Page 227 of Kingdoms of Night

“Delayed gratification can be punishment,” he informed me softly. “But only when done right. And not when an Omega is in pain from her heat.”

He ran his fingers up the inside of my thigh until his thumb brushed my slick heat.

So light.

So promising.

Yet nowhere near enough.

“Spanking can be a fun punishment,” he continued. “Although I prefer more creative concepts, like temperature play and feathers.”

My thighs clenched.

“Prolonged gratification is another favorite,” he added, his low voice unleashing a volcano of intense sensation inside me. “Making a woman come for minutes rather than seconds. Forcing her to beg me to stop so she can breathe.”

He drew his touch through my sex, his finger unerringly locating my clit to give it a tender stroke.

“I think that would be an ideal punishment for you, Riley. Put that voice of yours to good use, hearing youbegme rather thaninsultme. Show you why my knot is the only knot you’ll want, and prove to you that not just any Alpha cock will do.”

“Oh God…” I was going to come apart from his words alone.

“Make you tell me a hundred times that it’s my knot that makes you crazy, my knot that you’ve desired all along,my knotthat you actually want inside you.” He applied a little more pressure to my sensitive nub, his breath hot against my ear.

“Your knot,” I whispered. “Only your knot.”

“Yeah, just like that,” he murmured. “My knot is the one you reallyneed.”

“Yes,” I hissed, arching up into his hand. “I’ve wanted it for months. Since the day we met. And I hated you for it.”Hell, I might still hate him.

But oh, I wanted him, too.

Ireallywanted him.

“Because you’re scared of my claim.”

“I’m scared you’ll claim me,” I echoed, slightly correcting his statement. “I don’t want to be property.”

“You wouldn’t be my property, Riley. You would be my mate. My cherished partner in life. The woman I would do anything for, and the wolf I would vow to worship and protect until my last breath.”

I shuddered, his words undoing something inside me that I’d ignored for far too many years.

“I don’t want a nest full of pups, Riley. I want a happy mate who feels loved and safe, who enjoys being mine while ensuring that I’m very much hers in return. A partnership, not an ownership.”

Yes,I thought, moving against his hand.That’s what I want, too. I wantyou.

“Not all Alphas claim an Omega to own her,” Jonas murmured. “Some Alphas simply want a partner to worship for life. Just like I’m doing with you now.”

He slid two fingers inside me and curled them in a way that brought instant relief to my core.

“I’m taking care of you because you need it.” His words were a breath against my ear.

I jolted as his palm applied pressure to my clit while he fucked me fluidly with his fingers.

More,I thought, arching into him.Please give me more.

“I’m not owning you,” he added softly. “I’m not taking advantage of you by knotting you. I’m just making you feel good, even when part of me still wants to punish you for every insult you’ve thrown my way.”

I swallowed, my body burning for him even while my heart panged in my chest. His tone and words confirmed I’d really hurt him, which had never been my intent.

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