Page 73 of This Violent Light
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he says.His thumb strokes my cheek, brushing away a stray tear. “Forget everything else. You have my word, little witch. I am going to keep you safe.”
I’m nodding, even when I know it’s foolish to believe, to trust. Sebastian doesn’t look away though. He doesn’t show an ounce of hesitation or deceit.
The momentary flicker of warmth in my chest is shattered by Beatrice’s animalistic snarl. She’s moved from her place at the wall, surging closer until she’s only feet from us.
“Master,” she says. Her dark brows slant, mouth twisting into an ugly grimace. “Whatever mortal emotions you think you feel for her now, they are temporary. This darkness—thiscurse—is forever, unless she stops it.”
“And she will,” Sebastian says, keeping his eyes steady on me. “But not at the expense of her life.”
“Master—”
“Does everyone understand?” he shouts. “We will break this curse, but not at the expense of her life. Repeat it back!”
The room is silent for a horribly strained second, until finally, six voices repeat Sebastian’s words back to him. By the end, the inner circle stares at their leader in a mixture of horror and disbelief, except for Oskar, who looks only at me in pure wonder.
I don’t rememberthe rest of the meeting. I blacked out everything following Sebastian’s speech, and I’m still in a daze as we leave the auditorium an hour later. We don’t speak as we walk. He doesn’t tell me where we’re going, but a rush of relief courses through me as we turn not for my cell, but his bedroom.
As soon as we’re locked in his room, Sebastian crashesagainst me. He presses me against his closed door, lips trailing open-mouthed kisses across my throat. I arch into him, clutching his shoulders to keep from floating away.
“They’re angry,” I say. I force the words out, much as I’d like to fall into Sebastian’s sudden affection. “Your circle…They’re going to?—”
“They’re not going to do anything,” he interrupts, lips not leaving my skin. “They’re going to do as they’re fucking told.”
He nips at my jaw, letting his hand slip up my shirt and beneath my bra.
“They’re scared,” I say. “And they’re—they’re right—everyone is depending?—”
Sebastian drops to his knees, yanking my shorts to my ankles. My words break away on a gasp as he presses his lips to my clit.
“On me,” he says. “They’re depending on me. You’ve agreed to try, and you’re going to do what you can. All right? That’s it. You’re not going to die to clean up my mess.”
“But you said?—”
“That was before,” he says roughly. He sucks my clit into his mouth, humming as he slips a finger between my legs.
“Before you realized how good I am in bed?” I ask. It’s meant to be a joke, but it comes out as another needy gasp.
“I don’t know,” he says, pausing again. He looks up at me, somehow looking both savior and sinner. “Maybe before I met you. Before I realized…”
He trails off, but he doesn’t look away. His eyebrows crinkle, mouth twitching silently with words he can’t seem to say.
“I can’t explain it, Grace,” he says finally. “Just…just shut up and let me?—”
I use my magic to move him.
For the first time, it’s not to hold him down or to put him on his knees. It’s to bring him to his feet. He yells out in surprise as I slam his back against the door. Before he can say another word, I’m knelt before him, hands frantically undoing his belt. He might not understand what’s happening between us, but I finally do. And while I’m not ready to tell him either, I can certainly show him.
“Take off your shirt,” I say without slowing my movements. He does as I say, not bothering to undo the buttons. They fly off his shirt, scattering across the floor. If I weren’t a jittery, wanting mess, I might laugh.
As it is, I’m too focused. I yank his pants down, letting his cock spring free. It’s long and thick, straining for me. It’s too big to take all at once, but I stroke the shaft with one hand, leisurely, if only to watch Sebastian at my mercy. He stares at me like I’m his salvation, and I smile up at him, because I think he’s right. His hips jerk, thrusting him harder into my fist.
I wet my lips, slowly, teasing him. Until finally, Sebastian snaps, wrapping my hair around his wrist and tugging my head back.
“Give me your mouth,” he says roughly.
I consider making him wait, but I’m desperate too. I run my tongue over his length before wrapping my lips around him, taking him as deep as I can. As soon as his cock hits the back of my throat, a heady growl rumbles from his chest. And then, his cautiousness is gone. His hips snap hard and fast, until I’m gagging on him. He fucks my mouth like he owns it, like it’s only ever belonged to him.
I shouldn’t love it.
