Page 50 of Sire

“But…” Her eyes search mine. “Could youdothat? Give a child to that monster?”

“No. But what other choice did I have but to at least say I’d do it?”

“Why haven’t you told Axel?”

“Because if I’m right, nothing will stop him. He’ll get his kid and kill our father, and Katya, too, and he’ll start a war we won’t win. Kids, moms, wives: everyone will die.”

She reaches for my left hand. “So, you keep the peace, don’t you?”

I nod, rage and regret burning behind my eyes.

“You’re a true man of God,” she sighs. “You’re trying to protect everyone, and you’ll sacrifice yourself to do it.”

“I don’t care what happens to me. I’ll fix this somehow, but I care about you now. You can stay here. I’ll sign this place over to you, put some guards outside, and I’ll leave you safe and at peace.”

She squeezes my hand. “Or?”

I’ve preached about revelations, and now, I’m experiencing one. It’s not a blinding light, like Paul on the road to Damascus.

It’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, an orphan from Tennessee, who was left in a chapel, andthank you, God,I found her.

“Or you’re mine, Wren. Forever. We’re in this together. We never let go, and we never lose faith. That was our promise last night.”

She kneels in front of me. It puts us nose to nose, lips to lips. “You made a deal with the Devil, but now, you’ll make a deal with an Angel. All I ask is if you ever have to choose, you choose me.”

I lace a hand through her hair. “There’s noif, Angel. I’ll always choose you. I did it the moment I laid eyes on you.”

“Deal.” She inches closer. “Now, lay your lips on me.”

Our eyes lock, and itisa light. It’s white, hot, electric, and blazing through my veins. It surges through me, igniting my instincts. I’m meant to have her, breed her, but I won’t destroy her.

I nuzzle her nose. “Have you ever been kissed?”

“No. You get every first with me, Sire. Even love.”

“I’ll kiss you, Angel. I’m falling in love with you, too.” I brush my lips over hers. “But I won’t be inside you until you’re my wife. I know it’s patriarchal bullshit, but I don’t care. I need to do everything right with you, Wren. You deserve it.”

“Can we do everything right the first time?” She nips my bottom lip. “Then, everything wrong together? Forever?”

I’m holding back. I’m raging hard. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, Angel.”

“Then, by God, show me.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

WREN

Sire cups my face,holding my gaze. Heaven or hell, I don’t know what to call the light in his eyes, but I’m drawn to it.

Slowly, he kisses my lips. Tender. Tasting. Tempting. And I whimper for more.

So, he does it again. Faster. Wetter. Hotter. His tongue teasing the seam of my lips, and I let him teach me.

I part my lips open for him, and he groans. His breath falls heavy, his tongue exploring mine, and I get dizzy. I don’t want lucidity; I want his lush lips. I want everything they’re making me feel, from my racing heart to the wet rush between my thighs.

He tilts his head more, his hands weaving into my hair. When he gets fistfuls, he groans even deeper, his tongue more demanding, and I answer his mouth with a moan.

“Fuck, Angel,” he huffs into our kiss. “Is this okay?”