Dark Need (House of Sin 3)

He leans up on his knees, violently breathing in and out as his hands drift down my body, leaving nothing unscathed.

“Are you mine, Kitten?” he says, his voice so low that it makes my pussy thump.

I bite my lip, not even caring that he called me Kitten again.

Because any name is good as long as it comes from his mouth as I whisper, “Yes.”

“Say it,” he groans, his hand dipping down my belly. “Say you’re mine.”

“I’m yours.” It comes out in a heady breath, but when his thumb hits my clit, my eyes actually roll into the back of my head.

He circles around and around, touching me in ways I only dreamed of being touched when he wasn’t near me. How he looks at me when he teases me turns me on so much that my breath hitches in my throat. The way he touches me is so subtle yet so explicit as if he knows exactly where to nudge a little harder to make my toes curl. His eyes never leave mine. He enjoys seeing me in heat, and I don’t look away either, afraid it’ll all be over if I even blink once.

And when I come undone, he watches me fall apart, biting his lip as if he’s savoring the moment to remember it forever.

As the orgasm subsides, I lean my head back and take a moment to breathe. Something plops down next to me, sand whisking up into the air, making me sneeze.

Soren laughs and rolls around to wrap his arm around my waist, pulling me in for a snuggle.

It’s the first time in ages I’ve felt like I could just fall asleep right here, right now. In his arms, I’m safe.

Even though I know, deep down, I won’t ever be safe …

But I don’t need to. Because with him, I can take on the entire world.

Chapter 45

April

The hut doors open, and I’m violently awakened by someone jerking at my arm. I’m torn away from Soren and lifted from the ground, forced to walk to the door while still half-asleep. A guard throws my bag at me, and I barely manage to catch it.

What is happening?

I’m being taken away from Soren, and all I know is that our short rendezvous seems to be at an end.

Soren’s eyes open, but he doesn’t seem surprised. The look in his eyes is more remorseful than anything as he lifts his hand in a wave.

Did he know this was going to happen?

“Wait,” I mutter, blinking rapidly as I’m shoved out the door. “I haven’t said—”

The door is slammed shut.

Goodbye.

The surprise of this sudden intrusion catches me off guard as they drag me away from the hut and into the forest.

“Stop!” I yell, but these men completely ignore me.

They keep pushing and shoving me through the forests until we’re at the beach again. Right where I started. But without Soren.

And in front of us is a boat.

Fuck.

“Get in,” one of them barks, digging his hand into the small of my back.

I step forward to get away from his grip, jerking free when he tries to manhandle me into the boat.

“I can do it myself,” I say.

He throws me a look while another one steps inside as well, waiting for me to get in. I swallow and take the step inside the boat, but my heart pounds as hard as the waves crashing into this boat. I look back beyond the forest, hoping, praying Soren will come soon.

But the longer I sit here on this boat, the more I’m beginning to realize he’s not coming, and I’m being forced off the island by myself.

So I turn to one of the guards. “Where is Soren?”

He just gives me a very filthy look.

I clasp the seat beneath me and stare right back at him. “Tell me where I’m being taken.”

“Not here,” he responds with a thick accent.

Of course he’s not here. I can see that. “What are you going to do with Soren?”

A vicious smirk forms on his lips. “He chose his fate.”

I frown and glance at the other guard, who unties the rope and pushes the boat offshore. Panic floods my veins.

“What do you mean?” I mutter, throwing looks at both of them. “He already had his punishment for the metal and for failing his duty. Why should he suffer more?”

The guy’s eyes boil over with anger. “Because of you.”

Me? Why?

I didn’t—

My pupils dilate as it suddenly hits me.

The night we had together in our hut.

It wasn’t just because they wanted to be kind.

It was an actual goodbye.

No.

When I came to this island to save him, he stopped them from executing me … by giving his life in return.

No. No. NO!

Panic floods my veins, and I instantly get up, clutching my bag, and jump off the boat.

No thinking, just swimming as fast as I can back to the shore, back to where I belong … with him.