Chapter 23

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Fane's threat had electricity crackling down my spine and desire filling my bloodstream. Detecting my arousal in the air, his nostrils flared, and a glow spilled into his irises as his demon wolf stirred.

"You think you can teach me something?" My voice came out raspy, full of lust and longing. "An ancient power, created before time was even a concept, resides in me. I feed on fears and bring nightmares to life. I can turn entire towns mad."

"That amulet can. Not you." The demon shifter ran his finger down the center of my throat. "You're just the darkest parts of Tate magnified by that power. And, like you, she's barely scratched the surface of this world. She knows nothing."

"She knows the beast inside of you, the wild creature dying to break free and devour her."

He scoffed. "What does Tatum know of my darkness?"

I broke out of his hold, grabbed his arm, and jerked him onto the bed. Fane wasn't expecting the move, so he ended up on his back with a surprised expression. An ominous chuckle slipped out as I raked my talons down his shirt, ripping the material from his body.

"You think that's enough to?—"

My teeth sank into his chest right over a spot she—I mean, I—bit at the Anders one night in Fane's room. He'd let his walls down and showed me some of the primal side he thought would scare me off like it had so many others.

Not me. I reveled in it, allowing him to see me like no one else had.

The deep moan that Fane released was like a lasso around the sane version of me, dragging her from the shadows.

Aw, is my fun over so soon?

My evil side pouted and drifted to the background as Fane's salty blood pooled in my mouth. His fingers tangled in my hair, holding me against him for another few moments before ripping me away. The growl that burst out of him rattled my bones, and I was on my back in seconds, staring up at a snarling beast.

"You're playing with fire, fiera mika."

I licked his blood off my lips. "I don't mind burning."

"We'll find out." His mouth crashed on mine, devouring me while he pressed his knees on either side of my hips.

The rattle of metal echoed as Fane ripped chains from the headboard, wrapping them around my wrists so fast I had no time to counter his attack.

"What the hell are you doing?" I wriggled beneath him, half-terrified and all the way turned on at being entirely under his mercy. He could kill me. Or he could make me see stars. "You look like the type to enjoy whips and chains."

I'd said those words to him when he shoved me into an alley to stop me from going after Hawk. Only a few days had passed since Fane bit me, and the hatred and sexual tension between us intensified every second we spent together.

"As I recall, you're the one who likes to be choked, Teague."

We froze as soon as the sentence hit the heated air between us. That had been Fane's exact response.

"I've said that before, haven't I?" he asked, still holding the chains around my wrists, his hard length burning between my legs.

An ache built in my chest, and I couldn't find the words, so I nodded.

Fane released my wrists, and the chains fell away as he pushed himself up to sit back on his haunches. "It just came out. I don't know why."

Before the distance between us could grow again, I sat up and practically jumped in his lap. "We were fooling ourselves even back then. There's always been something between us, Fane. Don't you feel it?"

I kissed him, urging him to stay with me in the moment. Instead of pushing me away, the demon shifter owned my mouth, his tongue toying with mine, igniting flames in my body. I tore the rest of his shirt off and ran my hands over his scorching flesh.

"This won't end well." He broke the kiss as his mouth traveled down my throat, sucking and biting a trail toward my tattoo. "But I want to be inside of you so fucking bad I can't stand it."

Hot tingles erupted within my center, and my head tilted back, baring my neck to him. He could easily kill me now, but the way his hips tilted into mine made it apparent murder was not the most important thing on his mind.

"Then stop teasing me, and take what you want." I whimpered as his tongue dragged over the swirling marks, tiny bolts of electricity crackling low in my belly. "I submit."

I had no idea why I said those words, but the moment they fell from my mouth, something within him snapped. Fane slammed my back onto the mattress, a wild look in his eyes as the pupils thinned to slits.

"I accept your surrender."

My heart crashed against my ribs as his beast merged with the man, and my own shifter and demon animal surged forward. Fane used his talons to shred my clothes off. Lava penetrated my veins when he stretched over me, his bare chest scalding my flesh while his rough jeans rubbed against my sensitive bottom half. His mouth sealed to mine in a fervent kiss that stole the air from my lungs and any remaining sense.

Fane and I had teased and tormented each other for weeks, but we knew it would eventually end in a fiery collision. The last time we'd had sex was in Mohan Wilds after I almost died. That felt like a lifetime ago. And when we'd finished, Fane tried to cheapen the moment with hurtful words.

He wouldn't do that this time. His feelings for me were stronger than the hatred Kaspin revived in him. Every time he touched me, that loathing slipped farther away.

The demon shifter broke the kiss, his lips skimming over my jaw and down my throat. "Why do I let you do this to me?" His growl vibrated my skin as his tongue swept over the tattoo again, making me moan. "Why can't I just hate you?"

My legs opened wider as he thrust his hips forward. "It would be easier, wouldn't it?"

"I never choose the easy road, though." Fane's hand slipped between my legs, brushing my entrance.

I cried out as he sank his finger inside, his thumb circling my clit. "Fane." The fact that he was still partially dressed while I was bared and vulnerable beneath him drove me nuts. "How long are you going to play with me? I can't take much more."

When he brought his face to mine, our eyes held a luminescent glow, and our pupils formed black diamonds. "You really don't understand that I'm trying to hold back to protect you. The beast inside of me wants to consume you whole and ruin you. There will be no mercy if I don't keep some semblance of control."

"I don't want your mercy, Maverick." My talons dragged across his back without drawing blood. "I want all of you."

My declaration ripped that last bit of restraint he had. Fane jumped from the bed and yanked his jeans off, revealing the intimidating sight of his fully naked form. His hard, thick length bobbed between his legs.

I swallowed as anticipation and desire burned in my veins. This would hurt, but I welcomed every bit of pain coming my way.

"I hope you know what you're doing." Fane crawled on top of me and parted my legs. His lips brushed over my ear as he whispered, "No one will hear you scream in here, fiera mika."

"Good."

Fane shoved his cock deep inside without warning, ripping a broken cry from me. It hurt—in the most delicious way possible. Having him inside me again already had my bones melting and blood singing. He didn't give me a moment to catch my breath before he pulled out and thrust in again.

"Why does this feel so damn good?" He dropped his head into the crook of my neck, his hot breath rushing over me in quick pants as his rhythm increased. "I've become an addict within seconds. I won't be able to go long without another fix."

Joy burst within my heart as he finally admitted how much he wanted me.

"I've always been addicted to you and this feeling between us." My legs wrapped around his waist, our hips clashing together and bringing me another dose of that pleasure-pain I craved. "My need for you is even stronger than the pull of this amulet."

Fane's head lifted, and he gripped my jaw, forcing our gazes to meet. "Why aren't you afraid of me?"

"I never have been." My fingers, still tipped in talons, traced his spine and the scars mottling his back.

His thumb brushed my bottom lip, his brow furrowing. "No woman has ever wanted all of me, the beast and the man. You don't shy away when my dark side takes over. You never look at me in disgust or fear. You don't ask me to be gentle or careful." Fane's mouth skimmed over mine. "You just let me be… me."

My chest ached as his whispered words squeezed my heart and had my eyes burning. Fane hadn't had the easiest life and was rarely accepted, but I'd always wanted all of him. Angry, moody, domineering, and possessive—I loved him for those things, not despite them.

I did love him. He wasn't ready to hear it yet, but at least I could admit it to myself.

As Fane kissed me, his thrusts grew deeper, harder, threatening to split me in half. If I died while he ravished me, I wouldn't mind one bit.

"Fane!" I screamed as every drive of his cock had me falling further into a storm of bliss. The bed shook, and chains rattled, the headboard slamming into the wall. The thudding base within Wrath & Ruin dissipated under our moans and slapping bodies. Sweat slicked my skin as heat brewed between us, hot enough to melt steel.

The demon shifter's teeth pressed against my tattoo, his tongue swirling over the black ink. "You are mine, Tate. No other man will ever be inside of you as long as you live. Say it."

"I'm yours." He was so possessive, but it only made the fires within me burn brighter. "No other man will ever touch me."

"Not even Ruin." His fingers curled around my throat. "Next time he touches you, remember this moment when I was inside of you, making you scream my name. You remember that I'm the only one allowed to make you come."

My heart crashed against my ribs, and I could barely breathe between ragged pants and groans as Fane took and took. "I'll remember. I promise."

"Good girl." He sucked my tattoo, and my orgasm hit so hard I shrieked and violently jerked beneath him.

Fane's grip tightened on my neck, cutting off my air as fireworks popped in my vision and waves of pleasure ripped through my core and out to my extremities. His roar erupted through the air as he spilled inside of me, his movements becoming uneven.

His attention was fixed on me as we rode out the intense high together. My ears rang, and stars still popped on the edges of my vision. I opened my mouth to gulp some much-needed oxygen and suddenly realized Fane's fingers were still wrapped around my throat.

And they were tightening.