Page 59 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

She closed her eyes and mouthed my name. “Saul.”

My soulmate was wet with need, and imagining my touch. I was still trying to listen to Tiny Tank describe the properties of the various potions, but it was a battle I was quickly losing.

Remembering how her body had reacted to my commands, I leaned in and kissed her. “Let me taste you,” I whispered against her mouth.

Axelle’s eyes widened, and she froze.

“Why are you wet?” I purred against her throat, loving the way her body responded to even the pitch of my voice.

“That’s your fault, not mine!” she hissed, summoning a bit of defiance.

“If I caused you to be aroused, then the sweetness between your thighs belongs to me. Bring your finger to my mouth and let me taste you.” I kept my voice low and spoke against her neck so only she would hear.

It wouldn’t have bothered me the slightest for the world to know she was mine and I was obsessed with everything about her. But for all her bravado, I knew Axelle would be horrified to have attention on her during such an intimate moment.

Her finger trembled as she discreetly brought it to my lips, but didn’t touch me. My eyes met hers, daring her to look away as I curled my tongue around the slick finger and sucked it into my mouth to continue licking away every drop of my prize.

Her eyelids grew heavy with lust, then she whimpered, “Oh no.”

I couldn’t speak with her finger in my mouth, so I raised an eyebrow.

“Saul, I think I just soaked my thong. I need to move before I get your pants wet again—if it’s not too late.” Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears and her playfulness vanished. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think this through, and you have to wearthese pants until you get home. It’s just… I want you so much it hurts.”

She was hurting and upset, and it was my fault.

Change of plans. I was going to show her she had nothing to apologize for and then I would make sure the world knew she was mine and they needed to think twice before they crossed Death. Now and until the end of time. If this meant my plans to avenge my brother’s death were blown, so be it.

I loved my brother, but he was gone. He would have been proud to meet a spitfire like my soulmate.

Axelle had shown me affection, and I’d been cold and had told her to behave.

Never again.

Gathering me in his arms, Saul strode away from the table.

“What are you doing? We’re in the middle of something,” Zacharias snapped.

Saul didn’t even slow. “This is more important. You can wait or finish the meeting without me. It makes no difference.”

I peeked over Saul’s shoulder to see Zacharias opening and closing his mouth. He wanted to lash out, but there was hesitation in his eyes. I scanned the room, studying the expressions of the paranormals we walked by. Every single person dropped their heads, pinning their eyes to the floor as Saul passed.

“They are afraid of you,” I whispered against his neck.

“As they should be.”

I didn’t want to hurt him, but I needed answers. “People say you gave yourself to the dark and you’re unstable. Some peoplesay Zacharias is your long-suffering babysitter who keeps you from hurting people.”

He was silent for several seconds, then asked, “And what do you believe, Axelle?”

“I think Zacharias is an evil man who has purposely manipulated situations to make you appear unreasonable or demanding while he comes out smelling like roses. You seem to care for him, but he is not your friend. And I wish I would have bitten him harder.” I muttered the last sentence against his skin and jumped when he barked a laugh.

“Now, now, pet. You can’t go around biting people just because you don’t like them.” The teasing note shifted to a somber one as he stepped into the bathroom, locking the door behind us.

Sitting me on the copper trough-style sink that ran the length of one wall, Saul asked, “What do you think about the darkness? Are you afraid of me?”

His eyes searched my face, needing to see if I would tell him the truth.

“I don’t think you gave yourself to the darkness. Honestly, I don’t even feel like darkness is the right word. Each time I’ve seen the shadows, and your eyes have shifted, your emotions were heightened, or you were protecting me.”

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