Her statement makes my lips curve higher. Fighting with her is exhilarating. The fire in her eyes makes heat pour through my body. It feeds my addiction and makes me want to claim her this instant.
“Oh, you’ll kneel before me, Princess,” I whisper darkly as I close the distance between us. Before she can react, I crush my mouth against hers in an unforgiving kiss.
Winter freezes, and when she doesn’t push me away, I allow my lips to caress hers, my teeth to tug at her bottom lip, and finally, for my tongue to dive into her warm depths.
The moment I taste her, I lose control. I wrap a hand around the back of her head, and my fingers tighten their grip around her throat, effectively keeping her in place.
Tilting my head, I ravish her mouth, sucking hard on her tongue and plundering her lips.
Then she moans. She fucking moans.
And I know I’ve won.
I break the kiss, and pulling back an inch, my eyes seize hers in a captive hold. Winter’s lashes are lowered, her cheeks tinged with pleasure, her swollen lips parted and ready for more.
My mouth curves up in victory as I murmur, “Judging by how your body is trembling for me and how eager you are to accept my tongue, our wedding night will be anything but in name only.”
Tomorrow night I’ll claim every inch of her. The Blood Princess will be mine in every way.
I watch as shock darkens her eyes, and then she yanks against my hold on her neck. For now, I let her go, and she quickly puts a safe distance between us. As if that will stop me from taking what I want.
The fear returns to her eyes, and like a depraved predator, I feast on it.
“Today, you mourn your loss. Tomorrow we’ll marry, and it will be consummated.” I take a step closer to her again, and it makes her body stiffen. “And then I’ll kill your enemies.”
My last words make the fear retreat from Winter’s eyes. Lifting her chin, she says, “I have requests of my own.”
I tilt my head slowly and cross my arms over my chest. This should be interesting. “Let me hear them.”
“If the marriage is consummated, I won’t stand for a parade of other women through my house.”
Ahhh… my princess is possessive. I don’t think she knows what she just gave away with that request. It tells me she cares enough to not want to share me.
Slowly, I nod.
“I want Alexei to teach me everything about the business. I demand to be present for every meeting. I will not have the three of you push me aside to take full control.”
“Naturally,” I mutter.
“And I want to kill Antonio Blanco.”
Which means she wants to go with us when we attack. For a moment, I hesitate, not wanting her in harms way, but then I relent, “You have to follow my orders during the attack. You have to stay by my side.”
Winter nods.
“Anything else?” I ask.
“You will treat me with respect, and I will do the same. If you raise your hand against me, I will kill you in your sleep.”
Her words make my lips curve up. I begin to move slowly toward her, and when she doesn’t step back to avoid me, it makes my heartbeat speed up. My eyes claim hers, and as I lean down, I murmur, “The only thing I’ll raise for you is an empire, built on the bones and blood of your enemies.”
“Good,” she whispers, her breaths starting to come faster.
I lower my head more until we’re breathing the same air. “Treat me like your king, and I will make you a queen.”
Her eyes search mine for the truth of my words, and when she finds it, she pushes up on her toes, pressing her mouth to mine.
Submit to me, and I will burn the world down for you.
As if she can hear my thoughts, Winter lifts her arms, and wrapping them around my neck, she parts her lips. Her tongue slips into my mouth, and then I take over. I push her back until she’s pressed against the wall.
My body cages hers in and my hands lift to her cheeks. I hold her in place as I deepen the kiss, drinking from her mouth like a man dying of thirst.
Moving a hand behind her head, I pull the hair tie out, freeing her hair. I grip a fistful of the silky strands as my tongue thrusts into her mouth, giving her a taste of what I intend to do to her tomorrow.
My blood rushes through my veins, and I’m swept up to great heights from the taste of her. This woman who never backs down. Who walked into the academy to show her enemies she’s a force to be dealt with. Who made me want more than just to be a custodian.