Page 69 of Grotesque
One lie. Her heart stuttered violently at the end. She had read something in Maxine’s sketchbook that scared her. But the other part? Why the hell would she want Glamis when she had me?
I squinted down at her. “Why do you want Glamis?”
She rubbed her fingers together, a sign of just how nervous she was. “I’ve never had anything of my own. It feels like magic here and I want to keep it.”
I scoffed and twisted my hand so that it collared her throat. “I am the magik, Sorcha. Who do you think feeds you by keeping the cupboards stocked? Where do you think your entertainment comes from when I am not buried between your legs? These books,” I nodded to the shelves, “are one of the few things I have allowed to stay that are not of my own making.”
Her eyes widened. They darted to the shelves and back at me. “None of it’s real?”
“It is real because I make it so.” I ground my molars together.
“So without you….”
“There is no Glamis,” I finished for her. “That is why I asked you to come with me to Under. I do not want to be parted from you, but also…” I flicked my eyes to the ceiling, to the windows. “All of this is nothing compared to what I can give you. What isone old house compared to an entire realm? Once I am restored to my homeland there will be endless possibilities. All wholly and completely yours.”
Sorcha worked her teeth over her lower lip. Gods I almost had her. She was right there, teetering on the edge. I could feel the bond between us vibrating. She just needed a little push and she’d tumble right over into the right decision.
“I find it hard to believe. You’ve been playing with me this entire time–”
“So, let’s keeping playing. You love my games, but allow me to play one of yours.”
Sorcha shifted against my hand, trying to widen the distance between us. I let Maxine’s sketchbook fall to the ground in exchange for grabbing hold of her waist. Not yet. I couldn’t let her go before pulling her into the deep end of my want. I needed her to drown in my desire. Drown in me.
“Two truths and one lie. Places far grander than Glamis will be yours. You will be happier apart from me. I am so madly, deeply in love with you.”
Air blew out of Sorcha’s lungs in a fatal exhale. My own breath became trapped in my throat as the confession left me. I hadn’t meant to say it, not yet, but the truth was out there now. Or was it? Is that what this electric wave flowing between us was? Love?
Her heavy breasts heaved. “What are you doing to me? Why do you insist on playing these vicious games with me? You’ve just told me you can give me everything. You know that I’ll never be happy without you. And I know you don’t love me.” She placed her shaking hands against my stomach. “A creature like you cannot love.”
I hunched over her. “You think that is the lie?”
“You’ve given me two lies and a truth.”
I pressed my forehead against hers, angling my face until the tips of our noses touched. “Little dove, that is not how the game works.”
A tremor ran through her body as if it had erupted from her core. My sweet Sorcha, so incredibly brave, so determined, was pushing her way through that fear. Ignoring whatever warnings Maxine had left to her.
A little farther.
“Which is the lie?”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Say it.” I pushed her chin up so I could brush my lips to hers.
“Corban,” she pleaded. Begged.
I slid my fingers beneath her shirt and groped her warm skin. “Then let me to show you the truth.”
There wasn’t a single part of me that was made to be gentle. I enjoyed pain. Both inflicting it and being on the receiving end. Ireveledin it. I knew Sorcha enjoyed how I touched her, but she needed to know I could be tender. That I was capable of love, of holding her delicate heart in my hands without crushing it.
She stifled a moan behind her lips when I kissed her neck. “Don’t do this to me,” she begged.
I ran my tongue over the divots of my fang marks. I slid my tongue along her jaw and planted a soft kiss to her lips. “What am I doing?” I trailed my hand from her hip down the swell of her ass and squeezed. I’d never get over how full she was against me.
“You’re going to destroy me.” She pulled her face away while simultaneously pushing her hips into my hand.
I pressed my mouth to the top of her head, breathing her in while I moved my hand to her waistband and worked her underwear and pants down her hips. “That’s not so terrible, is it? Don’t you want to see the stars again?” I pushed her firmly against the bookcase, earning another startled exhale.
