Page 57 of The Library

Without warning, I slammed her against the wall, her back hitting the cold surface as I crushed my lips to hers. The kiss was brutal, filled with a deep, primal need. It wasn’t soft or gentle—it was a claim. My hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer, and she responded immediately, her legs wrapping around me, the towel that had barely been holding on slipping to the floor.

I carried her like that, my mouth devouring hers as I moved toward the bedroom. Her hands tugged at my hair, her body pressing harder into me, like she couldn’t get close enough. Bythe time we reached the bed, I was already ripping her apart again, my fingers digging into her thighs as I laid her down.

There was no hesitation as I entered her, rough and demanding, stretching her tight pussy the way I knew she craved. My thrusts were relentless, each one harder than the last, my hand fisting in her long, dark hair, pulling her back to me, so I could whisper every filthy thing I intended to do to her. The way her body reacted beneath mine, trembling, breaking, only fueled the dark satisfaction brewing inside me.

But there was a part of me that wasn’t sure how she’d react. After the way I ruthlessly fucked her in the shower, the things I said, the darkness I exposed—part of me thought she’d pull back, that she’d finally realize what she was getting into. I was giving her an out, testing her limits, pushing her to see if she’d walk away, but she didn’t. She refused to take it. Instead, she gave in, completely.

Her nails dug into my back as I slammed into her, her breathless cries filling the room, her body arching beneath mine, desperate for more. I kept pushing her, kept testing her resolve, but each time, she met me with more hunger, more need. The look in her eyes as she begged for it, begged for me to ruin her, sealed the deal. She wasn’t running. She was all in.

Her entire body clenched around me as she came, shaking and gasping my name, and I knew then—there was no turning back. Not for her. Not for me.

As I watch her now, lying there, her chest rising and falling with each breath, I realize I’ve crossed a line with her. But it’s a line she wanted me to cross. She’s seen me—really seen me—and instead of running, she’s chosen to stay. That’s when I knew she was mine, for good. The out I offered her in the shower? She didn’t take it. She just made her deal with the devil, so to speak.

But there’s no time to explain. Not now. The Society calls, and when they do, there’s no room for hesitation.

I pull my shirt over my head, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. I should tell her more, give her some kind of reassurance—something to ease the tension that’s still lingering between us. But I don’t. Because deep down, I want her to stay in this delicate balance—caught between fear and desire, love and terror. I need her to be right there, teetering on the edge, unsure of what’s next. That’s how I keep control. The uncertainty keeps her tethered to me, her mind constantly circling back to the darkness I’ve shown her, yet craving the comfort I withhold.

I want her to ache for me, to need me so deeply that she can’t walk away. But I also want her to question everything—what I’m capable of, where my true boundaries lie. Because the moment she stops questioning, the moment she thinks she has me figured out, the game changes. And I can’t allow that.

This balance is what keeps her mine. And as much as I should tell her more, I won’t. Not yet. Because as long as she’s caught between those two extremes—craving me and fearing me—I have all the control I need.

“I need to go,” I say, my voice gruff as I grab my jacket.

She sits up, her brows furrowing as she watches me. “Where are you going?”

I don’t answer right away. I just pull on my jacket, keeping my back to her. The truth is, I can’t tell her. Not about this. The things Ty and I are about to do… she wouldn’t understand. Hell, I don’t want her to understand. She doesn’t need to know about the blood, the bodies, the darkness we drown ourselves in to protect this city, our legacy, and the Society’s hold over it all. I wanted to give her a glimpse at who I am tonight, and I did. But she’s not ready for the extent of it. Not yet.

But I can’t leave her completely in the dark. Not tonight. Not after everything.

“It’s an assignment,” I finally say, my voice low, controlled. I turn just enough to meet her eyes, catching the flicker of confusion mixed with concern. “Work that needs to be done.”

She opens her mouth, maybe to ask more, but I shake my head, cutting her off before she can. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to, Lilith. Not about this.”

The silence that follows is thick, heavy with the things left unsaid. She doesn’t need to know what kind of work I’m involved in, or the lengths I’ll go to for the Society. All she needs to know is that I’ll come back. I will always come back to her.

“Stay here,” I say, turning to face her. My gaze locks on hers, and I see the storm of emotions flickering across her face—confusion, frustration, and a flicker of something darker. “I want you safe. I need to know you’re here when I get back.”

Her lips part, like she wants to protest, but I’m not giving her a choice. I walk over to her, my hands cupping her face, my thumbs brushing over her cheeks. “I’ll be back. Just stay here for me.”

She pulls back slightly, her brows knitting together. “Sebastian, you can’t keep doing this. You can’t just leave without telling me where you’re going. If you expect me to stay, I need more than this.”

Before she can say another word, I press my lips to hers, silencing her. The kiss is firm, possessive, a reminder of the control I have, the power that binds us both. Her body melts into mine for a second, just long enough for me to feel her surrender. Then I pull back, my forehead resting against hers.

“Trust me,” I murmur, my voice soft but laced with authority. “I’ll give you more when the time is right.”

Her voice trembles with frustration, but underneath it, I can hear the fear. She’s scared of what she’s gotten herself into. Scared of me. But she’s also addicted. She’s fighting her own desire to let go completely, to surrender.

“What are we?” she blurts out suddenly, her voice sharper than before. “I need to know what this is, Sebastian. What are we?”

I chuckle darkly, brushing a thumb over her lower lip as I meet her gaze. “I’m not really into labels,” I murmur, watching the confusion flicker in her eyes, “but I am into ownership.”

Her breath catches in her throat, her body stilling under my touch.

“I could carve or brand my name into your skin if you want to feel claimed, baby,” I whisper, my voice dark and laced with promise, because I am definitely going to do that anyways, she just doesn’t know it yet. “If that’s what you’re looking for.”

I watch her eyes widen slightly, the shock quickly giving way to something deeper, something raw and untamed. Her breath comes faster, and I know that statement struck her hard. I can feel the shift in her body, the way she reacts, the way her thighs squeeze together.

I don’t wait for her response. I slide my hand between her legs, slipping my fingers into her pussy, and when I find her soaking wet, I smirk.

---