Page 62 of Villainous Greed

Suddenly, her hand stopped, then moved upward. Nova caught me by surprise when she slipped her two fingers over my nipple, rubbed, and then pinched. I snatched her hand, holding it in place. “Nova,” I pleaded.

My little mate climbed out of bed and stood, watching me. “I visited Isabella’s coven.”

That was it? No explanation or sign she saw the monster of an erection I had? I wouldn’t push. She had all the control. I wanted her to feel safe and comfortable touching me. Because I desperately wanted to touch and explore her, too.

“Those creepy old women?” I asked, sitting up. With Nova watching me like a hawk, I pulled the blanket over me instead of adjusting myself. Despite my obvious arousal, she strangely avoided looking in that direction. She wasn’t willing to welcome that part of me.

Her jaw hardened as she met my gaze. “Never threaten to show yourself to women or anyone ever again.”

I was confused. “What?”

“You said you’d show yourself,” she gestured to my cock without a single glimpse in that direction, “if they didn’t stop staring at you.”

“Did I?” I scratched my head, then nodded. “It sounds like something I’d say. They were probably lurking in the shadows. That creepy shit makes my skin crawl.”

“Yes, they stared at me too,” Nova said.

Oh, fuck. With everything Nova’s witnessed from Derrick’s camp, she might assume the worst.

“Nova.” I jumped off the bed and towered over her. Fuck. My significant height might have intimidated her, but that’s because she was visibly shorter than me. I sat down on the bed and reached for her hand. “I would force no one to do anything, including seeing my cock. Are you angry with me because of what I said to provoke some witches?”

“I know,” she murmured. “But you shouldn’t offer to show it to anyone when you have a mate.”

I froze and blinked. It took a few seconds to process what was happening. My heart felt like it could explode from bliss. “Right.” Smiling, I said. “I’m sorry about everything, including the harem. I can’t take back what I said, but I only belong to you.”

Did she not realize her actions and words didn’t match with someone who never wanted to have sex? She might have gone her entire life without intimacy if I hadn’t existed. But we were in a world where we were together again. My desire bled out of me with her nearby. Maybe one day, she wouldn’t fear the spark inside her when it came to me.

“The witches also told me you kidnapped Isabella once,” she muttered.

Jesus.“How long have I been asleep?” I asked.

“About a day and a half.”

“Look at you, Boom.” I gripped her hips and squeezed gently. “My little terror is making friends instead of killing things.”

One of her hands dropped over mine. “Little terror? How many names shall I have around you?”

“However many I want.”

Nova’s wandering fingers traced circle patterns on top of my hands. The actions shouldn’t have made my dick hard again, but I was like a steel pipe in my jeans. I enjoyed her touching me and I hated we couldn’t stay in the room. There were just so many things we needed to do.We couldn’t rest until Derrick was gone and Harvest stopped permanently. Nova deserved that, and so much more. If we didn’t stop the end, well, how could I ogle herforever? I’d only just gotten her back. It didn’t seem fair that it was under those circumstances.

I flinched when her soft touch grazed my cheek.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Suddenly, the end terrifies me. I’d only just gotten you back. Do I need to fight Heaven next to keep you? Or will stopping Harvest be enough?”

“Harvest will come, but it will probably be when the conditions are in his favor.”

“Meaning, when we are mortal.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“I won’t let anyone shackle your power. You’ll never be controlled again,” I swore, rubbing her hips.

Her fingers stilled on mine as her breath hitched. Then Nova’s citrus aroma thickened with a hint of arousal, and a rush of desire flowed through me. My cock twitched as an ever-growing yearning danced across my skin. Those bursts of pleasure were why I could never have lain with anyone else. My soul knew it could only be her I’d lose myself in.

I laid my head on her stomach and breathed her in. Nova might not realize it, but she desired me. We couldn’t change the past, but we could have a future. I just had to take things slowly. I desperately wanted access to my mate and never wanted to hide what I felt. She called the shots, but I was greed. I’d always try to get what I yearned for.

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