Chapter 24
Rule twenty-four: Do not let the hot as fuck Destroyer read your smut.
I f there’s anyone who needs to worry about memory issues, it’s probably me, what with all the head injuries I’ve sustained.
Consciousness is slow to find me again, and when I finally open my eyes, I find myself back in my bed at Morgana’s castle. My head hurts, but it feels like a paper cut compared to the pain I experienced back in the maze.
I shudder, remembering how close Leon got to taking me. My body gave in. I wanted to go to him. The thought makes me feel sick to my stomach.
I can’t hide from him forever. One day, he will find me.
And then what ?
A deep voice pulls me out of my spiralling. “Finally done napping?”
I whirl around at the sound, the movement making the throbbing in my head worse. I groan, massaging my sore temple, as I sit up and lean back against the stone wall. Sin sits across from me on the chair next to my bed. He doesn’t look any worse for wear, though in my recollection, he didn’t get punched in the head.
My eyes catch on the book folded on his lap. A book I very much recognize as one of my spicy novels. Immediately, my cheeks flush. It’s my favorite, but there is some heavy spice in there – all kinds of things I would never admit to getting turned on by.
“Why are you reading that?” I ask, trying to sound irritated, to mask how mortified I am.
Sin arches his eyebrow at me and holds up the offending book. “You took a hit to the head. Someone had to watch over you. I’m just passing the time,” he adds in a seemingly innocent voice.
I consider the merits of hiding under my blankets. Sin’s expression is anything but innocent. There’s a heat in his eyes, and he’s smirking at me like he knows my dirty secrets.
Considering what he’s holding, fair.
“There’s a lot of dog-eared pages in this book, kitten. I wonder what you do when you read them.” His heated gaze turns hungry as it rakes over me.
I’m going to die of mortification. That’s going to be a great one for the coroner. Cause of death? Smutty book collection discovered by hot as fuck man .
I shrug, trying not to let on how much Sin’s teasing is hitting its mark. “That’s a used book,” I choke out. “I haven’t read it yet.”
I’m a horrible liar.
Sin notices.
A slow grin spreads across his face as he closes the book and slips it in his pocket. “Sure, it is,” he answers, winking at me. “Then you won’t mind if I borrow it. I’m getting very invested in those dog-eared pages.”
I swallow.
I really thought I could hold my own with Sin’s sexually charged comments, but there’s a certain lack of experience on my end, and it’s starting to show.
I really should have slept around in college. I would have been better prepared.
“Of course, I don’t mind,” I squeak out.
What a lame response. I need to do better. I look away from Sin, hoping it will help my brain to stop short-circuiting.
“Is Arianna okay?” I ask, changing the subject.
She seemed fine the last time I saw her. She was a little frail and pale, but she still had a mean punch on her.
“She’s fine. She’s sleeping in her room, down the hall,” Sin answers, not moving from beside the bed.
“That’s good,” I whisper, relieved.
I purse my lips as I look back at Sin, wondering why he’s still here now that I’m up.
At my searching look, he leans forward on his chair, resting his elbows on his knees. His dark hair is loose, falling over his shoulders in waves. I wonder if it’s soft.
“Arianna briefed us about what happened in the maze. You did good, kitten,” his voice is lower than usual.
My pulse quickens at the praise. “I almost didn’t make it out,” I deflect. “Arianna had to pull me out of there.”
Sin’s eyes darken. “But you got out.”
“This time,” I hedge. “But as long as the bond exists, it’s only a matter of time. He’s never going to stop looking for me. And once he finds me, he’ll take me. And –” I pause, taking a breath, “And I’ll let him.”
My voice shakes at the words, and I can’t stop the shame from sweeping through me. I wanted to go to Leon at the end. His dark promises did things to my body that I couldn’t fight. They ignited a need in me – like I wouldn’t ever breathe again if I wasn’t in his arms.
I’m disgusted with myself.
My eyes are glued to the blankets, refusing to let him see the tears threatening to spill over.
Sin is so twisted he’d probably laugh and hit me with some miserable sadness energy to drive home how much of a weakness crying is.
I definitely don’t expect the gentle hand that tilts my chin up. Sin’s gaze is so tender I blink, accidentally letting the tears fall as I try to process what is happening. His thumb catches a tear, and he ensures he has my full attention before speaking.
“They will never control your mind again. Magical bonds can be broken. We will find a way to free you, I promise.” His words are fervent, and filled with so much determination, I almost believe him.
I even let myself lean into his touch, pretending for a second that this man wants me. Until I remember that my love life is being meddled with by prophecies and the Fates. Oh, and, of course, the fact that I’m already bound to one toxic man. That memory works better than a cold shower, and I pull back, putting some distance between us.
At my pulling away, Sin stands, leaning against his favorite wall. Or at least, I figure it must be his favorite since he always hangs out there. Maybe I can make him a parking spot plaque.
“Now that you’re up, I just need to check on your stitches, and then I’ll leave.” The soothing voice from moments before is gone. Rough, angry-sounding Sin is back.
I sigh, relieved. I can handle this side of Sin.
Stepping out of bed, I realize I’m still in my fighting leathers, but all my blades are gone.
Sin nods at the chest at the foot of my bed. “They’re back in their place. I didn’t need you rolling over and stabbing yourself in your sleep.”
I huff back at him, “I would not.”
Sin looks back at me with a dubious expression that says he doesn’t believe a word that just came out of my mouth.
“You should be worried about me stabbing you in your sleep,” I mutter under my breath as I make my way over to my dresser .
I don’t miss the way he smirks at my threat. I might actually have to stab him someday to show him that I mean business.
“Let me find some shorts first,” I add, moving towards my dresser. It would be a very bad idea to be in my underwear around this man again, especially with him being nicer to me than usual and my not being in a world of blinding pain.
I dig around my drawers, trying to find a pair of shorts. Given the scars on my legs, I’m not even sure I own a pair. I’ve always tried to cover up.
When I find a pair, I reconsider and decide I’ll be better off wearing underwear. But before I can shove them back into the drawer, Sin is beside me, pulling them out and holding them up.
They’re a pair of loose-fitting, very short, pink pyjama shorts. They wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the pattern on them. They’re covered in cartoon kittens, all lounging around with piles of books. They are adorable. But one look at Sin’s face, and I know I will never live this moment down.
His expression is one of unadulterated joy, and he looks like he’s about to burst into laughter. “Here you are, kitten, you almost missed these.”
I snatch the shorts from him and storm into the bathroom, where I won’t have to look at his face.
I can hear him laughing through the door.
Screw him. Patterned pyjamas are entirely normal to have. If he wants to make fun of me, then I will make it my dying mission to raid his room for embarrassing items .
When I exit the washroom, Sin is still standing by the wall. His arms are crossed, but his hand is fisted over his mouth as if trying to contain himself.
I roll my eyes at him.
“Do Destroyers reach full maturity at three thousand years old? They’re pyjamas, Sin. Grow up,” I snap.
In response, Sin looks me up and down and flashes me a devilish smile.
My knees almost buckle.
“They suit you,” he notes, the laughter in his voice still coming through.
I stomp past him, sticking my tongue out as I make my way over to sit on the bed.
Am I acting like a mature adult? No. But considering this guy has millennia on me and is acting no better, I don’t care.
I sit on the edge of the bed, only to look up and find Sin stalking towards me. His playful expression is gone, replaced by one that is dangerously predatory as he kneels before me. On instinct, I move to pull my legs up so I can squirm away, but Sin only catches my legs, spreading my thighs so he can settle between them.
I forget how to breathe.
Injury. He’s checking my injury.
I repeat the thought, holding on to it for dear life.
My core tightens as Sin’s hands settle over my exposed inner thighs.
“Stick your tongue out at me again, kitten, and I’m going to consider it an invitation,” Sin growls .
His focus shifts back to my leg, and his hands move even closer to my core as he starts working to loosen the knot he made in the leather bindings.
I almost arch my back at the sensation and fist my hands into the blankets instead. “Very funny. We both know you’re all talk, Sin. We don’t even like each other. You just like teasing me,” I answer, my voice coming out more breathless than I want it to.
He finishes removing the leather bindings and removes the patch. Thankfully, only one of the stitches popped loose, and it has since scabbed over.
Sin lets out a dark chuckle but doesn’t move from between my legs. His eyes meet mine. “You don’t need to like someone to fuck them.”
Warmth spreads through my core at his heated gaze, and I forget how to breathe. If Sin wants to fuck me, I am so screwed.
My newly awakened libido is practically begging for his touch.
“So, you want to fuck me?” I ask, inhaling sharply, as Sin’s hands make their way higher until he’s cupping my ass.
“No, kitten,” he answers, pulling me forward so I’m barely perched on the edge of my bed.
“I want to devour you,” he growls, his mouth lowering to my inner thigh, kissing a trail up to the edge of my loose shorts.
I arch into him, and Sin pulls aside my shorts so that only my underwear is covering my center.
“I want to ruin you,” he says, biting at the junction of my inner thigh .
I moan, and my hands come to his hair, trying to pull him closer. It’s as silky as I’d imagined.
Sin’s grip on my ass tightens. “I want to fucking destroy you. To claim your body so completely that you shatter beneath me.” His fingers hook inside my underwear, pulling them aside so I’m fully exposed to him.
He growls, lowering his head so he’s only a breath away from tasting me. “You’re soaked for me, kitten. Is this what you want? Do you want to be devoured?”
He doesn’t move from his position; his eyes are locked on mine, and he waits for an answer.
This is a bad idea. I should not be fucking my partner. Especially not while a corrupted magical sex bond is still throwing shade at my life.
The rational side of my brain is very smart.
Too bad I’m still an idiot.
“Yes,” I breathe.
Sin’s gaze grows even hotter as his mouth descends onto my pussy. His tongue barely grazes against my center when there’s a knock at the door. Sin stills, and I feel his breath against my core. I whimper at the sensation.
Another knock.
“Cassandra? Are you up?” Arianna’s voice carries over.
“Answer her. Otherwise, she might open the door,” Sin whispers, still hovering just above my slit. He doesn’t sound bothered, only amused at my mortification.
I clear my throat, but it sounds scratchy. “Just woke up. I’ll be out in a minute, I just – ”
Sin’s tongue darts out to flick at my sensitive nub.
I yank his hair to pull him off, but he doesn’t budge. “I just need to get dressed. I’ll find you!” I yell, trying to get the words out as quickly as possible. No sooner have I finished talking before Sin’s mouth fully settles on me, making good on his promise to devour me.
I don’t hear Arianna’s answer as her footsteps retreat from the door.
Sin’s tongue sweeps over my slit, licking at my center before moving up to suck on my clit. His beard rubs against the sensitive flesh of my inner thighs, and I move my hips to increase the friction. In response, Sin’s mouth comes down to my slit again, and his fingers spread me, opening me to him. His tongue thrusts inside, and I almost come off the bed.
But no sooner than he’s begun, he lifts his head and releases me.
I blink at him, confused. “What –”
“You need to get dressed. You have somewhere to be,” Sin answers, still kneeling between my legs.
Right – Arianna.
I flush, remembering she’s waiting for me.
Sin watches my expression change, and he winks at me. “I’ll see you later, kitten,” he says before apparating out of the room.
It sounds like a promise.