Chapter 1 #2
He lowered his lips to my ear. Goosebumps broke out over my skin—and for once, it wasn't because of nausea, overwhelm, or the invisible bugs.
It was just him.
I'd never been this close to a man. Particularly not one I was attracted to.
His lips brushed my ear as he spoke. "Maybe if you're good, I'll show you tonight."
I legitimately shuddered.
God help me, I wasn't going to survive him.
Before I could scramble for a reasonable reply, Grayson grabbed the bottom hem of my shirt.
And pulled it over my head.
"What are you doing?" I asked, as he tossed the fabric aside.
I was now dressed in nothing but a pair of the loose, wide-legged pants I always wore, and a thin sports bra that really couldn't keep my breasts contained.
It was the only bra I could handle wearing without losing my mind, so I accepted the lack of containment.
"You were wearing too many clothes," he stated.
"I didn't say you could take them off of me."
"I didn't say you could hide what we were to each other for a century, but here we are. Fated fucking mates." He stared me down, daring me to disagree.
There went the rational discussion part of my plan.
Grayson was pissed, and I couldn’t exactly blame him for it. I would’ve been livid if someone hid the fact that they were my fated mate for a hundred years.
"In my defense, I didn't know I could touch you without draining your life until five months ago," I said.
"I heard."
"From Callum?" I knew he had meddled. He was one of the other three fae royals, and basically a brother to me.
"Yes. After four and a half months of searching for answers after he mentioned fated mate bonds, I broke into his house and forced him to tell me."
"Of course you did."
And of course Callum had given him answers. He was determined to interfere in my life after finding his own fated mate.
Grayson lifted my palms to rest on his bare shoulders, one by one.
I watched in fascination as some of the shadows that danced off his skin slowly spread over my fingers. They moved wildly, like flames.
"What are they doing?" I asked.
"Mated demons' shadows always cling to their other half. They recognize you as a part of me."
"I'm not a part of you."
"Our souls are connected, Love. We're both a part of each other."
I let out a long breath. "They're not alive, are they?"
I had avoided researching demons. I knew the basics about each of the four very different types, but I had never been interested in potentially discovering something that would impact the connection I didn't want with Grayson in some way.
What if I'd learned something that actually made me want him?
I definitely wasn't going to risk that.
"There are arguments both ways."
I eyed the shadows crawling over my arms. "What's your connection to them?"
"I can control them if I actively think about it. When I don't, they do what they want."
"Do you actively control them most of the time?"
"Only if I need them for something."
"So you can't feel them moving over my skin like this?"
"No. If they can feel anything, I can't feel it through them."
"Do you think they can feel?"
"I didn't, at one point."
"That's not an answer, Darke."
"Why didn't you tell me about the bond?" He wasn’t beating around the bush any more than he was answering my question.
I supposed I deserved that.
"It wasn't any of your business," I lied.
"It affected me so thoroughly that I was incapable of visiting anyone else's dreams. I think that made it my business."
"Did you want to visit anyone else's dreams?" The idea gave me more rage than I was ready to admit.
"I thought I was just obsessed with you, Merrily."
If he was calling me by my name, he was pissed. He didn't do that. Not ever. I was Love, I was Death, sometimes I was even Mer, but never Merrily.
"Fated mates are often obsessed with each other," I said.
"That's not a fucking excuse."
"Well, it’s true.” I changed the subject. “You've now successfully abducted me. Congratulations. How long are you planning to keep me?"
His gaze was hot, and just a little angry. "Indefinitely."
"Sounds like a good way to start a war. We have the spellcasters and the wolves, so we'll win."
"I'm well aware that your side can destroy mine in a war, Love."
At least he wasn't in complete denial.
"I'd suggest changing your answer about how long you plan on keeping me, then."
"You can't leave until we come up with an arrangement that satisfies both of us as far as the mate bond is concerned," Grayson said, his fingers gliding slowly over the band of my bra. I ignored the way my stomach tightened beneath his touch.
"That's more reasonable. I accept."
"You can't accept or refuse. This isn't a negotiation. You simplified my abduction, but like you said, I've taken you."
"If you want to abduct someone, I'd recommend choosing someone slightly less deadly. I came here and allowed you to take me. This is a negotiation."
"Has anyone ever told you you're difficult?"
"Many people. Most of them are dead."
He chuckled, but there was no amusement behind the sound.
"Did you want to visit anyone else's dreams?" I asked, unable to fight off that pulse of possessive rage any longer.
"I'm sure you'd like to know."
"Once again, that's why I'm asking."
"I'll tell you," he said casually, his lips curving in a slow, lazy smile. "After we seal our mate bond."