Chapter 25 #2
He ran a hand through his damp hair, which he swore hadn’t been dry since he’d been summoned to this wretched island.
Her dorm room, on the other hand, had become a sense of safety he didn’t expect.
A gentle breeze lifted the curtains, and the fire nursed its final embers.
It was the only place he didn’t have to pretend. Or maybe it was just her.
Deep down, he knew. Avery was far more than any ordinary witch. She had heart. Probably too much. The other day, he had almost killed a spider until she got between them, and calmly put it outside, sending it on its way with a care package of a moth that had died naturally.
Or maybe, he had gotten it wrong. Not all witches were as bad as he thought they were.
It was a betrayal to even admit that. But watching her now, sitting by the glowing fire, denying it was getting harder.
She’d put herself between him and the enforcers without hesitation. He wouldn’t forget that. Ever.
But as much as he appreciated it, he was still angry. He was the one who should protect her. He would make sure she fucking knew that.
Felix’s tail lashed back and forth. “What was that?”
“What was what?” Avery said, batting her eyelashes.
“Tsk. Tsk.”
The fireplace crackled beside her, but he could tell the heat had nothing to do with the way she was blushing right now. Even her makeshift shadow clothes tightened at his presence.
“You know what you did, little witch.” He took a step.
Throat bobbing, she held her ground, holding her chin up high like a defiant little thing.
Oh, what fun he would have in breaking that.
It had been over a week now, a week of her scent driving him mad, watching her mouth move and imagining it elsewhere, every goddamn instinct screaming at him to mark her like she was his mate.
A step closer. Then another. Until he was close enough that he could see the candles flickering in her eyes, their bodies only inches away. He cocked his head. “You take my magic without my permission.”
“Your permission?” She scoffed, getting up from her knees to face him.
“You don’t listen when I tell you to stay put.”
“Because I wanted to help you, you stupid cat.”
Smiling faintly, he made sure his fangs were showing. He was going to ruin her.
Taking another step, he pressed into her space. “You consistently talk back.”
Instinctively, she retreated, flattening herself against the wall as he caged her in.
“You live to disobey me, Avery.”
He raised a hand to her face and unsheathed his claws. Avery didn’t dare breathe as he pressed the back of his claw to her face, cold and rough against her fervent skin. Achingly slow, he moved it down to her neck, her pulse throbbing against its tip. One wrong move and it would slash her jugular.
The next words came out as a whisper as he leaned into her. “Disobey me one more time, Avery, and tell me to stop.”
The edge in his voice gave him away. He wanted her to say it. But Felix was right about one thing: she would disobey him to the end. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Though her body had other ideas. She squeezed her thighs together, a subtle movement, but one that didn’t go unnoticed.
His eyes fluttered shut. Fuck, he could smell her.
Her scent sent every rational thought out the window.
He wanted to pin her down and fuck her until she couldn’t walk.
He should stop, should walk away. But he couldn’t, not when she looked like a fucking goddess in her own right.
Freckled skin so supple and soft, and features so perfect, it was like she was made for him specifically. Carved from a dream.
His tongue flicked over his fangs, and he only wished it would be somewhere else. He couldn’t hold back any longer. Finally, he dragged his claw down and down, until it brushed over a nipple. A breathy moan escaped her.
Using his magic, he called away the shadows that clothed her. They fell as fast as his inhibitions.
For a moment, he just stepped back, his breath hitching as he looked at her.
Nipples pebbled, one still gloriously pierced with his shadow standing to attention.
Begging, no, pleading with him to taste her.
How could he resist that? There were so many ways that he could ravage her.
Usually, he was a patient shifter, but fuck, this little witch would be the death of him.
His gaze dropped. Dripping, she was dripping for him.
He crouched, and Avery watched him, heavy-lidded, as he took his claw and ran it through the puddle she’d spilled onto the ground.
He rose from the floor and brought his claw to his mouth, licking her slick juices from the ridges.
God, she tasted so fucking good, like cinnamon and honey.
His thumb pressed against her bottom lip until it gave.
Carefully, he slipped his claw past her teeth, making sure not to cut anything soft.
The needy whine she let out almost had him spilling right there, and if that didn’t work, then the way Avery’s pupils dilated until her usually bright eyes were almost black would send him over. Fuck.
Shadows threaded around her neck, forming a collar.
Just for the fun of it, he made a heart-shaped tag with ‘property of Felix’ engraved on it.
Another shadow connected it, almost like a lead.
She had collared him, so he would collar her, too.
He stepped back, smirking, and tugged. The collar forced her to her knees.
Tug.
She didn’t move.
Tug.
Defiant little thing.
Tug.
Finally, with a glare, she crawled toward him like a cat.
With the way her arousal snaked down the bond, he shouldn’t stop. She was enjoying this. She wanted him to take control.
He led her to the armchair. In one swift motion, he picked her up and dropped her into the armchair with a surprised yelp.
Candlelight flickered over her form, illuminating every curve that he would ravish.
So much skin, so little time. Then, before he could second-guess it, he sank to his knees.
Shock flashed through her face, like she hadn’t expected him to do that. And with anyone else, he wouldn’t.
“Open your thighs for me, Avery,” he commanded.
She hesitated, which prompted him to stop and ask, “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve just never had anyone do that for me.”
His eyes darkened, a growl building in his chest. “You’ve been with others, yes?”
“Yes,” she said meekly.
“And not one of them has eaten you out?”
“No,” she admitted, shuffling awkwardly.
“Oh, little witch, I am going to fucking ruin you for any other boy.”
Her breathing stopped. Using his claw, he nudged her legs apart until she was spread wide, putting her body on full display for him. Pink flesh slicked with her heat, so swollen and needy. The little witch was so vulnerable, and all fucking his.
“You have such a pretty pussy.” It was an understatement; he was fucking entranced by it. “Do you like the sight of me on my knees for you?” Using the back of his claws, he carefully spread her cunt, stretching her out until a moan tumbled from her lips.
So she liked being exposed? Naughty kitten.
He stuck his tongue out. It was barbed, just like his cock.
“Will it hurt?” she asked, eyes widening as she looked over the ridges.
Felix chuckled. “They’re not as sharp as they look. It will feel good.” He moved closer to her thigh, resisting the urge to bite.
“I promise.”