Page 61 of The Monsters We Are

Dragging a brush through her wet hair, Wynter sighed at the closed bathroom door. How long had he been in there? Twenty minutes? Maybe more? She had no idea. But he was definitely still showering, because she could hear water splattering tile.

She was really gonna have to do something to snap Cain out of whatever zone he was in. The moment they’d entered the bedchamber, he’d released her hand and hadn’t touched her since. Not even to help her wash off the blood. Hell, he hadn’t evenjoinedher in the shower stall. Unless they were in a rush to be somewhere, it was very rare that they showered separately.

It didn’t seem like he needed space from her at the moment. In fact, each time he looked at her, it seemed like he wanted nothing more than to drag her to him and hold her close. But he’d determinedly put some physical distance between them, and she couldn’t understand why.

One thing Wynter could be certain of was that it wasn’t a case of him not wanting to touch her while metaphorical blood was on his hands. He’d touched her in the past whenactualblood stained his hands. They’d cleaned each other off after battles, big and small.

Wynter might have thought that he was simply so pissed he worried he’d hurt her if he touched her, but that didn’t ring true. Cain had more control over his emotions than most people. Sure, rage could ride him hard in the right circumstances, but he neveroutwardlylost his shit. He never violently vented on those who didn’t deserve it.

Even the way he’d handled Shelia had been very controlled and methodical. Cain was a damn expert at sucking in his emotions and maintaining his composure. It would take super extreme occurrences to make it evaporate.

She heard the shower shut off.About time.Wynter set her brush on the top of the dresser.

It was a few moments before he strode out of the bathroom, a towel looped around his hips.Hot damn. All that hard, tattooed muscle glistening with tiny droplets of water . . . She wanted to lick them all up. Lick him all up.

His gaze immediately sought her out, as if he simply needed to know she was still there. He drank in the sight of her in his shirt. She’d slipped it on, knowing he liked seeing her wearing his tees or shirts. He didn’t react, though. Didn’t speak at all about any damn thing. Instead, he silently dried himself off and then pulled on sweatpants and a tee.

She was about to ask if he was ready to talk, but then knuckles rapped on the door. He opened it, took a tray of food from whoever stood on the other side of the door, and then closed it.

The scents of cooked vegetables and grilled meat wafted her way, making her stomach rumble. She hadn’t eaten dinner yet, and she was famished.

He set the tray on the table and gestured at the seat she usually claimed. As Wynter sat, he took the one opposite her.

Although she was starved, she reached for the bottle of water first. She’d downed a full bottle on the way to Ishtar’s Keep, but the thirst was still a tickle in her throat. She really did need one of Anabel’s rejuvenating potions. But her coven clearly hadn’t yet arrived back at Devil’s Cradle or they’d have come here looking for her by now.

She and Cain ate in relative silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was weighted. That didn’t stop her from scoffing down her food. Once they were done, he set the tray on the floor outside the chamber.

Rising from her chair, she walked toward him, not whatsoever impressed when he backed away. She folded her arms. “Okay, what gives?”

His jaw tightened. “I can’t put my hands on you right now.”

“Of course you can.”

“No, I can’t. Won’t.”

“And why not?”

His fingers flexed. “It’s simply better this way.”

“If you’re going to ask for space or some shit—”

“Not space. I want you here. I want you where I can see you. But I can’t touch you yet.”

“You’re going to need to explain that, because I don’t get it.”

His eyes flaring, he stalked toward her, all smolder and sexual aggression. “If I put my hands on you, I won’t be able to merely hold you. There’ll be no soft, lazy kiss. I’ll fucking consume you. No lie, baby, I will take and take and take. Feast and mark and fuck. I’ll make you come as many times as I want. I won’t stop untilI’vehad enough. You’ll feel utterly wrecked by the time I’m done. There won’t be a single thought left in your head, because I’ll have thoroughly fucked every corner of it.”

Chapter Fourteen

Well,thatpromise sure pushed all sorts of sexual levers. She felt an aroused flush sweep up her neck and face. Unsurprising. Her hormones were having a meltdown.

If any other male had given her those words, Wynter would have thought he wasalltalk. But Cain could be super intense at times. Which didn’t translate into her getting a rough fuck. No, he subjected her to what could only be described as pure sexual torment. Hedidtake and take. He would tease and rut and draw it all out. He’d alternate between denying her orgasms andforcingher into orgasms, essentially taking full control of her pleasure.

Although there were moments when it felt like sheer hell, there were also moments when she came so hard that the orgasms all but flattened her; they felt as much of a mental release as a physical one. She was rather fond of those orgasms. Hence the anticipation now swirling in her belly.

“It’s not as if you haven’t used me like that before. I’m not seeing the problem.” Damn if her voice didn’t break.

No satisfaction rippled across his face. Only an irritation that made his nostrils flare. “Theproblemis that I won’t be the only one who fucks you. My creature will rise. It will bite you. That’s all it can think about.”

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