A Ruin of Roses (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #1)(35)

“Hmm,” he groaned, tightening his grip on my jaw, keeping my head tilted up to him. “That’s right. Let your animal feed your arousal. I can feel her in you. I can feel how much you want me.”

The hand on my shoulder slipped down my collarbone and over the swell of my breast. His thumb pressed against the bud of my nipple. A shock of pleasure speared me.

I clenched the fabric of his shirt and willed myself to push him away.

His thumb moved in lazy circles, stroking my inner fire. My lips opened wider as I panted.

“Where do you want me to touch you?” he coaxed, pulling away from my breast so he could push the fabric off and down my shoulder. The neck was so big that it slid down easily. His tricky fingers edged down again, gliding across my bare flesh. At the top of my binding, he ran his finger just under the fabric.

I jerked my fisted hands a little, yanking him a bit toward me. I gritted my teeth and stopped myself. My animal tried to surge up, but I was ready this time. I pushed her down, suppressing the power that rolled through me, trying to keep my head.

His chuckle was dark and sinister as he worked my binding lower. His other hand held my face, and he bent until his lips grazed mine. A shock of electricity lit me up as our lips touched.

“I want to taste you,” he murmured.

I clutched his shirt tighter and braced myself, in a battle for control. Logic said to push him away. My animal had me locked up tight, though. She wanted this, and she was about to take over and get it.

His tongue darted out, skimming the seam of my lips. I opened my mouth before I could stop myself. His lips curled, and he finished pulling my breast free, now reaching in my shirt. He pulled back, our gazes locking, as he pinched my taut nipple.

I whimpered at his touch as he manipulated the hard bud with the rough pad of his finger. His pupils dilated, showing his delight in the effect he was having on me.

“Um…sir?”

The voice was insistent. Anger kindled within me that anyone would interrupt. My animal beat power through my blood.

Nyfain pulled my shirt farther down. Fabric ripped, giving him more access. He bent and raked a hot tongue across my nipple.

I groaned, lost in the sensations now.

I moved my hand to the side of his face and arched, pushing my breast toward his mouth. He enveloped it, sucking greedily.

With me holding on to his neck, he freed one of his hands and reached between my thighs. His firm touch rubbed right where I needed it, building me up higher. I gyrated against it, utterly out of control.

“Sir? Sir!” The voice was incessant, and I vaguely recognized it.

I also wanted to kill the owner so he’d fuck off.

Nyfain licked and flicked my nipple as he rubbed the seam of my pants, working me. Building.

“Master, sir. Sir!”

Nyfain pulled back with a growl, my nipple popping out of his mouth. He clutched me possessively, as though there was danger from this third party and he didn’t intend to let it reach me.

“Sir.” Hadriel was waving from the edge of the field. “Sorry to interrupt, but sir, it’s time to go.”

It took a moment for Nyfain’s eyes to clear. His eyebrows dipped, and he blinked rapidly. When his gaze swung back to me, it was accusatory. He pushed me away as he pulled back. He glanced down at my feet, checking to make sure I wasn’t trampling the everlass.

“I told you to keep a tight hold on your animal,” he snarled, his face flushed.

Cold washed over my previously fevered skin. I shivered with the change, pulling up my binding. My nipple throbbed against the fabric, still shooting pleasure through my body. Tingling from his hard, delicious suction.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I pulled my shirt so it looped around my neck again, now stretched out. “Which of us has ever even met their animal? You’re the one with experience. This is your fault, not mine.”

“Stay away from me, Finley. I’m not a nice man. I will destroy you.” He walked toward Hadriel.

“Stay away from— I wasn’t the one with my nipple in his mouth,” I yelled, the sting of rejection tight in my chest.

This was a good thing. Him pulling back and walking away was good news. I should’ve been the one to do that. I should’ve pushed him away almost immediately.

So why did it feel like I wasn’t good enough? Like I was dirty?

I walked farther into the everlass to quiet the mad thoughts. My animal was messing with my head. That’s what was happening. For some reason, she had taken a liking to that dickhead, and she was taking me along for the ride. His animal was pushing him, too, I guessed. But that man and I just did not get along. For one, the fucker had imprisoned me. Granted, yes, he could’ve killed me and didn’t. And sure, it was technically within his jurisdiction to pass judgment and execute a punishment. But people were dying left and right, and I’d only trespassed in that field to save my family. What sort of asshole would imprison someone for that? It was nothing but a power trip.

Second, he simply was not likable. He was brooding and angry and tough to get along with. If he wasn’t pissing me off, he was trying to force me to do something. Um…no thanks.

So any feeling of rejection was just ridiculous. I needed to pull on my big-girl panties and let logic rule. My animal was cut off, and as soon as I could figure out a way to further suppress her, I’d do it.

The pang of remorse and guilt that followed that thought was unexpected. Fuck it all, I just couldn’t win.