Page 94 of Sinful Mates

Moments later, sensation returned to me, the pressure of Zethan’s arms around me, his heart slamming in his chest, beating in time with mine.

“Fuck, baby.” Sweat trickled down Zethan’s heaving chest. His eyes glistened with that sex-drunk look.

When I found my voice, I croaked, “You just fucked me to death.”

He grinned and kissed me briefly. “What do you expect from the avatar of Death?”

“Oh, God,” I panted, wiping my sweaty hair from the side of my face. “I want more of that, please.”

Zethan chuckled, his palms skimming over my arms. “You’ve already died once today. You want to die again?”

I pushed my mate back into the pillows, wanting to take control this time, knowing he would give me what I needed. “If it feels like that every time, hell yeah.”

CHAPTER32

Castor

I wassurprised she agreed to this. Surprised she didn’t stay with Mia. Details on our trip were sparse and I wasn’t exactly forthcoming on what it entailed. If I had, she would have turned me down flat.

Pleased she made it, I squeezed her hand, lifting her off my bike, her leg muscles flexing from the motion. Unsteady after the hour-long ride, her legs wobbled, and I held her against me.

This would be good for her. Eye-opening. Expanding concepts in her mind. Slash away the haunting demons.

Slade would be pleased that I brought her here, Alaric pissed. Zethan absolutely behind this. He hated her torturing herself for killing Danny. As an underworld god, hearing the remorse of the souls, the last person he wanted to question herself was his mate. In fact, he put me up to this. This was the quickest way for her to face her fears, take them by the horns—pun to her cow shifter intended—and move past this guilt bullshit eating her up.

“Where are we?” Aaliyah’s beautiful gaze cast over the rolling hills tucked into the outskirts of Lithgow. Secluded, woody, and fifty miles from the closest neighbors. Surreptitiously located here for the purpose she was about to discover.

“My ranch.” Our boots crunched on dried grass as we exited the barn, strolling to the grassy field, which to ordinary eyes, appeared as grazing land for horses.

“You have a ranch?” Her eyes widened, then glassed over, as if imagining romantic getaways or bringing Mia here to ride horses. Except this wasn’t the kind of place to bring children. “Why didn’t I know this?”

“Nobody knows about this place but you, me, and one other person.”

Curiosity flickered in her gaze. “Ooookay.” She dragged out the word.

The Blue Mountains loomed in the distance, a dividing range separating the west from Sydney. Eagles circled overhead, scanning for prey and the scraps we sometimes fed them. Wind caressed the blades of grass, a symphony of relaxation. Clouds clung to the dreary, gray sky, about to release the water they held. All the more reason to go inside.

I couldn’t take my eyes off my mate as she studied the surroundings. Dressed in dark jeans, flat, knee-high boots, leather jacket, and salmon scarf, she was the picture of a true biker babe.

Seeking her heat, I slung my arms around her waist, letting her breathe in the cool, fresh mountain air.

She clutched my arm and leaned into me, resting her head against my chest. “It’s beautiful. So peaceful.”

True. On the land, at least. Below it, no one found peace.

“This isn’t why I brought you here, Sorceress. Come.” I tugged her back inside the barn, letting go of her and uncovering a hidden trap door, releasing it, exposing stairs beneath.

She glanced between me and the access. “Am I jumping down the rabbit hole Alice in Wonderland style?”

I chuckled, her bond sitting up and taking notice of my dark amusement. “Something like that.”

She nudged me with her shoulder. “Keep your secrets then, Daddy. They’ll unravel soon.”

They sure fucking would. She’d either run screaming out of my bunker or embrace the darkness I introduced her to. Hopefully the first because I didn’t want her carrying around this guilt any longer.

I led her into the depths, coming to stand at the edge of a long, dim corridor, lit with strip lighting like a plane. A wall of cameras recorded every room and its occupants. Demoralized and depressed faces of criminals.

“What is this place?” Aaliyah’s tremulous gaze split between me and the computer screens. “I’m getting serious serial killer andSawmovie vibes.”

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