Page 31 of Demon Daddy’s Nanny (Demon Daddies #3)

31

EVA

I slip into our bedroom, my footsteps quiet against the polished stone floor. Ridwan stands at the window, a dark silhouette against the setting sun. His wings are half-spread, golden feathers catching the dying light, but tension runs through every line of his body. Even without seeing his face, I know that muscle in his jaw is working - the way it always does when something weighs on his mind.

Tomorrow is our binding ceremony, and it seems to have set him on edge. Three months of planning, of whispers and stares, of proving that none of that matters to either of us. But none of that matters now. Not when he's carrying the weight of the world on those broad shoulders.

I cross the room, breathing in his familiar scent and finding that it helps me relax instantly. My arms slide around his waist, palms pressing against the firm plane of his stomach. He doesn't startle - he never does - but some of the rigidity melts from his spine as I press my cheek between his shoulder blades.

His wings shift, curling forward to create a golden cocoon around us both. It's become his unconscious habit lately, this protective gesture that shields us from the world. One of his hands covers mine, rough calluses catching against my baker's scars.

The scar on his cheek catches shadows as the sun dips lower, that mark from a battle he still won't talk about. Sometimes I wonder if he'll ever share all his secrets, all the centuries of memories locked behind those golden eyes. But for now, I'm content to hold him, to be the safe harbor he never had before.

Ridwan shifts in my embrace, turning to face me. The dying sunlight catches the sharp angles of his face, throwing that scar into stark relief. His golden eyes search mine, filled with an intensity that makes my breath catch.

"What's wrong?" My fingers trace the line of his jaw, feeling the tension there.

"Are you certain about this?" His voice is rough, like he's been holding these words back. "The binding - being tied to me for eternity. There's no undoing it once it's done."

A laugh bubbles up in my chest, but I swallow it down. Trust him to doubt this now, after everything we've been through. After all the nights spent learning each other's broken pieces, all the moments where his touch made me feel more alive than I ever thought possible.

"Ridwan." I cup his face between my palms, thumbs brushing over his cheekbones. "I've never been more certain of anything in my life."

The words barely leave my lips before he's moving, one hand tangling in my hair while the other pulls me flush against him. His mouth claims mine with a desperation that steals my breath. There's nothing gentle about this kiss - it's all need and heat and barely contained power. His wings curl tighter around us, blocking out the last rays of sun until all I can see, feel, taste is him.

I arch into him, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. He tastes like smoke and something darker, something that reminds me of storm clouds gathering on the horizon. His grip on my waist tightens, and I feel the slight tremor in his hands - the only outward sign of how much control he's maintaining.

When he finally breaks the kiss, his forehead rests against mine. Some of the tension has bled from his shoulders, replaced by something softer, more vulnerable. It's a side of him few ever see - the warrior laying down his armor, if only for a moment.

When we break apart, I grin up at him, my chest still rising and falling like I’ve just sprinted across the city. His golden eyes narrow, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face as I sink to my knees. The polished stone is cool beneath me, but I barely notice. My fingers work at the laces of his pants, quick and sure.

If he’s worried, I’ll take his mind off of it.

He sucks in a sharp breath when I free him, his cock heavy and thick in my hand. A low growl rumbles in his chest, and I glance up to see his jaw clenched, his wings twitching like he’s holding back from wrapping them around me again. I don’t give him the chance.

Leaning forward, I take him into my mouth, my tongue sliding along the underside of his shaft. His hand fists in my hair, not pulling, just there , like he needs to anchor himself. I hum against him, feeling the way his body tenses, the way his hips jerk forward almost involuntarily. He’s all control, even now, but I can feel it fraying at the edges.

His cock fills my mouth, the taste of him sharp and heady. My hand wraps around the base, stroking in rhythm with my lips, and his grip tightens in my hair. A curse slips from his lips, low and guttural, and I glance up to see his eyes darken, the gold now molten. His wings are fully spread now, the feathers trembling slightly, a crack in the armor he so carefully maintains.

I take him deeper, my throat working around him, and he lets out a ragged breath. His free hand grips the edge of the window frame, the stone cracking under his strength. I can feel the power in him, barely restrained, and it only makes me want to push harder. I speed up, my tongue circling the tip before I take him to the hilt again, my nose brushing against the trail of dark hair at his base.

“Eva—” His voice is rough, strained, and it sends a thrill through me. His hips buck forward, but I don’t pull away. Instead, I press my palms against his thighs, steadying myself as I work him, my mouth and hand moving in perfect sync. His wings twitch again, and I know I’ve got him right where I want him - fully, completely undone.

His release floods my mouth, hot and salty, and I swallow him down, my tongue working along his length until he jerks away, breathing ragged. Before I can even think to move, he’s hauling me up, his hands rough and urgent. My back hits the cold stone of the window frame, the sharp edge biting into my skin. His eyes burn with a predatory intensity that makes my stomach tighten.

He doesn’t bother with patience. One hand fists in the fabric of my dress, and with a sharp tug, it tears down the middle, the sound of ripping fabric echoing in the room. Cool air hits my skin, but I barely feel it - his body is already pressing against mine, his heat overwhelming. His mouth crashes into mine, teeth scraping, tongue demanding. I bite back a moan, but it’s useless. He’s everywhere, his hands on my waist, his chest against mine, his wings curving around us like we’re the only two people in the world.

One of his hands grips my thigh, lifting it to wrap around his hip. I’m pinned, my back arching against the window, but I don’t fight it. I don’t want to. His other hand slides between us, fingers rough and sure as they slip inside me. I gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders, but he doesn’t stop. His fingers curl, finding the spot that makes my knees weak, and I can’t stop the cry that escapes my lips.

“Ridwan—” His name comes out broken, and he pulls his fingers away, replacing them with the head of his cock. He doesn’t wait, doesn’t tease. He pushes into me in one smooth, brutal thrust, and the force of it nearly knocks the air from my lungs. My head falls back against the window, the glass cool against my scalp, but I don’t care. All I feel is him, filling me, stretching me, claiming me.

His hands grip my hips, holding me in place as he fucks me hard and fast, each thrust driving me harder against the window. His wings beat the air, creating a rush of wind that tangles in my hair. His golden eyes lock onto mine, and there’s something feral in them, something that makes my blood sing.

“Mine,” he growls, his voice low and rough, and I can’t argue. Not when he’s like this, when every stroke burns through me, leaving fire in its wake. My fingers claw at his back, and he grunts, his pace becoming even more relentless. The window rattles with every thrust, and I’m sure it’ll shatter, but I don’t care. Let it break. Let the whole city see. Let them know I’m his.

My body tightens, pleasure building like a storm, and I can feel him close too, his movements growing more erratic, his breathing harsh against my neck. His hand slips between us, fingers finding my clit, and that’s all it takes. My back arches, my body shuddering as I come, the intensity of it stealing my breath. He follows with a guttural groan, his hips stilling as he spills inside me, his forehead pressed against mine.

For a moment, we stay like that, breathing hard, tangled together in the aftermath. His wings droop, curling around us like a shield, and I can feel the thud of his heart against my chest. He doesn’t say anything - he doesn’t need to. The way he holds me, the way his eyes linger on my face, tells me everything I need to know.

Still trembling, I lean into Ridwan as he lifts me from the window. His wings fold back, and the cool night air raises goosebumps across my skin. He cradles me against his chest, his steps steady as he carries me to our bath chamber.

Steam rises from the sunken pool, the water shimmering with golden light from the enchanted crystals embedded in the walls. He steps down into the warm water, still holding me close. The heat seeps into my muscles, and I let out a contented sigh as he settles us both onto one of the carved stone benches.

Water laps at my breasts as I turn to face him. The scar on his cheek catches the light, and I trace it with my fingertips. His golden eyes soften at my touch, that fierce intensity from before mellowing into something deeper.

"I love you." The words spill from my lips, quiet but certain. "I want this binding. I want you, for however many centuries we have." My thumb brushes over his bottom lip. "I've never wanted anything more."

His hand covers mine, pressing it against his face. There's vulnerability in his expression now, raw and open in a way he rarely allows himself to be. "I'll give you anything you desire." His voice is rough, like he's fighting to get the words out. "Everything I am, everything I have - it's yours."

A smile tugs at my lips. Even now, after everything, he struggles to say the words directly. But I understand. I see it in the way his wings curl forward, creating that protective golden cocoon. I feel it in the gentle way he holds me, like I'm something precious he's afraid might slip away.

Water droplets catch in his dark hair, and I lean forward to press my lips against his forehead. His arms tighten around me, and for a moment, we just breathe together, letting the warm water wash away everything but this.