Page 18 of Prince of Ruin
How was she ever going to survive this night if this had been just the start of it?
Azazel tugged her skirt down, a dangerous little smile curving his mouth as he wiped the glistening wetness of her flesh from it. “What a wicked little angel you are. You taste like sin, my love. And I think you need to be punished for taking that hand off that handle.” He hauled her up, a fist curling in her corset. “But I think we need to go upstairs for that.”
5
Sera staggered inside his bedroom, wrapping her arms around her as Azazel shut the door with a quiet click.
It had been easier downstairs, with the desk between them.
But the bed here was shockingly large and draped in red silk.
There was no hiding what she was here for now—what he’d do to her on that bed.
“Here’s the door, Angel.” His voice was hard and cutting as he leaned back against the door, watching her take in her surroundings. “You don’t want this, then you use it. Now.”
“I want this.” The words blurted from her lips, and even she could hear the truth singing in them.
Maybe this was why Uriel had sent her. Because he knew that no other angel could catch Azazel unawares. He was a master of lies. He was cold, murderous, violent, and barely leashed. She’d seen the others in the Brotherhood shudder when his name was mentioned.
But the shudder within her was a thousand miles away from theirs.
No, hers was laced with forbidden need.
Hers was threaded through with all the things she’d never been able to do when she loved him.
The primal sin.
Need. Hunger. Desire.
It was written all over her, and she could see it reflected back in the merciless black of his eyes.
His dangerous laugh abruptly echoed in the air.
“Youdowant this.” He took another step, and then there was nowhere else to go, nowhere to hide. Only him, and the heat curling off his skin. “Understand this, little angel.” His claws captured her chin, and his gaze held her hostage. “You made this choice. From now, until the moment I’ve tired of you, you belong to me. You are mine, and I own every inch of your body. I own every inch of your soul. You will obey me. You will please me. And you will beg for mercy from me. Do you understand?”
She captured his wrists, fighting to breathe past the tension in her chest. “I understand.” And then she dared. “But maybe you should know this…. You might own my body, but I’ll claim yours too. You might shackle my soul, but I’ll steal yours in return. And if you dare try for my heart, I’ll brand myself on yours. Kiss me. Fuck me. Lie to me. Love me. I’ll return each and every favor.”
He stilled. His thumb caressed the side of her jaw, almost curiously. “What’s your word?”
Her heart hammered in her chest. They were really doing this. And she needed a minute—fuck, she needed forever—but there was no escape. “My… what?”
“A single word to end this.” His fingertips brushed her golden hair behind her shoulders, and she could feel the tickle of his black claws. “A single phrase to tell me when we’ve hit your boundaries.”
Oh, right. She wasn’t thinking fast enough. Tendrils of smoky allure wrapped around her, fogging her brain and promising pleasure. She wanted more of it. She wanted to breathe it all in and gorge like some sort of junkie.
“Forever,” she whispered.
Azazel froze, and she could almost sense him thinking back, back…. Remembering those days when he’d promised her he’d love her forever.
She brushed her mouth against his. Lured him into another slow, lazy kiss.
“Done,” he purred.
And then he captured her by the throat and hauled her sideways, tossing her down on the bed in a mess of silk and outflung legs. Sera caught herself, one of her wingtips digging into the mattress. Feathers tore loose, spilling over the bed.
“Get rid of the dress,” he said. “But leave the wings on.”
It was difficult to maneuver the dress around her wings. Sera bit her lip as she drew the zip down, revealing everything. With a little shimmy, she wriggled it over her hips and looked up at him.
