Page 45 of Dark Captivation

I saw Malek as a child, we held hands as we roamed the forest together and played games by the river. His innocent little grin sparkled, his horns small and far less intimidating than they are now. I saw it all. I did know him back then. Malek was my friend.

But it wasn’t always that way. Memories of our first meeting bubbled up next. The first day Malek approached me in the forest, I was immediately curious about him. I’d never seen a boy with gray skin and horns before, but my parents immediately knew what he was and wouldn’t allow me to have anything to do with a demon.

It wasn’t until a week later, when a poacher came after my mother while she was in wolf form. He wanted to kill her for her meat and her pelt.

Malek appeared just in time and saved her life, killing the poacher. From that day, my parents not only allowed it, but they encouraged our friendship. Because they knew Malek would always keep me safe. Almost every happy childhood memory I had, Malek shared a part of it. He, in all ways that mattered, was a part of my family.

Tears wet my cheeks. As the images slowed down, I looked up to Malek. His hopeful eyes speared differently than before. The darkness that lurked in them vanished. The air of unfamiliarity fled, and a warmth filled me.

“Do you remember?” His voice dripped with desperation.

“I remember.” My fingers smoothed over his cheek.

His body quaked as joy possessed him, his hand eclipsing mine.

“And do you remember the promise I made you?” he asked breathlessly. I searched my memories for the answer, but little pieces were still slowly returning to me. “I promised you that I would always protect you and that as long as we still had each other, we would always have a home.” His hand caressed my face as he leaned into me.

“I remember. And even though I forgot about you, you never gave up on finding me.” A dozen emotions buzzed like bees through the field of my memories. I thought I lost everyone from my past and I was alone in this world. But I wasn’t alone anymore. All because Malek refused to forget about me.

He scooped me up in his arms cradling me to his wall-like chest. Sealing my lips with his, he sucked the breath out of me in a way that left me lightheaded and swimming in a sea of giddiness and lust.

Slowly he walked us toward the mouth of the cave. All fear left me as if carried away by the wind. Malek was a friend all along and would never, in a million years, hurt me. I knew that now.

We dipped into the mouth of the cave. His kisses heightened in intensity and prompted a raging heat in me that was unlike any I’d ever felt.

My legs went limp in his powerful hands, my back arching slightly as hot desire threatened to take me and never let me go. I returned his kiss, wrapping my hands around his neck and hungrily feasting on his soft, scrumptious lips.

I still didn’t have all the answers I needed. I still had no idea about what transpired in Malek’s past before he came to Earth or how his past played in creating the ruler and conqueror he was today.

But right now, none of that mattered. We finally had each other again, and tonight we would celebrate like no wolf or demon pair on this planet ever had.

CHAPTER TWELVE

LIVY

Malek stormed into the cave holding me tight against his hard, brick-like chest. My nose pressed into his shirt, greedily devouring the delicious scent of power, pine and piping hot testosterone off him.

“You have no idea how long I’ve dreamt of holding you like this. I can’t believe it’s real.” He whispered in my ear, nipping the lobe gently with his teeth. Pleasure made me shudder. He skirted the red pool, pausing above it. “Is this a dream?”

He smoothed his cheek against mine, testing my realness.

I meant to answer but the length of an impossibly hard cock stabbed me in the hip, robbing me of words.

He sat on the edge of the pool perching me in his lap. Pinching my chin, he directed my gaze to meet his. Passion and desire drooped his lids as his gaze explored my chest. More desire stirred in me with every inch he traversed.

“Before we do this, I want to know that you want this. I would never do anything that you did not wish for.” His hand swept across my chin like a flame sweeping through a dry plane. His expression reflected a hidden turmoil within him. He held me gently with the patience of a saint. But his body quaked as he strained to contain the hungry beast within.

If I asked him to let me go right now, it would be very difficult for him, but he would without a second thought. But I didn’t want to be anywhere but right here with Malek.

“I know you would never hurt me. I didn’t know it before, but I do now. I want to be here with you.” The sweet memories of our shared past brought me joy I had forgotten I ever had, pulling me to him like a moth to the flame.

“Good, I’ll take it slow with you. Only giving you as much of my length as you can handle. If you're in pain don’t hide it from me.” His strong, deep voice penetrated me like a dagger and my heart rippled like disturbed water.

He tore his shirt free, tossing it to the ground like it was a nuisance. Heat rolled off his mountainous muscles in waves. This demon was all thick muscle, all seven beautiful feet of him.

I rolled my pants down, taking my top off. His starving eyes explored my breasts, curious desire beaming from within them.

“Exquisite. How in the gods’ names did I get so lucky to have you?” My cheeks warmed as I thought the exact same thing about him.

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