Page 24 of Hazel’s Choice (A Monstrous World: Next Gen)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Hazel

I t’s a good thing the glass half-wall is sturdy because Annex has put it to the test. It’s the only thing keeping me upright once his knot locks inside me.

I’m too out of it to comprehend how much time has passed, but it’s been at least another handful of orgasms for me. By the time Annex’s knot deflates, I’m a boneless mess.

Annex is a gentleman, though. Dropping my dress over my ass, he scoops me up and relocates us to one of the club chairs.

I end up sitting sideways across his lap, and his still mostly-hard cock bumps around my ass. “I wasn’t expecting you to bite me, but I’m not mad about it.”

“Good.” He dips his head, kissing my temple.

“My monster got away from me. You’re taking it much better than I expected, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.

I’m going to be the best mate anyone has ever had.

I’ll always have your back no matter what, and I’ll keep you well-fucked. This really is a win-win.”

I snort.

He’s so cute at the most random of times.

“I’ll do my best to be a good partner too,” I assure him, patting his chest.

“I don’t want to ruin the moment, but I realized I forgot to tell you something.”

“Okay.” Twisting my head, I squint up at him. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”

I attempt to scan his thoughts in the bond for whatever deception he’s hiding and immediately feel guilty for it.

“Just remember, baby doll. You’re a bundle of secrets too, and truthfully, it’s nothing bad.

” Annex runs his hand over my hip. “You know I came to town to honor a favor to your friend Greer’s mates.

What I failed to mention was that once I was here, they asked me to keep an eye out for you.

They wanted to make sure you weren’t lonely, and I assumed they didn’t want you hanging around too much and ruining their honeymoon fucking. ”

“You pursued a friendship with me because of a favor?” My jaw falls, and I try not to let it hurt my feelings, but it really does.

Annex grabs my hand, pulling it to rest over his heart.

He’s still in the button-down, but it hangs open.

“Examine the bond and test if I’m lying when I say that from the moment I laid eyes on you, every moment I spent with you was for purely selfish reasons.

Being with you wasn’t payment for a favor.

It was solely because you intrigued me. I liked spending time with you. Am I lying?”

I shake my head.

He’s not, and that’s a huge relief.

“I still don’t like that it took you this long to tell me,” I admit.

“I should have,” he agrees, patting my hand. “But we should probably talk about you coming clean to the angel. Pot, meet kettle and all that.”

I grimace. “You’re right. I just wanted to have the opportunity to get to know each other. I think I felt like if I could prove to him who I really am, he wouldn’t try to kill me when I finally revealed the truth. But that’s stupid, isn’t it?”

“Ehh.” He shrugs. “I can see where you’re coming from, but that logic will only hold for so long. It’s easy to have an opinion from the outside looking in, but I know your emotions toward Zephyr are complicated.”

I twist on Annex’s lap until our chests are close together and stretch a hand up, cradling his jaw. “They are, but my feelings about you aren’t. I care so much about you. You make me really happy.”

“So you forgive me?”

“I do, and we have one final step to ensure our bonding is complete.” Tilting his jaw down, I push my lips to his. The kiss is slow and sensual, and feeling his emotions radiating in the connection is surreal. I catch his lower lip between my teeth and plunge my canines into the tender flesh.

I was surprised he didn’t go for the lip. It’s a favorite bonding location for demons, but as long as he’s happy with where he put his claiming bite, I am too.

I retract my teeth, licking over the bite to clean and seal the wound. It was mostly a formality since my soul accepted the connection when he bit me, but everything in me says Annex needed to see me claim him.

Pulling back, I study his handsome face. “You’re all mine.” The thought sends a shiver down my spine.

“Aww, baby doll. I am. That just means you’re mine too.”

The whole Zephyr thing is a disaster waiting to unfold. He doesn’t join us in my bed after Annex and I make it home.

I’m a nervous mess the entire time I dress for work the next morning. At least I’m no longer starving, but concern about how Zeph will react to my bonding Annex sits heavy in my chest.

I still force myself to knock on his door. Sneaking out would be gross. Although I am clad in a cardigan to cover Annex’s bite, which is probably sneaky in its own right. It’s not like Zeph won’t be able to smell the change in my scent, but I have a whole little speech worked out in my mind.

“Good morning,” the archangel says, opening the door and stepping into the hallway.

He looks way too sexy with his hair pulled up into a bun at the back of his head. The white shirt he’s wearing stretches to capacity over his strong chest.

He eyes me from head to toe. “That’s a cute dress.”

The smug smile that crosses his face gives me the irrational urge to tackle him. There’s no time for that when I’m going to be late for work. If I could siphon us over, I’d be right on time, but adjusting to the life of a witch is complicated.

I’ve developed a whole newfound respect for my mother. And shit. I’m a terrible daughter. I forgot to send her a picture of me and Annex.

“Thank you. Good morning. Come on, I can’t be late.” I link my hand in his and drag him down the stairs.

I have no idea what’s wrong with me, but I’ve been hot the last few days. It’s gotten so bad that even the thin sweater over the equally thin sundress is starting to make me sweat. I need to step outside where the air will cool me off.

“Are you feeling okay?” Zephyr asks as we reach the bottom of the stairs. “I know you had a late night.”

“Yeah, I’m good,” I assure him as he holds the front door open. I step out onto the porch and frown at the driveway. “Whose car is that?”

Zeph clears his throat, closing the door behind him. “Ahh, yes, my gift arrived this morning. The weather is changing, and it’s not right that you should have to walk in the elements when Annex is unavailable.”

My brain finally clicks. “Are you saying you bought me a car? I don’t even know how to drive.” I’m pretty sure I told him that once before, so maybe I’m completely misreading the situation.

“I can teach you how to drive,” Zephyr says, wrapping his arm around my lower back. “But I wanted to know that you’ll have it if you need it.”

It feels a lot like the implied last part of that sentence is, you’ll have it for when I’m not here to fly you to work , and the thought causes a pit to form in my gut.

On the bright side, if he’s planning to head back to Heaven, I guess I won’t have to tell him the truth about what I am. He can fly off on his next mission, and whatever it is between us can be left as a fling.

I fucking hate that thought, and a shiver of revulsion runs through my entire body.

“You’re cold? Of course you are. It’s chilly, give me just one moment.” Zephyr disappears in a shimmery cloud of smoke before I can assure him that I’m not cold. He reappears with the same jacket he clad me in at Rut the night he moved in, and my eyes burn as he helps me into it.

Goddammit.

I’m supposed to be a badass devourer.

I will not cry over a man who has always planned to leave.

I just hate that he’s so… sweet .

That really doesn’t matter if he has no plans to stick around. Now, does it?

I hate being a realist.

Why is he even bothering to be so thoughtful when he plans to abandon me?