Page 8 of Roses for the Damned

Spinning around, he saw that her back and arms were still bruised from the other night, the abrasions now only faint lines on her skin. She must have covered them up. He growled; she would bear those wounds with pride, for she had overcome and survived a great horror, one that she should not be ashamed of.

Having moved closer to his hiding place in the shadows, her eyes still searched the surroundings for any signs of him. A sudden need to grab her and have her all to himself overtook him.

His wings spread.

She yelped. Then was swept off her feet screaming as Gabriel soared towards his lair, a mischievous grin on his monstrous face.

Oh, how he was going to enjoy this.

Ch. 5

H er lungs hurt from how hard she had been screaming. “What is wrong with you?!” Fuming, she lunged at him. “You could have dropped me!”

Long claws wrapped around her wrists before her palms could connect with flesh, yanking her onto Gabriel’s hard front. “Do you really think I would ever let anything happen to you, Rose?”

“I–I” she stuttered, lost in the intensity of his gaze, his face barely an inch away as he leaned down, purring low.

“Get on the bed.”

“Wha–what?” she breathed, her eyes wide.

He chuckled, the sound reverberating across her chest as he pressed her even closer to him. “I wish to treat your wounds, little dove.”

“Oh,” she whispered softly, disappointment making her stomach drop.

He arched a brow. “Was there something else that you needed from me?”

Swallowing, her throat felt suddenly very dry. Your dick. “No,” she finally said, lying shamelessly through her teeth. Her core was on fire. Churning. Bubbling. Like a volcano waiting to erupt. Moisture pooled between her thighs, the evidence of her treachery undisputable. All he had to do was lift her skirts up and her lies would come crashing down around them.

His nostrils flared, eyes heating as they locked on her mouth. “You wicked thing, were you sent to torment me?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” A whimper escaped her when she felt his massive erection against her stomach. This is torture. How is he so big?

She shouldn’t have even craved another male after Florent’s attack. Should have been repulsed by the very thought of being touched in any way, let alone sexually. Yet she found herself dazed with lust, barely holding on to her sanity as she relaxed against Gabriel, his warm body and firm hold setting her mind at ease, erasing her fears.

He had saved her. She could rely on him to not hurt her.

“Am I making you uncomfortable? Would you like me to put some pants on?”

Searching his gaze, she sensed his sincerity. “No.”

“Do you trust me?” he muttered softly, as if reading her very thoughts.

She nodded. “With all of my heart.” And there it was, the irrevocable truth. It was astounding to her how in such a short amount of time she had grown attached to this dangerous creature, how attuned she was to his entire presence.

Rose’s world had always been filled with rot and vileness, with the ugliness of humans and their unrelenting greed. She had experienced very little kindness in her everyday life, and most of it had always come with a price.

For the first time in her life, no one had demanded anything in return.

Gentle hands gripped her shoulders, turning her around until her back was to Gabriel. A hiss escaped him as he stood behind her, inspecting her battle wounds.

“I have to clean them, they will get infected if I leave them like this. Why did you cover them up, Rose?”

She hesitated. “I didn’t want my father to see them,” pause, “and I was afraid of being judged by others. Most people already think so lowly of me.”

Silence encroached, her heart thundering at her admission. She hadn’t meant to tell him that, but it had spilled out of her without a moment’s thought. Yet another effect that this creature seemed to have on her.

“They are fools.” Arms of iron wrapped around her, carrying her over to stand beside his bed. “I need to take your dress off, little dove.” His eyes pierced her, waiting patiently until she eventually nodded in agreement. “Tell me when to stop.” Without breaking eye contact, his claws ever so carefully undid the lacing, her breasts sighing in relief from the lack of constraint.

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