Page 10 of Bound

His fingers paused an inch away from her cheek. “Yes?”

“Can…” She swallowed again. “Can I have some water? I’m thirsty.”

The shadows leaking out from his mask flickered. His tail swished, and Ruby thought of the unfriendly stray cats who lined up at her door asking for food but denying her pats.

“Mortals,” he muttered dismissively.

But he set the bowl back on the table and left the room, reappearing a surprisingly short time later with a chalice of water. The chalice—like the table and the door—wasalsofar toobig for him. It made Ruby wonder if this castle was ever meant for Skullwalkers at all. That being said, she didn’t know any creature bigger than a Skullstalker who had the capabilities towanta castle, let alone be able to make one.

Ruby reached for it, only to stop when he held it up to her lips.

“Open,” he said.

Ruby let her mouth fall open. He tipped the water into her mouth, and Ruby gulped as best she could. But it was too much. Water rolled down her chin and her neck.

“Sorry,” she said, her mind flurrying. Why wassheapologizing?

Slate grunted as he watched a drop slide over her hardening nipple. It sounded like branches breaking.

“Interesting,” he grumbled.

“What?”

“Your body.” Slate placed the mug down and dipped two fingers into the dark blue liquid again. “One touch and it changes. Your skin slicks with sweat, and your pupils swell. I haven’t seen it since I last ate one of you.”

Ruby’s heart thudded painfully in her chest as she imagined him pinning her down in that dark forest. Those sharp claws shredding her dress from chest to thigh, that big, long tongue down her belly?—

Slate pressed his wet fingers against her cheek.

Ruby gasped. His fingers were cool and slick, moving in short lines as he decorated her face. It was, she realized with a hot sense of humiliation, the most intimate anyone had been with her since the last witch of Sweetsguard died. She almost wished he would be rough with her. He was touching her so gently that she wanted to thank him for it.

She blinked back the heat behind her eyes. “Is there… is there any news about Paimon?”

“Nothing.” He stroked a line down her nose. “It is like he vanished.”

He sounded frustrated. She frowned.

“Were you…?” Ruby jolted as he traced a line over her breast. His touch filled her with hot anticipation and deep worry. “Um, were you close?”

She expected him to brush her off. His tail swished again, irritated.

“Once,” he admitted grudgingly.

Ruby thought that was the end of that. She closed her eyes, forcing herself not to shiver as his fingers ran a circle around her belly button.

Then Slate asked, “How long have you worshipped him?”

Ruby’s eyes flew open. Was he really trying to make conversation right now?

“My whole life,” Ruby replied. “He takes care of my town. That’s all I want to do.”

Slate rumbled low in his throat. It sounded very close to a laugh. But—shockingly—not a dismissive one. He cut it off quickly, his gaze darting back to where he was tracing swirling patterns over her trembling belly.

“You must care for your town very much.”

Ruby smiled tightly. “I do.”

Even if they don’t care for me, she finished silently.

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