Page 26 of Claimed By Midnight

"Is it?" I lean closer, my wings creating a dark canopy around us. "Then explain why the runes are manipulated in a way that is precise, focusing on one band to create the desire effect. That takes skill, little demon. Deliberate skill."

She tries to turn away, but I hold her firm. "I didn't-"

"Don't." The word comes out as a snarl. "Don't insult me by lying again. You wanted to show me that you aren't some human to push around? Congratulations. You have my full fucking attention now."

Her chest rises and falls rapidly, caught between fear and that stubborn defiance that makes me want to break her. The workshop feels too small, too hot, the air crackling with unspoken tension.

"What are you going to do about it?" she whispers, and there's a challenge in those words that sets my blood on fire.

"All mistakes get punishments," I snarl.

I grip Athena's shoulders, pushing her down until she's on her knees before me. I expect resistance, tears perhaps, but her golden eyes gaze up at me, not with fear, but with a sparkof defiance that sets my blood ablaze. Her honey-blonde curls cascade over her shoulders, framing her face in an innocent glow that belies the fire in her eyes.

Gripping her hair, I jerk her head back. "Open."

The fire in her eyes makes me so fucking hard, but her lips part. Saliva gathers on my tongue and I open my mouth, spitting on her. I want to see her submit, to see her finally bend to me.

But when she swallows with her mouth still open, like she's waiting for more, I doubt that will be the case. Which makes me only want to push her harder.

I arch an eyebrow, a cruel smile playing on my lips. "Now, show me just how sorry you are for that blade."

She reaches up, her small hands tracing the leather ties of my pants. My jaw works as she unfastens it, her movements sure, deliberate. I watch her, my little demon, as she leans in, her breath hot against my skin. And then she takes me in her mouth.

A hiss escapes my lips, the sensation overwhelming. She's not tentative, not innocent. She's hungry, eager, taking me deep with a skill that shocks me. Her nails dig into my thighs, the sting of pain heightening every sensation. I groan, my hands fisting in her hair, the soft curls wrapping around my fingers like silk.

Her golden-green eyes lock onto mine, unyielding, unafraid. She takes control, setting a pace that's punishing, pleasurable. Her teeth graze my length, a tease of pain that makes my hips buck. A low growl rumbles from my chest, a warning, but she only takes me deeper, her eyes flashing with triumph.

She likes the pain, the power. It's written all over her face, in the flush of her cheeks, the fire in her eyes. She's not the sweet, innocent human I thought. She's a fucking revelation.

I guide her head, urging her faster, harder. She moans around me, the vibrations sending shivers down my spine. My wings unfurl, stretching out, blocking the light, casting us inshadow. Her nails dig deeper, breaking skin, the scent of blood filling the air. It's heady, intoxicating. I'm close, so fucking close.

Watching her on her knees, those golden eyes defiant and hungry, awakens something primal in me. This little human, so gentle and sweet, is taking everything I give her, proving she's more than meets the eye. Her nails dig into my thighs, breaking skin, drawing blood. The scent fills the air, metallic and heady. She's not just taking her punishment; she's owning it, claiming it.

Her mouth is hot, wet, and relentless. She takes me deep, her throat constricting around me, making my vision blur. Her honey-blonde curls bounce with each movement, a soft glow framing her face, a stark contrast to the dark hunger in her eyes. She's not just proving she can handle me; she's showing me she wants this, wants me.

I groan, yanking her head back as I fuck in and out of her mouth, going harder, seeing how much she'll take. Her eyes stay on mine, watering as her muscles constrict around me, and then she lifts a hand and squeezes around her throat.

Holy. Fuck.

Then she fucking moans around me, the vibrations sending shockwaves through my body. Her nails dig deeper, her eyes flashing with triumph. She wants this, wants to make me lose control.

And I do.

With a roar, I spill down her throat, my body convulsing with each wave of pleasure. She swallows every drop, her eyes never leaving mine. It's not just about the release; it's about the power, the control. She's proving she can handle me. And fuck, if that doesn't make me want to corrupt her completely.

Her lips slide off me, her tongue darting out to lick her swollen lips. I taste blood in the air, realize she's bit her lip, drawn her own blood. The sight sends another jolt of pleasurethrough me. I reach down, gripping her chin, forcing her to look at me.

"You think you've proven something, little demon?" My voice is a low growl, a dangerous edge to it. "This is just the beginning."

15

ATHENA

Ilay in my bed, the silk sheets cool against my heated skin. The moonlight streams through my window, casting silvery patterns on the walls that remind me of Uriel's wings. My heart flutters at the memory of him towering over me, that perfect face twisted into something dangerous yet captivating.

I touch my wrist where his grip left phantom sensations, not bruises but the lingering imprint of control. The scent of citrus and metal still clings to my skin, and I breathe it in deeply. It's intoxicating how he made me feel - small yet cherished, controlled yet free.

My golden-green eyes drift closed as I replay his commanding presence. The way he moved with such fluid grace despite his imposing height. How his golden curls caught the light when he bent close to me. That cruel smile that should have frightened me but instead sent thrills down my spine.

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