Page 67 of A Sword of Shadow and Deceit

I meet his gaze, but I can’t tell him the truth. That I am, in fact, tempting him on purpose. Sex is easy. Physical bodies colliding to offer release and pleasure. I’ve long since gotten rid of any notion of it meaning more. I’ve had to—or risk losing my mind to sleepless or nightmare-filled nights over those I’d seduced and killed.

For a moment, I contemplate pulling away and stopping this before it goes too far. Just once, though, I want to do what I want, and I find … that I really fucking want to kiss Theos Darkhaven.

So, for the first time in a long time, I let myself do it. I let myself do something that I want to do and not necessarily something I have to. I lean forward, my braid slipping off my shoulder and swinging between us until it slaps his chest. I dip my head until the heat of my breath mingles with his. This is risky, I know, but it’s been so long since I had something for myself.

I’m not like Regis. I can’t just fuck to forget all of the kills. I don’t fuck for any other reason than because it’s necessary. This, I know, is not necessary. In fact, doing this is taking a step down a treacherous path. Somehow, I find myself unable to withstand the desire.

Theos lifts his lashes. His eyes watch me with fire burning in their depths. “If you are intent on tormenting me, Kiera,” he murmurs against lips that have not yet touched his, “you are doing a splendid fucking job of it.”

My mouth curves into a smile. Even if he doesn’t realize it, in this moment, he’s forgotten the reason for his anger and pain. “Good to know,” I murmur.

I’m hesitating. No matter that I want this, there still lies, in the furthest recesses of my mind, all of the reasons that I shouldn’t touch my lips to his. All the reminders of why I should not kiss him, the least of which being that he is like me. Half mortal. Half God.

Theos takes the last step, erasing that hesitation as he leans up. His hand comes around the back of my neck and drags me down that minuscule last inch that keeps us separated. His mouth takes mine in a heated fusion of lips and tongue. Fire licks along my flesh as I close my eyes and sink into it.

My groin moves down against his as his tongue explores. He kisses as if he means to steal the last of my sanity. Soft, but masculine lips move across my mouth, devouring everything in their path. My breasts swell against his chest and when a sound escapes me—a blasted whimper as I feel the tips of my nipples scrape his hard chest through our clothes—embarrassment pours through my mind. I attempt to move away, but he stops me.

Ripping his mouth from mine, Theos tightens his hold on the back of my neck and instead uses that grip to yank me closer. He presses my breasts flush against him until there can be no doubt whether or not he senses the hardness of my nipples. Glowing, golden eyes gaze at me, hooded only slightly by his lowered lids.

His tongue peeks out, the very tongue that had been inside my mouth only a moment before, and then licks across his already wet lips as if he can taste me there. Panting, flushed, I struggle not to grind my lap down against his. I can feel the state of his cock, hard and pressing against my covered pussy. It’s another temptation I don’t need.

“Don’t pull away from me now, Dea,” he says. “It’s too late to regret this. If you’re going to take things this far and torment me, I suggest you simply take the reins and actually follow through with all of your silent threats.”

“Threats?” My breath comes out in a rush as I repeat his last word, confusion spiraling through me.

“Yes, threats.” He nuzzles against the side of my face, moving downward until his next words are spoken against the racing pulse in my throat. “Every move you make, every reckless comment, every fucking look you’ve given me since the moment you arrived here, has been a threat, Kiera. I am all too happy to be the sacrifice to them. Now…” His other hand finds my hip and he jerks me down harder against the ridge of his erection.

My neck bows back as I feel the hot rush of wetness flood my insides as he rubs right over the bundle of nerves above my cunt. Fuck, it feels so good. It’s sending me into perilous territory. My stomach churns and my mind fogs over with the pleasure it brings.

“Take me,” he growls as he sets his teeth to my neck, biting down lightly and then harder until I cry out. Frustration eats away at me. I want to ride him. I want to pull him free of his trousers and remove my own before taking him into my innermost depths. I want to feel how hot and hard he actually is inside the walls of my pussy.

“Find your pleasure,” Theos insists. The hand at my hip moves to my lower back and he begins to urge me to grind. Up and down, back and forth. His breaths puff across my quickly flushing skin. “More.”

My fingers sink into the fabric of the back of the chair, my nails biting into the surface, creating indents as I try to fight the sensations flooding me. Hunger. Fervor. Desire. It’s been so long since it’s been this real.

“You feel so perfect,” Theos whispers. “I can smell how wet you are for me, how much you want me.”

His words are sinful as much as they are unsafe. Too much and I know I’ll lose myself in a way I never have. Sure, I’ve taken pleasure in the act before, but it’s always been tainted by the knowledge that I was meant to kill my target. For now, at least, this act remains unsullied by such knowledge.

So, ride him, I do. I move my hips at his urging and I rock against his erection. Each movement causing more and more wetness to soak my pussy until I can feel it dripping down my thighs inside my pants.

Unable to stop myself, I reach out and grab ahold of a large chunk of Theos’ hair and yank his head back. The action startles him, I know because his eyes widen as he looks up at me. I don’t care. I dive down and take his lower lip into my mouth, I suck on it before biting down lightly—dragging my teeth over the sensitive flesh until he moans.

“Fuck,” he hisses when I pull away. “You are like an uncontrollable flame,” he says.

He has no idea. None of them do. I am far worse than a flame that could burn him. I am a shadow deceiving the lot of them. A sword hanging in the darkness just waiting to end their existence. I should not allow this. It is cruel. But now that we’ve started, there is no stopping it.

I kiss him again, desperate—even if only for a moment—to forget who I am. To forget who he is. All I want is for us to find pleasure together. I bite down upon his lower lip again, harder this time, until I draw blood and then when I lick it off, I feel his cock pulse between my legs.

A groan releases from him as he holds me tighter, closer. Theos brings me down upon his lap hard and sparks dance behind my eyes as I feel my insides flutter, contracting as they seek out the hardness of a male and find none. That is the only part of this that is disappointing.

I shudder as he forces me to ride him through his own orgasm, the two of us coming in our trousers like youths in ways I’d never before experienced. Hot wicked flames flash across my skin. I want more. Tears prick my eyes and his grip turns into iron.

Finally, the two of us are left soaked in our own sweat and panting for all we’re worth. I close my eyes as I rest my forehead against his shoulder.

I hope it’s not him, I think to myself. I really hope I don’t have to kill Theos Darkhaven.

Chapter 30

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