23. Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Three
Juliana
“L ay down in the middle of the bed and don’t move,” he demands roughly, and I move slowly to not show any pain. He turns sharply and moves toward the closet. I spread my limbs toward the corners of the bed in anticipation. Yes, I’m sore as fuck, but I won’t let it stop me. Heath will make it all better. I try not to flinch when I hear a rattle as he leaves the closet. “If you get scared, feel pain, or want to stop for any reason, say your word. If you say stop, I will. This is about more than the bond. It’s about your pleasure and safety.” He stops beside the bed and holds out the cuffs. “These have fur inside, so it shouldn’t hurt your wounds. Again, if it does, tell me. I will be pissed if you ignore your pain to try to please me.” The bedside light is flipped on, emitting a soft light.
“Yes, Sir.” The cuffs are leather and do have gold fur on the inside.
“I had these made for you,” he informs me as he sits on the bed facing me. He shows me the leather and I gasp when I read the inscription on them.
“My darling, Juliana. Mine. Forever,” I read softly, and he unbuckles them. Every second I love him more.
“If I need to take them off fast,” he starts, gently picking up my hand. “I can break the chain. I’ll buy new ones.”
“Yes, Sir.” My heart beats a little faster when it’s around my wrist. Not because of what happened. It means we are closer to bonding.
“I will always pay attention to the signs and scent of your body.” He looks at me sternly as he attaches my left wrist to the bed. “I can smell pain.” I press my lips together. “And fear. I have studied your scent since we met. I will know if you are lying.” He rounds the bed and picks up my right hand. “You’ve been hiding the extent of your injuries. I know you’re hurting, but it’s not extreme. I am too selfish to stop. When you are changed, you’ll feel nothing but power.”
“Will I be able to smell your moods?”
“Yes, with practice.” Once my hand is attached, he moves to my feet. “Nice deflection.” I smile. “If I thought you were in serious danger of hurting more, it wouldn’t matter how sweetly you smile or express your love.” He lifts a brow, and I smother my smile. “I take this seriously. We can play as much as you want, but you know I am in control of what we do.” He cuffs one ankle.
“I do, Sir,” I reply quickly.
“Good.” He cups my heel while he completes binding me. “Everything I do is for you. If you don’t feel safe or desire, I am not doing my job. I get off on seeing how I make you feel.” He steps back, and his gaze travels over me. “The sight of you at my mercy is a bonus.” He smirks. “How does it feel?” I move slightly.
“Good. It’s not rubbing.” The fur cushions my skin. I can still move enough to not feel trapped. Heath would never do anything intentionally to make me feel uncomfortable.
“Are you ready, darling?” he asks.
“Yes, Sir.” He steps forward, and his knees touch the bed between my feet.
“You are beautiful in my cuffs,” he says silkily.
“Thank you, Sir. I feel beautiful in them.” I have never felt lacking in any way with him. I lose my breath as he brings one knee to the bed and then the other. He braces his palms on the outside of my legs and slowly crawls over me. My focus centers on his face as he stares at me, his intentions wicked.
“I didn’t think this through,” he whispers, and I watch his lips.
“What?” I hope he isn’t having second thoughts.
“I should have undressed you first.” He lifts a brow.
“I think you can figure it out. Sir.” I smirk, touching the tip of my tongue to the corner of my mouth, and his lips twitch.
“This is going to be fun.” He pushes my shirt up my stomach, and I shiver. “Do you like denied orgasms?”
“No, Sir,” I say quickly, and his smile flashes.
“Be good,” he whispers, his breath coasting over me. He drops his head and kisses my stomach. He’s barely touched me, and I’m ready to come. I’m warm and try not to squirm as he kisses me again and again, placing them around the claw marks. “These will be nothing but a bad memory.”
“Yes.” I groan when he licks the length of one. He moves to the other three, his tongue tracing them. Lovingly. Slowly. My eyes widen as I watch his tongue lengthen, growing. My breath catches in my throat as he transforms it into his snake's forked-tongue.
“He doesn’t like seeing marks on your body,” he hisses, and I almost combust. I stare at his animal showing in his eyes. Fuck, his animal turns me on.
He gathers one side of my shirt in his fist and yanks. Buttons fly, and my chest is bare. I didn’t have to worry; my mate always finds a way to get what he wants. I almost pass out when he crawls further over me, his mouth traveling over my skin. His tongue skates over me, tasting every inch as he progresses to my breasts. He circles my nipple, and I shift.
“Please, more, Sir,” I moan and grab the chains above my wrists.
“Patience,” he hums, tracing my other breast. My toes dig into the blankets, wishing I could wrap my legs around him. I watch him through heavy eyes. His tongue returns to normal right before he takes my nipple deep into his mouth and sucks hard.
“Shit.” My back rises from the bed, intent on encouraging him to keep going. “No,” I growl when he stops and sits back on his heels.
“Who’s in charge?” The pads of his fingers barely glide over my hips.
“You, Sir.”
“That’s right.” His fingers move in circles, closer and closer to my clit. “I welcome you to test me, but it will deny you what you want.” I bite my lip, take a deep breath and try to calm down. “Darling, you please me.” The warmth expands with his words, making it much harder to restrain my need.
He curls his knuckle and glides it over my clit. I grit my teeth and hold in my whines. He knows what he is doing to me. The satisfaction is oozing through the air, and I want to push him to take me. I hold back, knowing it will get me further from my goal. It was the right move because he increases the pressure. He uses the fingers on his other hand to tease my pussy.
My hands ache from gripping the chains, and I relax them. I cry in my mind with relief as he slips his finger under the edge of the fabric covering me. Finally, he can feel how much his attention is affecting me. His finger eases inside me, slow, gentle, and I welcome him gratefully.
“Sir,” I cry, not able to hold it in.
“You are doing so good, darling,” he coos and rips one side of my underwear. “You make your Sir so proud.” He curls over me and sucks my clit. Another finger joins his other inside me and pushes deeper.
“Sir, I’m going to come,” I whimper.
“No. You’ll wait until I’m inside you,” he commands.
“I can’t.”
He’s worked me up to the point of no return.
“You can and you will,” he replies, lightly biting me. I lift one leg as far as I can and then the other. The fact that I am restrained only adds to my need to come. His fingers move faster, and I press my head into the pillow, my mouth open.
Think about something else. Bugs. I hate bugs. Creepy crawly bugs that climb. Heath drags out of me, his fingers curled, and my eyes cross. Shit. It’s not working. All I can think of is him. I forget every bruise and mark. Nothing hurts anymore. I need to come.
“Sir,” I beg, and he pulls away. I’m about to cry out from his absence of touch, but he pushes down his pants. “Yes.” He fills me with one thrust.
“Now,” he growls, and I come. “Jesus.” He cups my neck as I stretch it, the orgasm shooting through every part of my body. Waves and waves of pleasure move through me. “Stunning.”
“Sir,” I pant.
“So tight,” he rumbles, looking down. “You feel so fucking good.”
“Please.” I don’t know what I want. More. More of him.
“Are you ready to be mine?” he asks, and I look into his eyes.
“Yes.” His hips move at a steady rhythm, his hand squeezing tighter on my neck, and it builds.
“Are you ready for my mark? To be tied to me forever?”
“I am,” I say firmly and startle when the light flickers.
“Do you accept my claim? My bond? And all the magic that comes with it?”
“Yes, Sir. Please, Heath.” I blink and then stare as his eyes are consumed with blue, glowing, and his tattoos seem to move. His hand flexes on my neck.
“I love you,” he rasps and tips my head back further before striking. I close my eyes as his fangs slide deep. There is a push and pull. I feel a slight burn under my skin and can feel his venom traveling.
“Heath,” I gasp and open my eyes. All my senses are alive and popping. A rumble fills the room, and it comes from Heath. His come fills me as his mouth sucks at my neck. He pulls back, his mouth open, two long teeth gleaming with my blood.
“You’re mine,” he hisses, and I freeze.
“What’s happening?” I watch as the ink on his body moves down his arm.
“I’m giving you my power,” he whispers, his eyes wide. “You will wake; your gifts will be great.” I shiver; the tattoos slide over my neck, absorbing into my skin and moving across my shoulder. I follow their progress over my shoulders to my arms. “Unbelievable,” he whispers.
“I feel them,” I gasp, stunned as they settle deeper into my skin. They dim, and the blue turns slightly green. “Heath.” My skin is freezing.
“Let them become a part of you,” he instructs, skimming his hand over them. His touch settles my panic.
“Heath,” I whimper, the cold becoming unbearable. He breaks the chains above our heads, pulls out, and does the same to my feet. “I feel it.” His power. The venom working through my blood. I wasn’t prepared for it, yet I know it is right. His soul is joining mine, and my heart beats rapidly.
“Give in to it,” he encourages, pressing my knees together. I drop my arms, and he gathers me onto his lap, his arm under my thighs and his other behind my back. “I won’t leave the room,” he growls.
“Please don’t,” I beg, staring into his eyes. “Don’t leave me.”
“I promise.” He kisses me. “Accept your snake and come back to me.”
“I will,” I say, my teeth chattering. The blanket is thrown over me. “Fuck, it hurts.”
“Darling, shit.” He presses his head to mine. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I mumble. My lips are numb, and I can’t move my body.
“This isn’t goodbye,” he growls. “I won’t allow anything to go wrong.” My controlling mate hates things out of his control. As much as he wants to guide me through the change, I know it’s up to me now. I can’t let the agony coursing through me consume me. I have to fight for our bond. The light bulb shatters from my power or his. His eyes light up the dark.
“Don’t worry,” I whisper, wishing I could lift my hand to cup his face. My skin is cold but on fire at the same time. Fog floats through my head, and everything becomes fuzzy. I keep my eyes connected with his as long as I can.
“Come back to me,” he commands harshly.
“Promise.” The pain and magic swirl in the air and through every part of me. My eyes close.
I hope I can keep my promise.