Page 19 of Demon Bound

“You do not want to be bruised, or bloodied, or forced,” he repeated verbatim, surprising her.

His fingers drifted down her throat. She would have expected claws, but his hands were just like any other man’s: strong and dexterous with appropriately sized, flat fingernails. And they were blue. She supposed that part was a little different from the average man.

He moved slowly, watching her face all the while, as if he was testing to see how far she would let him go. He thought she was lying. This was a challenge.

She stiffened further when his hand slid down her chest, between her breasts. A twinge of anticipation pulsed between her legs. But more than arousal, she felt shame, anger, and fear.

Azreth’s hand slowed, then dropped. He glared at her.

“What?” she asked.

“You said you would be willing.”

“I’m trying,” she said quickly. She feared what would happen when he lost patience with her. “Keep going.”

He began to reach toward her, then stopped again, making an irritated sound in the back of his throat. “If you cannot do this, then you must find someone else who will.”

She hadn’t guessed he would suggest an alternative, rather than simply taking what he wanted from her.

“I can do it,” she assured him, but she had her doubts. Would he even fit inside her? What if he couldn’t? “I could… use my mouth,” she offered. Her cheeks burned.

His lips curled with irritation. “That is not how it works.”

“Then how does it work?”

“The energy I feed on comes from others. From you. My body is not relevant. Only yours matters.”

She blinked. She was a fool.Arouse yourself,he’d said. That was what he needed. She had to come for him. Oh, gods.

“Do you know how to pleasure yourself?” he asked.

“Of course I do.”

“Then do it.”

He didn’t need to be involved at all. Fascinating. “Do you need to… watch me?” This entire situation was beyond the pale.

There was a faint flare of light in his eyes. “No. But I must be nearby.”

Raiya looked around. They were in a wide, empty plain dotted with stones. There were no other living things nearby, and the castle and nearby roads were all far out of sight.

She slid to the other side of the boulder they’d slept against and sat down in the grass. After a moment, she heard Azreth sit on the other side of it, giving her some privacy—but not much.

“I’m going to begin now,” she said uncertainly.

Azreth said nothing.

She closed her eyes and sighed softly. This was among the most outrageous things she’d ever been tasked with. But she was going to find a way to make it work. There was no point in delaying.

Eyes still closed, she lifted a hand to her breast and gently pinched its peak. A soft flutter went through her as her nerves awakened.

“Good,” came Azreth’s deep, toneless voice, and Raiya’s eyes flew open. She glanced up to see if he was watching, but he was still on the other side of the rock.

She shifted her other hand to the apex of her thighs. Knowing he was so close put her on edge. It made her body respond quickly. She pressed her hand between her legs, over the fabric of her trousers.

She imagined her fingers were someone else’s. She imagined a man. A tall man with strong hands. He was stern and powerful, but gentle and handsome. His fingers were big and bold as they touched her, as they penetrated her.

Her hand slid quietly beneath her clothes. She felt like she was a girl again, surreptitiously touching herself in bed after everyone else had fallen asleep. She supposed there was no point in trying to be quiet when he already knew exactly what she was doing, but she tried anyway.

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