Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
I drift my fingers over the surface of the water and lift my hands to cup my breasts. “Poor little gargoyle. Not a single one of your people will have you. Reduced to slumming it with a human.”
“You said it. I didn’t.”
My flush deepens, and I tell myself it’s the heat of the bath causing it and not the sting of his words. He doesn’t stop me from moving forward, though. In fact, when my legs bump against his, he spreads his thighs to allow me closer. “A human who doesn’t even want you. One you have to coerce into your bed.”
If anything, his expression becomes more mocking. “Yes, Grace. You seem to be exceedingly coerced right now.” Once again, his attention falls to where I cup my breasts and toy with my nipples. “Practically quivering with . . . fear.”
I want to shut him up. That’s the only thing I’m thinking when my body springs into motion. I straddle him and sink my hands into his long white hair before jerking his head back and exposing his throat. “I could kill you right now.”
His eyes slide halfway shut, and an unexpected smile curves his lips. His wings move. I tense, expecting him to knock me back. Instead, he smacks a small table just behind him. I didn’t even notice it was there. There’s a flash of flying metal, and then his hand snaps out to catch a dagger. He did it all without moving his head from my grasp.
What the fuck?
Bram grabs my wrist and pulls my hand out of his hair. I’m shocked enough to let him do it. He presses the dagger hilt to my palm and guides it to his exposed throat. “You want to kill me? Then do it.”
Shock stills me. I search his face, his aura, for proof this is a bluff. All I find is the deep violet of resolve threaded with the pale mauve of relief. He means it. I don’t know what to make of this puzzle of a man. Maybe I should cut his throat and be done with it. Except that would break Azazel’s contract. Time moves differently in this realm, and it’s entirely possible that he hasn’t yet fulfilled his part of the bargain to save Ryland and the others and deliver them to Mina. I tell myself that’s the only reason I do what I do next—I can’t afford to let that happen. I toss the dagger away.
I save people. I don’t kill them.
I kiss Bram.
8
BRAM
There’s no hesitation in Grace as she takes my mouth. A part of me whispers that I should be taking charge, but I’m so fucking tired. Tired of fighting a losing battle that never seems to end. Tired of the constant reminders of all the ways I don’t measure up. Just . . . tired.
It feels good to have Grace’s hands in my hair, pulling just hard enough to hurt. For her mouth to move against mine, nipping my bottom lip to tease my mouth open. She’s tastes like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
Then she sinks into me, pressing her whole body against mine. She’s such a little thing for someone so fierce. I could break her in half without even trying.
And yet I find myself sitting here passively while she dominates me with the single greatest kiss of my life. It’s been years since I’ve been this close to another person, let alone . . .
Grace yanks on my hair again, harder this time. “Have you changed your mind?” There’s a challenge in her tone, but she doesn’t otherwise move while she waits for my answer.
Have I?
A naive, foolish part of me wanted something different with the opportunity Azazel offered. Something real. To prove that I’m not the curse in action. I should have known better. It was always going to end like this.
A vicious fight instead of a delicate seduction.
“Have you?” I bite out.
She rises enough to study my face. A cutting smile pulls at her lips. Her energy is an overwhelming mix of bright pink and red, lust and anger driving her the same way it’s driving me. “No,” Grace says slowly. She shakes her head as if coming out of a trance. “But no babies.”
I might be able to provoke her into forgetting that rule, but part me still wants there to be some lines I don’t cross. “I’ll get you a birth control pendant tomorrow.”
She blinks. “A birth control pendant. That sounds . . .” Another shake of her head. “We’ll circle back to that.”
“Sure.” It’s difficult to think with her breasts pressed against my chest. So I don’t bother. I still can’t get enough of Grace’s fingers in my hair. I like it a lot. Especially when she wraps my hair around one fist and then moves her other hand up to trace a finger along one of my horns.