“What is it, sweetheart?”
I sat up, wishing I had a robe or a towel to cover myself. He had seen my naked body more than once, touched and licked every inch of me, but for some reason, I felt vulnerable right now.
Why wasn’t I able to control myself with him? I was a grown up, a supernatural, a badass … or at least I thought I was, and yet, I couldn’t resist him.
I knew it was the bond, but I was freaking stubborn and I wanted to resist it!
“Nothing,” I said, reaching for my top.
“I can feel you, sweetheart. Talk to me.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Levi had sat up too and was a foot behind me, still fully and gloriously naked.
“I thought you didn’t do small talk,” I teased him.
“I guess our relationship is complicated, and we’re a little past that now.”
Our relationship …
There was no relationship here.
“I should be able to control myself,” I confessed. “But because of the bond, I can’t.”
He scooted closer to me. “Look at me, sweetheart.” I glanced at him over my shoulder again, letting my hair fall around me and cover my breasts. “Tell me the truth … would it be so bad if we had fun with the bond before we break it?”
I frowned. “Maybe?”
“We don’t need to pretend to be a happy couple, hold hands, snuggle, or anything like that, but we can have sex like we just had.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my shoulder. I shivered. “Or was it so bad you don’t want to repeat it?”
I rolled my eyes. He knew it hadn’t been bad at all. In fact, it was hard not to jump him right now and go for round two.
“You know that’s not it.”
“What is it, then? Your moral compass? An angelic rule?” That wasn’t it, either. Angels were more composed than most supernaturals, but it wasn’t rare for angels to date around before claiming a pair. “Or are you promised to an angel?”
I smiled at that. “Angels don’t do that kind of stuff.”
“Then the only thing holding you back is yourself.”
That and my poor heart. I knew a one-night stand or two or three wouldn’t kill me, but on the inside, I was softer than I liked, and I could easily fall for him, bond or no bond.
And with the bond? It would be hard to know the difference, if there was any.
“Levi,” I started.
“Sweetheart, I never had to ask or beg someone to be with me and I won’t start now.” He raised both hands. “I won’t be upset if you say no.” He said it casually, but there was a disappointed glint in his blue eyes.
I frowned. “What about the dagger? Aren’t you trying to seduce me so I lower my guard and tell you where the Scarlet Hex Blade is?”
He pressed a hand to his chest. “I’m not, sweetheart. I won’t press you about the dagger.”
As a demon, he probably could lie right to my face and not feel one ounce of remorse.
But damn, those eyes, that intense stare.
By the light, how could I resist him?
Choosing to believe his lie, I twisted around, pressed my hands on his shoulders and pushed him down, until his back was on the mat and I was straddling him. “Damn it. Are you sure you’re above begging? I wanted you to grovel.”