Page 53 of Wings of Cruelty and Flame

I feathered my fingers through his hair, my heart so full it might burst. “That would be nice.”

Varidian’s arms encircled me, pulling me flush to his chest, his lips scattering heat and affection over my neck and shoulder. “No one will touch you again. I’ll eviscerate anyone who even tries, and I’ll teach you how to do the same.”

“Aliah’s been teaching me knife skills,” I murmured. “I can already stab someone in the gut.” I could have done that before, but now I knew how to make itagonisingrather than painful. I knew how to make it fatal, where to cut, how to angle the blade, and when to twist it.

“Good.” He kissed my temple. “I want you as dangerous as a person can possibly be. Your enemies will die screaming. Ipromise you this. They’ll die at my hand or yours or in Mak’s teeth.”

Heat pulsed both through my heart and between my legs. I smiled, my lips curving slowly. “If kindness turns you on, threats of bloodshed do the same for me.”

Varidian exhaled slowly, trying to banish his blinding rage. “My bloodthirsty wife,” he said lovingly, peering at my face.

“Your bloodthirsty wife wants you inside her now.”

He groaned, his eyes squeezing shut. “That filthy mouth. I almost forgot.”

I drew back enough to reach for the fastenings of his jacket, but he caught my hands, brushing a kiss to my knuckles. “I don’t need to remove my clothes to make your eyes roll back, dearling.”

My breath caught. “And what if I want to see all of you?”

His smirk was quick, carved deep into his cheek. “Greedy girl. You saw all of me last time.”

“And I liked what I saw.” I tried to extricate my hands but he wouldn’t budge. “Show me again.”

He laughed, low and deep enough to make me hot and cold at once. I squirmed under him.

“Is that what you really want to see, menace?” He reached between us and unfastened his leather trousers, grabbing the thick length of his cock. “Or is this what you want to see?”

I shouldn’t have stared. But he’d hypnotised me. I swallowed a sudden rush of saliva, wishing the room was brighter so I could fully appreciate his cock as he ran his hand up and down its length once, twice.

A hot pulse beat inside me. I ran my fingers over his jaw, the rasp of his two-day beard making my skin hum. It was a sensation similar to the swoop in my belly whenever he smiled at me or the quickening of my heart when we flew on Makrukh’s back. Exhilarating. Addictive.

I stole another kiss and covered his hand with mine, his cockradiatingheat.

“Move your hand,” I said between rough kisses, that thrilled swirl in my belly again when he deepened the kiss with a low growling breath, his hand sliding out from under mine. Sharp teeth nicked my bottom lip, only heightening my need.

His cock was softer than I expected, as tactile as silk. I liked that. I liked the choked groan that came from Varidian when I stroked him even more, my thumb exploring the ridge that ran from tip to base, tightening my grip to coax another groan from him. I’d read enough books ladened with sex to know the basics, but with the way Varidian grunted and moaned, I felt like a master.

“Fuck,menace,” he exhaled against my lips, his eyes dark, eyelids heavy. “Squeeze me right there.” I was rewarded with a louder, deeper groan and his head falling against the back of the chair. His cock jumped in my hand, as if the pleasure I gave him was so intense it couldn’t remain still, and a sense of power filled me.

I loved the way his mouth parted, loved the sounds of pleasure and need that filled my ears, the way a vein stood out on his throat as it arched when I stroked harder, faster, experimenting with pace. I’d find the pressure and speed to ruin him; by the way he was panting I was already close to that discovery, and a dark possessiveness filled me.

“I love you like this,” I confessed.

“At your mercy?” he gasped.

“Yes.”

He sank his teeth into his bottom lip, eyes falling shut. His hands tightened on my waist, tension winding tighter throughout every part of him.

“Dearling,” he breathed, his eyes still heavy-lidded when he caught my hand. “If you keep going, I’ll come too quickly.”

My smile deepened.

“You’re absolutely wicked,” he groaned, tightening his hold on my hand as he leaned closer for a deep, all-consuming kiss. My belly tightened, every suck, every teasing nip making the fiery need in me mount until I thought steam must be rising from my skin. “I need to touch you, Ameirah. Widen your legs around me, fuck that’s my good girl.”

My hips jolted, a catch in my breath at the same time I became fluid and lax above him. Varidian’s clever eyes missed nothing; now he was the one smiling wickedly.

“As much as I’d delight in reminding you what my tongue is capable of,” he said in a low, husky voice that made me throb, “I can’t stand to wait that long. I’m a selfish bastard, and I need to be inside you now.”

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