Page 32 of Malice
The urge to close the distance between our lips was so strong I nearly choked on it. But a crack of thunder broke the moment. A fat drop of rain landed on her cheek, prompting me to scoop her into my arms as though I were her bridegroom and couldn’t wait to carry her over the threshold.
“Oh, well, if you insist,” she teased, nuzzling her face against my chest as I strode up the path to the villa. Her warmth radiated through me, even with the fabric of my suit in the way. I wanted more.
By the time we reached the jasmine-laced walls of the villa, the rain was pouring down, drenching us both. With little more than a thought, the fireplace against the back wall of the indoor-outdoor living space blazed to life, along with the hundreds of candles gracing every available surface. We were bathed in a warm glow, the soft light casting romantic shadows around the room as the sound of the rain falling acted as our music.
“You really do think of everything,” she said softly, her eyes taking in the room before lifting to mine. “Though that doesn’t surprise me. You love to set the scene.”
It was obvious she was referencing something specific, but I couldn’t quite figure out what she was referring to. There were simply too many options. It wasn’t until she intentionally pressed her nose into my chest and inhaled deeply that I got my answer.
“Mmm,” she breathed. “I’ve become addicted to the scent of you ever since you left me that little present in my room.”
I stiffened, a slight twinge of guilt worming its way into my mind. “I thought you might be cross about that.”
“Why?”
“Because I forced the issue of your resistance to feed. I took matters into my own hands.”
She hummed softly to herself and reached up to trace my lips with her fingertip. The sensation of her skin on mine sent tingles skittering down my spine. “I see. My overbearing, dark, and moody daddy.”
Fuck me. I hated how much I loved the sound of that on her lips. If only because it was evidence of how much power she held over me. No creature in existence had owned me so thoroughly.
I set her on her feet, loath to let her go, but we wouldn’t get anywhere if I didn’t move this forward. The rain had washed away any hint of modesty by turning her dressing gown and négligée translucent. Rosy nipples teased me through the fabric, the wet cloth leaving nothing to the imagination. I could see every line of her beautiful form.
She shivered, and my eyes snapped back to her face.
“Are you cold?”
“No,” she whispered, even as I maneuvered her to stand in front of the fire. “It was you, the scent of your arousal, I mean.”Her eyes fluttered closed, and she breathed deeply. “I’m so hungry. And you tastesogood.”
Gaze locked on hers, I slid my gloves off and dropped them to the floor. “Then allow me to give you what you desire.”
With slow, deliberate movements, I brushed the wet strands of hair off her neck and shoulders, repeating the caress with my lips as I exposed the velvety expanse of skin. She was cool beneath the heat of my mouth, and the contrast fascinated me. Every hitch of her breath only served to heighten my own need. My cock ached for attention, but I could wait.
I would.
This moment was about so much more than sex. I wanted her to remember what it felt like to be the object of Death’s obsession. Almost as badly as I wanted to memorize the feel of her beneath my hands. There was no inch of her body I wasn’t about to explore. This wasn’t just about seduction; it was about conquering. Making her mine in every sense of the word.
She reached up to slide her robe off one shoulder, but I stopped her with a nip to her neck.
“No, wildflower. That’s my job.”
“Then do it faster.”
“You’ll get what you want, but first, you must be patient.”
“I need you.”
I pulled back, taking her face between my palms and staring into her bright blue eyes. “Not as much as I need this.”
Her breath left her in a soft whoosh. “Oh.”
I continued tracing a path along her skin, my thumb skating over her collarbone and up the side of her neck. “You have no idea how long I’ve yearned to do exactly this.”
“Touch me, Grim.”
“I intend to.”
Unable to resist any longer, I slipped one shoulder of the robe down, then the other, until I’d peeled it off her and it fellto the floor. Then I stepped back until I could sit on the sofa, tugging her with me until she was standing between my spread knees. My palms skated over her hips, up to encircle her waist, over her breasts, and back down as I took in her curves.
