Page 62 of Hers to Keep

Don’t you dare, she sent back.

He straightened with an exaggerated sigh and his blue-flame eyes met hers.I can wait as long as it takes.

The same words she’d said to him about gaining his trust.What is it you’re asking me?

One corner of his mouth ticked up.You.Me.The dragon.We were interrupted the other night.

Every nerve ending in her body seemed to catch fire at once.Saints, she was going to self-combust if he didn’t stop saying dirty things in her head while looking at her like that.

I’m surprised you didn’t make the lights flicker with that one.His smirk was infuriating and too fucking hot.

Pris eyed them across the table with a knowing grin but didn’t say anything.She had clearly picked up on the vibes of their internal dialog from the unruly swell of Mari’s magic, but there was nothing Mari could do to stifle her reaction to him.

You look like you want to slap me, he teased.

Those cheekbones were made to take a handprint, she tossed back, surprising herself with her vicious tone.

His expression sharpened into something predatory.Promises, promises.

She stared up into his fiery blue eyes.You’ll regret taunting me.

Not even a little.There was no provocation in his voice now, only longing.

When they arrived at the grotto after dinner was done, it was lit with what seemed like a thousand tiny fireflies.Dohal lounged easily on the bed with a long green skirt the same color as the foliage.His eyes glowed red with his power as they raked over her.

She wore a short yellow dress with a ruffle at mid-thigh, but with him appraising her like that, she felt like she was wearing much less.Ashdei came up behind her, silent as a shadow.

His hands skated over her hips as he leaned to whisper in her ear, “He told me what you said you wanted to do to me that first night—tie me up and make me watch him take you.”

She shivered as arousal bloomed in her belly.“Would you like that?”

Her demon chuckled.“I don’t think it matters, because you obviously would.”

Mari looked back over her shoulder.“You know that’s now how I operate.”

“Let me clarify then.”Ashdei showed her a slow smile.“What I would very much like is for you to use me—in whatever way you desire most.”He licked the shell of her ear.“The more depraved the better.”

She searched his face for a moment that drew out long.“How much pain do you like?”

“Much more than you’re willing to give out, I assure you.”

“We’ll see.”She walked toward the bed at a leisurely pace, letting her hips sway with each step.

Dohal watched her approach with a bemused smile on his generous lips.Are you finally ready to embrace that dark part of you that you have been so afraid of?

Is there a possibility that I could really harm him?

He took her in with a slow glance.With the power you wield now?Certainly.But I would not let you.

You promise?

I would never let you hurt yourself that way.His voice in her head was solemn and earnest.

She turned to sit in front of Dohal facing Ashdei, her legs dangling over the edge of the bed.“Kneel before me.”

Ashdei rushed to comply, falling to his knees but not touching her.The blue tendrils of her power unfurled, moving to caress his body through his clothes.He watched them with amusement, chuckling when she fondled him through his pants.

Mari swallowed and gave that dark part of her, the one that Dohal was always urging her to touch, a little more control.The smoky blue magic wrapped Ashdei’s wrists in a flicker of motion too fast to track.He struggled against their pull, but after a moment his eyes widened in surprised when he realized he couldn’t actually resist them.

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