Page 158 of Dark Fate

Dani plants herself firmly, eyes on fire, her look fucking challenging me. I meet that dare head-on—this is a showdown, and we're both dug in, neither backing down. She's got zero tolerance for lies, deception, and all that shit; I respect that. But what the fuck am I supposed to spill?

Teetering on the edge, my patience shot to hell—I hoist her up and toss her over my shoulder like a damn sack. She unleashes hell, kicking and hollering, but I move fast, charging into a private room and tossing her feisty ass onto the couch.

Dani puffs up indignantly, her eyes blazing with the fierce independence I've come to know so well.

"Stop doing that!" she huffs, flipping her hair out of her face as it tangles in her crown. She's staring up at me with that challenge in her gaze. "I'm not some cavewoman; you can just heft over your shoulder on a whim."

Her voice crackles with that distinctive sass, the feisty spirit that refuses to be treated as anything less than an equal.

Unleashing a low growl, I force my point, "I don't want to entertain this any longer, Dani. Do you understand?"

Dani moves to duck out—hell no—she's not slipping away from me. It doesn't take a second to snatch her by the throat and shove her back against the wall, my body crushing hers. There's no escape, no way out, until I know she's good and ready to end this damn standoff.

Dani holds her ground, staring back at me with that fierce steel in her gaze she somehow isn’t afraid to show. Damn, this woman, she’s got me dead to rights—she damn well knows I'd never lay a finger on her in anger. But fuck, I need her to get that I ain't entertaining whatever nonsense that unicorn filled her head with.

Yeah, I’ll give it to her. The sudden lightning control was uncanny that day in the woods, but that was just a fluke. It didn't make a peep when I tangled with Azrael that night, so there's no way this apparent power is a "calling" or anything to fuss over. But, fuck, what if Lucian's onto something—with my telekinesis and all? I mean, I can move shit with my mind, right? What if there's truth to it?

Dani relaxes a smidge under my grip, her throat bobbing as she swallows. Her arousal floods my senses, and I can't help but growl. She's getting turned on by this, and damn if I'm not just as riled up as her. This woman's got a thing for heated encounters, and hell, if I'm not ready to stoke the fire.

Her tone softens from confrontational to genuinely puzzled, the sass yielding to concern. "Why are you in denial?" Dani probes gently, her honey-gold eyes searching mine for truth. "Why can't we just look into this more, Rhyland?" There's a plea in her voice, an invitation to unravel the mystery together, and a call for transparency that she hopes I can't ignore. "Open up to me…"

"Dani, fuck the powers. I've got everything I need right fucking here." I yank her to me, rough but right, and she cracks a grin that could light up the darkest corners.

Fuck, this woman's gonna be the death of me. She feeds off this challenge as much as I do, two peas in a goddamn pod, and hell if I don't want to bend her over and fuck her into submission to show her who's running shit.

"Nice try, Mjolnir's Muse. We're getting to the bottom of this."

Her voice slices through my bullshit, sharp and no-fucking-around like a knife's blade. She's standing there ablaze with fire, her determined, golden eyes—it's my fierce, feisty angel, not backing down.

"Oh, aren't you just fucking cute." My clever little minx.

My self-control snaps, and I crush my lips onto hers, stealing a moan that tells me she's all in and wanting more. She tangles her fingers into my hair, tugging tight and making a hiss escape my lips. I tear into her clothes, unzipping her leather tunic, and her beautiful breasts spill free. Moaning at the sight, I can't resist squeezing them in my hands, twisting her nipples just as she loves.

She gasps and pulls me closer, "Yes… I need you, Rhyland." The raw desire in her voice sends my need soaring higher.

I kiss a trail down her chin and throat, finding her hard nipple and sucking it into my mouth. Need pulses through me as I pull her tighter, her moans driving me wild. My cock strains and aches for her—for me to have her wrapped around me.

"Are you gonna let this go?" I murmur, pressing kisses down her neck.

"Not a chance—you're holding out on me, and I'm not having it," she retorts with a firecracker snap.

"Dani, let it go," I warn. "I'm done talking about this," I insist, trailing my tongue across her collarbone, eliciting shivers and raising goosebumps on her skin.

She shakes her head, stubborn as hell, grinding her tempting body against mine, breathing hard with desire.

There's no way I'm folding. I'm not about to plunge headfirst into this mess of untapped lineage or play pretend with some make-believe elemental talent she's convinced I'm hiding. And after the stunts she's pulled—with Adrian's crap, defying me right in front of him, and holding back info—there's a score to settle. I made a vow. She's in for it now.

Diving my hand into her pants, I find her soaked and ready, dripping with desire.

"Yes... please," she whimpers breathlessly.

I start working her clit, teasing circles that makes her need build. While I devour her mouth with a demanding kiss, she can't help but moan in response.

"You want this, baby?" I grunt, my voice thick with lust. "Want me to fuck you hard and raw, like you crave?"

"God—yes—please," she breathes out almost a whisper.

I can sense her winding up as I keep grinding her clit, her grip on my neck tightening, and her body quivering under my touch. I know her like the back of my fucking hand, and I can tell she's just seconds away from detonating. My cock is begging for its release, but I won't give in. This game is gonna be one hell of a ride.

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