Page 44 of Cruel Knots

Leon hovers over me, breathing heavily, his pupils darkening with desire. “I hate giving you what you want but I can’t help myself,” he says in a deep, raspy voice.

A small voice in the back of my head tells me he’s dangerous but my body’s demands drown it out. Reaching up, I pull him back to me with all the force I can muster.

He captures my mouth in a hard, brutal kiss while his hands fumble with the buttons of his jeans.

My vision turns hazy with lust. “I need you,” I moan, not caring that I’m practically begging him.

Lifting his head, he stares deep into my eyes which has me writhing with burning desire. For a second, I wonder if he’s waiting for my permission but the next moment, he lunges at me.

Parting my legs with his knee, he settles over me and enters me with one hard thrust.

A cry escapes me as my tight walls stretch to their limits.

Leon’s mouth descends on mine as pleasure throbs through me. My hands claw at his back, scraping and drawing blood as he plunges inside me.

This close to him, I can’t ignore the pheromones wafting all around me. Leon smells of cloves and cinnamon, the fragrance reminding me of warm fall afternoons.

Despite the wild, animalistic rutting, I feel a sense of safety stealing through me. A sliver of surprise cuts through the haze of lust, giving me a glimpse of Leon’s true nature.

Leon’s mouth moves down my neck, kissing and nipping.

His thrusts grow harder, faster, and rougher. His thick cock fills every inch of me, hitting me at that sweet spot that has me crying out with each plunge.

His cock’s head swells deep within me, latching onto my pulsing core. His teeth sink into my right shoulder just as his climax knots inside me.

I hold onto him tight as waves of hot pleasure lash at me. Breathless groans escape me as he fills me up with his fiery essence.

He stays buried deep inside me while I desperately try to catch my breath.

Shifting his weight off me, he gently touches a sore spot on my shoulder. The tip of his finger comes away with a smear of blood. Staring deep into my eyes, he flicks his tongue, tasting my blood.

“Sweet,” he growls, his amber eyes gleaming with dark desire.

As the intensity of my pleasure slowly dims, I become aware of the tiny pebbles and twigs underneath me. They must’ve torn a hole through my dress by now.

Shifting away, I push him off me.

“Is that how you play, Princess?” he asks with a growl that sends my heart pounding against my ears. “Take what you need and then push me away?” The resentment in his voice brings back my fear.

Getting to his feet, he adjusts his length and pulls up his trousers.

“Get up and follow me,” he says in a commanding tone. “Or don’t. You can try breaking through the maze but chances are you’ll be lost in it for days and we’ll have to send someone out here to clean up your rotting corpse.”

Turning away, he starts walking away.

I don’t want to move from my spot but the threat of getting lost is too real.

Pushing the hem of my dress down, I follow him. A terrible truth slowly sinks into me. I’m not going to escape this place until they let me go willingly.

13

Damien

The smell of coffee wafts into my nostrils. Usually, the addictive scent is enough to make me take a hurried sip, but not today.

“Any word from him?” Mikhail asks, shoving a whole fried egg into his mouth.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” I say in a cool tone. “It’s disgusting.”

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