down her cheeks. Eyes red, she packed her satchel, determined never to let another man tear her apart. A dark mass formed under her breast that was spurned and scorned, seeking justice. And boy did my little Hell kitten get it. She defeated the man that deceived her, vowed never to let another man con her, and she surpassed every man in her ability, rank, and reputation. Undefeated, she ascended to the title of huntress of the gods.

Extra information came to me from her subconscious that wasn’t available to her. Historical figures, men, assholes who didn’t deem a woman worthy of such honor, defiled her name and sex in the history books, replacing her as a man in the myths. That little juicy morsel she didn’t know because her subconscious protected her conscious mind, knowing she couldn’t handle the knowledge.

Pain lanced through my chest and I gasped, rolling away from her, clutching my pectoral. Betrayed trust. Unrequited love. Hurt and bitterness. Emotions I knew all too well from encountering them in practically every person I had ever dealt with. Except it was a thousand times worse coming from her. I didn’t know why, but I felt protective, possessive even, of her. I never want her to suffer that again.

“You’ve been alone so long, haven’t you, kitten?” I caught her strong, toned wrist, bringing her fingers to my mouth, drawing one in. The suction had me burning below, desperate for her hands to roam lower, cup me there, stroke my pleasure spot. Arousal echoed through her and into me. I released her finger with a pop, making her sway with giddiness. “Fending for yourself. Fighting for everything you earned. Struggling to be respected in a man’s world.”

“How … how do you know that?” she stuttered.

I linked our fingers and squeezed hers. “I peer into a person’s soul and see their darkest pain.” She pulled away, telling me she didn’t like to show vulnerability. Especially not with men.

Curious for more information, I looked again into that darkness in her soul and shook with what I discovered. Her identity. Name. Reward. Orion. Huntress of the gods. Constellation. Fucking fallen star. One of the twelve fallen stars reported to have streaked through the galaxy and night skies. That explained why I sensed such power in her. Kitten contained the force of the galaxy. Enough power to break my bond to my father and Hell. No wonder the vampire had sought her. Greedy bastard wanted to drain her power. He wouldn’t have her. She was mine. Her power just what I needed to break me away from Hell for good.

But before I could take it from her, she rolled me onto my back, lifted my arms and pinned them at shoulder level. “That’s private. Stop looking.”

“What are you afraid of, kitten?” I asked her, easily prying free one hand, thumbing the single thread of a tear that let loose. “I’ve seen it all before. Thousands of times. Nothing to be ashamed of.” I grabbed her hips, rolled us over, straddling her. “Let me show you what a real man is like.”

“Are you serious?” She writhed beneath me. “I wouldn’t get into bed with you if you were the last man—demon—on Earth.” The more she wrestled me, the hotter she burned beneath me, her eyes hooding, her breath shortening and sharpening, her arousal peaking. I smelled the wetness pooling at her core and wanted a taste.

Guilt cracked down the center of my chest at what I was about to do to her. The very same thing that man who broke her heart did to her. I was a bastard. Always had been, always would be. But for the first time in a thousand years, I felt ashamed.

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