Chapter 47 Jasmine
He feels like shadows and silk. A steady, cool quiet that slips beneath my skin and stills everything else. His chest’s beneath my palm, his hand’s resting on my hip, anchoring me to him.
But just beneath that calm, is a pulse of something taut. Something I want to ease.
I shift. “Good morn—”
Kane’s lips cut off my words with soft but needy kisses. And I melt into them.
My hands slide up his bare chest, one threading through his soft hair to pull him closer.
“Did you even sleep?” I ask against his mouth.
Rather than answer, he tries to kiss me again. So I pull back.
“A little,” he admits, before sweeping in again.
I laugh against his lips at his eagerness, his need. It all makes me a little giddy. “What were you doing instead?”
“Looking.” Another kiss. “Waiting.” And another. Small, delicate pecks that steal my breath.
Soft, gentle, and so distracting that I almost miss something.
A prickling sensation of unease. Worry… fear.
I frown when he kisses me again. He must feel it, because he stills, his lips lingering before he inches back.
I brush my fingers along his cheek. “Why do you feel like that, Kane?”
His jaw tightens, eyes dropping. I feel his reluctance, but then his lips graze mine in soft, teasing skims, trying to pull me back under.
“No,” I scold, leaning away. “You can’t distract me.”
“Can’t I?” That tiny smile and gruff tone almost breaks my resolve. Almost.
But I hold firm, giving him my sternest look… which only seems to encourage him, eyes darkening. Until he sees that I mean it, and his smile fades.
“Your rune’s altered.”
I nod. “Yeah, I remember. But it’s happened before, and look—” I gesture down my body. “I’m fine.”
“I can feel your emotions,” he says quickly, quietly, eyes searching mine with clear worry.
When I smile, some of his tension melts away. “And that’s a bad thing?”
“No,” he blurts, licking his lips in a nervous habit I’ve never seen from him. “It’s as though our powers have connected. You feel… stronger.”
I do.
It’s hard to describe, but there’s this lightness. A release. Even breathing feels easier, like my lungs have been trapped in a vice for years, and I’m only now remembering how to inhale fully.
“These all sound like good things, Kane.” I kiss him, gentle and coaxing, waiting for him to lose himself in it—then I pull back. “So now tell me what you’re really worried about.”
He swallows, staring at me intently, knowing he can’t hide from me.
Not now. Not ever.
“You’re not immortal,” he says finally.
I try not to smile. I don’t want him to mistake it for teasing—not when he’s this adorable, awkward version of Kane.
So I nod again. “I know.”
“Not yet,” he adds in a murmur, gaze shifting away. “Which means you’re vulnerable to… everything. The urge to keep you locked inside this house…” He trails off, jaw flexing.
So many thoughts are rushing through those troubled eyes.
“I’m possessive,” he blurts sharply, dark sight locking with mine. “Selfish. Controlling. It’s going to be too much for you. For them—”
I catch his face in my hands, stopping him. “Being locked inside this house with you doesn’t sound so bad.”
His eyes flicker, the dark catching light. Especially when I let one hand drop, and my fingers tip-toe down his throat.
“I like that you’re possessive, Kane,” I whisper.
His gaze drops to my mouth, then darkens.
“I’m pretty possessive too.” My fingers drift lower, over his hard chest. “Maybe I’ll lock you inside this house with me.
Maybe…” I brush over the centre of his sternum, circling the mark etched into him. “I’ll be too much for you.”
His breath shudders beneath my gentle touch, and the room wades into grey as I trace the dark mass of lines inked into his honey-gold skin.
He says nothing, just watches. Torn wide open, every thought written across his face.
“You already are,” he murmurs. “Too much.”
I grin, leaning in, lips brushing his ear. “An immaru, too much for a powerful demon?” I whisper, but I don’t give him a chance to answer.
My mouth finds his throat, teeth grazing his skin, and his hand flies to the back of my head, a low breath catching in his throat.
His pulse jumps beneath my lips, fingers curling in my hair. When I nip, a sharp hiss escapes his lips—
He flips me beneath him in a single, smooth motion. One hand pins both of mine above my head, the other presses firm against my ribs so he can cage me below his body.
“You forget what I am, immaru.” My breath catches as his mouth brushes mine. “Now lie still,” he murmurs, hand drifting lower. “Let me have what’s mine—”
He winces, tension tightening his features, a grimace on his lips.
“Kane?” My shadow brushes his cheek.
“It’s them,” he mutters, his grip on my wrists tightening. “I told them what happened. They’ve been worried all night.” He scowls at the sensation.
I ease the pain, brushing it away with a thought.
He exhales through his nose. “But I told them not to come, because you said—”
“Just us.” I smile softly, and he nods. “Good. It wouldn’t have helped. It would’ve been too much, too many emotions at once. I just needed you.”
I think he might kiss me, but Kane only holds my gaze like he’s memorising me, this moment, my words.
Then I wince. His brow furrows, thumb brushing gently against my wrist as the tugging feeling sharpens.
I can feel them, waiting. Worried. “Maybe we should go to them.”
Kane’s jaw clenches. “No,” he growls. “They can wait.”
His mouth brushes my shoulder, lips dragging over my skin like he’s marking rather than kissing. His hand slips lower, over my stomach.
“You said you needed me,” he murmurs along my throat. “I’m not finished giving you what you need.”
My mouth falls open on a shaky breath. He’s unravelled, possessive, his hunger dipped in a seduction I can’t refuse. Because now, there’s no doubt in either of our minds. I’m his.
Kane isn’t holding back any longer.
The bond pulses again, harder. I groan softly, tucking my face against his throat. He freezes above me.
“Kane,” I murmur. “They won’t stop.”
He lets out a real growl this time, it rumbles against my breasts as his shadows wrap around my waist, tethering me to him like I might slip away. “You’re mine.”
When he doesn’t move, I lift my head just enough to kiss the corner of his mouth. “They’re worried,” I whisper. “I know you feel it too.” His jaw clenches, I kiss him again. “I know you care.”
He exhales hard through his nose, a sound of frustration rather than agreement.
Then he rests his forehead against mine. Eyes shut, taking slow and steady breaths until his shadows reluctantly slither away.
“We’ll go,” he murmurs, leaning back so I’m staring up at his dark, endless gaze. “But you’re mine now, immaru.” A shadow brushes my lips. “And I’ve only just started to have you.”
My lips part, wide-eyed, words long gone. Then, just barely, he smiles.
***
The second Kane flits us into the living room of their apartment, I feel it. Them. Stronger than ever before, their power surges through me: soothing, burning, awakening—all at once.
The emotions flood in immediately after. Concern tangled with need, longing layered with urgency, excitement sharp with apprehension. And beneath it all, a fierce protectiveness.
Kane is there before I sway from the sudden onslaught. His hand settles at the small of my back, grounding me as we linger at the edge of the room, tucked in shadow.
I’m still wearing his shirt, the only thing left after he destroyed my dress… I shake my head, trying to clear the heat that memory stirs—
But Kane can feel me now. All of me. And the way his fingers twitch at my waist, tell me he definitely felt that.
“Go on,” he murmurs, lips brushing my ear. “Let them see you in my shirt.”
When I hesitate, staying completely still so I can indulge in the Kane that wants to touch me, who growls with possessiveness, he moves even closer.
“Or…” His voice deepens, fingers trailing a little lower. “We leave.” He kisses my throat. “Right now.” My jaw. “We don’t have to share. Not yet.” His lips graze the corner of my mouth. “Let me have you a little longer.”
He’s so hard to deny. But the others…
I turn in his hold, and kiss him. His hands fall to my hips, pulling me closer.
“You have me,” I whisper with a soft smile, giving him a parting peck before stepping back and out of his hold.
He stares, his shadows tightening around me, but not enough to stop me. Then he exhales grudgingly, letting me turn to look at the others again.
My bonds.
Then their voices drift into the dark.
“… still can’t believe the fucker had it in him.”
“Sai...”
“Do you think the dress stayed on…”
“Sai—”
“I mean, with that dress? You could just slip—”
I step out of the shadows. “Good morning, boys.”
Sai freezes mid-word.
Ezekial and Julien clearly sensed us, Julien had at least tried to warn him. Maybe half-heartedly.
Sai’s mouth snaps shut, then he takes a long, deep breath, before pasting a wide grin on his face as he turns to me.
When I move further into the room, I’m immediately reminded that I’m not wearing pants.
Kane’s shirt hangs halfway down my thighs, barely buttoned, and all three of them are definitely staring.
Ezekial’s gaze flicks over me with quiet intensity, his expression looks controlled, but his eyes linger just a second too long at the hem.
Julien isn’t even pretending to look away, a lazy smile tugging at his lips.
And Sai looks delighted. Like his imagination just got a sequel.
I continue into the room, feigning nonchalance even as heat crawls up my neck.
“Oh please, continue, Sai.” I tilt my head, voice syrupy-sweet. “You were saying? You could just…”
But his smile only widens, Julien’s lips twitch, Ezekial lets out a low laugh. Then Kane’s arms wrap around my waist, pulling me firmly against him.
Now I freeze, my wide eyes darting to three stares.