Page 10 of Bound to Death

She wasn’t the only one, but this was my dessert to savor. I wouldn’t surrender it to anyone, not even her.

I stole a look at the bound beauty, soaking in the sight of her completely at my mercy. It was easy to tell she liked my shadows more than she let on. It was in the flush of her skin and glazed look about her eyes. She was getting off on being my prey.

Good.

The urge to hunt her clawed at my throat, demanding I send her running into the night so I could chase her down and fuck her out in the open. But I kept that part of me locked away. Tonight, I’d take my time and give her more pleasure than shecould conceivably comprehend. Later, I’d devour her excited fear. That promise was the only reason I kept myself in check. I promised myself another night—a future I wasn’t permitted to have but would take all the same.

My tongue worked back and forth, sliding and flicking, delving deeply into her softness and tasting parts of her no human tongue could reach. She writhed and moved over the bed in a sensual dance, conflicted about whether she should give in or keep fighting. But it wouldn’t be Asha if she surrendered right away, so I welcomed it. My shadows gave her just enough room to put on a show, to fight back, but neither of us wanted her to get away.

Not this time, at least.

Sucking on her clit, I beckoned my darkness over. It slithered over her stomach, quickly making its way from her chest to her hips. Her glittering gaze followed its path, confusion etched into the lines of her face. Then her head shot back when it slipped between her legs and stroked the place I was already devouring.

She wasn’t given a chance to ask questions. My tongue tormented the deepest part of her, twisting and fucking the vulgar moans out of her. The shadow stroking her clit moved to tease the other hole before I pulled away.

I sat up, licking my lips of her taste.

Have it my way and I’d eat her delectable pussy all night long. But my dick was violently pulsing inside my pants. I needed to be inside of her. Fucking her. Ripening her body to my liking. Spilling my dark seed inside her. Breeding her.

No. Fuck. I can’t breed her.

My jaw locked, fighting the urges bubbling inside my chest. Urges I hadn’t any right to act on. Urges that made me forget why I’d come to her in the first place. I stared at the beauty wrapped in my darkness. She was so fucking beautiful.

Fuck.Fuck. Fuck.

Her eyes took a slow path down my body when the rest of my clothes transformed into shadows and disappeared. “Oh my god—”

I put a finger to my mouth, hushing her. “You’re never to say another man’s name around me again, little raven. Do you understand?”

Her eyebrow quirked in adorable perplexity. “I didn’t…oh,” she murmured, finally catching on. “Does that mean you believe God’s a man? How very old-fashioned of you.”

I’d forgotten who it was I saved tonight. This was the ridiculous human prone to silly rants in the middle of the night at no one but the four walls. Despite the fact that we were both naked, ready to commit a number of sins, it appeared even that wasn’t enough to smother the silliness from her mouth.

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. With my fucking dick out.

Asha’s lips twitched, hiding her smile, before her eyes caught sight of the entire reason this absurd moment happened in the first place. I followed her line of sight, smirking and flexing in an uncharacteristically proud moment.

The curious human tilted her head, still quaking inside of her shadow prison. “I didn’t expectthat, but I can’t say I’m mad about it. If I’m honest, I…want to know what that feels like. But, um, you’re going to need to go slow, killer. That thing is a goddamn weapon,” she rambled cutely, her tongue swiping across her lips like she was thirsty for it.

And fuck, I wanted to force my cock into her throat and make her choke on it. Smother every silly word bent on leaving that pretty little mouth of hers. Watch the tears and saliva pour down her face because she could barely take it all in.

But I didn’t move on her like the monster I was. Instead, I watched her face and body for signs of distress and rejection. It took me a second to piece it all together in my head. I was waiting for Asha to give me permission.

Which wasfucking insane.

Death didn’t need permission. I wasn’t here for her consent. I was here to ripen her soul for the apocalypse. I could coax ripening even when she wasn’t willing. But why did it feel like I was waiting for this little human—my Counter Soul—to accept me for everything I was? The man and the monster. A killer and her savior. The reason she’d one day lose her soul and no longer exist.

Fuck.

I dragged a hand through my dark hair, ignoring the powerful burn in my throat. Denying the explosive feeling in my chest when I thought about how one day, I’d be the one to take her life. How one day, she’d be gone forever.

As if she’d read my mind, the sensual air receded, and Asha stared at me, struggling to get free of my shadows. I hadn’t called them off, but she gained her freedom somehow and was suddenly in front of me, her soft hands taking my jaw’s shape. “Is everything okay, Thanatos?”

Without meaning to, my eyes closed, living for the sweet way she said my name. For the fucking amazing tone of fear it’d taken. Not fear of me, but fear that I’d reject her. She wanted me the same way I wanted her. No,neededher.

When my eyes opened, I took the red-haired beauty by the throat and kissed her so fiercely it nearly sent both of us off balance. My shadows reached out and dragged her back down to the mattress, binding her the same way as before, and I hovered over her body like the fucking menace I was.

“I’ve kept you waiting. Forgive me.” Her eyes danced across my face, and I grabbed her around the back of her head, collecting a handful of that beautiful vibrant hair before yanking it hard enough to make her gasp. “Tell me one thing, little raven. Are you ready for what comes after I fuck you the way we both want? Are you prepared to give me everything?”

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