Page 68 of All the Devils are Here

Ban’s spines clung to my body, filling my pussy and locking us together in the same way that Laurent’s knot did. The others released my hand, and I held my shifter closer, kissing him.

“Seems like I need to get up early more often,” Trin said.

From the corner of my eye I saw him standing in the doorway, but the way Ban was purring, I wanted to stay right here. It was calming, and my body was still savoring the after-effects of pleasure. Every time I moved those spines felt like a mini-orgasm. I couldn’t quite catch my breath.

“Join us when you’re ready,” Laurent said, brushing my arm. “We have more to tell you.”

“Okay,” I murmured. Moving wasn’t high on my list of priorities at the moment.

Ariel slipped away too, and I heard the door close behind them. Ban kept purring, holding me close and inhaling at the point of my pulse. It was so comfortable and easy, I could have fallen asleep again except for the fact that I wanted to enjoy this, and him.

Finally, his cock released me and we slipped apart. Ban pulled back, but it wasn’t joy or happiness in his eyes. It was sorrow. “I am sorry, kitten.”

“Why?”

His cheek pressed against mine. “I am sorry I am not better.”

“Ban,” I took his face and moved it to where I could see his face again. “What are you talking about? That was incredible.”

“I’ve not been with a human before,” he said quietly. “Never been with anyone before. Only myself.”

Shock rolled through me. I should have guessed that. These men had been on this island for hundreds of years. Had Ariel and Trin? I cut the thoughts off and refocused on my mate, who was still looking at my neck and not at me. “Ban,” I said softly again. “Did I do something to make you think I was disappointed? Because I’m not. At all. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

“Not just that,” he said, purr faltering. “I am not… as human as your other mates.”

He looked so sad, it hurt my heart. “Ban—”

“I’m not always good with words, or speaking. My other form is simpler.”

“Ban, look at me?” His golden eyes lifted to mine. They were so beautiful, I wanted him to see it. “My other mates are made of nothing but air, can turn to stone, and one has tentacles. It doesn’t make them any less my mates.”

He didn’t say anything, so I kept going. “What they told me is true, right? You’ve always been my mate?”

“Yes.”

“Then why would I want you to be anything but what you are?” I pulled his face to mine and kissed him, hoping he could feel the truth in it.

These men—these monsters—were my mates. For the rest of my life. I didn’t know them well yet, but there was nothing about them that I would change. They’d already beenminefor centuries. That was hard to comprehend as it was, but to think I’d want them to be different? No.

Pulling back, I stroked my hand over his head and neck, feeling the longer hair on the top of his head, and the smooth velvet that stretched down to his back. “I’m your kitten,” I whispered, and everything about him changed.

His purr roared back to life, and he pressed his mouth to mine again. The arms cradling me kneaded in my hair, and I realized what it was. I’d told him I wasn’t a kitten, and he’d felt like it was me rejecting him. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“I’m sorry I told you I wasn’t. It’s not what I meant. You could never disappoint me, Ban.”

He smiled, eyes closing, and inhaled my neck again—one of his favorite places to be. “Even when I want to eat you alive?”

“I know you can’t harm me,” I said with a giggle. “So even then.”

Gently, he lifted himself off me and in turn, lifted me off the bed. His tail came up and curled around my ankle, and I couldn’t stop the smile on my face.

“When you run and I hunt you, I’ll do my best not to take a bite.”

“Mmm,” I leaned against his shoulder, pretending the thought of running from him didn’t make me want to drag him back to the bed. “Biting might have to be gentle, but lick me all you like.”

His low growl brought tightness and wetness back to my body, but he didn’t turn around. Both of us knew we would have more time later.

I was looking forward to it.

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