Page 87 of Hell-Bound

“We,” Ren stated definitively. “Wekill him.”

Azur tilted his head back and inhaled deeply as if treasuring a delicious scent in the air.

“Yesss, my darling,” he purred, “wekill him. The event is tomorrow night—before we go, I need to brand you as mine,” he said, almost as an afterthought.

“Absolutelynot.”She balked. “I’m not going to let youbrandme. Are you insane?”

“Some people have said that, yes. Don’t fret—it’s temporary. But I cannot call you my consort if you have not been marked.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“No one would believe it without my brand, it will also keep you safe. But I won’t do it unless you give me permission.”

“Will…it hurt?”

He tilted his head thoughtfully. “No. At least, they haven’t told me it does.”

“And…this is the only way?” she asked, hoping their contract extended to preventing him from lying.

“I am afraid so. Any more extreme action might place you at unnecessary risk.”

“Fine,” she said, huffing.

“Excellent. Now, if you’d please lay down.”

Awkwardly, Ren realized that she was still splayed onAzur’s desk.

“There is fine. Might as well,” he grumbled, surveying the mess of papers.

He reached for her and lightly positioned her face towards his, hands still stained with dried blood. His eyes were hooded as they traced the curve of her neck.

“Yes, this will do nicely,” he murmured to himself.

He then lowered his face inches away from her, and she knew he could see her pulse quicken.

“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.

“It must be where everyone will see it,” he said, face still hovering at her nape.

The smell of roses on his breath made her heart skitter. With a start, she felt him trace the gentlest of lines down her neck with a sharp fang—the sensation already causing her muscles to spasm. She squinted her eyes, trying to concentrate on the necessity of the practice, not the caress. She knew that it would be all too easy to get lost in the experience.

“Oh, my darling, Ren. Just a pinch,” he sighed at her soft nape.

He buried his fangs into her roughly.

Ren gasped as his teeth pierced skin. A momentary stab of pain and then a surge of pleasant prickling raced through her body. She began to pant, losing control of her desires, wanting nothing more than for him to devour her whole.

One hand shot up, grabbing the curve of his horn to pull him in closer—a beg for more.

Deeper.

He stopped with a jolt.

“If you do that, I won’t be able to control what happens next,” he grunted huskily.

She felt wicked as she deliberately unfurled her fingers one by one, then teasingly trailed each finger lightly down the horn’s curve.

Azur sucked in air quickly, letting out a moan of excitement, his body shuddering. He trailed his tongue downher neck, licking up blood that was dripping there. A dark laugh escaped his lips as he kissed the small curve of her neck, stroking their mutual lust, moaning as he went. A low growl rumbled his throat as he jerked as if trying to contain his eagerness, drawing gentle lines of kisses to her chin. He paused, demanding her attention, a question lingering in his eyes.