The Marriage Debt (Underworld Kings)

Luca closes the door behind us. “Finally. We’re alone.”

I can’t help but spin on my heels and look at him. There’s an animalistic look on his face that’s hard to ignore. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You know why,” he says, stalking toward me. “For two fucking days, I’ve been wasting away in that hospital bed, unable to do anything while you sat there on your chair, looking at me like you were worried.”

When he scrapes past a table with his waist, he cringes.

“I am worried,” I reply, and I immediately run to the fridge and take out some ice cubes. “Here.” I lift his shirt and rub them against the wound.

The look on his face darkens. “I don’t want you to fucking worry.”

He grabs my wrist and lifts it in the air while I’m still clutching the ice cubes. “I want you to fucking see me.”

“I do see you,” I reply, confused.

He steps closer until we’re only inches away. “No. You still think I’m in pain and in danger, don’t you?”

I shake my head, but I’m lying to him and me.

He pushes me all the way to the middle of the room, still clutching my wrist. I don’t dare to let go of the ice cubes. “You’re so wrong. After all this time, you still don’t understand.”

“I don’t want you to—”

He plants his finger on my lips and drags it down. “There is only one thing that destroys a man like me. And it’s not having what I desire the most.”

My whole body heats up when he’s so close to me, but it doesn’t feel right. He just came out of the clinic, still busted up because of me.

“Listen to me, Jill. I’m stitched up. I feel fine,” he says, gripping my waist to pull me closer. “But I’m done waiting to have you.”

My breath clamps in my throat, and I’m getting all flustered from the mere idea of doing anything with him when he’s still recovering. But when he plucks the ice cubes from my hand and smashes his lips on mine, I’m light-headed from the adrenaline surging through my body.

“Close your eyes,” he murmurs against my lips.

I oblige, willfully, greedily, like I’ve been longing for his commands.

The air whooshes back as he walks away, and I’m left feeling bereft of touch.

And then the guilt washes over me again.

How could I want him so badly when I’m the one who wounded him? It’s not right for me to—

Suddenly, his mouth claims mine again with full fervor, and I’m completely overtaken by the sudden lust overwhelming my body. But the sharp icy cold sting hitting my lips causes me to lean back. “What is that?”

“Open your mouth.”

I do what he says, even though my eyes are still closed.

His tongue swivels inside, and I’m mesmerized by the sheer control he exudes while placing the ice cube inside my mouth. It’s both hot and cold at the same time, the mixture of sensations almost too much for me.

“Suck,” he whispers against my lips.

I gleefully do what he asks, sucking on the cold ice cube as though my life depends on it.

“Arms up,” he says, his voice low but composed.

When I do what he says, another cold zap against the back of my arms makes me suck in a hard breath. The second ice cube is slid down along the inside, causing goose bumps to scatter across my skin. He reaches my tank top and pushes it aside with ease until my boob spills out. The cold ice cube slides over my breast all the way to my nipple, and it makes me swallow a shriek.

“Cold, bunny?”

Bunny.

I used to hate that nickname so much, but now …

Now it makes me want.

Deeply.

Hard.

“Good.”

Luca tugs at my sweatpants and slips his hand inside, along with the second ice cube. I try not to squeal, but it’s hard when the ice slides down my slit, right on top of my clit.

I moan against the cube in my mouth.

“I don’t like it when you think I’m weak, Jill.” Luca groans as he plays with my clit and alternates his finger with the ice, driving me insane. “It makes me want to punish you.”

I mewl with delight when he pushes the cube inside me. “Fuck.”

“Hmm … what’s that?” he whispers, circling me until he’s behind me, and he wraps one hand around my throat while the other roams freely across my pussy lips. And I can feel the ice cube melt inside. “You want me to fuck you?”

He tilts my head to the side and claims my mouth from behind, sliding his tongue in, expertly swerving around mine until he’s stolen the ice cube again. “Beg.”

“Please …” I murmur.

It used to be so hard for me, but now it comes easy.

Just like my need for him.

All my resistance—gone.