SANTINO
It could scareher further and push her away if I told her. But then again, hiding my true nature was proving more difficult around her than expected, and I found little pleasure in the small thrills I got from terrifying her.
Part of her appeal was her stubbornness, determination, and attitude toward the rest of the world. She was a fighter. I liked someone with hot blood—someone like my little hellion.
Peering down at her, I admired her eyes, and how wide they went, the way the flecks of green sparkled in the hazel, like light bouncing off an emerald.
I wanted to see those eyes sparkle as she stared at me, swallowing every inch of my cock, letting those big, hazel eyes fill with tears as she fought the urge to gag. And she would fight; it was her nature, and I wanted her to.
“Oh, Reina.” I purred her name, dragging the back of two fingers down the side of her cheek. She didn’t jerk away this time, but her muscles were coiled tightly, ready to spring. My fingers carried on traveling, pushing into her soft wavy strands before curling around the back of her head and holding her as I leaned in close.
I willed my eyes to shift. It was time she admired my rubies next to her emeralds. She resisted the urge to gasp as she swallowed, her muscles tightening even more. Her pupils dilated with fear, but she didn’t scream.
“What are you?” She said again, determined not to let me scare and distract her. But I’d disarmed her, I could tell. So, I shifted a bit more, my natural, leathery skin blooming across the human flesh, covering my ears, and making its way across my cheeks. Her eyes widened even more as she froze, unable to believe what she was seeing.
“No.”
The word was so quiet, but I heard it as she tried to back away as my wings expanded from my back, stretching across the room. Her eyes flicked from length to length before looking back at me. It was enough, and I turned human, seeing her standing there agape.
“Reina,” I said her name so sharply she turned to look at me in surprise, not realizing she had shut down completely. Moving closer to her again, I took her waist between my hands, drawing her body to mine. Now that I’d felt her there, I never wanted to let her go. I could feel that she was made for me, carved to fit me perfectly—one half to my whole.
“Look at me.” She refused to, her jaw tight as she clamped her teeth together, trying so hard not to break from her fear.
“Look at me,” I commanded, my tone compelling her instinctively. “You are safe. I understand that you believe differently, but you are safe. No one, not even myself, will touch you against your wishes. This is my home, but you are not to be hurt or frightened by anyone within it. My servants are here to ensure your comforts are met, but otherwise, they will not interact with you unless you pose a danger to my safety. Do you understand?”
When she didn’t immediately answer, I stroked the back of my fingers down her cheek to test her reaction. As before, she flinched away but didn’t move. The power dynamic had changed, naturally, and she knew that even if she did fight me, she could never win.
“No, that’s not what I want,” I murmured, cupping her chin as I forced her to look up. “If I wanted a wilting flower, I would’ve kept your sister. I want your fire. I want your fight. I want you to push me and aggravate me. I want to combust when we’re together because that is the only way we deserve to be. Do you hear me?”
She nodded slowly, letting herself relax a little more as she finally exhaled. “I have no choice in this, do I?”
“As I said, no one will touch you, even me, against your wishes. But I know your heart, Reina. I can smell your lust for me. You can only deny it for so long, and I do not promise not to tempt you. That is my nature as a demon. We tempt the parts of the human soul that your silly little morals feel should be hidden. I don’t want you to hide your darkness. Here, in this house, you are free to let it out. And with that, I suspect you’ll find your desire for me will also be freed.”
“But I still have to marry you.” I nodded, smiling to myself when she huffed out a breath. “Tomorrow?” I nodded again.
“Won’t you want to consummate the marriage? You said it yourself earlier, forcing yourself on women isn’t new.”
“No. I made you a promise, and I intend to keep that, but there are some rules I expect you to respect while you’re here.” I released her waist, stepping back to take her hand to guide her toward the door.
“Which are?”
“Some rooms you will not enter, no matter how curious you are.” I led her to the stairs, helping her ascend them as we made our way to the next floor.
“Because they’re where you torture and kill people?”
“Perhaps.” I smiled dangerously before shaking my head. “Because I will respect your privacy, so I expect you to respect mine.”
“Okay, what else?” We reached the top, and I turned, leading her down the hallway toward her room.
“You are not to engage in any sexual activities with anyone under my charge in this house …”
“You’re telling me who I can and can’t sleep with?”
“Yes. Because first and foremost, you are mine. If you want sex, you will come to me for it.”
“I’m not.”
“You are, and they will know that. So no matter what amount of effort you might exert to try and attract them to you, they value their immortality a lot more than a romp in the sheets with a woman like you. No matter how beautiful you may be.” My words made a blush rise to the apples of her cheeks, only enhancing her natural beauty. If anything, it made me want to break my rules immediately, press her against the wall and fuck her senseless.
“What else?” She asked, breaking through the lustful images that assaulted my mind.
“Nothing else. The rest is up to you. My rules are simple.”
“And what do you get out of me being here?”
“The pleasure of your company.”
“It can’t be that easy. Nothing in the world is that easy. There has to be a motivation for you taking me in and expecting nothing in return for sheltering me, clothing me, and feeding me.”
“Your father had a debt he wanted to be settled. He gave me a daughter in exchange for that, and I got you. Perhaps not tonight, or even tomorrow, but soon, you will want me how I want you, and then, I will get something out of the deal. You can try and resist me, but I can see your heart, and I know what is inside it.”
“Yeah? What’s that?” She was trying to be snarky, but I only smiled.
“A hole, the shape of me.”