Chapter 20
Glancing at the clock, I step into the shower, feeling the warm water cascade over my skin. I had promised Avalina dinner tonight, and while she wouldn”t mind if it wasn”t ready when she arrived, I wanted everything to be perfect for her. As the steam enveloped me, I let go of the tension that had been building up throughout the day.
Sean is up to no good, I know it. As far as Finn can tell, Sean has no idea that we were behind freeing the people we found in the warehouse that night, and now he is on high alert, trying to smoke out whoever betrayed him. As long as Finn and Slone have intel that keeps us a step ahead of Sean, we should be good, but I still won’t feel easy until he’s longer an issue.
Grabbing a towel as I step out of the shower, I dry off my damp skin as I walk to my closet. Taking a quick look at my options, I choose a pair of dark jeans and a navy sweater, trying to hop into the jeans as I walk down the hall.
Once I step into the kitchen, muscle memory takes over as I effortlessly set the pot of water to boil and deftly slice the garlic and onions. I cut quickly, the feel of flesh giving way under my blade a familiar comfort.
The rush to this point has me feeling scattered, my focus torn as my own demon scratches under my skin, craving something to gnaw on. I can”t help but wonder if this restlessness has something to do with Lina. She crawled under my skin and made herself at home, right next to my monster.
The sauce is simmering when a knock on my door sounds.
I open my door to find Avalina in a slinky red dress that molds to her curves and leaves nothing to the imagination. Not that I need to imagine any inch of her at this part. I”ve got her mapped like a constellation across my heart.
I arch an eyebrow her way. ”We”re staying in, remember?”
”I know. I just thought I”d wear something different for a change. I”m always in jeans at the library.”
She walks towards my kitchen, and I don”t try to hide the smile slowly bleeding across my face. Lina thinks she is being clever, but with the mood I”m in, she”s going to get more than she bargained for.
Sometimes Lina forgets what I am, a monster that doesn”t mind playing with their food first.
She wants to play? Fine. I”ll even let her think she”s winning, at least for now.
I watch her saunter towards the sauce bubbling on the stove, and she dips a wooden spoon in the mixture as red as her dress before bringing it to her lips to taste. I”m impressed at my ability to keep my face a neutral mask as she moans at the taste.
My hands itch to give her something else to taste, but I clear my throat and adjust my pants before walking behind her to grab the spoon, lifting it to my own lips to taste as I press my hardness against the swell of her ass.
I don”t miss the way she bites her bottom lip.
”Hmm, needs more salt.”
I cage Lina in my arms as I reach to the counter for the salt before slowly stirring the sauce and turning off the burner.
Trailing a hand down her arm, I kiss the spot under her ear. ”It”s ready. Go sit down and I”ll bring it to you.”
She looks up at me, suspicion flashing in her eyes at my tone, but moves to do as I ask.
I almost regret the command, as once she sits down, the red silk rides even higher up her creamy thighs.
I”ve interrogated countless people, slowly tortured them until they gave me the answers I sought. I”ve honed my mind and body into lethal precision because my life demanded it of me.
But all of that threatens to unravel as I eye Lina from the kitchen, plating her dinner while my inner demon roars to break free and devour her instead.
Placing dinner on the table, I”m mindful to keep my carefully cultivated smirk on my face, lounging back in the chair like I”m in no rush.
I”ve done this before, this waiting game. But normally I”m also not being tortured by it.
”How was work?” I ask.
”It was good. We have a few more authors on the schedule for book tour stops and we”re going to coordinate with the local bookstore for some midnight release parties.”
”Sounds like your plan to get more buzz and patrons is working. Sarah must be excited.”
”She is. She even finally agreed to let me take over the social media accounts, which I think will help reach a whole new audience.”
”I”m really proud of you, Lina.”
She dips her head down, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear before toying with her necklace. My necklace. The one I gave her.
Fidgeting, she glances up at me through her lashes. ”Thank you, Kieran.”
I”ve seen this woman lead an entire classroom of children through the library with ease, but she still gets nervous when I compliment her. I”ll just have to do it more.
Reaching across the table, I lightly brush my hand across hers, watching the shiver that she can”t suppress.
My entire life I”ve sought more thieves and criminals to punish, eager to let my beast out of its cage.
It wasn”t until I met Avalina that I realized I could find release in her, in the pleasure of her body but also in the comfort of her presence. She calms my beast, tames it into a slumbering dragon I know would torch anything that dared to threaten her.
Moving through the rest of dinner is a test of patience, as the thread of desire is taut between us, undeniable in every line of Lina”s body.
I push my chair away from the table, grabbing our plates. ”Ready for dessert?” I ask.
”What kind of dessert?” Lina purrs and leans forward.
”Ice cream,” I deadpan as I pile the dishes and walk to the kitchen.
I glance back to quickly turn away again, unable to hide my smile at the look of disappointment on Avalina”s face.
”I was hoping for something different.”
”Different from ice cream? What did you have in mind?” I turn to see Lina glaring at me, and I can”t hide the chuckle that worms its way past my oblivious fa?ade.
Stalking towards her, I brace my arms against the back of her chair, leaning in to inhale her jasmine and sandalwood scent, the intoxicating fragrance going straight to my cock now straining against my pants.
Slowly, I reach down and trail the edge of my fingers along her silk dress, grazing her skin as I pull the fabric higher up her thighs.
”Hmmm,” I hum along her neck, my nose tracing her throbbing pulse, ”someone is suddenly very quiet.”
Brushing the insight of her quivering legs, I stay away from her core, which is no doubt dripping all over my mahogany dining chair at this point. I make a mental note to never clean this chair again.
Avalina writhes under me, eager for me to continue. I chuckle, knowing that drawing out her desire heightens it even more.
”Kieran, please,” Avalina moans, ”stop teasing me.”
Leaning over her, I move my hand up to grip her jaw, slowly licking my way up the path I just trailed with my breath. ”But teasing makes you scream my name as you come all over my cock.”
The cutest growl reverberates behind Lina”s gritted teeth, but it is swept away in a gasp as I grab the hem of her dress and pull it over her head, tossing it to the side.
The sight of Lina in that red dress was torture, but seeing her naked, realizing that she wasn”t wearing a stitch of fabric under that silk, has me crashing into insanity and not giving a fuck.
I tuck my arms under her and pick her up, carrying her to my bedroom, ideas flashing through my mind of just how I can pay her back for this delicious, mind-numbing torment.
Arms curl around me tightly as I set Lina down on my black sheets, her copper hair spread out under her. She tugs my head down for a kiss and I take advantage of her distraction, pulling a silk tie out from hiding and wrapping it around her wrists.
Half-lidded eyes meet mine as she tugs on the silk binding her arms above her head.
I dip my head lower, swirling my tongue around a taut nipple. ”All you have to say is your safe word, and I stop.” I looked up at her. ”Do you want to stop?”
Her eyes flash open, wide and alarmed before narrowing. ”Don”t you dare fucking stop.”
”That”s what I thought. But don”t take that tone with me, brat. You got yourself into this.”
Kissing her other breast, I rise to release my cock from my pants, shucking them and my shirt off faster than I thought possible.
I force myself to resume my lazy torment and drag my way down her body, ignoring the primal need to sheath myself to the hilt in her welcoming heat. Returning to her drenched pussy that I had been teasing moments before, I dip one finger inside of her with teasing strokes.
Nipping at the inside of Lina”s thigh, I slap her pretty pink folds when she tries to arch towards me in an attempt to press herself to my mouth.
”Stay still.” The command was all sharp edges, but that knife point had all of Avalina”s soft curves flushing crimson.
”You”ve made such a mess of yourself.” I lightly trace the outside of her pussy. ”Someone has to clean this up,” I chided, keeping that hard line to my voice instead of the desperation I felt to dive into her soaking core.
Grabbing her thighs, I push down, holding her in place. My tongue darts out, licking up her juices and savoring her taste, before I move up to her clit, lazily drawing circles around her nub before bringing it into my mouth and sucking. Lina does her best to keep her body still, but I can feel her muscles trembling under my hands.
Humming with her clit between my teeth earns me a breathy gasp from above my head. Looking up, I see tears creeping from the corners of her eyes and down the sides of her face.
Moving over her but keeping our bodies separate, I lick away each of those salt encrusted orbs. I can”t help the shudder that comes over me. ”I love it when you trust me enough to make you cry.” I press my body down, my throbbing cock pressing against her weeping core.
I untie her arms and nails immediately prick my flesh as Lina wraps her arms around me, trying to tug my cock closer to her demanding heat as she arches up to me.
My hand shoots out and cages Avalina”s throat. ”I thought I told you to stay still.” She whines as I draw back and slap her pussy.
Bending down to press a kiss on her lips, my other hand squeezes her hip as I nip along her jaw and neck, where the necklace I gave her gleams in the fading light of day.
Pressing my cock at her entrance, we both groan. ”Be a good girl,” I hiss, ”and show me how much you want my come.”
Lina whines at my command but keeps her body still as I gradually inch inside of her, knowing I”m not going to last much longer. Even now, I can feel my body getting tight and my monster roaring to thrust into her so hard I leave bruises.
Shaking off the urge to punish, I focus on my pace, driving into her a little harder, a little faster, each time our bodies meet, Lina”s whines turning into animalistic moans that my throat is echoing, my climax so close I can taste it.
Avalina”s muscles clench around me, her nails digging into my back, and she arches and writhes, unable to control her limbs any longer. The pinprick of pain sends me tumbling over the edge after her, and I fall into the sweet release of darkness.