Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
She narrowed her eyes at him. “That goes both ways.”
“Of course it does.” He switched his angle and pounded harder, striking her sweet spot with each feverish thrust. “Come. Break for me.”
His eyes changed as his creature surfaced, and then it bit her neck hard. The stab of his teeth hurt, much like the venom that slipped into her bloodstream. But the pain triggered the orgasm that had been looming so close.
Wynter broke, tears springing to her eyes. She screamed as her release clawed its way through her, ripping her apart with its intensity. She dug her nails deeper into his back, arching into him, sunk deep in pure bliss . . . which was when something seemed to latch onto and twine itself around her—she couldn’t quite explain or describe it, since the sensation faded so quickly. She was so caught up in it all that she was barely aware of the hot streams of come filling her pussy as Cain’s monster exploded above her.
She flopped to the mattress, her arms spread wide. Her throat was bone dry, and her body was a happy mass of trembling muscles. Yowza.
Bracing himself on his elbows, Cain pressed a kiss to the bite on her neck. It was done now. She was officially bound to his monster. Good luck with that, little witch.
His creature merely sniffed at that mental comment, too pleased with itself to be truly annoyed with Cain. All along, it had felt somewhat on the sidelines—particularly since she’d been unaware of its existence for some time. It had even felt jealous that Cain owned her soul. Now that it had its own claim to her, the creature was content.
She looked up at him through eyes that were soft and languid. “I don’t feel any different.”
“Did you think you would?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, really.”
“You’re not bound to my monster in a way that forms a metaphysical bond. Your life-forces are tied, that’s different.” He dropped a light kiss on her mouth. “By the way, that bite won’t heal much.”
Her lips parted. “Ever?”
He shook his head. “The third bite is an official claiming mark. The skin will close over, but the bite will always look fresh. Also . . .” He swiped his tongue over the brand, and she bucked in his arms with a gasp. He smiled. “Such marks are allegedly extremely sensitive to the point of being erogenous. If your reaction is anything to go by, it seems that that is in fact the case.”
Her brow flicked up. “You don’t think this is maybe something you should have told me before I let the monster have its way?”
“Probably. But it’s more fun to surprise you.”
“Surprise me, or fuck with my head?”
“Aren’t they essentially the same thing?”
“No. No, not at all.”
He merely shrugged.
She looked at the ceiling, mumbling something he couldn’t quite make out.
Cain felt his mouth kick up. He hadn’t smiled anywhere near so much until Wynter came along. Well, she gave him plenty to smile about, especially when she so often did the unexpected. He doubted any other woman would have dared curse his cock so that it would wither and rot if he ever betrayed her. Only Wynter. His Wynter.
Their lives had so easily clicked together. She was a Priestess. He was a ruler of sorts. They had different responsibilities and duties. Yet, there had been no push and pull, no struggle for balance, no difficulty for either to keep a foothold in their own “world”. He wouldn’t have expected that. Wouldn’t have thought it could work that way.
But then, he wouldn’t have thought a lot of things until Wynter. More, he wouldn’t have believed that anyone could become part of him, until there was no way he could exist in this world without them.
He combed his fingers through her hair, letting his gaze drift possessively over her face. “I forgot to tell you something.”
Her gaze flew back to his, her brows slightly inching together. “What?”
“I realized something when you almost fell through the netherworld portal right before my eyes.”
She slid her hands over his shoulders. “It would be nice if you didn’t glare at me like I did that on purpose. I was kind of unconscious.”
“I know.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I thought for sure I wouldn’t get to you in time. My heart was in my throat. My creature was frozen in horror. Fear . . . I could taste it, smell it. Even though I caught you and hauled you to me with Seth’s help, that fear didn’t leave right away. I could feel your soul, I knew I hadn’t lost you, but relief didn’t really hit me until you opened your eyes. And I realized that, fuck, I love you.”
Her face softened. “You do?”
“I do.” He lifted his head. “I didn’t know that the emotion could be so intense and raw. Didn’t know it could be so dark that it straddled the line of obsession and could make a person so much more dangerous than what they already were before. I am more dangerous for loving you, because to lose you would be to lose myself. You’re as much a part of me as my own soul.”