Page 11 of Realm of Wind and Vines
“Is this what you want?” he murmurs against my lips. “For me to tie you up and fuck you like you’re mine?”
My heart is almost beating out of my chest. He remembers. Oh Goddess above, he actually remembers. He is fighting against the hatred in his chest. Even if it’s only lust, and not love yet, he is still starting to fight his way back to me.
“Yes,” I reply, my voice a fragile whisper.
He slides his hand down the side of my ribs, making pleasure skitter across my skin.
And then he laughs.
It’s a harsh and cruel sound that slaps me out of my dazed state like a bucket of ice water to the face.
Drawing back, he locks mocking eyes on me. “Did you really think that I brought you in here because I suddenly realized thatI felt something for you? That I brought you in here because I actually wanted you?”
Pain stabs through my chest, so violently that I forget to breathe.
He wraps a strong hand around my throat, locking it right underneath my jaw so that he can keep me from moving my head as he leans closer. Hatred burns in his beautiful golden eyes as he levels a vicious stare on me.
“I would fuck that insufferable bastard Orion Nightbane before I ever fucked you,” he growls in my face.
Grinding my teeth, I glare right back at him. “Liar. If I used my magic on you right now, I would find a massive flame of lust in your chest, and you know it.”
“In your dreams.”
“Oh really? What a shame. Well, since you’re not actually into guys, and Orion isn’t into guys either, then maybe I should just go and fuck Orion instead.”
His hand tightens around my jaw.
Victory sparkles inside my chest.That got a reaction out of him.
But all he says is, “Go ahead. I don’t give a shit about who you fuck.”
“Right.”
He flexes his hand around my jaw again while clenching his teeth. Then he abruptly releases my chin, snapping my head to the side in the process.
“Stay the fuck out of my head,” he growls as he spins on his heel and starts stalking away.
I yank against the vines keeping me trapped, but they’re surprisingly strong. When they don’t budge, a flicker of panic pulses through me.
“Draven,” I call while still pulling futilely against the strong vines.
Coming to a halt, he turns around and arches a mocking eyebrow at me. “Yes, little rebel?”
The cruel taunting in his voice when he uses that familiar nickname sends another stab of pain through my heart. It throws me off enough that I only manage a pathetic, “Aren’t you going to untie me first?”
“You’re the one who wanted me to tie you up. Are you saying that you’ve changed your mind?”
Frustration rips through me, and I snap, “Goddess damn it, Draven! You?—”
“Raise your voice at me again, and I swear to god, I will gag you.”
I draw in a long, calming breath through my nose while my treacherous core throbs at the pure command in his words. Utter power seems to roll off his muscular body like smoke as he stares me down, daring me to do it. Fire flickers through my veins.
Holding his commanding stare with eyes full of challenge, I keep my voice level as I retort, “Once I’ve figured out how to remove that flame of hatred from your chest, I’m going to make you spend an entire night repaying me with your tongue for this conversation alone.”
That searing fire of desire flares in his eyes again.
The sight of it snatches the breath from my lungs.
