Page 32 of Claimed In Darkness

I’m as still as frozen ice. But I burn.

With fucking rage.

His fingers brush over my wrist, and my body betrays me.

My pulse jumps.

My breath falters for a beat.

His eyes flicker, glowing with amusement.

"You’re still shaking," he murmurs, trailing his touch up, up, over my forearm, toward my collarbone.

I grit my teeth.

"That’s not fear," I bite out.

"No," he says, smirking. "It’s not."

Dumbass.

I jerk away, but he’s already there, already pressing his palm against my throat, catching my chin.

His thumb skims the hollow of my neck, lingering over the artery there.

"I should kill you," I whisper.

Zephiran smile deepens.

"Then do it, I’ll look forward to that day."

His grip tightens.

Not to hurt.

Just to hold.

Just to remind me that I won’t be able to.

We are not done.

I want to see him bleed the way I bled tonight.

I want to watch the light drain from his eyes and know?—

Know that he knew it was me who took it from him.

I exhale slowly, forcing my body to relax even as my skin screams from his touch.

"Do you think this is the part where you destroy me?" I murmur, letting my lips brush against his knuckles.

Zephiran eyes flicker.

He hesitates for a fraction of a second.

But I see the telltale signs.

I grin, slow and vicious.

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