Page 61 of Spark of Madness

She squeezes, and it feels like burning in hell—only the fire feels good searing my flesh. I wrap my hand around her wrist, squeezing tight to still her stroking palm.

“Do you deserve to suffer, Mercy?”

I feel the quickening beat of her pulse through her wrist as she nods, her gaze holding mine steadily, hardly blinking.

I bend and press my forehead to hers. “Then you will suffer greatly.”

“I…I’ll accept that.”

I jerk her hand from my pants and bring it up to her chest, pinning her arm between us as I press in closer. “Yes, you will. You have no choice but to accept just how much you’ll suffer in the first trial.”

“I know.”

“Oh, you have no idea.”

“Tell me.”

I let a grin touch my cheeks, then I tilt my chin and draw her into a consuming kiss. Grabbing her shoulders, I shove her down until her knees buckle beneath her, and she drops. She looks up at me, a sinner on her knees, prepared to sacrifice herself.

I grip her chin and brush my thumb along her bottom lip, so viciously tempted to press my cock against it. Instead, I drop to my knees before her, wrap my arms around her, and take her down to the floor. I force her onto her back as I stretch out above her.

“My brothers will want your pleasure in the first trial.” I press a kiss to her cheek. “But you’re not going to give it to them.”

“I don’t understand.” Her fingers curl around the open sides of my shirt, pulling me down against her.

“If you want me to try to convince them to let you do this, then you’re going to do something for me in return.”

“What?”

I bend to whisper against her ear. “Denial, starlight.”

She shudders and I feel it vibrate through me.

“Denial of what?”

“I know I’m the only man who’s given you pleasure before, aren’t I?” I kiss her neck. “That night in the forest when you came on my fingers…it was the first time by another’s hand, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“And I’ll be the only man who gives you that until the day you die.”

The haughty sound of her chuckle awakens something playful within me. I tear her hands from my shirt, lock her fingers between mine, and stretch them out above her head, pinning them to the carpet.

“Do you think there’s any way I would ever find pleasure in being forcibly fucked by seven men?”

“Of course you would, sinner. Because I’ll be there to make sure you don’t forget the way you feel stretched out beneath me.”

I roll my hips forward, and her legs part naturally, trying to make more room for me between them. The movement inches the short chemise up her hips, and that’s when I realize she’s bare beneath. I squeeze her hands in mine, let my weight fall a little heavier on top of her, aligning every inch of me with every inch of her.

Sweet fucking sin.

She sighs as her lips part, beckoning me to taste.

I dip my head, bring my lips to hers, and let them brush as I speak. “Promise me your pleasure belongs to me, and to no one else.” My hips shift, grinding her down to the floor. “Promise me your sins belong to me, your flesh, your moans, your desire. Let it be for me, and I’ll try to help you.”

She tilts her chin, trying to steal a kiss, but I don’t allow it. I drag my head back and let go of one of her hands, bringing mine down the side of her neck. I brush my thumb over the hollow of her throat, relishing the way her muscles work as she swallows against my touch. I slip my palm higher, stopping at her jawline to rub my thumb across her bottom lip. She puffs out a whimper that threatens to undo my self-control entirely.

“I promise,” she whispers, and there’s nothing but sweet, sinful sincerity in her gray-blue eyes.

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