Page 138 of Devil's Deal

I swallow it eagerly, and he groans, holding my head down. When I gag, he releases me with a curse and lets go.

“We’ll get back to this another time,” he says through clenched teeth. “Worship me well, darling. Until you take it all.”

And thus, I have the power again. I lick and suck him, wrapping my hand where my lips don’t reach. His balls hang heavy and full, and I pet them, too. I don’t think I’m very well-coordinated, but I enjoy exploring him, and he doesn’t seem to mind.

His thighs shake as I work him, his bare stomach tensing in a display of sculpted muscles. He makes continuous sounds, half-gasps, half-growls interspersed with “darlings” and “poppy girls”. When I glance up at him, sucking so hard, my cheeks hollow, he curses and tangles his claws in my hair.

“Don’t stop. That’s it. You’re perfect.”

And so I keep doing it, until he releases the loudest growl yet. His cock swells in my mouth, and he holds my head tight, fucking up into my mouth, each thrust hitting hard. It takes just a moment, and his hot release slides down my throat in long spurts, warming my stomach.

He’s so deep, I don’t even get to taste him.

Chapter forty-four

Wild

I cough, holding on to his knee for support, while Woland breathes hard, faint tremors running through his leg under my grip. When I can breathe again, I look up and startle when his tail brushes tears from my cheek.

His expression is soft and sated. He pulls me into his lap, and I climb on, a bit clumsy, a bit disoriented. I settle across his lap, my head on his chest. He supports my back with his arm and sneaks his hand under my dress, his fingers painting patterns on my calf.

This is so odd, and yet, surprisingly right. There is intimacy between us, not born of friendship and affection but of the constant push and pull, our shared stubbornness and desire. I don’t know anything of him, yet I know him. And he knows me better than any living person in my life.

I relax in his arms, enjoying this new display of affection. It feels nice. He’s big and warm, and his hands hold me so safely. My usual loneliness eases, his closeness filling a hollow place inside me.

For a while, he strokes my leg as we both sit on his skull throne, watching moonlight scattering on the river.

“Come with me,” he says in a low, quiet voice. “We can go right now. It will be good, Jaga. We will stay together for as long as we enjoy each other, and if we get bored of this after the war is over, we can go our separate ways. I’ll be faithful while we’re together if that’s what you want.”

The warm feeling of connection snaps and breaks, and I tense in his arms. Because of course he did this. Everything he does, even if it seems like affection and intimacy, is for one goal.

“Let me guess,” I say, my voice calm and quiet, betraying none of my disappointment. “It can only happen if I let you claim me.”

He sighs, lowering his head until his antlers obscure the sky above me. “Yes, Jaga. But it has to be this way whether we are together or not. And if you don’t agree, things are already in motion to make it happen, one way or another. You’d be spared much suffering if you just agreed now.”

“And now you threaten me,” I hiss, making to slide off his lap but he holds me tightly. I groan. “Fine! You have your end of the deal to hold up.”

He sighs and straightens, his hold tightening still. “Very well.”

I look at him. His mouth is twisted in a sour grimace, and my heart beats faster with excitement. Finally, I’ll have something. It won’t solve all my problems, but it will get me closer to saving my twelve-year-old self.

“The time secret first,” I say, excited and uneasy all at once.

Woland releases a long breath and looks me in the eyes, his mouth set in a firm line.

“The secret to controlling time is very simple,” he says, one corner of his mouth curving up like he’s trying to smirk but doesn’t have it in him. “You just need to be older than time itself. Everyone who was born before time can manipulate it easily.”

I gape at him, my thoughts whirring. “But… But that’s…”

“Completely useless to you,” he says with a dark laugh. “I wanted to punish you when I came up with the idea for this trade. I told you not to take it.”

I snap my mouth shut, my fury rising like a tide, yet I can only blame myself. Did I know he couldn’t be trusted? Yes. Did I still take this deal like a fool? Also yes. Because after he saved my life, it seemed like something changed.

Or did I just want to believe him because I wanted to get my hands on him? Am I that pathetic? I grit my teeth together, but that doesn’t help. I’m so angry, I can barely breathe.

“The mark on my chin,” I demand in a growl.

Another sigh. Woland clenches his jaw in silence, looking at me with pity and regret. Finally, he speaks, sounding almost apologetic.

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