Page 456 of Rage

Something foreign wells in my throat. It’s my favorite bug. He would know this because he knowsme. He has for years.

“It reminds me of you.” His words are whispered, afraid to be spoken where anyone could hear. “Wherever I go, you’re with me.”

I capture his lips in a hard kiss, saying everything I can’t speak. Emotions and thoughts, things that cause me too much pain to repeat, are forced through our lips, communicated with our tongues. If I could rip open my heart and give it to him, I would.

Everything I have, I would gladly give to him.

He enters me with one, fluid slide. I groan into his mouth, and he swallows it down, greedily keeping it for himself.

“Maeve,” he murmurs into my mouth, pulling back to stare down at me, at where we’re joined. “You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted this.”

“Enough to fuck me in a puddle of blood?”

The smirk he gives me is twisted and deranged. “You look delicious covered in blood, Princess.” He licks my throat, over his bite mark from earlier. “Fuck, I’ve dreamed of having you for years. Under me, over me, however I could have you. I just wantedyou.”

The thought is intoxicating that this man, this killer, has only ever wanted me. He draws out before slamming back into me. It’s hard and rough, exactly what I needed. The carpet cuts into my back, his nails ripping into the thin skin of my hips.

My body used to carry the marks of my abuser. Now, I’ll gladly carry the reaper’s marks.

He grabs a clump of my hair, wrenching my head back, arching my body.

“If only you could see what I see.” He bites one breast, thrusting his hips into me. I feel so full, body stretched to the point of pain around him. “You’re fucking perfect.”

Flesh slaps together in a messy tangle of sweat and blood. The heat of the fire is bathing us as Killian pumps into me, holding me still. The pleasure is building, but I need more. I need him.

“Killian, I need—” I moan as he shifts his hips, releasing my hair. He holds my neck, pulling me closer. “I need?—"

“I know what you need, Maeve.” He steals a kiss, fist tightening around my throat. My vision darkens before he lets up. Fuck, my pussy clenches around him with every squeeze, making his movements sloppy. “Remember that, Princess. Only I know what you need. I’m the only one who can make you feel this good.” It’s possessive but I don’t hate it.

Because he does. He knows exactly what I need. He always has.

His other hand finds my engorged clit, rubbing small hard circles in time with his hips. God, it’s too much. Too much pleasure, too much pressure. There’s no way I can survive this. I’m going to explode.

“Killian, I... I can’t—” I’m going to die like this—the hold on my neck, the friction, the feel of him. It’s all too much. My words are failing me. “Fuck,Killian.”

“That’s it, Maeve. Scream my fucking name.” He smiles like the Devil into my neck, inhaling. God, he’s loving this lapse of control. As close as I am, I know he must be. His thrusts are harder, faster, driving me across the carpet. “Let this whole house hear you. Lethimhear you in the underworld.”

I clamp down. Lethimhear how he doesn’t get this. This is my pleasure, my body. I get to experience this without him hanging around.

I hope he can hear it from wherever he is. This was never his. It was alwaysmine.

My chest heaves, heart thumping as my body tightens.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I chant, letting the wave crest.

“There she is.” He chuckles as my pussy tightens and my mouth opens on a guttural moan. “This pussy is mine.Youare mine. Forever. Don’t youeverforget that.”

He thrusts with a savage rhythm, growling his release into me. He collapses on top of me, one hand curling into my hair, the other around my neck.

Ownership. Possession. Safety. That’s what Killian is offering.

And it’s something I want—desperately.

Chapter Nine

Killian

Ileft Maeve in her bed, naked, freshly washed and snoring lightly.

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