Page 100 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse

“Let me go and get out,” I managed, my voice barely a squeak.

He loosened his grip on my ankles and slid his hands upward, warm fingers trailing the back of my calves. He stopped when he reached the inside of my knees and let out a low growl.

“Do you really want me to leave?” he asked with a smirk.

The bastard!

I lifted my chin. “I do.”

His eyes narrowed as he considered the truthfulness of my assertion. “Okay, I will leave.”

He took a step back, his hands gliding to my ankles then relinquishing their contact with my feverish skin. My mouth went dry and the wordstaystuck in my throat. Oh, how I hated myself for being so weak.

“But before I leave you to scream into your pillow,” he said between clenched teeth, “I need you to understand something. Neither Sage nor anyone else is allowed to touch you. Do I make myself clear?”

I stared at him, perplexed.

“Do I make myself clear?” he repeated.

Rage inundated my chest like a flash flood and, the next thing I knew, I was on my feet, the covers falling to the floor as I stood a few steps away from him.

“How dare you? Who do you think you are?!” I hissed from behind the cage of my own teeth. “You don’t decide who gets to touch me. You don’t own me.”

Faster than the eye could see, he took a step forward as if to ram into me. I flinched and braced myself. In the last instant, he halted, hovering menacingly over me.

“I don’t own you, yes,” he hissed. “Regardless, youaremine, and you know it.” His golden eyes burned, searing into my soul. ”Go ahead, deny it,” he challenged.

“I’m not yours.” My gaze fell to the floor.

“Say that again, but this time look me in the eye.”

My breath caught for a moment, but I did as he asked. I looked him straight in the eye and repeated to myself. “I’m n-not yours.” My voice betrayed me, shaking and breaking halfway through.

Drevan smirked. “You used to be a good liar, but it seems you’ve lost your edge.”

“Whereas you are as sharp as ever,” I shot back.

“I told you I would never lie to you again, and I haven’t.”

“Then why won’t you tell me why you don’t want me to get Truesight?”

“This conversation is not about that. It’s about…” he caressed my bare arm with the back of his hand, sending a violent chill across my body. “It’s about me claiming you.”

He was again avoiding my question, and he expertly threw me for a loop.

“Claim?! What are you talking about?” I demanded, completely derailed by my need to know about his true form.

His hand moved from my arm to my waist. I sucked in a breath as he encircled it, his thumb tracing patterns that spiraled in waves of heat over my naked skin.

“Deny me.” He leaned closer, his breath on my lips, his other hand encircling my other side as he pulled me against his hard body. “Deny me,” he repeated, his mouth so close to mine that I felt a slight tickle on my upper lip.

A part of me wanted to push him away, but it wasn’t strong enough. The bulk of who I was wanted him here and now. No restraints. No holding back.

“You can’t,” he said. “Just like I can’t deny you.”

He kissed me then, and I was lost.

My hands wrapped around his neck and threaded through his silken hair. His tongue parted my lips and slipped in, brushing against mine. Its velvety feel and slow movement unleashed an electric thrill through my body, making me moan. In response, he growled deep in his throat, slipped his hands around my backside, and lifted me off the floor.