Page 37 of Summer's Seduction

There was a ring of persuasion to Larkspur’s words as she lifted her gaze to meet mine. I could feel her power weaving through the air, like a gentle coaxing settling across my chest. It wasn’t anything demanding. My little monster was curious, probably with her own desires as much as mine.

Despite the fresh scent of eucalyptus rising from the steaming water, the sweet tang of desire was evident. Larkspur wanted me. Even after everything she’d seen in my mind, in my fucked-up childhood, she wantedme.

My cock strained against my pants as I tossed my shirt to the ground, hating that I was forced to take my eyes off her, even if it was only for a moment. Her dark skin was flushed, her heart hammering withmyblood—my life force—thrumming through her veins.Fuck, if that thought alone didn’t have me wanting to part her thick thighs and bury myself in the sweet little pussy of hers.

She shot me a wicked grin as if she could hear every deplorable thing I was contemplating doing to her as she stepped further into the water and dove under its surface.

I had no fucking idea why she wasn’t running. Why would she even consider letting me near her after seeing the catastrophe that I was? Unlike Larkspur, I knew how to glimpse what was being shared. I couldn’t control what she saw, but sort of looked in as my memories unfolded. There were so many forgotten disturbances that I’d suppressed, some demanding attention at a later time, but I banished any thoughts of straying from this moment

Removing the last of my clothes, I followed her like a hungry wolf chasing a doe. The water was hot, nearly scolding, and when Larkspur broke the surface, rising in a cloud of bubbles, her skin held a healthy flush to it. Dried blood and bits of gore were fading—the last reminder of all that had happened tonight.

That vial creature had thought to take her.Touchher. And though my sweet little monster had handled it so beautifully, ripping him to shreds, I wanted every reminder of him gone.

Larkspur’s gaze dipped to my cock, her eyes going wide a moment as I stepped lower, reaching for the bath oils and lush cloths before joining her side.

“Thank you,” she said, holding her hand out as I lathered up the oils and soaps until a heavy coating of bubbles enveloped the soft cloth.

I let a hint of my fangs show as I shook my head. My cock twitched as her gaze dropped to my mouth. Gods below, I wanted to sink into her. To drink and fuck until the morning came and then do it all over again, but my little monster had suffered a lot today. Her body realized the trauma that had happened, even if her mind was still denying it. Tonight would be about proving to her thatshewas worthy of love. Offucking everything.

“Turn around, Larkspur. Let me take care of you.” Her eyes narrowed, lips falling open as if she meant to argue. “Please.”

Whatever protest she’d been ready to throw my way died on her lips as the word parted from mine, as if asking instead of demanding was a foreign concept to her. My heart squeezed as something, almost like fear, flashed through Larkspur’s gaze as she slowly turned and dared to trust me.

I started with her hair, running my fingers through her umber locks until every speck of red was gone. Gathering the cloth, I massaged her neck and her shoulders, rinsing and scrubbing as I worked down her back, living for those soft, sweet little moans she gave just for me. Our breathing grew ragged as my cock pressed against her ass, my fingers trailing over her stomach, dipping lower to brush the soft curls between her thighs.

A small whimper sounded from her as she rocked her hips, searching for friction.

“Turn,” I murmured against her ear, dragging my nose up the length of her neck. I want to see you.”

Chest heaving, her skin flushed with desire, she turned. Her dark hair clung to her body, the tips of her rosy nipples peeking between long strands.

“See something you like, Dark Prince?”

I lifted a brow at the title, finding the formality uncomfortable. It reminded me of everything my father wanted me to be—everything I’d been running from.

“Morpheus,” I breathed, scrubbing the last blood and dirt from my skin as I helped her gaze. “Just Morpheus.”

She seemed to understand, the coy smile dropping from her lips. Something shifted between us. Playful flirting, even sex, was effortless. If that’s all she wanted from me, I swore to the fates I would heed her wish. That I would let her choose whatbecame of us because so much in her life had been about men taking. Men feeling entitled to her time or smiles—to her body.

“Everyone who has ever wronged you will be punished, little monster.” Her eyes widened, but I swore I heard her heart skip. The thought of her suffering alone for all of those years snapped something in me. “I may not be the strongest creature, but I’m quick and clever. And when there is someone I want dead, it’s only a matter of time before their blood is on my hands.”

Silence stretched between us, the air heavy with my vow, with the way Larkspur was gazing at me.

“You mean that?” she breathed, almost afraid to say the words.

“Yes. To my very bones.”

She closed the distance between us, her fingers lifting to trace patterns over my chest. Each brush of her skin on mine was like fuel to a raging fire, causing every nerve ending in my body to blaze into existence. She studied her hand as she spoke next, her voice almost too soft to hear.

“There are a lot of them.” She swallowed, catching her breath before continuing. “I don’t even remember my childhood. Each time I try to force the memories forward, a terrible feeling of dread claws up my throat.”

I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her. Her body tensed and then relaxed, a sob finally breaking through the adrenaline high she’d been riding. I held her through the worst of it, letting the muddied waters drain as her body calmed. Anyone else would’ve needed time to process. To cry and rage and sleep. To grieve the life they might have had if the world wasn’t so fucked up. And I’d been prepared to hold her through the night, to care for her, but I should have known Larkspur would be different.

She cried and screamed, but where most would have reached for peace, she dug her claws into vengeance.

“Together,” she said, fire raging in her eyes while tears glistened against her cheeks. “As soon as Psyche is safe and your father has been stopped, we hunt them down together.”

Warmth bloomed in my chest as I stared down at my vicious little monster, my cock stirring and pressing against her stomach as I tucked one of her curls behind her ear.

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