Page 74 of Promised in Blood

“Understatement,” she huffs, and her warm breath dances over my skin.

I am amazed by how much I enjoy her feisty side. I cup her chin and tip her head back, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You understand why it is necessary for me to push you so hard?”

She nods. “Because my powers could be dangerous if I don’t control them.”

Is that what she thinks this is? Her being a danger never crossed my mind for even a fraction of a second. “No, Ophelia.” I sit up and pull her with me so she is straddling my thighs. “This is to protect you. Everything I do is to protect you. Do you not understand that?” She flinches at my tone, which comes out sharper than I intended. “You must know why I push you. Why all I desire is to keep you safe.”

She blinks. “Because you love me?”

Love? How ill-fitting a word. “I do not love you, little one.”

Her eyes fill with tears, and the sharp stab of pain that lances through her chest is like a dagger to my own heart. She can feeleverything I feel; how can she not know the truth? I draw a deep breath and try again. “I do not simply love you.”

“I don’t understand.” She wraps her arms around herself as though she is trying to make herself small and disappear.

I untangle her arms from her torso and drape them around my neck. Her shining blue eyes bore into mine as I brush a lone tear from her cheek. “Love is not enough.”

She blinks, still confused. I pull her close and press my lips against hers. And as always, I find immense pleasure in the way her mouth yields so easily to mine. This is so much more than love, Ophelia. More than a bond. More than I have ever felt. Love cannot endure a thousand lifetimes. It forgets and it fades. You and I are eternal. You have conquered my heart and stolen my soul. Do not insult what we have by calling it love.

She whimpers, and I swallow the sweet sound.But love is all I’ve ever wanted.

Her taste overwhelms my senses, scrambling my thoughts until she is all I can see, taste, smell, hear, and feel.

I would give her anything.Then I will love you for eternity.

But we can’t have eternity. The light and the dark, remember?Another tear rolls down her cheek, finding a home on her soft lips.

I lick it off with a swift flick of my tongue before resuming our kiss.I will either burn in the light or drag you into the dark, little one. And whenever Death should come for you, I will offer Him one thousand souls in return for yours so that you will remain in this mortal realm with me for the rest of time.

Her heart thumps against my own, reminding me of the powerful ambrosia coursing through her veins.Forever?The word is full of hope, and perhaps it is cruel to promise what I have no hope of delivering.

Or perhaps it is crueler still to admit the truth.

So I tell her what we both need to hear.Always.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

XAVIER

Please sir.Ophelia’s soft groans fill my head and rouse me from sleep, but when I open my eyes, I’m in bed alone. Axl and Malachi left some time in the night to set up another operation for our Ruby recruits, and Ophelia is clearly with Alexandros somewhere nearby. I stop myself from replying to her as I feel her climax build to a crescendo.

If I let her know I can hear her and feel her, the surprise we have for her later will be ruined. And as much as I’d like to talk her through whatever Alexandros is doing to her, I’m stopped by the thought of the look on her face if we pull off what I’mplanning for later. Without either Malachi or Axl to provide me any relief, I wrap my hand around my aching shaft and squeeze hard, whispering her name like a prayer.

Her keening moan rips through me.What the hell are you doing to her, Alexandros?I ask the question rhetorically.

Eating her beautiful pussy. His deep growl shocks me to my core and also serves to magnify the need throbbing through my cock. I stroke up and down my length, imagining they’re both watching me. Pleasure coils at the base of my spine.

I didn’t expect you to hear me.

I always hear you, Xavier.

I don’t want her to know I can feel her. We want to surprise her later.

He doesn’t reply, and I close my eyes. Pressing my head back against the pillow, I let her ecstasy meld with my own, her moans mingling with mine as I work my cock and wish it was her. Or him. And maybe it’s the pleasure circling in my chest, or maybe it’s feeling her connection with him that makes me bold enough to say it.Tell me how good she tastes.

She tastes just as she always does. Like heaven.

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