Page 32 of Satanic Shadow

A sound vibrates from his chest once more, making me close my eyes as he yanks my head back by the throat, so we’re cheek to cheek. He grips my thigh harder, lifting it so he can thrust between my legs from behind.

Slowly, we both move our hips. The coiling deep within me starts as a dull pulse, and it’s as if one of Dane’s shadows is snaking up my spine, wrapping around each vertebra and whispering sweet nothings to my soul. Promises to seek revenge.

On what, I don’t know.

Again and again, the concealed length of him rubs against my ass, pushing between my legs to run over my soaking pussy. And the urge to turn and face him so I can feel his cock from the front is unbearable.

But I won’t turn.

It might break whatever spell we’re in. Need. Desire. Black liquid lust injecting into our veins until we both peak, and I realize the sunlight is no longer shining through my window.

The room has fallen into darkness, and neither of us has noticed until now. We both freeze. Our orgasms are fading.

We look up to the ceiling. A black vortex filled with flashes of lightning swirls above us.

Dane removes his hands from my throat and thigh.

We swallow, gulping down the need to continue. We breathe in unison. When the warmth between us dims, the moment is gone, the veil of black is lifted, and the sun shines once more.

The vortex shimmers to nothing until it’s gone. Everything is. Even the tenderness of Dane that comforted me all night. It felt familiar somehow, as if I’ve been in that position a thousand times before. I look over my shoulder to my school bully. Half-lidded eyes are on me.

“What was that?” he asks, running his hand through his unruly hair. “Fuck, where are my clothes?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know what that was. I thought your shadow pets were getting excited again.”

He pulls away from me completely, breaking our touch and connection. And instantly, everything feels different. It feels wrong.

“They are not pets. They are the only shadows that remain from my realm and will be treated with respect.”

He gets to his feet and pulls his shirt on, keeping it unbuttoned. His abs strain, and my gaze fixes on the prominent V leading down to his boxers. Without sparing me a glance, he shoves his legs into his pants.

Eventually, his eyes meet mine then trail down the length of me before he shakes his head and mutters deeply, “Fuck.”

“It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Dalton. I’ll see you soon for task three. Wear some ChapStick.”

He narrows his eyes. Then the air shifts, taking all the energy with it, and Dane is gone.

10

“Congratulations to all students who have so far passed tasks one and two,” the professor says as she sits on her desk. “And a very well done to Orsen and Princess Melina. Eight tasks covered so far.”

I look at my friend. “You have some nerve to complain about me keeping secrets.”

She shrugs. “I got bored and he was there.”

“No. Since when are you a princess?”

She shrugs again, scribbling on her paper.

“You’re a princess too?” I ask Poppy, who nods with a grin. I stare at my so-called friends. “So you’re both technically royalty and you”—I nudge Mel—“are sleeping with Orsen.”

“I’m not sleeping with him,” she drawls.

“Oh, sorry, I must’ve gotten the part where he’s been sleeping in your bed for the best part of two weeks wrong,” Poppy adds, leaning forward on her desk. “He made himself invisible when I came in to speak to her about homework. What if I farted? Like, what the hell, sis?”

Mel rolls her eyes. “Stop trying to speak like a human.”

“Stop sneaking around like one then! You know everything about me and my partner.”