I touched the indentations of the warding symbols that glowed blue along the band of the collar. The inside of it was soft so that it wouldn’t hurt him.
“I won’t force you to wear it,” I said, stepping up behind him. I glanced at his reflection in the glass door as I glided my lips down his neck. “Maybe Clara can make you a bracelet instead or a ring.”
Phoenix turned his face, pressing our cheeks together. “I admit it’s not hideous. I guess.”
“You like it, don’t you?”
He briefly smiled before huffing and turning in the other direction. “Not even a little bit.”
“Liar.”
“Whatever. I’ll only have to wear it until Alastair is appeased.” Phoenix faced me. “Just put the stupid thing on and get it over with.”
I flattened my thumb against the base of his throat, reveling in the heat of his skin. His heavy gaze and the soft parting of his lips sent my blood racing hotter.
While the collar was Alastair’s condition for Phoenix to stay at the mansion cage-free, I couldn’t deny how much I liked the thought of him wearing it. Wearing something I put on him.
“You like this too,” Phoenix said, watching me. “Don’t you?”
I nodded.
“Get to it, then.” He tipped his chin up, exposing more of his neck. “Collar me.”
I kissed the spot below his ear. He softly shuddered and grabbed my hips. He smelled incredible, like woodsmoke and spice. I grazed my teeth down, loving the tight swallow in his throat.
For so long, I’d thought being with him was impossible, and fuck it’d been depressing as hell. Maddening. But here he was, in my arms.
I fastened the collar around his neck. No lock. Clara had enchanted it to where only the person who put it on Phoenix would be able to remove it.
“You realize that while I’m wearing this, I’m stuck in this form, right?” he asked. “I have to use magic to look human.”
“I don’t care.” Far from caring. In fact, I found him even more irresistible in his demon form. Maybe because it was his true self. Horns, tail, and all. I liked when he wasn’t hiding behind a mirage.
“I suppose it’s karma,” Phoenix muttered, touching the collar. “I called Galen a mindless beast on more than one occasion. I think I even used the worddogonce or twice. Now look at me. Collared like a puppy.”
“My demon puppy.”
He rolled his eyes. “Careful. I might bite.”
I gripped his nape and brought his face so close I felt his breath on my lips. “I might like it.”
Phoenix caught my bottom lip between his teeth, and the sting as he bit down caused Lust to growl low.
“Devour.”
I backed him up toward the bed, sliding my hands up his shirt. Gods, his skin was like fire beneath my palms. And I wanted to burn.
“You’re insatiable,” Phoenix said, pushing me onto the mattress. He tugged off his shirt before shoving down his pants, releasing his thin tail as well as his heavy cock.
“Says the one tearing off his clothes.” I smirked as he yanked my jeans down my legs. “Now you’re taking off mine.”
“Want me to stop?” He straddled my hips, our bare cocks sliding together as his weight settled on me. His tail lightly caressed my calf.
“Don’t you dare,” I responded, my voice deeper as Lust further awoke inside me. I smoothed a hand up his toned chest and touched his collar. “Fuck. That’s so hot.”
Phoenix rolled his body before leaning forward and nipping at my collarbone. “You want me to call you master?”
Oh, fuck.