Page 52 of Where the Dark Knelt (Worshipped by Darkness #1)

He ground himself against me, just enough for me to feel every inch of his desire. My mind spun, torn between shame, arousal, and that faint flicker of fear that always came with him. The delicious kind. The dangerous kind.

“As always…” I let out a quiet, breathless chuckle, gathering myself just enough to tilt my head back and give him a sly, defiant smile. “But not today… not today, demon.”

His eyes narrowed, glowing with dark amusement and something far more dangerous. To him, it wasn’t a rejection. It was a challenge.

And from the predatory gleam in his gaze, I knew he fully intended to claim his victory before this day was over.

As soon as the cashier returned with the neatly packed order, he held out the bag toward me, his hand trembling slightly.

“Umm… sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“Or what?” The demon’s low snort echoed behind me as he straightened to his full towering height. Even then, his entire body remained pressed flush against my back, radiating searing heat that seeped straight into my bones, making me feel lightheaded from the proximity alone.

“I’ll call the police. And security,” the cashier managed, his voice shaking as he tried to stand his ground.

“She’s my wife,” Desmond scoffed dismissively, his tone dripping with amusement. “We’re just having a little role-play fun. Give her the order and fuck off.”

“Um…” The cashier’s gaze darted nervously between us. His eyebrows shot up in shock when his eyes met mine, silently asking for confirmation, but all I could manage was an idiotic, embarrassed smile.

“Heh… well… okay…” he stammered, clearing his throat awkwardly. “You also get a free vanilla latte with such a big order, so… um, I can make it for two if you want.”

“Yes,” I whispered gratefully, bowing my head slightly to him. “That would be great, thank you.”

I turned to Desmond abruptly, placing my hands on his chest to push him away slightly.

The firmness beneath my palms sent an involuntary shiver through me.

He wore a black turtleneck and a fitted leather jacket today, paired with those same leather pants adorned with silver zippers along the pockets.

I found myself staring a little too long, wondering whether those zippers were merely decorative or meant for… something else.

His large hand reached out, fingers curling under my chin to tilt my face up to him. His molten emerald eyes burned with amused knowledge as his lips curled into that devilish smirk.

“I know, I know,” he murmured lowly, his voice vibrating through my chest. “You’re wondering if these pants were made for quick access. You can’t wait to feel me inside you, can you, little saint?”

I frowned playfully at him, trying to hide the heat rising to my cheeks, but he only chuckled darkly, pulling me flush against his body. He buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply, his grip on me tightening possessively.

“Missed you, darling…” he whispered into my ear, his breath sending tingles down my neck. “And… yes… today is a special day.”

“No,” I countered quietly, gathering my resolve. “It’s just an ordinary day.”

“Not for me.” His voice deepened, final and commanding. “Let’s go.”

He snatched the order from the counter with casual arrogance, and I hurried after him, bowing to the cashier in apology. The young man only rolled his eyes and gave a resigned nod, as if thinking idiotic couples… happens every shift. A wave of mortification washed over me.

God… I can never come back here again…

Wait. Did he say I’m his wife? Did I hear that right?

I was still lost in my frantic thoughts, internally arguing with myself, when I nearly crashed into Desmond’s back.

He was already outside, standing next to his sleek black motorcycle, sipping his coffee with a self-satisfied smirk.

As I stumbled, he handed me the second cup, clinking his against mine in a mock toast.

“Here’s to you, love.”

“Thank you…” I muttered, forcing myself to take a sip. “Well… thanks for escorting me out of the coffee shop, husband,” I added with a bitter edge. “I have to go on business now.”

His eyes widened slightly at my cold dismissal, and for a fleeting second, he looked almost… surprised. But I turned away before I could decipher the flicker in his gaze, shaking my head and walking in the opposite direction.

“This demon still won’t let me go…” I muttered under my breath. My steps faltered when I heard his quiet approach behind me, and suddenly something heavy descended over my head. I let out a small scream of surprise as he fitted a motorcycle helmet onto me.

“Are you crazy?!” My heart raced so fast I felt faint.

I tried to lift the helmet off with one hand, but it was heavier than it looked, and with my coffee cup and dessert bag occupying the other, I struggled pathetically. His deep, rich laugh rumbled behind me as he watched, amused.

With an easy flick, he raised the black visor that covered my eyes, revealing his smug grin. His laughter grew louder when he saw the furious glare I shot up at him.

“Take it off. Now,” I growled through clenched teeth.

He only leaned in closer, his fingers brushing over the cat ears on the helmet. My eyes widened slightly as recognition dawned – it was the helmet he gave me back then… the one with black matte cat ears perched playfully on top.

“I’ll take you to the monastery, kitten,” he cooed softly, his thumb stroking my cheek through the helmet’s opening.

“No,” I snapped, shaking my head defiantly.

“Uhh… showing your little clawed paws, are we? And why not?” His gaze narrowed, glowing faintly with dangerous amusement.

“Get off me, demon,” I hissed. “I’m not going anywhere with you anymore, my vows will take place soon! Please, Desmond…. Just leave… I can’t…”

“Hmm… bad, bad kitten… I won’t let you go anyway, no matter how hard you try, ” he purred darkly, leaning forward so his lips hovered just above mine. “And oh, oh, yesterday, when I tasted you, you didn’t resist at all. In fact… you begged for more, begged me to stay.”

My breath hitched as shame and desire tangled within me, suffocating me with their dual heat.

“It doesn’t matter,” I whispered shakily. “We… we can’t be together. This is all a mistake.”

“Mistake?” His laughter erupted, loud and echoing across the quiet street. “Oh, little saint… you still don’t understand, do you?”

His eyes flashed dangerously as he bent down, unlocking the latch that concealed his slitted pupils.

They glowed brilliantly, an impossible molten emerald gold that pulled at the deepest parts of my soul.

My vision blurred slightly as my body began to move against my will, each step following him toward the motorcycle.

“N-no…” I gasped, trembling as panic tightened my chest. “Stop… Desmond… please…”

But my legs no longer listened to me. His power had already bound my body with invisible chains of obedience. A wicked smile curved his lips as he climbed onto the bike and pulled me onto his lap effortlessly, caging me in with his muscular arms.

“I’m tired of your games. Let’s go, kitten,” he murmured against my ear. “Today is a special day… and you’re mine.”

My heart thundered with a mix of dread, shame, and an intoxicating heat that burned me alive from within.

I snorted, trying to tug at his leather jacket with my free hand, but it wouldn’t budge against his massive frame.

Without a word, he took the box of cakes from me, opened a small trunk under the seat of his motorcycle, and carelessly tossed it inside.

The trunk slammed shut with a sharp clack under his palm, making me jump.

“They’ll spoil in there!” I protested, my voice embarrassingly high.

“Stop wailing already. Sit the fuck down.” His tone was cold, final.

He must have finished his coffee or thrown it away because by the time I turned away, his hands were already reaching for me.

“I’d like to finish my coffee first,” I snapped, clinging to the cup like a lifeline.

“Finish it then,” he ordered flatly.

His jaw was clenched tight, nostrils flaring slightly with restrained irritation as he ripped the helmet off my head in one smooth motion. I gulped down the remaining warm sweetness in silence, my hands trembling slightly around the cup.

“Yes, super, thanks. Am I your prisoner now?” I asked sarcastically, tossing the empty cup into a nearby bin. The words came out brittle, edged with fear I tried to disguise as sass.

“No,” he replied coolly, though his eyes narrowed with a silent warning. “But sit down.”

Before I could refuse, he fitted the helmet back onto my head with mechanical efficiency, ignoring my crossed arms and defiant glare.

When I still refused to move, he simply grabbed me by the waist, his hands hot and unyielding, and lifted me onto his massive black motorcycle as if I weighed nothing.

My gaze slid over the stylized triple sixes painted boldly across the side of the bike.

Yeah… figures… demon biker aesthetic with a Lucifer complex.

I rolled my eyes, but before I could voice my scorn, he kicked up the footboard and swung his leg over, straddling the seat behind me.

His entire body pressed flush against my back, and a scorching wave of heat shot through me, lighting every nerve in my body aflame.

God… I’m not going to survive this trip… not with him so close… no, no… He’s gonna do that again and… I won’t be able to resist him anymore…

“Take the handlebars in your paws, kitten,” he murmured, his voice a low, sensual threat against my ear.

“Well, no. Are you completely fucked up somewhere?” I snapped, twisting to glare at him over my shoulder.

“I said take the handlebars,” he growled, his voice vibrating through my ribcage like a dangerous drumbeat. My body obeyed instantly, my hands reaching forward to grip the leather-wrapped bars without my permission.