Page 56 of Shielded Heart

He pulled Samantha onto his lap, guided her head to rest against his shoulder—his strong, solid, flesh-and-blood shoulder—and held her, one arm wrapped around her while his other hand smoothed down her hair.

Once her shuddering breaths eased, she continued. “It hurt. I knew it would hurt a little the first time, I knew that much, but oh God, it hurtsomuch. I told him to stop, but he didn’t listen. I felt torn up inside, and he just kept…kept… He only stopped because I vomited, and then he was angry, disgusted. He hit me. He called me weak, worthless, and so many other names.

“He said I washis, th-that I existed only for his pleasure. He used me like that for three years. We never got married, but he knew he didn’t have to marry me to keep me trapped. I had nowhere else to go, no one to turn to. And the more he wore me down, the more confident he became that Icouldn’tleave. The only times he eased up on me were when he brought another woman home, but…sometimes he’d force me to join, too.”

Samantha fell silent. In that silence, she noticed three things—Arcanthus was no longer petting her hair, his body was trembling, and there was a loud, vibrating growl emanating from his chest. She lifted her head to find his markings aglow as though they were on fire. His eyes were focused elsewhere, and his pupils had contracted to such thin slits that they were almost swallowed by his blazing irises.

“Arc?” she asked in a small voice.

His third eye was the first to look at her, followed a second later by the other two. His features were strained; his lips were pressed into a tight line, his brow creased, his jaw muscles bunched. Then he brushed his fingers over her cheek, and his expression softened. “Would that I could’ve spared you all that suffering, my precious little flower.”

His touch, combined with his words, was like a soothing balm to her wounded soul. “H-He’s gone now. I’m here.”

“But he’snotgone. You’ve carried him with you across the universe, Samantha. Even if he were dead, which hedeservesto be, you haven’t yet left him behind.”

Samantha looked away from him in shame. Arc was right. Shehadcarried James with her.

“You don’t have to hold on to him anymore, little terran. Cast him into the void.”

“I’m trying, but—”

Arcanthus turned her face toward his again. “Let me help you, Samantha.”

“How?”

“You deserve pleasure. You deserve ecstasy.” A husky tone had entered his voice. He flicked the tip of his tail across the back of her knee. “And I would be delighted to provide it to you. Let me erase his stain from your memory.”

Heat spread across her face. “I-I don’t know if I can. I never felt…”

“You’re sitting with the finest male specimen in Arthos, little terran. You havenoidea of the pleasure I can make you feel.” He tipped his head toward her, brushing his nose across her hair. His breath was warm against her ear.

He inhaled deeply.

She shivered, and her heart quickened.

“I’ll offer you a deal, Samantha. Set aside your doubt, your hesitance, this one time. Let meshowyou. Let me make youfeel. If you don’t enjoy it…I won’t push any further.”

Could she agree? Could she let go of her fear and experience what Arc was offering?

In that moment, she wanted him more thananything. He was the embodiment of temptation, the epitome of seduction, and a simple glance from him was all it took to ignite a fire in her core.

Arcanthus flicked his tongue against the sensitive spot just beneath her ear, and Samantha gasped as tingles of arousal spread through her.

“What is your answer, my flower?”

“What do you get if you win?” she whispered.

“You.”

Eleven

Samantha pulled back and turned her head to look at Arcanthus. The desirous light in his eyes, paired with his wicked smile, promised unimaginable pleasure. Not for the first time, she couldn’t help likening his looks to a demon—a demon of lascivious delight.

I’m about to make a deal with the devil…and I’ve never wanted anything more.

She kept her eyes locked with his. “Yes.”

“Oh, my beautiful little terran,” he purred, “I will open the universe to you.”

---