Page 30 of The Anointed's Paladin

“S-sometimes they don’t heal right.” Would he figure out I kept it unhealed on purpose? Shit, would he figure out that I kept it because Ilikedit? The thought was terrifying and thrilling at the same time.

“Can I see?” he asked, his eyes hooded again as they locked on to mine. He moved, not waiting for a reply as he slid onto my lap. His hand untucked my shirt as he settled, his legs straddling me. A heady breath escaped me as I gazed up at him, and my dick jerked, rising to meet him as he settled on top of it. We had officially moved out of territory I could chalk up to casual friendliness. This was intimate. But… there was no way he wasattractedto me. I was far from desirable, which meant he must be toying with me.

Fear swirled in my stomach. He looked down at me as if I was a mouse caught in his claws. Right now, it didn’t matter that I was easily twice his size. I was prey.

I stammered something as I met his gaze. I was spellbound, captive by his touch, and it was terrifying.

Perhaps what I’d said was assent, because he undid my shirt and slipped his cool hands onto my chest. My stomach dipped with nerves as I was exposed. His touch felt like lightning on my skin as his fingers tangled through my hair. He found the mark, a thin, crescent-shaped line between two ribs. His gaze was still locked on mine, and it all felt so… good. He gave me a coy smile, and I let out a whine as I automatically leaned towards him. How embarrassing. Fuck.

I didn’t care if he was just playing with me, luring me into deep waters. He was here, sitting on my cock, hands running over my bare skin, looking at me in a way no one did. Like hewantedme.

Before I knew what I was doing, I reached up, resting my hands on him and pulling him closer. His frame felt almost delicate against my hulking figure. My breaths were coming hot and heavy, my body temperature soaring from hot to scorching. My thumb stroked down the smooth dip just above his hips, my fingers settling on the edge of his backside. He had summoned something feral inside me, a beast that roared at me, demanding I go further, rip off his clothes and lose control. Demanding I fuck him, feel his slender frame twisting beneath me and hear his moans as I came inside of him.

I took a shaky breath, reining in my thoughts. Losing control was the last thing I needed, no matter how much I craved it.

“Mmm,” he said, settling so he was pressed against my chest. I could feel his breath, cool against my skin. He was so close now, his lips inches from mine. My cock was throbbing with need, and his hand was still trailing along my chest. He was waiting, regarding me with a smirk, eyebrow raised as if in a dare.

I was terrified. Of losing control. Of the possibility of this all being a tease. Of him stabbing me again.

Still, I leaned closer, addicted to the way he was looking at me. He smiled as my lips grazed his. I exhaled deeply, trembling as his invitation hovered in the air between us. I only hesitated for another second before I kissed him. I closed my eyes, fingers digging into his hips, pulling him closer as our lips locked together. Fuck, I was desperate for this. Needed this. His hand came up, caressing my face. Everything else seemed to fall away; there was nothing but his body against me, his soft lips meeting mine. I started the kiss slowly, carefully, but he pressed in, demanding something much more intense. I shivered as his sharp fangs brushed against my lip. My tongue throbbed, pushing against his lips.

Kaine

This wasstupidlyeasy. He’d taken the bait.

My free hand slid to my dagger, ready to unsheathe it, but I didn’t do anything with it yet. I could feel his strong form under my legs, the girth of his erection sending a throb of pleasure through me. He was hot and wet, and I opened my mouth, letting our tongues glide together. My dagger slipped loose, and I tore my thoughts away from the kiss. Now was my chance. His guard was down, and all it would take was one deep slash to his throat. Cut both arteries and the windpipe, and no healing could mend that fast enough. Not to mention that I’d be sapping his energy through his blood at the same time.

I broke off the kiss, sitting back and examining him. His eyes were glassy and unfocused, a slight crease of worry on them as he looked up at me. His lips were soft and kiss-plumped, and his face flushed.

He looked so needy.

Desperate.

Mystomach fluttered as I wondered what I could make him do when he was like this. I tightened my grip on his face, tilting it up so I could look at him better. Instead of fighting me, he bent at my touch, eager for me to guide him. I cast my mind back, putting the pieces together, trying to figure out why I’d finally found a beast who wanted to submit.

Humiliation. Any wounded pride from submitting to someone weaker was what Talon wanted, because this fuckboy loved shame.

Shit.

My heart pounded in my chest as the possibilities ran through my mind. But knowing I wanted this changed the game. I needed to recalculate my plan.

“You know,” I whispered, and his eyes flicked down, his expression closing off as if he were bracing for something. “You’re adorable when you’re all flustered. I’ll have to do that more often.”

He suddenly stiffened under me. Shit, he’d noticed the dagger I’d forgotten to sheathe. I smiled, turning it over in my hand and trying to think of a plausible reason I’d have it out. Besides gutting him, of course. A tempting thought entered my brain.

I brought it up to his chest, cutting a thin line along his collarbone. His eyelids fluttered, and I felt his cock twitch beneath me as a fresh line of blood welled from the shallow wound. I breathed in his scent and the spicy tang of Mirilith’s fervour. I traced my finger along the nick, bringing it up to my lips. I slipped my finger into my mouth, and Talon let out an involuntary whimper. Fuck, he had it bad. He was perfect.

The blood brought a rush to my head, and the way Talon was looking at me made it even more potent. I needed to go before this went too far.

“Good night, darling,” I said with a wink. “Sweet dreams.”

I pulled myself off of him, the night air cold as I left his burning skin. I kept my steps light, feeling his eyes on me as I sauntered back to my shelter. Stepping inside, I lay back and ran my fingers through my hair, trailing them up one of my horns.

I could hear him moving around out there. Eventually, he stood, walking out of the clearing. Probably going to deal with the raging hard-on I’d left him with. My own cock pulsed at the thought, and I tried to push it away. But I couldn’t get it out of my mind. He’d be alone, in the woods, freeing that large dick I had felt beneath me. He’d never even have to know I was there. Actually, he’d probably love it as much as I would if I found him like that.

But see,thiswas a problem.

I was supposed to be in control here. And Talon’s large, innocent eyes were dangerously close to making me veer completely off plan. I ran my hands through my hair again. He’d escaped his fate tonight, but despite the new revelation, I was going to have to kill him. Soon. Before he killed me. But that sounded like a problem for tomorrow.

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