He looked back at Jamila. Her eyes were now open, dulled, but filled with hope and regret. Her mouth opened and closed, as if she had something to say but couldn’t quite get the words out. Or maybe she feared she would cry out and beg.
“Listen carefully, warrior.” Unforgiveness outlined what he wanted Koldo to do, leaving no detail to chance. “You have one day to make this happen. One day. Not enough time to plan anything on your own, but just enough time to do what I desire. After that, I kill the females. And do not think you can swoop in with more soldiers and save them. Those soldiers would have to enter through the gate, and my spies would alert me. Do not think to sneak back in yourself, for I would sense you. Do not think to warn Zacharel, for you will now be traveling with my minion. Ditch the minion, and the females die.”
Lead settled inside Koldo’s stomach as each of his options was systematically ripped away.
“You see, I’ve thought of everything.” Once again Unforgiveness was grinning. “Do we have a deal or not?”
CHAPTER THIRTY
ZACHAREL SNUGGLED ANNABELLE close. Finally her human form was returning. But then, he’d done much to calm her down, flying her to the stars, as close as he could get her without allowing the atmosphere to freeze her, caressing her arms, her belly, kissing the curve of her neck. When she trembled at the beauty of both, he changed direction and took her to a beach to watch the sunrise and bask in the warmth, still caressing her, still kissing her.
During the first hour, she was withdrawn. During the second, she was stiff as a board. Through it all, she was quiet. He’d gotten used to the way she spoke her mind. He missed that, and wanted it back.
Now they were inside another hotel room, lying on the bed, simply breathing each other in. He’d live in rented rooms if necessary, anything to keep her safe and happy This one was bigger than any of the others, cleaner, nicer.
“Sweetheart,” he said.
“Yes.”
Finally, a word from her.
“You know I desire you, whatever your form.”
“I… Yes.”
“Do you remember when I told you that I wanted to do everything with you?”
Another yes, though this one was barely a whisper.
“That hasn’t changed. I will. Starting now.”
Her eyes flared with shock. “But we’ve already done everything! And you really want me?
She did not know, after all. “Now. And always.”
His determined assurance gave her pause. “But I’m…hideous.”
Patches of demon scales still remained, yes. “You are lovely no matter your outward appearance, and some things need to be repeated.” Proving that had been the point of tonight’s excursion, and it was clearly time to step up his efforts.
“How can you say I’m lovely? You hate demons as much as I do.”
“You are not a demon.” He stood, tugging her to her feet beside him, then forced her to spin, placing her back against his chest. He walked her to the wall, pressed her close. Her trembling gasp was more about the heat radiating from him than the chill of the plaster, he suspected.
He slid his hands down her sides, her hips, and latched onto her wrists. He lifted her arms and flattened her palms over her head.
“Leave them there.” A command, and when he released her, she obeyed.
He stripped her, then caressed her until she was mewling uncontrollably, until the curve of her spine was pliant, until she was trying to mold herself against him. Eventually her head fell to his shoulder, allowing his breath to fan over her. The heat she threw off…far more than his own and exactly what he needed, driving him to passion as only she could.
Against her ear, he whispered, “Did you like being with me?”
“Yes.” Said on a broken moan. “I did.”
“And you want me again.”
“Oh, yes.”
He traced each of her ribs before dabbling at her navel. “I told you that you would never have to beg me for anything, but I’ve changed my mind. Before I take you, you’ll beg me, Anna. You’ll beg me and you’ll scream and you’ll beg some more.” He needed to know her desire was as potent as his own.
Throughout the centuries, he’d witnessed every sexual act imaginable, each performed for different reasons. Lust, domination, curiosity, humiliation, degradation, calculation, revenge, hope, the desire to have children, the desire to cause pain. Love he’d always sought to deny.
But that’s what he wanted with Annabelle. Love. He wanted a giving and taking, a shared experience.
“Zaaachaaarel,” she said in a sing-song voice.
“That’s a good start.” He could smell the sweetness of her arousal, a fragrance that stroked him from the inside, heating him up, making him burn hotter, so much hotter.
“What if I refuse to beg?”
“You won’t.”
For a long while, he taunted them both, stroking her everywhere but where she needed him most. Her fingers curled on the wall.
Finally she began to talk, telling him all the things she wanted him to do to her…all the things
…touch him…
…stroke him…
…liiick him…
By the time she quieted, his nerves were so sensitized, he could barely stand. Definitely couldn’t stand still. He rubbed against her, again and again, the friction ecstasy…misery. He imagined her hands on him, all over him. He imagined her mouth on him, all over him.
He craved.
“Those things you will do to me.” He barely registered the fire, ice and sheer grit in his voice. “Next time.”
She turned her head, giving him a peek at her profile. The most adorable of pouts tugged at the corners of her lips. “And now?”
“Now I continue my quest to make you beg.” He chuckled as her pout deepened. “You didn’t think I’d forgotten, did you?”
He got serious, no longer content to tease her. He worked her until she was alternately gasping and moaning, playing with her breasts, stroking where she needed him most, until her hands were off the wall and in his hair, her nails scouring his scalp. Oh, how she clung to him in the most decadent of ways. She purred. She moaned. She writhed. And all the while he continued to rub against her, desperate to fill her.
“Please,” she finally begged. “I give. Please, please, please!”
“I will never say no to you.”
She threw a little grin over her shoulder, her eyes as bright with humor as they were hot with arousal. “Good, because now I want
He did not hesitate. “Please, please, please, Annabelle.” At last he lifted his robe, positioned himself, and slid inside the glorious sheath she provided. “Please.”
“Zacharel,” she said on a moan. “Faster. Please.”
“Or…” He went slower—before stopping altogether. His legs were trembling, threatening to give out at any
