Page 63 of Presence

His laughter floats through the air.

“That’s my good girl,” he whispers, his lips grazing my jaw. His kiss is so tender, it almost feels like he loves me. It’s delicate and sweet. But then, his shadow smacks my clit, and he bites down hard in the same spot he just kissed, his sharp teeth sinking into my skin.

Pain.

All I feel is white hot pain.

I want to push him away, but his shadows have me bound tightly, pulsing against my slick skin and holding me in place.

I’m bound. I’m hopeless. I’m defenseless. I’m powerless again.

He feeds on me, licking the little puncture wounds on my jaw with his black tongue, savoring the blood. But that sound he makes... that low, guttural groan... it rattles me to my core.

I want to hear more of it.

Something takes over me. I place my palms on his pale chest, sliding one hand around his neck and tangling my fingers in his raven hair. I guide his head lower, to my neck.

He stiffens. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s surprised. But he knows everything about me, so it cannot be it. Still, there’s a moment of hesitation in him before he adapts. But when he does…

His shadow plunges into my pussy, filling me completely. There’s no more teasing, no playing. Only raw, pure desire. It sinks into my bones, amplifying the power of the rose liquid in my mouth.

“Oh… Echo…” I moan.

His teeth sink into the tender flesh of my neck, pain mingling with a rush of pleasure so intense my breath catches. My fingers grip his hair tightly, my body arching toward him as he drinks from my skin.

“Yes… Yes!” I gasp.

He presses closer, his body cold and unyielding, his shadows pulsing inside me, drawing more cries from my lips.

“Oh, I’m gonna…”

I can’t finish what I want to say because just as quickly as he leapt at me, he unwraps me, his shadows retreating from around my body and my pussy. He licks my blood one more time and takes a step back.

I still cry as I collapse to the floor, unable to hold myself upright. My knees slam into the moss, my legs like jelly beneath me. It hurts, but it’s nothing compared to the emptiness of losing him inside me.

I almost came. I was so close…

He totally did it on purpose, I just know it. But when I lift my chin and make myself look him in the eye—seeing his demonic form—a shiver runs down my spine. He’s trembling.

“I’m going to play a game with you,” he says suddenly, his voice low and grave. “Try running from my shadows, Clarity. If you last long enough, I might consider making a deal with you. Demon to human.”

My body is caught between still wanting him and being impossibly worn out, my legs barely holding me up. But his challenge is clear.

Run.

His dark eyes lock onto mine, a twisted smile curling on his lips like a predator taunting its prey. Shadows swirl around him, coiling like serpents as he steps back, giving me just enough space to stand.

My pulse pounds in my ears as I push myself up. It’s difficult, but I steady myself, my gaze locked on his while my breath comes out in harsh gasps.

“And if I don’t run?” I ask, my voice raw.

His eyes pierce through me, deadly serious.

“Then I’ll just eat your soul here and now.”

18

Sign of Weakness

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