Souls Unfractured (Hades Hangmen 3)

I had never felt so treasured, so safe, as I did at this very second.

Flame’s mouth withdrew, and his forehead pressed against mine. Sucking in a breath, he rasped, “Are you afraid?”

My heart skipped a beat. “Yes,” I whispered truthfully.

“Me too,” he replied, so softly his voice was barely audible.

Laying my hands on his waist, I drank in his heat, then stepped backwards. Flame’s eyes stayed with mine the whole time.

Lifting my shaking hands to my messed-up hair, I began unthreading the pins that still remained, the ones that held up what was left of my bun. Six pins later, long black hair fell over my shoulder and I dropped the pins to the ground. Flame shifted from side to side as he watched me, nostrils flaring and lips tightening.

It was strange. I had always resented my beauty. Had always hated the fact that men found me attractive. But right now, standing before Flame so uncensored and unbarred, I wanted him to want me. I wanted him to be breathless at my face. I wanted him to want to touch my body, to cherish me like I dreamed it could be. Without the pain, and without the cruelty.

“Maddie,” Flame murmured. Spurred on by his plea, I lifted my hand to the back of my dress. Finding the zipper, I pulled it down. Flame’s eyes flared, when the top of my dress sagged, baring my shoulders.

My eyes closed as a sudden flurry of nerves accosted my senses, but then I heard him moving forward, feeling his body heat pushing toward me.

I felt a finger running along my neck, and it traveled down onto my newly-bared shoulder. It traveled across my collarbone, then stopped at the falling neckline of my dress.

On a deep inhale, I opened my eyes to see Flame’s head tilt to the side as he watched me. Although his face wore a blank expression, his soulful dark eyes told me everything I needed to know, everything I needed to feel.

He wanted this.

He wanted me.

Not once breaking Flame’s focus, I dropped my arms. With them came my dress and it fell to a messy heap on the ground. I sucked in a nervous gasp as the cold air in the cabin washed across my bare breasts. The only thing now protecting my modesty were my small white undergarments.

Flame’s finger was still on my lower throat, and I trembled as he viewed me. He was a statue, frozen to the spot. But his eyes were exploring, drinking in my body.

A low groan eventually tore from his lips, and he murmured, “Fuck… Maddie…” then his eyes snapped to mine and he hushed out, “Mine. My Maddie… My beautiful Maddie…”

Feeling tears build in my eyes, Flame’s finger gently moved and drifted down my chest to rest between my breasts. I breathed hard at the unfamiliarity of such a soft touch, then I stilled and released a moan as his finger ran across to my right breast, his fingers skimming the flesh and circling the nipple.

“Flame,” I whispered as his touch ignited sparks between my legs.

“Maddie,” he groaned in response, moving the finger to the other breast, repeating the action. I felt on fire as he explored, and I was lost. Lost in his gentle touch—the most gentle of touches.

Then, as Flame moved closer still, I felt his lips press a kiss to the corner of my mouth as his hand traveled south. Turning my head, I caught his searching mouth with my own, just as his hands fell to my hips, his fingers hooking the side of my undergarments.

I stilled against warm lips, as Flame’s hands pulled my undergarments down my legs. Still connected at the mouth, I looked up to see Flame’s eyes closed and his nostrils wide as he breathed in slowly.

Then as if feeling my stare, those beautiful eyes opened and a redness filled his cheeks. Feeling my undergarments at my feet, I stepped out of the material and shuddered at my reality. I was naked, with a man.

Just as fear began creeping in, to assume its familiar hold, Flame’s hands cupped my cheeks and he pressed his lips so softly against mine. His hips pressed in further, and I could feel the evidence of his excitement pressing against my thigh.

Then murmuring against my mouth, Flame whispered, “I want you, Maddie. I want you so fucking much…”

Spurred on by his confession, and the burning desire building between my thighs, I ran my hands down over his broad chest, over his torso, and down to the waistband of his leather pants.

Flame hissed, but his hands were locked in my hair, his eyes watching me as I slowly released the top button.

His jaw clenched as my trembling hands travelled down to the zipper. Finding the metal tab, I pulled it down, feeling warm hard flesh hit my hand.

This time Flame did move. On a loud groan, Flame’s head snapped back and his teeth gritted together. From this distance, I could clearly read a dark tattoo on his gums, the one that read ‘PAIN’.

Faltering in my touch, I went to withdraw my hands, when Flame’s hands tightened in my hair. “Keep going,” he ordered. “Maddie… keep going…”

Swallowing at the guttural tone of his broken voice, I continued in my task. Hooking my hands into the waistband, I slowly pulled the leather material down, the pants falling to pool at his feet.

We both stilled. We breathed as we both now stood bare, completely bare for one another. Flame’s head fell forward. His lips were trembling under the shadow of his beard, but I could see the desperation in his eyes.

Leaning forward, I whispered nervously, “We can do this.”

Choking on a moan, Flame nodded his head, and stepped out of his leather pants. Fear held me captive, standing flush against Flame. But I forced myself to step back, and when I did, my heart and my hope soared.