Page 36 of The Devil's Wrath

“If I do?” I asked. “What then? We ride off into the sunset?”

His smile widened. “No, not the sunset, little bird. We’ll go where we truly belong.”

Unfortunately, it was then that I remembered the rumors I had heard about him . . . about the girls and the sex, and a feeling of jealousy consumed me, breaking the spell.

“But none of that matters, does it?” I told him. “I’ve heard more than enough rumors about you and The Brotherhood to last me a lifetime. And you’ll excuse me if I don’t care to be just another notch on your bedpost until the next girl comes along.”

I noticed the subtle change in his eyes when I mentioned The Brotherhood. It was a pained look but was quickly replaced, as if I had imagined it.

“Rumors?” His voice was low and guarded. “What kind of rumors?”

I hesitated, suddenly unsure if I should press further. But the alcohol had loosened my tongue, and the words spilled out before I could stop them. “The Devil’s Hunt . . . and how you and your friends chase girls through the woods and . . . and . . .”

“And fuck them?” he finished, his eyes boring into mine, and my knees felt weak. “Is that what you want, Wrenly? To be chased? To be caught and claimed by the devil?”

My breath hitched at his bluntness. “I . . . I don’t know what I want.”

“Liar.” His body was now flush against mine. The heat radiating off him combined with the intoxicating scent of his skin made me dizzy. “I think you know exactly what you want.”

I swallowed hard. “And what is it that I want?”

His hand slid around to the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair. “You want to be consumed. To surrender to the darkness and the primal desire that’s been building inside you since we met. You want to be devoured.”

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. All I could focus on was the feeling of his touch and the hypnotic sound of his voice.

But the sting of his rejection still lingered.

“You made it clear you don’t want me. So why are you doing this now? Why continue to play this push-and-pull game with me?”

Pain flickered across his features, and for a moment, his mask slipped. “I never said I didn’t want you. I said I couldn’t have you. There’s a difference.”

Confusion swirled through my alcohol-hazed mind. “What’s the difference?” I demanded, my voice rising.

He leaned in closer, his lips a hairsbreadth from mine. “Wanting you and having you are two very different things. Wanting you is a constant ache, a hunger that gnaws at my very soul. But having you . . . that’s dangerous. For both of us.”

I shivered at his words and the dark promise they held. “Why is it so dangerous?”

His thumb brushed across my lower lip. “Because once I have you, I won’t be able to let you go. You’ll be mine, body and soul. And in my world, that’s a risk I can’t afford to take.”

“And what ifI’mwilling to take that risk?” I whispered, my heart pounding against my ribcage.

Theo’s eyes darkened, a storm of desire and conflict raging within their depths. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, little bird.” His thumb brushed over my cheekbone, his gaze searching mine. “You’re playing with fire.”

“Then let me burn,” I breathed.

A low growl rumbled in his chest, then his lips crashed against mine. The kiss was searing, all-consuming, his tongue delving into mymouth to claim and conquer. I melted into his kiss, my body molding against his as the heat of the bonfire paled in comparison to the inferno he ignited within me. His hands roamed my curves, sliding under my cardigan and skimming the thin fabric of my dress. I tangled my fingers in his dark hair, pulling him closer, desperate to taste more of him.

He nipped at my bottom lip before trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses along my jaw and down the column of my throat. “Once I claim you, little bird, there’s no going back,” he murmured against my skin.

I gasped as his teeth grazed my pulse point. But before I could respond, yelling and commotion erupted nearby, shattering the intimate moment. Theo tensed, his head snapping up and his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area.

“What’s going on?” I asked breathlessly, my heart still racing from our heated exchange.

He didn’t answer, his jaw clenching as he stepped back, putting some distance between us. The loss of his touch left me feeling cold and empty.

More shouts rang out, followed by the unmistakable sound of a fight. People began running toward the commotion, their voices rising in excitement and alarm.

Theo cursed under his breath. “Stay here,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ll be right back.”

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