90. Violette
VIOLETTE
Something is off. During our frantic love-making, I chalked it up to him surrendering to our soulbond, and the fear of loss and abandonment that haunts him. But the dark mood he’s trying to hide behind a mask of stoicism is bursting at the seams.
No matter how normal Levi attempts to act while tending to my every need—like now, manually towel-drying me. And the longer he goes without communicating whatever it is, makes me feel like I’m going to jump out of my fucking skin as my mind imagines every possible or impossible worst-case scenario.
The rug.
The fucking rug.
This is it, it’s being ripped out from beneath me. This perfect little bubble we’ve created has popped.
The moment Levi kneels to towel-dry my lower half, I fist what I can of the too-short length of his hair as I growl. His gaze meets mine, burning with desire and pain—not from my grip on his hair, but whatever it is he’s trying to hide.
The sight of which softens my words.
“You will tell me what is wrong, or I swear to Akash?—”
Levi’s head twists, snapping his fangs at the hand gripping his hair and forcing me to release it.
He doesn’t even graze my wrist, nor did he intend to—the action too slow and deliberately too far from my wrist and hand to actually strike my flesh.
Regardless, my shock is followed by a sharp flare of anger.
My palm connects with his cheek, and the impact sends a loud thwack through the air.
A dark grin spreads across Levi’s face. Blood stains his teeth—his cheek cut on his own fang. “Again.”
Emotion swells in my chest and down our tether. I recognize this all too well.
“No.”
I will not numb the pain of whatever wound you’re hiding with more pain.
My breath is forced out of me on a soft grunt as he picks me up and forces me beneath him faster than I could have anticipated. My muscles grow tight as my heart pounds in anticipation of... I don’t know what.
Levi’s arms gently thread tightly around my waist as he lowers his head to my sternum. His back and shoulders expand beneath my hands as he draws in a deep breath.
“I’m sorry.”
I remain silent, waiting for an explanation as we lie on the bathroom floor.
“Azrael and I got into an argument last night.”
My hands cradle his jaw, lifting his gaze to mine. Shocked, again, by the level of hurt I see there.
“Why?”
His jaw works. “I’m just... feeling a little protective and possessive of you.”
My brows knit together at the sweetness of it, even as I worry for Azrael. “Well, that’s understandable, darling. Considering we’d just exchanged blood, consummated our bond, and you’d just transformed... I’m sure he realizes that.”
I watch his throat dip. “I’m afraid I’ve driven him away.”
A small smile curls a corner of my mouth. “My, my... How attached you’ve grown.”
Levi scowls. “Against my better judgment.”
A mischievous grin curls my lips. “Well then, why don’t we go find him so you two can kiss and make up?”
Levi’s scowl deepens. My grin widens. “Shall we, hm?”
A giggle bubbles out of me at the sight of his grumpy expression as the urge to pinch his cheeks overcomes me.
“So moody, my love. How about this—if you can find it in your heart to forgive Azrael whatever grievous transgression he has committed, I will reward you by gagging you, tying you to my bed, and lavishing your cock with my utmost affections.”
Levi’s brows knit so tightly together they form one hard, black line.
“I cannot be bribed with cock lavishing, female.”
A dark chuckle rises from me as I use my foot to lever his knee and roll him beneath me to straddle him. The surprise in his gaze is nothing short of satisfying. Bracing myself on my hands on either side of his head, I lower my lips to his, grazing.
Not kissing.
When I fold away a moment later to stand at the foot of the bed, it’s to find him fully erect and glistening with pre-cum. The groan Levi releases is pitiful as he looks down at me from the length of his body. I almost feel guilty when I turn to leave.
His hand reaches for his cock, and with a tiny burst of my magic, I slap it away.
“Behave.”