Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
He cupped her hips. “I could have bound you to my creature. But it would have had to bite you and, as you know, its venom could kill a mortal.” Cain trailed his finger down the side of her face. “My creature is immensely satisfied that now you’re not only immortal but have granted full ownership of your soul to me. It’s also not surprised.”
“It’s not?”
“It trusted that I would convince you to make the deal. You shouldn’t be surprised either. I told you I’d eventually get my way in this. I was always determined to own you.” He pressed a kiss to one corner of her mouth. “Keep you.” He landed a kiss on the other corner. “Claim you on every level possible.” He nipped her bottom lip. “And I have.”
She hummed as he slanted his mouth over hers and all but ravaged it. She was soon flat on her back with him blanketing her.
He slid his hand down her body to cup her pussy. “I need to be in you right now.”
“Then come inside me.”
*
Hearing footfalls approaching the next morning, Cain looked away from Wynter just as Seth joined them on the terrace.
Seth’s step faltered. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you both.” His eyes slid to Wynter. “I had thought you would have left by now or I wouldn’t have intruded.”
She waved away his apology. “You’re not, it’s fine.” She drained her coffee mug and then pushed out of her chair. “I’m running a little late.”
Cain smiled at the foul glare she shot him. He’d dragged out their morning sex session longer than usual. Not purposely, he’d just gotten caught up in the moment—not an uncommon thing with Wynter. “You weren’t complaining earlier.”
“Well, I’m complaining now.” Nonetheless, she skirted the table and gave him a quick kiss.
“You don’t have to leave on my account,” Seth told her. “What I have to discuss with Cain isn’t something that can’t be repeated in front of you.”
“Thanks, but I really do have to get back,” she said. “I’ve gotta open the store in, like, twenty minutes. Cain will no doubt fill me in later if it’s anything I need to know.”
Seth tilted his head as he regarded her. “You seem . . . different this morning. Sort of electrically charged.”
Wynter grinned. “Really? I like that.” She tossed Cain one last smile. “Later.”
Once she’d left the terrace, Cain looked at his brother. “Have a seat.”
Seth relaxed into the chair that Wynter had vacated, eyeing him curiously. “You look very self-satisfied. More relaxed than I’ve ever seen you.”
“That’s due to the fact that I’m now the proud owner of Wynter’s soul.”
Seth leaned forward. “She sold it to you?”
“Not easily,” Cain grumbled. “It took some convincing on my part.” He was thankful that Anabel had helped her make a decision, though he knew that the blonde hadn’t done it for his sake.
“You’re feeling so possessive that you want every right to Wynter’s soul?”
“It’s not a simple matter of possessiveness. Though yes, there’s that. Her soul has no link to this realm, remember? Had no link, I should say. That’s no longer the case.”
“Meaning that her soul would only return to the netherworld if she died—Kali couldn’t just come along and drag her soul back there,” Seth realized.
“Yes.” There was no better feeling than knowing that Wynter couldn’t be taken from him that way. She could still die, but she wasn’t so easy to kill now that she was immortal. More, her body wouldn’t age and wither in front of his eyes. For him, that would have been the same as watching her die an excruciatingly slow death. He couldn’t have handled it.
“What did you give Wynter in exchange?” asked Seth. “You must have granted her something.”
Obviously, since one-sided deals weren’t possible; they simply wouldn’t work. Cain flicked up a brow. “You can’t guess?”
Seth’s lips parted. “You made her immortal, didn’t you?”
Cain lifted his shoulders. “How else can I keep her with me?” What she didn’t know was that he very rarely offered immortality. He more commonly agreed to grant people longevity.
“Kali didn’t try to stop you?”
Cain shook his head.
“That makes no sense. You said the deity felt that Wynter was more Hers than yours.”
“Kali probably still does. Don’t forget that She has been in Wynter’s life for a long time. In many ways, Kali raised her. Watched over her. Ensured she never felt alone.”
“So Her sense of ‘mine’ is more parental than a soul-related issue?”
“I believe so.” It would explain a lot of things. “Though I could be wrong. According to Wynter, Kali approves of her now being immortal.”
“Huh.” Seth sank back in his chair. “Wynter’s given up a lot for you, brother.”
Which is “love,” in case you’re interested.
Those words she’d spoken clutched at Cain’s chest. “I would have done the same for her.” There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. “She cares for me in a way that’s utterly uncomplicated. It doesn’t come with conditions. It isn’t a case of she loves me in spite of A, B, or C. She takes me as I am. Loves me as I am.”