Page 12 of Malice: The Mate Games (Apocalypse #3)

Chapter

Nine

GRIM

W arm night air enveloped me as I strode through my carefully crafted garden, the scent of rain hanging heavy above me, promising a storm but not yet delivering.

The clouds wouldn’t dare open until I allowed it, and right now I had other plans.

Tonight would hopefully be the first of many, but in case it wasn’t, I intended to make every second count.

I was too intimately aware of the fickleness of time to ever take it for granted.

I pulled a pocket watch from my suit jacket and checked the time, more to have something to do with my hands than anything else.

Just as it snapped closed with a satisfying click, I spotted the boat docking down at the lake.

A thrill chased across my skin at the sight of her.

Even from a distance, she was breathtaking, her red hair catching the beams of moonlight as they spilled from the parted clouds.

“Fuck,” I whispered, every step bringing me closer to the one thing I wanted. My wildflower.

Originally, I’d planned on letting her walk up the stone path to meet me, but I couldn’t stand being so far away from her, so instead I half jogged down the path so I could reach her as she climbed out of the boat.

She was dressed in a white négligée, the thin layers of gossamer fabric protecting her modesty.

Her lips were curled up in a smirk when I greeted her, one gloved hand offered to help her to her feet.

“Someone’s in a hurry,” she teased.

I’d never hurried for a single soul in my very long existence, but she was right. I wanted to be surrounded by her for as long as possible in this dream. To savor every moment.

“You’re a vision.”

She looked down her body at the ethereal gown and matching robe I’d conjured for her.

“What, this old thing?” Without prompting, she gave me a little twirl, allowing the material to billow out around her ankles.

But it was the giggle that accompanied the move, so lighthearted and free, that had my heart seizing in my chest. “I’m honestly shocked dream-you would put dream-me in something with so much fabric. ”

“Isn’t it all part of the process? Slowly unwrapping the most perfect present I’ve ever received.”

She returned my gaze with a flirtatious one of her own. “Why, Grim, I dare say you’re trying to seduce me.” Then she leaned in and filled my nose with her delectable scent, dropping her voice as she did. “You should know, I’m a sure thing. You don’t have to try that hard.”

“You deserve slow and deliberate pursuit. I intend to seduce you until you’re begging me to take you.” My voice was low and controlled, but inside I was already barely able to contain my need.

Merri’s eyelashes fluttered as she breathed in deeply. “I think it might be you who will be begging.”

“Why not both of us?”

Her smile was warm as she leaned into my side. “I can work with that.” Then she let out a murmur of contentment as she took in the garden. “You and your flowers.”

“Consider it a gift.”

“These are for me?”

“Every variety of night bloomers fills this garden, just for you to enjoy.”

She pressed her free hand to her heart. “Of course you wouldn’t do anything by half-measure. Other girls get bouquets, but Death gave me a whole-ass garden. I wouldn’t have taken you for a romantic, Grimsby. But it suits you.”

“I’ve never had the opportunity to stretch that particular muscle.”

She peered up at me, holding my gaze for several heartbeats before replying, “No, I suppose you haven’t.”

The urge to close the distance between our lips was so strong I nearly choked on it. But a crack of thunder broke the moment. A fat drop of rain landed on her cheek, prompting me to scoop her into my arms as though I were her bridegroom and couldn’t wait to carry her over the threshold.

“Oh, well, if you insist,” she teased, nuzzling her face against my chest as I strode up the path to the villa. Her warmth radiated through me, even with the fabric of my suit in the way. I wanted more.

By the time we reached the jasmine-laced walls of the villa, the rain was pouring down, drenching us both.

With little more than a thought, the fireplace against the back wall of the indoor-outdoor living space blazed to life, along with the hundreds of candles gracing every available surface.

We were bathed in a warm glow, the soft light casting romantic shadows around the room as the sound of the rain falling acted as our music.

“You really do think of everything,” she said softly, her eyes taking in the room before lifting to mine. “Though that doesn’t surprise me. You love to set the scene.”

It was obvious she was referencing something specific, but I couldn’t quite figure out what she was referring to. There were simply too many options. It wasn’t until she intentionally pressed her nose into my chest and inhaled deeply that I got my answer.

“Mmm,” she breathed. “I’ve become addicted to the scent of you ever since you left me that little present in my room.”

I stiffened, a slight twinge of guilt worming its way into my mind. “I thought you might be cross about that.”

“Why?”

“Because I forced the issue of your resistance to feed. I took matters into my own hands.”

She hummed softly to herself and reached up to trace my lips with her fingertip. The sensation of her skin on mine sent tingles skittering down my spine. “I see. My overbearing, dark, and moody daddy.”

Fuck me. I hated how much I loved the sound of that on her lips. If only because it was evidence of how much power she held over me. No creature in existence had owned me so thoroughly.

I set her on her feet, loath to let her go, but we wouldn’t get anywhere if I didn’t move this forward.

The rain had washed away any hint of modesty by turning her dressing gown and négligée translucent.

Rosy nipples teased me through the fabric, the wet cloth leaving nothing to the imagination.

I could see every line of her beautiful form.

She shivered, and my eyes snapped back to her face.

“Are you cold?”

“No,” she whispered, even as I maneuvered her to stand in front of the fire. “It was you, the scent of your arousal, I mean.” Her eyes fluttered closed, and she breathed deeply. “I’m so hungry. And you taste so good.”

Gaze locked on hers, I slid my gloves off and dropped them to the floor. “Then allow me to give you what you desire.”

With slow, deliberate movements, I brushed the wet strands of hair off her neck and shoulders, repeating the caress with my lips as I exposed the velvety expanse of skin.

She was cool beneath the heat of my mouth, and the contrast fascinated me.

Every hitch of her breath only served to heighten my own need.

My cock ached for attention, but I could wait.

I would.

This moment was about so much more than sex.

I wanted her to remember what it felt like to be the object of Death’s obsession.

Almost as badly as I wanted to memorize the feel of her beneath my hands.

There was no inch of her body I wasn’t about to explore.

This wasn’t just about seduction; it was about conquering.

Making her mine in every sense of the word.

She reached up to slide her robe off one shoulder, but I stopped her with a nip to her neck.

“No, wildflower. That’s my job.”

“Then do it faster.”

“You’ll get what you want, but first, you must be patient.”

“I need you.”

I pulled back, taking her face between my palms and staring into her bright blue eyes. “Not as much as I need this.”

Her breath left her in a soft whoosh. “Oh.”

I continued tracing a path along her skin, my thumb skating over her collarbone and up the side of her neck. “You have no idea how long I’ve yearned to do exactly this.”

“Touch me, Grim.”

“I intend to.”

Unable to resist any longer, I slipped one shoulder of the robe down, then the other, until I’d peeled it off her and it fell to the floor.

Then I stepped back until I could sit on the sofa, tugging her with me until she was standing between my spread knees.

My palms skated over her hips, up to encircle her waist, over her breasts, and back down as I took in her curves.

“What are you—ah.” Her words cut off on a moan as I covered one nipple with my mouth and sucked on her through the fabric between us.

Her fingers threaded through my hair and I had half a mind to stop her, but it felt so bloody good.

“Grim, why are you teasing me like this?”

Releasing her nipple, I rolled my gaze up to meet hers. “Because we only get one first time, wildflower. I want it to last so centuries from now I can recall every detail with vivid clarity.”

Emotion clouded her eyes until there was a silvery sheen over the blue. Then she smiled and ran the tips of her fingers through my hair, gently scratching my scalp with her nails and sending tiny shivers down my body. “Okay.”

I chuckled. “Was that your way of giving me permission to continue?”

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It was me saying okay.”

“To?”

“Anything . . . everything.”

“You know exactly what to say to break down my control, don’t you? Naughty little succubus.”

She reached for my collar, but I stopped her once again, needing the reins so I could have her the way we both wanted.

I tore her nightie down her shoulders, stopping when the straps reached her elbows, effectively restraining her.

Though if she gave it any effort, she’d be able to free herself easily.

This was a game, and she knew the rules.

Leaning forward, I took her nipple in my mouth and sucked hard, drawing out another sexy whimper.

My hands had a life of their own, roving over her body and mapping every inch of her I could reach.

As much as I wanted this to go slowly so I could commit each touch to memory, I ached to feel her wrapped around me—the real me, not my shadow self.