Page 26 of Last Ride of the Umbra Fae

“Sweetheart, Iamthe devil.”

A low growl rumbled in his chest. The moment he released his fists, he wasted no time as he cupped my ass and jerked me forward. He was a man who knew exactly what he wanted.

As we shared the same breath, his hand roamed up my back.

He stared at me, long and hard. For a brief moment, I thought maybe he’d changed his mind, that maybe I wasn’t his type. But he trailed his hand along the scars of my arm, the flesh that often reminded me of everything I had lost. The same scars that made me feel less alive because I’d always thought, for some damn reason, I was cursed. Maybe I was, but he did not shudder away. His hand slid up to my face, eyes holding a lustful gaze.

His chest rose and fell as he cupped the back of my head, a firm grip because he knew I was not delicate. He crashed his lips into mine, kissing me, deep and claiming, sending an awareness up and down my body, savoring every moment. He was rough as he pressed against me, and with a stroke of his tongue, I opened to him, moaning against his mouth. He tasted like spearmint, a hint of licorice, and whiskey. It was a welcoming coolness against my heated flesh.

Then he pulled away, leaving us in a heaving mess, as if he couldn’t believe what was happening. As if what he was entangled with wasn’t real.

“You are quite the dream,” he whispered before claiming my lips again. My head fell back as he kissed up and down the side of my neck, licking just below the soft part of my ear. I moaned in response as his length pressed against my very center, the precision too fucking accurate.

Gods-damn, has he been hard this entire time?

The magic coursing through him was a call to my own as it lingered, waiting in the middle of the room for a dance. The sensation hummed against my chest as tiny orbs of light moved around us. Ryder filled my head with the most tangible, indecent thoughts. I gave him a small thread of my magic, allowing his to brush against mine. That little tendril was enough to make my heart skip a beat, and then another. It was a light shrouded by a darkness, memories he kept alive by stoking the flame. A fire he never wanted to burn out. It willed him to keep moving forward, pushing those boundaries to the brink. I didn’t want to open my eyes or lose sight. I wanted to see and feel everything, but then he closed the connection, drawing back as I wanted to push forward.

“Who are you?” I whispered, my chest tightening. He mulled over the question with another bruising kiss.

“I’m just yours, for now.”

I laughed softly against his mouth.

“As I said before, darlin’, I am far from a gentleman,” he said in a husky voice, rising to his feet while still keeping my center aligned with his. The motion made him exhale into the crook of my neck as he nibbled on my flesh.

“You shouldn’t have opened that door,” he warned, “because I’m about to lose all manners and ravish you wholly. And when I’m done with you, you might consider being mine for a while longer. Or you might see me for the devil I truly am.”

I dragged my gaze to meet his stare, grinning at his swollen and red lips, which likely matched my own. “You can call me yours all you want, demon, but I belong to no one,” I said, combing my fingers through his hair. It was thick and soft, just like I had imagined.

Ryder growled in response, taking it as a challenge as he carried me over to the bed and brought me down onto the mattress. My back was enveloped in a soft duvet blanket as hepressed his hard body against me. He chuckled darkly. “You will return to me, you’ll see.” His mouth clashed with mine.

The necklace I’d given him fell against my chest. I looked down to find it resting right where my mark was, then looked back up at him. I whispered against his lips. “Is this how you usually thank someone when they give you something?” I teased, tugging on the thin, black, leather thread.

He stilled as he caged me between his arms, his long hair showering over us. My fingers traced every curve of his muscles, running along his shoulders, gripping his biceps. He watched me explore as I kissed the inner part of his arm, fully acknowledging this was a choice that I could finally make. One that had no ties. Whatever this was, whoever he was going to be, for now, this was mine, and it was here for the taking.

He rolled his hips, pressing his length against my very center as I brought him down for another kiss. I enjoyed the feeling of his scruff rubbing my face. He was the perfect blend of rough and soft. It was maddening. His lips brushed across my skin as he moved lower on the bed. He kissed the swells of my breasts, licking the flesh between them in long, languid strokes. My body trembled beneath his touch. He cupped his mouth over the thin fabric of my top, right over my nipple, drawing out another moan that made his gaze flick to mine. His eyes reminded me of cerulean flames, and again I was that moth.

The fist that pounded at the door sent my heart slamming against my chest.

I growled in response, but Ryder kept going as if the knocking didn’t phase him. I think he knew from the annoyed look in my eyes who was on the other side of that door. He pulled down my top, exposing a breast to the night air, and cupped his mouth over my nipple, flicking his tongue as a distraction. My head tilted back as my hips thrust against the bulge of his cock. He was big, so fucking big, the pulse between my thighs grewto an agonizing ache. Ryder’s eyes bore through me, finding pleasure in watching how I reacted to his every touch. He chuckled darkly, a groan full of satisfaction as his lips ghosted over my nipple once more, finishing with another tantalizing lick.

The knocks ascended to an aggressive banging.

“Fuck off! I’m busy!” I yelled, but I had to roll Ryder off me.

“Fuck indeed,” he growled.

I fixed my top as I darted for the door with tendrils of darkness coiling around my hips and arms. With extra force, I swung the door wide open.

Raven stood in the doorway, jaw fluttering as if he’d been grinding his teeth this entire time. “We are ready to discuss our plans.”

“Well, I’m not,” I hissed. I went to slam the door, but he stopped it midway.

“Heis.”

“I don’t give afuck.”

“Well maybe you should,Vessa.”

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