Page 144 of Red Ruin

I wouldn’t have bitten her if I’d been in the right fucking mind.

Or if I could think at-fucking-all.

I’m all fire and pain unless I’m touching her.

Maybe I knew?

I must’ve known that she was special, too.

So fucking special.

“More.” I pump my fin, living for the quiver in her hips and the glow of her miracle soul. “Give me everything.”

My wife mewls like a kitten when she won’t let herself moan. Her sharp, hissy breaths pump straight to my cock.

Instinct tells me to wrap her tight in silks.

I want to keep her forever.

But I tie and tie, and our souls won’t snap that last fucking inch.

I squint into the blaze where our souls meet. “Are you holding back?”

“No,” she groans. The desperate noise ripples down her thighs. “Wish I were.Fuck. I should.”

“No. Don’t.” I pump her hard and deep.

This fuckingrelief.

I can breathe. I can see without a layer of tar clouding every fucking thing and making it agony just to light a birthday candle.

No more pain.

No more death.

My venom pulses through her veins, then disappears.

Over her shoulder, I lock eyes with Azrid.

The vampire looks drunk and stupid, smiling around his fangs in her throat.

We’resupposedto kill each other.

That’s why we were sent to the same abandoned guard.

To fight to the death in a quiet corner of Faervaine, where we’ll only off ourselves.

Now, he fuckingsavesme?

I snarl at Azrid, then tune him out.

All that matters is that Iris lives.

I won’t kill her.

I can keep her.

I can learn how to make love to herso good.

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