Page 36 of The Demon’s Collar (The Bard’s Demon #1)

“It helps identify bodies if our clothes burn,” he said, taunting me by answering the unasked question, proving once again how little effort it took to read me.

“They’re standard issue. You’ll get one at the camp.

The metallurgist weaves decent protective spells into the stone, too.

She’ll be interested in whatever it is you do to your hair. ”

He punctuated the statement by dropping the plate into the fire.

It thunked against the log, immediately consumed by the blue flames.

I didn’t understand the point of his little show—and I didn’t like that, because I was sure there was a point.

But I quickly forgot that I cared when he stood again to his full height and frowned down at me.

“You’ve been distracting me lately,” he accused. The conversational tone was gone as quickly as it’d come. Intermission over, apparently. “So you’re going to be silent and still while I listen to the Fates now. Do you understand, kitten?”

“Yes,” I breathed.

“Good girl,” he purred, which might have been a compliment if I’d had any other choice, but in this case was pure mockery. My pussy didn’t seem to know the difference. It pulsed needily once more.

B?k gave a low, dark chuckle.

He moved out of sight, padding to stand right behind me.

Too close. My breath hitched. He sank to his knees, nudging my feet apart until he pressed against me.

His thumbs kneaded my ass—which was still up in the air as ordered—and then slid down to spread my pussy wide open.

Without further warning, his cock thrust deep inside in one fast motion.

I would have groaned, but the compulsion trapped the sound in my throat.

I gagged on it—panicking as I fought to breathe around my own cries.

And we stayed that way.

My needy ache returned tenfold when B?k failed to move again.

I was brimful of his cock, but denied the friction I craved.

Unable even to beg for it. I tried to think, desperate for a distraction.

The Huntress? Lord Austvix? My limp fucking tendrils that seemed not at all concerned by my distress?

Nothing worked. Every sensation centered on his cock and how badly I needed it to move.

The breeze came and went. Crickets chirped. The first rays of dawn broke. And still, B?k convened with his Fates—inside me, but utterly removed. The fire crackled on, its heat drying the mud under my cheek.

By the time B?k stirred again, my mind was as numb as my body. He adjusted, just barely, but it was enough to wake up the ravenous beast between my legs. This time my whine was allowed to escape.

“Who do you belong to, kitten?”

I’d like to say I noticed something off in his tone. The deadened, hollow turn. But I didn’t. I was distracted. I needed him. I’m neither proud nor ashamed to admit that I would have said anything in that moment to earn a meager handful of thrusts.

“You,” I gasped.

He pulled back, and I held my breath—praying to Haz that it was only a windup. It was not. He pulled all the way out and stood up, ignoring my plaintive groan. He walked around to stand in front of me.

“Sit up,” he ordered.

I did. It wasn’t easy with my hands behind my back and my muscles absolutely atrophied in place from holding the prostrated position for so long. But my tendrils were quick to help for once. Not even attempting to evade the traitor allegations.

B?k cupped my chin, and his cock pressed against my lips. I opened them eagerly, but he jerked back. I shifted, impatient, grinding my dripping pussy against my heel for any relief whatsoever. But he just glared down at me.

What exactly had the Fates told him?

That question froze me in place. He moved again, smearing my own arousal across my lips. This time, I held still.

Was the siphon going to become a bigger problem? Was I? A dozen tiny fears bloomed, but the anxiety only strengthened my desire for him. I didn’t want to think. I just wanted to feel.

He stroked his cock with hard jerks, denying me any part of him. I breathed harder.

“B?k,” I whined.

“Don’t be selfish, kitten,” he murmured, tipping his head back as his pace picked up. “Haven’t I given you enough?”

Aelith.

Fuck.

I closed my eyes—but quickly opened them again. Selfish indeed. I couldn’t deny myself the sight of him reaching his peak, even if it absolutely split my pussy in two with need.

“Yes,” I cried, almost forgetting to answer until the compulsion wrenched the word from my tongue.

He came apart. I waited for a taste, but I didn’t even get that.

He aimed his cock down, painting my stomach and thighs with his pleasure.

Then he fell to his knees, nudging my legs wider to kneel between them, bringing us eye to eye.

I knew without asking that he would not grant me the same relief he’d just had.

He leaned forward, pressing a hard kiss to my lips.

“Are you going to forget who you belong to?” he demanded, and bit my lip before I could reply—hard, feral. Then he kissed me again.

“No,” I breathed into his mouth.

Something rustled next to us. I didn’t have attention to spare for it, barely even registering the sound. His fingers trailed through the mess he’d made on my thigh, rubbing it into a wider circle.

“I know you won’t,” he said, almost soothingly. “But if you do, I hope this will remind you. Hold. Still.”

His bare hand pressed the white-hot nameplate into the sticky mess on my thigh.

My scream echoed through the woods.

And once again, my tendrils refused to rise. Allowing the motherfucker to brand me.