Page 45 of Eternal

I’m desperate for air.

He’s shattering my defenses. I’m a glass figurine falling in slow motion.

Declan watches me, even as he brings his hand up to Cora’s face. He strokes her cheek and runs his fingers into her hair. Her mouth hovers a fraction away from his cock, but he’s preventing her from touching him yet.

It might be a second. It might be minutes.

I’m suspended, and my eyes burn as my head pounds.

Time slows.

Declan is evil. A master at inflicting pain, and this is just another way he’s chosen to do it. Worse, it’s working.

He releases his grip to set her free, and my resistance snaps.

“Stop.”

He grabs her hair the moment the word comes out, smirking. “You can go, Cora.”

“What the hell, Declan?” She huffs.

He shoves her away, unapologetic, because that would require empathy, and he’s incapable. She falls back on her ass but doesn’t argue as he glares at her. Hurrying to her feet, she silently pouts as she leaves the room.

She storms out, slamming the door behind her. And the entire time, I’m watching Declan’s cold, demonic eyes. The doorways to the dark heart of the devil.

“Come here,” he says when it’s just the two of us, pointing to the spot at his feet.

I know where this is going. The challenge he’s issuing.

I’ve been fighting this since he first made his demands, but there’s no more getting away with it.

As I walk toward him, I tell myself it’s because he has information he could use against me. I tell myself it’s to keep my father’s plans at bay.

But when I sink to my knees in front of him, I know the truth is so much darker. It’s this sickness he wakes up somewhere deep in my heart.

A part of myself I’ve tried to cut out in any way I could.

Razors.

Pills.

But Declan slices through. He takes the chaos in my mind, and he quiets it.

My heart bleeds as my body surrenders.

I’ve been alone my whole life—truly alone—scared to let anyone in. But Declan stormed those walls. He invaded my safe space. He demanded I let him in, and now that he’s there, I can’t get rid of him.

Even when it hurts.

Even when I’m begging him to stop.

Declan leans forward, not bothering to put away his cock, which is rock hard and twitching at the sight of me. He grabs my chin and brings us nearly mouth to mouth.

“Good little pet.” He smirks, his icy gaze fastened to me.

He’s a sinner with the influence of a god, and there’s no escaping him.

“Don’t just sit there, Tealene. Open your mouth. Be a good girl, and let me see how deep you can take your boyfriend.”