Page 152 of Her Tortured Beasts

My insides deflate, my soul along with it. This cut is deeper than any other. I swallow the sudden lump in my throat. “What can I call you then?”

She narrows her eyes at me, no doubt running through the list of names I used to call her. The bad ones…and the good ones. “Just…my name is fine.”

I nod. “Of course. Whatever you like.”

She raises a brow at me.

“I’ll make up for it, you’ll see.”

She sighs and I’m not sure if she believes me. “Let’s just get to bed. Do you need to see a healer?”

“No, Aurelia.”

Savage rolls his eyes, putting his arm possessively around her. I narrow my eyes at it. “I need a moment alone with you. Will you grant me that?”

The three lethal animuses wait for a response.

Her chest expands with breath. “Alright. You three head into our room and don’t come out unless I say so.”

None of them are happy, but I don’t care. I need to be closer to her, if just for a moment. And as they leave, casting memurderous looks over their shoulders, I rise from the chair and step off the plastic.

“Will you help me with this?” I hold up the white bandage roll.

She takes it, because it’s second nature to her, and sets the end against the back of my hand. I enjoy her attention on me, depraved as it is. Enjoy her small, gentle touches.

Fuck. I always had. I’d just never allowed myself to really feel that.

“Was the speech too much?” I ask in a low voice. Gods, her scent is the most perfect thing. Up close, I can smell her toothpaste.

She swallows. “I’m not sure.” Her hands are so gentle, so soft, even though she’s not touching my skin. I let her get to my bicep, savouring her movements, her breathing, her face, before I speak again.

“I meant all of it,” I whisper. “Every last word. And even if you hate me, I’m glad you feelsomethingfor me. I can hold on to that.”

“Xander,” she whispers, blinking hard at my bleeding arm.

“Gods, say my name again.” I raise my hand, ready to risk it all just for one touch of her cheek. My fingers brush her soft skin, tingles flooding all the way down my good arm.

She inhales, closing her eyes.

I lean closer, wanting to share her breath. “Just one more time.”

A tear trails her cheek, but she graces me with her eyes, lids fluttering open, long dark lashes drawing me in. I want to covet these jewels for myself. I want to take her away to my horde again.

She inhales deeply and I revel in the joy it gives me to see that she enjoys my scent. I lean closer, letting her smell me. “Give me what I want,” I whisper. “Please.”

That seems to interest her. She pulls back, looking into my eyes. “Beg for it.”

My cock hardens. Holding her gaze, I slowly drop to my knees on the blood-splattered plastic. We’re so close that I can’t help but press my forehead to her stomach, my hands coming around to brush my fingers against her calves. She shivers. I look up at her, enamoured by the power she has over me. To make me this hard, this desperate for her touch.

“Please,” I whisper. “Pleaselet me have you.”

She gives a tiny shake of her head that excites me to no end. “Not good enough.”

“I can’t live knowing I can’t have you,” I say, watching those sapphires glimmer. My fingers skim the backs of her thighs. “Your skin is so soft. I beg you to let me taste it. To lick it. To suck on it.”

Her breathing is heavy, but still, she shakes her head. My insides burn. I make tiny circles on her skin. “Aurelia,” I breathe. “If you let me taste your pussy, suck your clit just once, I can live happy knowing I’ve tasted heaven one last time. I’mdesperateto bury my face in your sweet cunt. If I don’t hear you moan in pleasure, it’ll destroy me.” I gently squeeze the backs of her thighs. “My life depends on having your mouth on mine. Fuck, my cock is so hard.”

She looks down for the evidence, track pants tenting as my cock strains. “You want to eat me out, Xander?”

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