Chapter 2
Asmile tugs at the corner of my lips before I even open my eyes.
Malakai holds me close, one arm draped over my hip, while his fingers gently play with my hair.
His chest presses against my back, his arousal hard against my ass.
I gently push back against him and feel him tense for a moment before his hand creeps between my thighs, caressing my skin with slow, deliberate strokes.
Goosebumps rise across my flesh, sending a tremor of excitement through me.
“Two can play this game, love,” he purrs, his voice laced with a deliciously dark promise.
Biting my lip, I wiggle my ass against him, and he responds by slipping a finger inside me.
A soft whimper escapes as my body ignites with heat, fueled by the tantalizing possibilities of what might come next.
Malakai cranes my neck to turn my face toward him, kissing my lips with gentle sweetness.
He pushes a second finger inside me, and I moan softly into his mouth, my body melting further into his embrace with each thrust.
Malakai shifts slightly, allowing his other hand to find its way between my legs as he traces slow circles around my clit.
Pleasure builds inside me, slow but steady, like kindling flames threatening to consume me.
Just as I’m about to reach my peak, he removes his fingers, leaving me hanging and desperate for more.
My groan of disappointment makes him chuckle in my hair. He places soft kisses along my back, and then his hard cock replaces his hands between my thighs. He cups my breasts, teasing my nipples, rolling his hips in slow, lazy strokes that coat him in my wetness and reignite the fire within me.
“Mal—”
My shuddering breath turns to a gasp as he enters me—stretching, filling me completely.
He stifles a groan in my hair, the sound going straight to my core, making my arousal spike higher.
My head swims with pleasure, fingers clutching the sheets while his hands hold me tight against him, his abs flexing against my back.
It’s those small reactions of his that truly drive me wild, for they tell so much more than words ever could.
They anchor themselves deep in my chest and pull, making me feel things I shouldn’t be feeling. Things I don’t know how to name.
After a few moments, he begins to thrust, and breathy, whimpering moans of pleasure spill from my lips.
His warm hands pull me closer with every deep plunge—one resting on my stomach, the other wrapped around my neck.
His face stays buried in my hair, his heavy breath warm against my skin—it drives me utterly and completely wild.
The hand on my stomach slips down again, rediscovering my sensitive nub.
I squirm beneath his touch as pleasure builds anew, his fingers and cock working in perfect harmony to push me higher.
Malakai’s movements grow faster and more erratic as we both reach for our release.
He kisses the juncture of my neck and shoulder, softly nibbling the tender flesh.
A breath catches in my throat as I come, pleasure washing over me.
He grips my waist tightly, finding his own release with a final thrust, his grunts of pleasure echoing in my ear.
For a few moments, we remain still, neither of us wanting to break the intimacy of our embrace.
Eventually, Malakai rolls onto his back, pulling me with him so I lie against his side, my arms wrapped around his chest. I look up at him, and when our gazes meet, I notice something unfamiliar—something new—in his eyes.
He tips my chin up and places a soft kiss on my lips.
It might be my imagination, but there’s something new there as well.
He caresses my cheek, and for the first time, I truly see the markings on his arms. I shift to get a better view, gently tracing them with my finger. He indeed gave me an identical set, which I find oddly soothing.
“Does this mean you were holding back every time we fought?”
“It wouldn’t have been fair otherwise,” Malakai replies, stroking my matching scars.
“How was any of that fair?” I glare at him. “Do you have any idea what you put me through?”
“If I hadn’t held back, I would have hurt you badly enough that you’d never recover. If I went too easy on you, you wouldn’t be nearly as ready as you are now.”
Something in his voice puts me on edge. “What do you mean, ready for what?”
“I’m not supposed to be here, love. My prison was meant to be eternal. Sooner or later, my brother will notice—if he hasn’t already.”
“I take it my purpose wasn’t only to help you break free, then?”
“It was never just that. Our connection,” he says, shifting his gaze to our wedding bands, “makes you stronger, and strengthens me. Especially when you come into your full power, which we’ll need once he comes for us.
Since we’re bound together, if he wants to imprison me again, it means imprisoning you as well. ”
My stomach churns. I’m not going back there. From the look in his eyes, the way the gold turns hard for a moment, Malakai shares my sentiment.
“Then don’t you ever dare to go easy on me,” I demand, my voice strong.
“I wasn’t planning to. Easy is boring, and I’ve had enough boredom to last a lifetime.”
“Speaking of a lifetime…” I rest my chin on his chest, looking up at him. “What are you planning to do with it? Reign hell on Earth?”
Malakai laughs at my suggestion. “I have no intention of doing so, never did. Keeping that unruly bunch of purebloods and the ever-growing legions of half-breed offspring in check is an ungrateful job. My brother can keep his crown. No, I just want to have fun. At least for now.”
“And what does your idea of fun look like?”
He grins at me. “Whatever I want it to be. We’re rich; we can do literally anything we want.”
I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be rich,” I mumble. “I mean, I wasn’t poor, but I was far from wealthy. Which makes me wonder”—I turn back to him—“how you acquired these riches.”
“Real estate.” Malakai sits up as he answers.
“Excuse me?” I say, following his lead, clutching the bedsheet to my chest. I catch the corner of his lips lifting, as if my modesty amuses him.
“Real estate. I own considerable amounts of land and housing in many countries. I set up a company to rent them out to inhumans, as most of them aren’t inclined to share living arrangements with humans.”
“I was under the impression you couldn’t care less about other inhumans, yet you provide them housing?” He practically told me I could murder them if I felt like it.
“It’s not about caring but about being able to profit off them. It’s perfect, really. They put their faith in me and my company to keep them safe during their weakest moments, while simultaneously making me filthy rich and allowing me to know where every single one of them resides.”
I regard him thoughtfully, this man who spent centuries imprisoned yet somehow managed to build a different kind of empire. “How is that any different?”
“It’s a lot easier when they willingly give you their money.”
“No one else has ever tried the same, to offer an alternative?”
“Oh, they have.” His smile tells me everything I need to know, and I can’t hold back my own.
“This house?”
“This house, the land it’s built on, was the first of many. This is where I started, back when I was free to come and go as I pleased. Now I own the whole street and countless more.”
“Anyone I should take note of?”
“The house on the right is vacant at the moment. On the left live close friends of mine. Everyone on this street has been carefully curated, selected to be allowed to live here.”
“Those friends…” I start, biting my lip in curiosity. “Do they know you? Truly know you?”
It shouldn’t matter, and it definitely shouldn’t make me nervous. But I can feel things shift between us ever so slightly, and the mere idea of someone else knowing what I know makes me feel strangely jealous and slightly possessive.
Malakai’s hand goes to my hair, sensing the sliver of concern in my voice. “They do. But I trust them. They’re the only ones who have always been loyal to me.”
“It won’t cause problems if they know you’re free?”
His hand caresses my neck, and the heat of his touch spreads rapidly through my body.
“They are more like family to me than my actual family. When I say I trust them, I mean it. Though it’s not like how I trust you.
” His last words are a whisper, making me doubt if he even meant to say them out loud.
“What about other inhumans? What do they know about you?”
“Only what they need to know.”
Which, I assume, is close to nothing.
“Enough with the chitchat; it’s time to start enjoying our newfound freedom.” Malakai gets out of bed and walks to the adjacent bathroom, not waiting for me to reply.
Left alone with my thoughts, I find myself wondering. If he has enough trust in these inhumans, I have no reason to doubt him. Yet a sting of worry lingers, especially since my life is at stake as well.
I shake my head and get up, walking to the built-in closet.
One side is filled with suits, shirts, and the like—clearly Malakai’s clothes.
My side holds an array of dresses, skirts, pants, blouses, and shirts.
Some dresses are scandalously short, bringing a blush to my cheeks.
I’m not used to showing so much skin, especially my legs.
The top drawer has underwear, then socks and stockings, then corsets and stays—each piece more beautiful than the last.
“Don’t worry if there’s anything you don’t like. We can always buy you something else.” Malakai stands next to me, with nothing but a towel around his waist, his hair tousled and damp.
“Oh no, they’re perfect. It’s just”—I blush again as he looks at me—“some of them are quite… indecent.”
He chuckles. “Women’s fashion has changed since your time.”