Page 109 of First Offense

But nothing could stop me from lifting my mouth to Auric’s and kissing him as if my very life depended on it.

If this was all just some wicked punishment to teach me the value of respecting my suitors, then it had failed in its purpose. Because what I found in this room was a dream come true.

Twocompatible mates. One of whom I’d craved for more years than I desired to count. And the second was a man I shouldn’t accept, a Noir with a lethal edge and a darkness to him that would surely taint my lighter side.

Together, they were the worst kind of forbidden.

A proverbial “fuck you” to the kingdom that had raised me.

A kingdom that had cast me out without a second glance or any words of encouragement.

A kingdom that had embraced my Fall and sent me here to suffer.

What did I owe them if they felt this was a more desirable fate than helping me learn from my Fall? To punish me with two exquisite male specimens, just to see if I was strong enough to reject them.

No.

I chose toacceptthem.

To embrace them.

Tokissthem.

First Auric, with a searing passion underlined in years of pent-up lust and need. He unleashed it all upon me, his tongue a dominant presence in my mouth, demanding I return his ardor. And I did. Oh, how I did. With a determination and a passion unlike any I’d ever experienced.

Thiswas fate.

Thiswas how I should feel when a male touched me, kissed me, stroked me.

Oh gods. I was falling apart before we’d even started, his palm against my cheek a brand that set my very soul on fire. And his mouth… his mouth should be a sin in itself. Full lips, wicked tongue, a rhythm meant to seduce and to claim.

I groaned against him, arching my hips, seeking more friction, seekinghim.

A smoky tendril of leathery fragrance tickled my nostrils as though to remind me it wasn’t ahimbut athem.

I shouldn’t, but I wanted them both.

It was immoral. Cause for a Fall. And yet, my wings were already black, so why not finalize my state? Would it even matter? There were no specific rules that said I couldn’t mate below my station, just that finding a suitable match among the dukedom was preferable.

But none of them fit.

Not like Auric and Novak.

I chose my heart. My spirit. My destiny. I chose defiance.

I threaded my fingers through Auric’s hair and held him to me as I unleashed all my feelings into our kiss, telling him with my mouth that I accepted him, wanted him, intended to keep him.

His groan vibrated against my chest, and I responded with a purr.Mine.

My mates.

My future.

Mychoice.

Fuck your punishment, Sayir,I thought.Fuck it all.

I’d done everything right. Followed every rule. Bent over backward to acquiesce and accept my fate. But it was never my destiny to live, just one chosen by another. My father. And with every swipe of my tongue against Auric’s, I realized how true that was.