Page 25 of Shadows of the Soul

“Last chance, Cor,” Neil said as a cruel grin split his lips. He slapped the studded leather belt in his hands in warning.

I let out a sob. “I cannot tell you the future, no matter how much you beat me.”

He sighed and let the loop of the belt free, the end dragging on the floor. “We shall see.”

The first lash caught my stomach. The flesh tore and blood spilled out. I sucked in a breath and braced myself. The second caught the underside of my breasts and I screamed as fire flashed across my body and sweat trickled down my spine and face. My voice broke with each subsequent wound. My heart shattered at the sadistic pleasure marring Neil’s face.

“Cora,” a voice shouted. I looked around the darkness seeking the masculine timber that was familiar.

Neil grabbed my hair and yanked. “There’s no escape, Cora. I’ll stop hurting you when you give me what I want.”

I leaned forward and bit his cheek. He snarled and smacked my face, which whipped to the side.

“Cora! For fuck’s sake, wake up.”

I struggled in the chains and cursed Neil, his heritage, his existence, and the rest of his life. I hoped he burned in Hell for eternity.

“Please, Cora, open your eyes.”

I followed the voice. And found myself staring into hazel eyes that were tight with concern. “That’s what happened? If he wasn’t already dead, I’d kill him myself,” Hudson gritted out as he cradled me closer to his chest. I sucked in a breath and clutched my stomach. The phantom pain made my insides ache. My gaze darted around the low lit room. We were on the bed, in the storm shelter. We were on the bed.

“It’s okay,” he reassured me. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

I didn’t think. I twisted in his arms and straddled his lap before grabbing his face and fusing his lips with mine. It was frenzied, hot, and delicious. I needed him to chase away my nightmares, to restore my faith in relationships, and to make me feel protected.

He dragged his lips away from mine. I growled and tried to reconnect. “Wait, you’re upset, emotional. I don’t want you to regret it. To not know who you are sleeping with.”

“I need you.”

He grabbed my hips and tugged me closer before burying his face in my shoulder. I ran my fingers through his hair. Damn, cats have soft hair. He lifted his head. His eyes were lit from within as his cat peered out at me. “Say my name,” he growled. “Convince me you know who you are with.”

I kissed his jaw, nipping at the flesh. “I’m Cora, and you are the infuriating Hudson, who has been chasing me for months.” His steel length grew beneath me. “And now you’ve caught me. What are you going to do?” I challenged.

He looked into my eyes. Studying my expression, weighing up my demons and deciding if they were worth it. I pulled back, away from him, from the judgment in his gaze. He flipped us and pinned my hands over my head before settling between my legs. “You are worth it.”

“You heard that?” Oh shit. The telepathy potion had kicked in.

He grinned as I caught his thought of ‘that’s right, baby, all your secrets are mine now.’ I had to will myself not to think of the things which would make him slaughter me on the spot.

He skimmed his nose along my throat before coming up to my lips. They parted as electricity sizzled between us. His lips descended upon mine with a ferocious kiss—dominating, wild, and devastating. I drowned in everything Hudson. His scent, his taste, his touch—everything set me on fire until I was sure we’d burn the world down at our feet. My chains slipped, my true form yanking to be free. It wanted to preen in his presence. He moved down my body, gliding his hands up my t-shirt and pulling it over my head before unsnapping the front clasp of my bra and releasing my breasts. He leaned back to peer down at me, his gaze memorizing every curve and every flaw of my body.

‘You are so fucking beautiful. It hurts to look at you,’ his inner voice rasped.

I shot up and yanked at his shirt. The buttons popped and flew around the room. I pulled my legs out from under him and wrapped myself around him like a koala. One hand folded around his neck, keeping his lips locked with mine while the other was between us as I opened his jeans. My hand found his hard length. Oh. My. God. Yes.

A rumble of approval came from his chest at my thoughts. He tore my panties from my body, and his fingers skimmed along my sensitive flesh. I gasped and ground down, wanting him inside me. I didn’t have the patience for foreplay. A deep ache had settled inside me, and it was begging to be filled.

“I got you,” he growled before pushing me back on the bed and untangling my legs from his waist. He descended upon me, his hot lips exploring my neck, then my breasts. He grazed his teeth over my nipple, making my breasts swell and ache.

“Don’t tease,” I panted.

He grinned at me before leaving a blazing trail down my stomach. He nestled his shoulders between my legs, stretching them wide before throwing them up and over his back. Finally, he gave me a long lick that left no part of me unexplored. My head tipped back as I panted through the pleasure he was making me feel.

Just a little more pressure. His hands pinned my hips to the bed as he followed my thoughts and found the precise way to make me scream. My hands gripped his hair and he growled, causing the most amazing vibrations. My climax slammed into me like a freight train. He left me for a second, his jeans hitting the floor.

“Shit,” he muttered.

I tipped my head up. “What’s wrong?”

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