Page 9 of Emperor of Havoc

His mask tilts down toward me, the leering grin of theonidemon swallowing my vision as his free hand drags slowly along the curve of my jaw. My heart hammers wildly, a rhythm betraying fear and something darker as his voice curls through the night, low, dangerously amused.

“I have to admit, I’m impressed by the fight in you, little prey.”

I shiver as he leans even closer, tilting his head to the side as he crowds into the crook of my neck, near my ear.

“Impressed andturned the fuck on.”

Without warning, his free hand suddenly shoots out, pinching the zipper at the front of my hoodie and yanking it down. His eyes drop to the front of my black t-shirt, his mask tipping to the side again. The black emptiness of the mask’s eyes pierces my skin, sending shivers up my spine and tightening my nipples to pebbled points under the cotton.

A dark laugh rumbles from behind his mask.

“Looks like I’m not the only one, either.”

He reaches out suddenly and roughly pinches one of my nipples between his forefinger and thumb. Pain and pleasure zip through me, electrifying me and bringing a choked, gurgling sound to my throat. He twists his fingers, mercilessly pulling and tugging on my nipple as something vicious curls and throbs in my core.

He pinches again, harder this time. I choke on another gasp, my back arching sharply as I strain against the bat pinning my wrists over my head.

But there’s no getting away. No dislodging him.

I’m helpless.

“Now…” he muses quietly. “I wonder where I should start with you. I’ll admit, the prospect of using your mouth right now is very tempting. But that would involve removing your mask,” he murmurs, lifting his black gaze to my hidden face.

I stiffen.

“Kaiju” chuckles darkly.

“And that's a prospect that terrifies you, for some reason. Of course, that only makes me want to remove this mask evenmore. I’m so curious who I’ll find,” he continues slowly, his voice somehow both mocking and sensual. “Some rich little princess? Daughter of a government official? Perhaps you’remarried, little prey.” He grunts one mirthless, dark laugh. “Or maybe it’s just that the idea of letting me look such a naughty, eager little fucktoy in the eye terrifies you.”

I gurgle again as he roughly pinches my other nipple.

“You obviously like it rough and tinged with pain. So perhaps there’s another place I should start with you,” he growls, looming closer. “Maybe I’ll turn you around and ram my cock up your tight little ass right here against the hedge.”

My eyes bulge behind my mask. Sweat slicks the small of my back as his hand slides to my neck. His long, powerful fingers wrap around my throat, squeezing just enough to send a pulse of adrenaline roaring through my system, making my legs shake.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

I jolt at the sound of another voice, behind Kaiju: a voice that also speaks in clear English, with a British accent. The man with his fingers wrapped around my throat tenses up—but not because he’s been caught.

Because he’s beeninterrupted, and he’s annoyed about it.

He exhales roughly. His black-out eyes stay locked on me, as if weighing my fate. Then suddenly he releases my wrists, lowering the bat. His hand drops from my throat. Cool air rushes into my lungs as I inhale sharply, shuddering as he slowly turns away from me.

I catch a brief glimpse of the other man: Caucasian, with tattoos snaking out from under his t-shirt, up his neck and down hisarms. But then my masked attacker turns fully toward him, blocking him from my view.

I quickly tuck my hair back into a bun and stuff it back into the hoodie, zipping it up as my pulse skitters and ripples.

“Can I fuckinghelp you, Mal?” Kaiju mutters darkly.

Mal…

The gears inside my head turn for a second, then it clicks. Mal as in Mal Ulstäd, cousin to Kenzo Mori, head of the Mori-kai.

“Yeah, you can. It’s your fucking initiation, and you just walked out.”

I can hear him walking closer. Kaiju steps to the side as Mal approaches, his brow furrowed as his gaze lands on me.

“What the fuck is this, man?”

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