Lord of Embers(The Demon Queen Trials #2)(34)

“I hate you,” I whispered. I didn’t hate him, but I wanted to make it even, since he’d said the same to me several times.

This place had intensified my emotions beyond all reason. Annoyance became hatred. And attraction? That became uncontrollable sexual need.

“You think I should be in the dungeon still?” His voice was a seductive murmur, mouth hovering near mine. “I think you should be stripped naked and begging me to let you come. I think I’m going to make you call me your king, whether you want to or not.”

“Absolutely not.”

For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. Instead, with a low growl, he grabbed the front of my dress at the collar and ripped it, pulling it down to my waist. He kept tearing at it until I was clad in nothing but a pair of small midnight blue underwear.

I caught my breath, and my nipples went rock hard. Torn between lust and anger, I reached out and stroked the side of his face. “If you ask me, you should still be in the dungeon.”

His expression darkened. “Is that right? Perhaps it’s time I taught you a lesson. Is that what you’re asking for?”

In a graceful movement, he sat down on the bench and pulled me into his lap. The next thing I knew, I was facedown, bent over his knees. Quite undignified.

“What are you doing?” I sounded irritated, but the truth was, I could have moved if I’d wanted to.

“Teaching you a lesson, love.” His hand moved slowly down my spine, and he stroked the back of my underwear, his fingers grazing between my thighs. “After all those years of you torturing me, I think it’s time we switched roles. And do you know what?” His voice was thick with seduction, and he cupped me between my legs. “As king, I really should claim what I want to be mine.”

Searing need pulsed through my body, between my thighs. I could have reminded him that wasn’t me, but—again—I didn’t want to.

When he pulled down my underwear sharply, my breath hitched. I was practically shaking with need, my body begging to be touched by him. His left hand gripped me by the hair, holding me in place. As he slid my panties down my thighs, I became turned on beyond all reason.

My lust was spiraling out of control. All I could think about was how badly I needed him inside me.

He brought his hand down hard on my ass, a momentary sting that was soon replaced by a wave of pleasure. I shifted my hips against him, wanting

, and he delivered as I arched my hips to meet his hand.

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Another stinging smack on my ass—and another—sent shivers of insatiable need through my body until I could no longer stand it.

“You know,” he purred, still gripping my hair, “I have always wanted to see you completely helpless before me.” He traced his fingertips over me, touching me where I was wet. He slid one finger inside me, and I clenched around him with a moan.

“I can feel how much you want me,” he whispered. “But I’m going to need to hear you say it. Say that I’m your king.”

I was going to lose my mind. I was getting close to orgasm. With the ache rising in my core, I was ready to do anything he wanted, say anything he wanted— He pulled his fingers away from me again, and I gasped.

I had no response, just a wild desperation for more contact, more friction. Because he was right, I was completely at his mercy right now.

I wasn’t going to let him drag out this torture any longer. Pushing myself out of his lap, I let my underwear drop to the floor.

He stared at me in awe as I stepped between his legs, unbuttoned his pants, and tugged them down.

“Come here,” he said.

I climbed onto his lap, straddling him. He leaned into me, kissing me. His tongue swept in, and he stroked a hand down my body, over my ribs, my waist.

He froze and pulled away from the kiss, his gaze sliding down my naked body. Gently, he traced the scar on my side. “What happened?”

I had no interest in talking about the scar right now. It seemed an unfortunate distraction. “The demon hunters.”

A quiet, possessive growl rose from his chest. “If you weren’t within the city walls when it happened, you weren’t able to heal completely.

They tried to kill you when you were most vulnerable.”

The warmth of the fire heated my back. “Forget it. That’s the last thing I want to think about.”

Orion rose and scooped me up, then lay me down on the rug. The fur tickled my skin.

Grabbing my wrists with one hand, he pinned them above my head on the bearskin. Usually so controlled, his dark expression was now wild.

In fact, he looked like he was about to fuck me senseless, which was exactly what I wanted.

“Orion,” I whispered, “I want you to know that I still think you’re the absolute worst.”

“That’s one thing we agree on.” He moved between my thighs and lowered his head to my breast, taking one nipple in his mouth. I moaned, my hips thrusting forward against him. A raw groan escaped his lips, and he worked his mouth over my peaked breast. The ache in my core had become insatiable.

“Open your eyes and look at me, love,” he purred. “I want to see how much you want me.”

I did as he asked. There was always something instantly hot about the way he stared at me. “Does it make you feel powerful?” My lips curled into a little smile. “In control?”