Page 7 of Shattered Veil
I try to shove him away, to break out of his grip on me.
“I’ll never be anything with you,” I spit.“Not after what you did.”
His fingers dig into my skin. A jolt of heat surges through me. Fuck.
“What I did? You mean save your life?” His eyes flash.“Or open your eyes to your true power?”
I snarl.“You let Rory fall into the void, you bastard.”
“The dog is unimportant.” His thumb traces my lower lip.“I set you free.”
I stop myself from leaning into his touch. I hate him. I want him.
“Why are you really here?” I demand.“What’s your connection to the Raven King?”
He smirks.“You should already know.”
Rage boils over. I slam my palm against his chest.“Stop playing games!”
He doesn’t budge. Just pulls me closer, until our hips align.
My breath catches. Wetness pools between my thighs. No. I can’t want this. Can’t want him.
He chuckles low in his throat as my hand meets his chest. The sound reverberates through me like thunder before a storm - ominous yet thrilling in its intensity. My stomach flips as our hips press together - an unwelcome reminder of my traitorous want for him pushing against my anger at his callous words about Rory.
“You know who I am, Brigid.” He whispers, his lips brushing against my ear like a forbidden temptation.“And you know exactly what I can do for you.”
His fingers still trace patterns on my skin, leaving trails of heat that spread through me like wildfire. It takes all my willpower to resist the urge to lean into his touch, to let him consume me completely.
“I don’t want anything from you,” I lie through gritted teeth even as my body betrays me by swaying towards him.“You’ve taken enough already.”
“Ah, but see, that’s where you’re wrong.” His hand slides up my arm, cupping my shoulder before sliding down my back. His touch feels like branding iron against my skin, marking me as his own. A shudder runs through me, half fear, half anticipation.
“You want something from me, Brigid.” He murmurs, leaning in so close that I can feel his breath against my cheek.“You just haven’t admitted it yet.”
“I don’t need anything you have to offer,” I snap, pushing him away.“Especially not after what you did to Rory.”
Marius grabs my upper arms, holding them tight enough to bruise. His eyes flash with a dark promise that sends a shiver down my spine.
“Rory was nothing,” he says.“He distracted you. He doesn’t matter.”
“Fuck. You.” Tears threaten, but I refuse to let them fall. I won’t give him the satisfaction.“You’re a monster,” I hiss, trying to wrench myself free.
“Perhaps,” Marius concedes, releasing my wrists.“But I’m your monster, Brigid. And you’re mine.”
His words, his touch, his kiss - they all feel like a trap, pulling me in deeper and deeper. I hate myself for wanting him, for letting him get this close to me. But in this moment, with his lips on mine and his hands roaming my body, it’s hard to fight the pull he has over me.
Marius pulls away slightly, leaving a trail of hot kisses down my neck and collarbone. His teeth graze against my skin and I shiver at the sensation. He chuckles against my throat before sucking on the delicate skin there. The pleasure-pain mix ignites something primal inside of me.
Without thinking, I reach up and tangle my fingers in his dark hair, pulling him closer to me. His hand travels down to my waist, gripping it tightly as he lifts me up and presses me against the wall. My legs wrap around his waist as he continues to devour me with his mouth.
The air between us is charged with electricity, our bodies pressed together in a feverish heat that threatens to consume us both. My resistance crumbles under the weight of desire coursing through me. I give into the moment - giving myself over to him completely. I need this. I need to shut off my brain and stop thinking. Need it to numb the pain in my heart.
Marius pulls back slightly, his eyes dark and intense as he gazes down at me.
“I want you,” he growls, punctuating each word with a kiss on my lips.
I moan softly in response - unable to deny the truth any longer. I want him too - despite knowing how wrong it is for me to give in.
