Page 76 of Demons of Eden

“You are so stubborn!”

“Says you! Have you met yourself? I have never in my life met anyone as stubborn as you are. You literally hated me from day one simply because I got dicked down by a demon!”

“Your mouth is filthy,” he says, slowly climbing back onto the bed. “Do I need to do something about your attitude, Eden?”

My mouth pops open, and I stare at him with wide eyes. “Like what, Rio? Murder me?”

“Murder that fucking...” Rio trails off quietly as he kneels beside me. He shoves his hands into my hair, holding me still as he leans in, only stopping a few inches away from my mouth. “No one has ever infuriated me the way that you do, Eden. You test my self-control, push all the buttons I have, and challenge me every chance you get.”

“You started the war, Rio. I only wanted to win every battle,” I murmur as his scent washes over me. He’s so close. So handsome. My eyes flutter shut, my heart racing.

A knock on the door pulls me out of the moment, and I snap my head to the side to look, but no one steps in.

“Tell him to leave,” Rio murmurs as I stare at the door, waiting.

“Eden?” It’s Daion's voice through the door. He knocks again, but I don’t know what to do. I could be hurting Rio with my juju. Daion could get him away from me, but…what if he’s right? What if I am making incorrect assumptions?

“Look at me,” Rio demands, forcing my eyes back to his, his fingers guiding me back to him. “Tell Daion to leave, Eden.” He leans in, his lips brushing mine so slightly, and I gasp. “I can give you what you need,” he whispers. My breath trembles against his lips as my body shakes. His eyes hold me hostage, and fuck, I want to give in so badly.

Rio makes everything difficult. He’s stubborn, angry, volatile. He’s also loyal, lethal in his protection of his family. He’s thoughtful, even when he wants to pretend he isn’t. Like giving me his food, even when he still hated me, simply because he saw I wanted it. What Torrin told me the day we first met was wrong. Rio isn’t just a good man; he’s one of the best.

“You’re completely sure you’re feeling okay? I’m not manipulating you?” I ask again, because I have to know. Before I leap off this cliff, I need to know he’ll catch me. I’m scared of the feelings that Rio stirs in my chest.

I’m terrified, in fact, because at this moment I realise what's been holding me back from fully giving myself to what’s been growing with Torrin and Daion. It’s Rio. No matter how much I care about the other two, I could never be the thing that comes between the three of them. If being with me means that they might lose Rio, I’m not willing to ask that of them. And I’m not willing to force Rio to choose. Tolerate me, or lose your brothers.

No, I couldn’t ever do that.

But what if Rio chose me, too?

Could this be where I belong, where I finally feel like I fit? Fuck, the warm buzz of energy in my chest that sparks with that thought nearly brings tears to my eyes.

“Do you want me?” Rio asks, looking at me like his life hangs on the edge of my answer.

“I want you,” I force myself to admit, swallowing as the knocking at the door drifts away, and all that remains is this moment between us.

He releases a shaky breath, smiling gently. “And do you want me to fuck you? Do you want me to keep fucking you as often as possible, every chance I get? Every time you get mouthy. Every time you enrage me and I need to fix your attitude? Every time I can’t control my need to have my hands on your body?” He presses a soft kiss to the corner of my lips, then leans back. “Is that what you want?”

“Yes.” This time, the word flies right out of my mouth.

“I’m never letting you escape me, Hellfire.”

For some reason, those words, ones meant to sound like a threat, are a promise instead. One that fills my heart with more joy than I knew I was capable of feeling.

“Good.” I lift my chin, daring him to take the words back with my eyes.

“Last chance, Eden. Once I sink my cock inside your soaked pussy, you’re never going to be free of me. If you leave, I’ll huntyou down. If you run, I’ll catch you. If you say yes, I’m making you mine, and I won’t ever let you walk away from me,” Rio growls the words against my skin as he presses kisses down my neck. “I’ll bind you to me. Make you mine forever. No spell on Earth could release you.”

“Have you been possessed?” I whisper, my chest heaving, my eyes falling shut as the feel of his lips against my skin seeps into my bones and lights me up from the inside out. I’m needy, wet for him already, as I reach up to pull him harder against me. He’s threatening me. That much is clear, but fucking hells bells, that was the hottest declaration I’ve ever heard.

“Yes,” Rio groans, pulling me into his lap so I can straddle his hips, my mind foggy with desire for the demon hunter that has me wrapped in his arms. “By a demonic witch who smells like sin and sends my heart and mind spiralling into the void.”

“You sound unhinged.”

“Good. You’ll take my threats seriously then.” He bites down on my shoulder, dragging his teeth across my skin, making me shiver. “Fuck, you feel so good in my arms,” he murmurs, leaning back enough to look into my eyes. “Kiss me, Eden. Leave your mark on my heart. Brand me as yours so everyone will know who my soul belongs to.”

Who the hell taught this man how to say things like that?I’m fucking weak for him. If he asked me to crawl for him right now, I’d probably only ask how far…

“Why is that so hot?” I giggle. “Anyone else threatening to bind me to them would not be sexy,” I add, frowning as I stare into his eyes, still a tiny bit concerned that he’s been possessed by my lusty juju, but we’re both too far gone to turn back now.

---