Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
I blink. “I have an IUD.”
“I’m aware.” He doesn’t move. “But I don’t have evidence that science will hold up in our realm with magic in play, so we will be doubly sure that you’re protected.”
Warmth threatens to bloom in my chest. “You could just wear a condom.” He always has before with me—one of my nonnegotiable rules for clients.
“I could,” he agrees easily. His attention drops to my pussy. “But I want to fill you up, baby girl.” He leans down and plants a hand next to my hip, his rugged face intense. “Don’t you want Daddy to make a mess of you?”
I can’t breathe. My mouth works, but it takes several tries before I can dredge up an actual response. “You know I only call you Daddy to piss you off.”
“I know.” He grins suddenly. “But I’ve decided I like it.”
I like it too. A lot. I’m stuck here for who knows how long, so it’s not as if my situation can get more complicated. The logic is as flimsy as a butterfly’s wings, but I don’t care. “How does the pendant work?”
He presses it into my palm. “A single drop of blood will key it to you. As long as you’re wearing it, it will prevent pregnancy with no side effects.”
No side effects sounds kind of nice. I nibble my bottom lip. I came to him for frenzy, but it’s hard to hold this kind of thing against him. Captor or not, he’s taking care of me in his own way.
I am dangerously close to softening for him.
To avoid thinking about that, I drape the pendant around my neck and take his hand. I press a single finger to one of his claws. The bright bloom of blood against my skin makes us both draw in a harsh breath.
“The center,” he murmurs, holding the pendant so I can smear my blood there. “A few drops of blood now and on the first day of your cycle.”
I shiver and lift my gaze to his. “I’m ready, Daddy. Make a mess of me.”
CHAPTER 10
AZAZEL
Iknow better than to accept what Eve offers me. She was almost taken from me today. She’s only here because she’s traumatized from the events of the day even though her life hasn’t been exempt from violence. If Brosh’s people had escaped with her, she wouldn’t have survived the night.
The thought has me pressing her back onto my bed and running my hand down the center of her body. The bruise on her ribs is already fading; it will be gone by morning. It’s the only evidence of what happened earlier, and yet I can’t stop myself from touching her wide hips, her thick thighs, sure that there’s some other injury I haven’t catalogued yet. “They tried to take you from me.”
Her eyes flash. “I’m not yours for someone to take.”
If only that were true. If only I’d had enough self-control to stay away from this woman who intrigued me from the moment her sorrow drew me to her. Bargainers have a nose for people who may be receptive to a deal. Years ago, roughly six months before she met Pope and everything changed for her, Eve was one of those people.
If I’d properly approached her then, if I’d offered her a contract . . .
“You’re mine now, Eve.” I palm her pussy, soft and sweet and already wet for me. “You have been since long before you signed my contract.”
She hisses out a breath that makes her breasts bounce. “It’s in your best interest to stop talking and fuck me.” She grabs my wrist and holds my hand to her heat. Some of the venom slips out of her tone. “Please, Azazel. I can’t fight with you about this right now.”
Is this harm? I’m not entirely sure, and that should be answer enough. I know what I would tell another bargainer in this situation, but I can’t seem to take my own advice. I’ve compromised my ethics again and again when it comes to Eve. Why not now as well?
I can make her feel good. I can make her forget, at least for a little while. She came to me for this. I won’t turn her away. I’ll give her exactly what she wants, even if it damns us both.
So I stop thinking. I lean down over her and kiss her roughly. Eve tastes like she always has. Like home. If I ever had to define what that means, I don’t know if I could put it into words. Maybe it’s better that I don’t.
She rises to meet me instantly, every bit of fight going into the slide of her tongue against mine, into the sharp pain of her teeth against my lower lip. She believes I’ve spent years lying to her, but the only untruth I’ve told is related to being human. All the rest was naked honesty. This is honest.