Page 38 of A Love of Wrath and Rapture

“So are you saying you want to go back to them?” I ask slowly.

Evangeline’s eyes widen, but then she shakes her head quickly. “No, Xeros, that’s not what I’m saying at all!”

“Then, what are you saying? You miss them. And your settlement still stands. What’s stopping you from returning to them at this very instance?”

“You!” Evangeline exclaims. “You’re the reason! I don’t want to leave you. You’re amazing, Xeros. You’ve given me a new chance at life and I don’t want to leave you behind. But you need to understand me. I’ve known nothing but that settlement for so long. It’s only natural to have my moments where I miss them a little bit, regardless of how they treated me.”

I huff out a small breath. “If anyone were to treat me as cruelly as they treated you, I wouldn’t waste my time thinking about them ever again.”

“Well, yeah, that’s fair, but you’re an Astreldi. I’m a human.” Evangeline gestures towards herself when she says that. “We don’t think in the same way. We’re different in a lot of ways. And even though they treated me badly, I still feel a bit of fondness towards them.”

“Why?” The word comes out in an instant. Evangeline frowns. “Why would you ever feel fondness towards them? You humans are more complicated than I thought.”

“I just miss having a home, I suppose,” she replies with a shrug. Then, she pushes her share of meat towards me. “If you want the rest of the food, you can have it. I’m not hungry anymore.”

“Don’t be foolish, Evangeline. Eat your food. You get hungrier faster than I do.”

Evangeline stares at me and I’m not sure what to make of her expression. There’s a mix of emotions behind her eyes. Sadness and frustration, for the most part. I want to make things better for her, but I’m not sure how. I’m not even sure she knows how to fix these complicated emotions within her.

In times like these, I wish things were easier.

“I’m not very hungry, though,” she says. “I want to go on a walk.”

“No.” I reach out for her wrist, grabbing it before she gets a chance to get away from me. “Stay here with me. I want to feel your warmth.”

“Xeros…”

“Please don’t deny me this. Don’t deny me your body.”

I feel Evangeline tense up underneath my fingertips, but she gives in to me all the same. That’s what I like about her. She’s easy to soothe and easy to please. With a few quiet words, I have her back in my arms, placated and content.

This is how things should be between us. This is how things should always be. Just her and I in a calm, quiet silence where the only thing I can feel is her breathing against my body.

I am never going to let her leave me. I don’t care if she misses those humans of hers. She is mine from now until my last breath.

17

EVANGELINE

Xeros does his best to make me feel better as he kisses down my neck and grips my body to his. I can’t fight the sensations he’s evoking as I press myself against his growing erection.

My difficult feelings become evident because I’m falling for him, this monster. This I know, but what does that mean for my desire to return home?

I can’t think as Xeros runs his hands down my body, ridding me of all my clothing as he lowers me down, his large form looming over me.

Xeros's kisses are intoxicating, each one more tender and passionate than the last. As his lips trail down my neck, I feel a shiver run through my entire body. The wetness between my legs grows with anticipation as he grips me tighter, pressing our bodies together. His muscular frame feels powerful and protective against mine.

Despite the fear and confusion swirling in my mind about what this means for our future, I can't help but surrender to the moment. The edges of reality begin to blur as his kisses become more intense, his tongue dancing with mine.

Every touch of his lips feels like pure magic on my skin. Every graze of teeth sends shivers down my spine. His hands roam freely over my body, exploring every curve and dip with such tenderness that it's almost painful. It's as if he's painting me with his touch, leaving behind a trail of bumps in their wake.

As he lowers me down onto the stone beneath us, I can't help but arch my back in invitation.

He looks at me with a mix of desire and curiosity, taking in every inch of my body with those piercing blue eyes. His fingers trace the outline of my sex through the wetness between my legs, teasing and taunting me as he dips his head to suckle on one hardened nipple.

A soft moan escapes my lips at the sensation. He hums approvingly around it, licking his lips before moving to capture the other one in his mouth. I gasp as he sucks harder, his teeth grazing against the sensitive peaks. My hips buck up off the ground. unconsciously seeking more contact.

His hand moves between our bodies again, slipping underneath me to cup my sex as he guides his cock toward me. It's slick with need and anticipation. He groans low in his throat at the feel of his monstrous cockhead teasing my entrance, pressing against it softly before thrusting forward gently.

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