Page 137 of Infernal Secrets

“No,” I whispered, turning her face toward me again as I leaned down and stole whatever protest she almost made with my mouth. When she yielded to my kiss, parting her lips, I licked her lower lip and slid my tongue alongside hers.

I dragged the covers down, never breaking our kiss as I crawled over her, caging her with my arms.

She moaned against my lips when I squeezed her breast through the thin fabric of her bra.

I broke the kiss, trailing my lips across her cheek and down her neck, savoring the taste of her soft skin as I drew it into my mouth.

I yearned to lose myself in her, to explore every curve, but someone could come upstairs at any moment, so I climbed off the bed long enough to remove my shirt, pants, and boxer briefs.

I couldn’t wait any longer.

Crawling over her again, I stole another kiss before sitting back on my heels.

She reached for me, dragging her fingertips over my abs, through the dusting of hair, down to my aching shaft.

I hissed when she wrapped her fingers around me, closing my hand over hers to stop her movements. “Careful. I’m on the edge already.” I sounded wrecked to my own ears. I couldn’t help it. The sweetened tartness of her perfume alone pushed me to the brink.

I wanted more light to appreciate the beauty spread out before me, but turning on the lamp might make her shy away. I didn’t want that.

My gaze trailed over her, noticing dark spots on her skin.

“Cyn,” she whispered, catching my gaze lingering on the markings near her hip, above her panties.

I stared at her in confusion.

“Last night, we—” She paused when I growled low. “I’m sorry. I’ll…” She started to slip away from me.

“No.” I rolled her onto her back again and planted my hands on either side of her, careful of her long hair fanned across the bed. “I told you, it’s fine. You’re not bound to me. I just don’t want to hear his name while I’m with you like this. But know I’m not mad at you.”

I couldn’t be mad at either of them.

Rae would never be mine, so I couldn’t hoard her from my brothers. She wanted them too, and I couldn’t fault them for wanting her.

I expected I might someday share a Nyrith, so I accepted my mate taking a second companion. But I didn’t want her to mention another man while in bed with me if he wasn’t her mate. I wanted her to think only of me.

Still, I needed to ask.

“Did he hurt you, or did you want this?”

She looked to the side. “I liked it.”

“Is this what you want?”

Her eyes met mine. “What?”

“Do you want me to handle you the same?” I trailed my fingers over the markings, unable to bear the thought of marring her beautiful skin. I hoped she wouldn’t ask it of me, but I wanted to satisfy her. “I want to know what you like.”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t want that with you.”

“Then what do you want?”

She reached for me, and I leaned down until she wrapped her arms around my neck, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. When we broke apart, she whispered, “Take care of me like you always do.”

I groaned. I loved seeing to her needs both inside and outside of the bedroom.

The one time she’d let me touch her and bring her pleasure, I’d thanked everything in existence for that moment. Then it all fell apart with the revelation of my missing wings.

Her hand threaded through my hair as I kissed down the valley of her breasts and over her stomach to her panties.