Page 13 of Love and Death
“I answer to no one but myself,” I spit back, finding my tongue once again as the dark truth within his words, whether or not he means them, sets my soul ablaze with fury. “And I will not be coerced into obedience by the likes of you.”
Cerberus chuckles darkly, the sound setting my nerves on edge.
“Your defiance is most entertaining,” he counters, a wicked glint in his eyes, “but my patience is wearing thin. Now, go make yourself ready for the king’s return.”
“Or what?”
“Or I will prepare you for him myself.”
“I’d like to see you try—”
The words barely make it past my lips before they’re replaced by a startled scream.
Cerberus lunges forward, his hand wrapping around my throat, as he slams me back against the wall with a sickening thud … though it isn’t my body, but his, that makes the sound, his free hand cushioning the stone behind my head.
“I warned you not to test me.”
“I-I shouldn’t have,” I start, fear coursing through my veins at his terrible strength, despite him causing me no physical harm … yet.
“Frightened words will not save you, little lamb,” he snarls, his voice reverberating through my chest as he leans in, and the warm, smoky scent of him washes over me. “Do as I say, or I will make you live to regret what little remains of your sorry existence.”
I search his face, unease filling the space between us as I try to make out how much truth there is to his threat. Before I can come to any sort of conclusion, the echo of retreating footsteps reaches my ears.
I glance over at the door and eye it warily. I half-expect our still unknown guest’s retreat to be some sort of trick and for the door to burst open at any moment.
I can feel Cerberus’ gaze boring into me, but I ignore him, hardly daring to breathe, as I continue to listen for several long minutes.
“I think they’re gone,” I whisper, once I’m certain the footsteps have faded from earshot.
“Hmm,” Cerberus hums in soft agreement, though he makes no move to release me.
Does he hear something I do not?
I look up at him, the heat of his fingers around my neck growing hotter by the second. The rage still burns within his eyes but with a renewed intensity that makes my skin prickle.
If I didn’t know better, I’d almost swear it was no longer him, but his beast staring down at me.
“Cerberus—”
Before I can speak another word, let alone understand the shift in him, he bends, his mouth catching mine, altogether fierce and unyielding in its want.
I let out a whimper of shock, the sound swallowed whole in his ravenous need. My palms lift to press flat against his chest in protest, but still, he doesn’t budge.
Instead, he leans into my touch, pinning me firmly between him and the wall. His lips move against mine with savage hunger; his fingers dig into my skin, like claws would prey that must be subdued before it has a chance to escape.
My mind screams at me to resist, to fight back, but my body betrays me as it sparks to life beneath the heat of his touch.
Fear, shame, and wanton desire mingle treacherously within my veins.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t think.
I can’t even begin to comprehend the chaos taking over my mind as the hand behind my head twists, his fingers tangling deep in my hair. Pleasure sparks where there should be none, and then he suddenly grabs a fistful of my hair and jerks it back, baring my throat to him.
A soft moan claws its way up my throat before I can stop it. Cerberus growls in response, teeth scraping my lower lip as he pulls back just far enough for me to gasp.
I immediately try to regain control of my muddled thoughts, only to be dragged under again as his mouth drops to my neck.
