Chapter 47

ChapterForty-Seven

She didn’t recognize the look in his eyes as he stalked into the room. Though it was still her Greed in front of her, she also thought perhaps this was someone else. This was... more.

He looked at her like a man possessed. Like she was the most important thing in his life, and right now? His attention was only on her. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to be the only one that he was focused on, though. All of a sudden, it seemed like a lot of pressure.

“Greed,” she said, walking backward as he followed her. “Can we talk for a moment?”

“There will be time for talking. That time is not right now.”

“Ah.” A thrill of pleasure zinged through her body. Those eyes watched every single move she made. From the deep breath that she pulled in to the flutter of her pulse at the base of her neck.

She felt so beautiful when he looked at her like that.

And suddenly she wasn’t sure she could do this right now. She’d been covered in blood the last time he’d seen her, and they had both murdered an entire group of people. She’d almost been... she couldn’t even think the word still, and what if that made him want her less?

What if everything was different between the two of them because she’d revealed everything to him? Not just assumed he understood when she vaguely hinted at their actions. She’d admitted everything and he might very well feel it made her lesser. Or tainted. Or…

“Varya,” he murmured, his voice deep and soothing.

“Greed?”

“You’re going to lie down on that bed, belly on the thicker pillow. You’re going to hike that pretty little skirt up, and then you’re going to lie there and take whatever I give like the good girl you are. Understood?”

Oh.

Yes. Very much so.

She found her tongue a little tied after that, so she spun around and made her way to the plush bed. She knew the exact pillow he was talking about. The one that would hold her hips up so high that there was no way to hide from him. Not from his gaze, not from his desires, nothing at all.

And yet, even though nerves still ran rampant through her mind, she found her hands gathering up the material of her nightgown. She tugged it up higher, pulling it over her hips and then lying down onto the pillow that was so soft it almost made her nerves go away. The silk slid over her cheek as she arranged herself exactly like he’d asked.

He let out a low groan that went straight between her legs. Wetness pooled there, and she could feel her thighs sliding over each other so easily it was almost embarrassing.

“You look so pretty.” His hand came down hard, spanking her right side. She knew there would be a handprint left there and wasn’t that what she’d come to expect from Greed?

He wanted to mark her now even though he’d already seen his handprint on her countless times before.

He gathered her hair up in one hand, arching her back so he could slide his lips along her cheek and down to her neck. “Did they succeed in touching you this time?”

She shuddered at the thought. “No. I killed him before he could do anything.”

Another low growl that did things to her insides like no other sound. “Good girl. Then, if you’re still interested, I plan on marking you everywhere on this tight little body so that I can feel like you’re really here. Alive, in my arms, and mine.”

Varya moaned. “Yes, Greed.”

That was all he needed to hear, apparently. He let her drop a little hard, but she loved it all the same. Spread out on his bed, breathless, so turned on she could barely think straight. He went to that wall, oh the wall, where his hidden toys were and she already wasn’t sure what he would bring back.

But it was the sight of the flogger that almost made her delirious with lust. That beautiful instrument that had already given her so much inspiration for what she wanted from him.

And she wanted. She wanted him so much it hurt.

He walked behind her, his eyes on her the whole time as he trailed the leather straps up her back. “We’ll start slow, my treasure. I wouldn’t want to break you.”

Varya didn’t even try to stop the snarl that came out of her mouth. “I am not some weakling, Greed. Hit me. Fuck me. Make me yours.”

The sharp crack of the flogger across her cheeks made her arch, but the pain was so delicious, so right. It made her heart race in her chest and her thighs clench together.

“I didn’t say you could speak,” he said quietly, tracing the end of the flogger along her spine.

“I’ll speak when I wish.”

“You’ll speak when you’re spoken to and no more than that.” Again, another crack. This time a little harder and surely leaving red lines down the backs of her thighs. But it was perfect.

It was them.

Everything about this was them. The mild brutality of it, the push and pull for dominance. The desire to build up all this passion, need, and...

“Greed,” she whispered against the sheets, already wanting him so much that she would beg. “I almost died. I thought I lost you and I fucking need you. Now. Inside me.”

He only barely relented. “Here?”

His fingers traced along her slick folds. Those thick fingers had her rocking back against them, but he never let her impale herself on him. Instead, he played. Toyed. Driving her mad with need, until he asked, “What do you want?”

“Hit me,” she replied. “And fuck me at the same time or I’ll do it myself.”

“Ach, love. We’re not there yet.”

And then she heard twin thuds hit the ground behind her. She had just enough time to send up a prayer to the gods that he did what she wanted, and then she shrieked as his tongue replaced his fingers.

That wicked mouth did things to her that no mouth should. She shook and shivered against his touch and then arched up with a curse as he slid the handle of the flogger inside her. He worked her with gentle strokes, bringing her up to a frenzy with his lips, hands, and tongue. He pushed her further and further to the very edge of madness, not nearly giving her what she wanted, but close... close...

He wrenched the flogger out of her and stood. Varya whimpered. She’d been so close and he was the one who had stopped.

But then he slid inside her, that massive cock spreading her wide and forcing her to take him. He slammed into her, forcing her body to stretch around him, and then she was screaming. Coming hard around his cock because that was what she had wanted for so many nights now, and finally he was inside her.

He stayed perfectly still while she came, surrounded by her and buried to the very root. He let her have her moment and endured it with her until she was shaking and limp beneath him.

Then he leaned down, wrenched up her head, and whispered, “You said to hit you while I fucked you, Varya, and I intend to do just that.”

He let her go and then the crack of the flogger came again. Spreading over her ass cheeks and sending hot fire up her spine. He slammed into her again, crack, then pulled out and slammed again. Each time harder, more furious, more unstoppable than the time before, and she couldn’t even think.

They existed in this bubble of pleasure and pain and torment and she wanted to tell him that he was an asshole, but she also didn’t want him to stop for even a second. He was devouring her body and soul and it was so perfect that she couldn’t think past the slide of his cock inside her, the slap of flesh on flesh, and the blistering orgasm that surprised her again.

Her entire body clenched hard around his. She hissed out a long breath, incapable of even making a noise as he slammed home, harder than ever before, buried so deep it almost hurt.

Then she felt him coming inside her and spraying her with everything she’d wanted.

Both of them were breathing hard by the time they were finished. She was probably decorated in red stripes and didn’t care in the slightest. He was still dirty from the journey, likely still covered in blood, and she had never felt more like the treasure he’d called her.

Because in this moment, she was the gift for the avenging warlord who had protected his people. She was his reward and damn if she didn’t love every second of this moment.

“Greed,” she whispered, tilting her head to accept his kiss. “That was...”

“Exactly how it should always be between us,” he filled in as he slumped to her side. He slid out of her and she hated the sudden emptiness of it.

If she could keep him inside her forever, she would.

Breathing hard, she stared up at the ceiling and tried to get her bearings. She’d wanted to talk to him about something, hadn’t she? Wasn’t there something they needed to talk about?

Ah. Right.

She rolled onto her side so she could look at him, watching his face as though she had never seen it before.

He wore an expression of peace that made her so happy to see. Like he was finally at ease, with no worries or fears or desires.

“Everything’s different now, isn’t it?” she whispered.

“Did that feel any different?”

“Well, no.” She rolled her eyes at his grin. “Greed.”

“What?”

“That’s the only thing that doesn’t feel different. You’re here with the rest of my town, and somehow not angry that they are taking so much from you. Food, time, likely stealing from you as well. I don’t understand it, and I think you do.” Varya watched him to see if there was any flicker of truth in his eyes after she said that. “Right?”

He palmed her hip, gently rubbing the red marks he’d left that had curled around to her front. “Do you remember what I told you about my brother? The one who had found his new bride?”

“Yes.” She hadn’t forgotten the story of the poor woman who had nearly died. That was why she had a spirit inside her as well.

“Good. The whole point of that story was for me to tell you that a demon king changed who he was because of a woman. And I had thought...” He stared into her eyes and she saw something else in them. “I had thought that falling in love with a woman would be the answer. But then I fell in love with you and I was still the greedy fucker that I’d always been.”

“And still are,” she added with a grin.

“Mildly.” He shrugged. “It’s part of who I am. However, I realized I am not like Lust. I didn’t need you to change, nor did Lust need Selene. We both had to be realistic about who we were and want to change for ourselves.”

She frowned. “Are you saying you changed?”

“I did.” Greed nodded and then slid his hand all the way up her body to cup her jaw. “Partly for you. And partly for me.”

“What… changed?” She could already sense it, though. There was something about him that wasn’t her Greed. It was more.

“I don’t want you to call me anything else. But a spirit, when exposed to certain circumstances, to differences in their lives or sometimes horrible things, they change. Just like people and emotions.” He swallowed hard, and she saw a shadow of doubt in his gaze. Almost as though he didn’t quite want to tell her. “I think I might be Benevolence now.”

“Benevolence?” she whispered. “Really?”

“It doesn’t mean I cannot feel the original part of me. I will still be just as greedy for every part of you, pain, pleasure, love...” He stroked his fingers through her hair and tugged her closer with a low growl. “And I also know, without a doubt, that I will waste far too much time between those thighs, treasure. Because I want you to be happy here. With me and our people.”

Varya licked her lips and then grinned. “I think I can be happy with you forever, Greed. No matter what kind of spirit you are.”

And as she sank into his kiss, she thought... yes. This was perfect.