Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Our ride back to Strode is quiet. It’s a wonder we could make it out of the manor at all, considering how many times my mother begged us to stay the night.
After the talk we had in my father’s study, I knew I didn’t want to linger for another moment.
The conversation weighs heavily on my mind during the drive, but I don’t speak until Jun slides into his parking spot.
“How do you activate these sigils?”
“There are different ways,” he says. “Witches can use their magic… and demons use our blood.”
“Right.” I stow the badge away, shaking my head. “More blood magic. Perhaps I’ll ask Caldwell about it.”
“Good plan. He’ll know more about the witch magic than I do.”
“How do you feel about having your father’s sigil?”
“I feel like…” He shakes his head. “It feels fucking weird and wrong, but what am I supposed to do about it? It’s part of the plan.”
“What feels wrong?”
“Knowing how much power it holds.” His expression goes dark. “It’s a necessary evil, but it’s still fucking evil.”
“I get it.”
“I don’t think you do. I’ve met your parents and—sure, they’re fucking weird. Maybe they’re a little misguided. But they aren’t evil like my father is. He’s the one misguiding them.”
“Jun…”
“It’s fine.”
I place my hand over his, even though I don’t know how much comfort it can bring. I’m cold, and he’s warm. He can’t crave my touch the way I do his, but he leans into it, anyway. I think I spot a small smile on his lips.
“It’s scary, but we’re here together. We can’t lose sight of that.”
He turns his head, finally looking at me. “We won’t. Even if I have no one else, I have you.”
“You do.”
“And you have me too.”
There’s comfort in the quiet.
After a few moments, we leave the car. I don’t realize where we’re going until we’re already on the path. Walking to my dormitory seems like the obvious answer, but I feel hesitation between us.
We stop at the diverging roads, and I meet his gaze with an uncertain look. He mirrors it with a perplexed expression of his own.
The wind blows through his hair, mussing his styled tresses. “Do you uh… wanna come over?”
I’m relieved I don’t have to pose the idea myself. That would be impolite, and I already had to do it once before, thanks to the demon attack. There’s no reason to join him now, but I want to keep him close.
“I thought you would never ask.” I take his hand and pull him toward his dormitory—the exact opposite way of mine.
“Oh?” He laughs. “You’ve been waiting for it? You had no trouble inviting yourself last time.”
“That was an emergency.”
“What if I say this is an emergency?”
“Then I’ll ask what sort of emergency this could be.”
His thumb rubs against the back of my hand, trailing fire with every stroke. “I want to be alone with you.”
The words are simple, but there’s weight behind them, and the butterflies in my stomach don’t come from fear—instead, they’re creatures of desire. The hint of anxiety in my bones comes only from the fundamental misunderstanding of what we are.
Does he realize what he means to me? Do I mean the same to him?
I swallow thickly. “Then it’s your lucky day.”
Stumbling into Jun’s dormitory is becoming familiar. I peel off my outer layers, leaving them on the coat rack by the door, and pad into the room.
“Do you think…”
I turn to face him, lifting a brow. “Yes?”
“We can shower together,” he says, his eyes flashing red. It’s gone before I know it. “If you want to.”
“I didn’t realize you were so interested in water conservation.” I smile slyly and bend over to peel off my stockings. “Good for you.”
“You still have a lot to learn about me.” He steps closer, his eyes never leaving mine, and kneels on the floor before me.
“Is that so? I’ve known you for a long time, Jun-seong Park.” I stand upright, perfectly still. “But I look forward to you teaching me more.”
His touches are tender as he finishes the job I started, fingers grazing against my thighs and calves as he removes my stockings. He’s never looked better than he does here, staring up at me with darkened eyes, parted lips, pure hunger.
I touch his horns, such a fleeting act, and he’s back on his feet with preternatural speed.
It’s strange to be with Jun—feelings of knowing, without ever speaking, pass between us.
There’s a need to devour in his eyes that speaks for itself, and I nod, permitting something he doesn’t have to put into words.
I expect him to claim me, to show how ravenous he is, but the heated touch doesn’t come.
Instead, with his eyes locked on mine, he removes his borrowed sweater and allows it to drop to the floor. Without giving me the attention I crave, he undoes his belt next. My eyes drift to his strong fingers. The veins in his hands bulge as he slides the belt from the loops.
By the time his fingers are on his buttons, I’m swatting them away, my impatience taking over.
“Let me,” I mutter, unbuttoning his pants.
He chuckles, holding my wrists, his brows lifting. “What’s gotten into you, princess?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do.” With his hands still on my wrists, he steps closer, backing me against a wall.
His chest presses against mine, his lips a breath away. In a fluid motion, he lifts my wrists above my head. Despite my strength, it’s too easy for him to restrain me. Jun uses only one hand to keep me in place.
“You’ve drunk from me before, but you’ve never looked so starved. What is it you want, princess?” His free hand moves to my thigh, slipping under the dark fabric of my dress.
I swallow thickly. “And if I want you? That feels like a dangerous thing to say.”
It gives him too much power, considering how long we’ve danced around each other, throwing sharp words like daggers. But it no longer feels dangerous, not really. His gaze softens, and his thumb strokes the inside of my thigh.
“You’re safe with me,” he says. “You know that, don’t you?”
I nod, my insides melting as his heat radiates onto me. “And what if I need you? That’s more dangerous, don’t you think?”
At first, the answer doesn’t come in words, but with a soft kiss pressed to the corner of my mouth.
“You don’t have to need me,” he says. “I’m here. You have me. I’ll give you what you want. I want it too, baby.”
It’s the assurance I need to close the space, searching for his lips. Before I can capture him, he’s letting go, smirking and backing away.
My hands drop to my sides, and I’m left watching him with parted lips.
“If you want me so badly,” he says, “come and get me.”
I enjoy the way he poses the suggestion. It reminds me of the years we spent rising to one another, poking and prodding each other into honing our craft. It feels like a challenge, and he knows he’ll lose—he has strength, but I have speed he can only dream of.
My eyes narrow, and, in a flash, I’m at his side. I reach for his wrists before he can realize I’ve moved at all, using my strength to pin him to the wall.
He’s laughing—a joyful sound—even as I glare.
“Fuck,” he says. “You’re cute.”
“You aren’t taking this seriously.” I have to stop myself from pouting.
“I am! I am.” He remains still under my grasp, letting me pin his hands to the wall the same way he did to me. “Now that you have me, what will you do?”
“Oh… I don’t know.” I lean in, trailing my fangs across his skin. “I could take what I want.”
His pulse jumps under my lips. “You can.”
His voice carries a gruffness I’ve come to covet.
I let go of one wrist, my hand moving lower, trailing over the bulge in his pants. “But this is what I want.”
His breath catches. “Then take it.”
Letting go of his other wrist, I trail my fingers along his crimson horn. “I don’t want to give it to you so easily.”
He pushes his hips into mine, searching for friction. “Yes, you do. You want it as much as I do.”
I’ve given him too much freedom. His rough hands are on my waist, and he flings me over his shoulder with reckless abandon.
“Jun!” I gasp.
“You let your guard down.” He throws me onto the bed. “And now, you lost. Consider this a lesson.”
It doesn’t feel like a loss when he crawls on top of me. My eyes widen, taking in the sight of his towering form—his wings, his bare chest, and his horns.
“Is this really a loss?” I muse, lips lifting into a playful smile.
He lowers himself until his teeth are at my neck.
“It is,” he says. “And now, for a change, I’m devouring you.”
His hands slip under my dress, and I lift my hips, helping him remove my underwear.
I’m lucky he doesn’t tear them off—they were expensive, and perhaps Jun is more polite than I assumed. His scent envelops me, heady and warm, and I’m lightheaded as he pulls my dress over my head, the bra following shortly after.
I’ve been naked in front of him before, but it’s different this time.
There’s no hesitation, nothing to keep us apart.
His eyes drink me in, and he peppers sweet kisses across my skin.
Scalding lips press to my chest, leaving bite marks across my full breasts.
He latches on, his teeth grazing against my soft flesh.
I feel the soft hum of a moan as he sucks on my nipple and rolls his hips into me.
His kisses are painstakingly slow as they move down my belly, and I can’t take it anymore. My hands go to find his hair, but they touch his horns instead, grasping hard enough to pull a grunt from him as I push his face between my legs.
“Fuck,” he says harshly, appreciatively, his eyes flashing red. “You’re so fucking hot when you think you’re in control.”
I spread my legs wider. “I am in control.”
Jun smirks and tilts his head to the side. “Is that what you think?” His fingers graze between my thighs, teasing my wet center. “You’re right where I want you, princess. Don’t you forget it.”
He plunges his thick, warm fingers into my core, and I gasp, my head hitting the pillow behind me.
“Look at you. It’s so easy to make you give in to pleasure. I haven’t even tasted you yet.” He kisses my thigh, biting down hard. “But I will, baby. Don’t you worry.”
“Jun…” His name comes out as a wine, and I flush from head to toe.