Page 32 of Wicked (Dark Delights #5)

What would he do if Isaac moved? If he disobeyed? Punishment had always hung over his head like such a threat, but Shadrach had insisted he wouldn’t ever truly punish Isaac for anything. Where were the lines, then? How did he know when he’d crossed them, and what would happen when he did?

He had to find out. He raised the bar, dragging it up his spine and over his head as he flipped onto his back. Shadrach’s head snapped toward him at once, and his eyes narrowed.

“I said stay.”

“And I didn’t,” Isaac replied. His heart pounded with adrenaline. He was almost dizzy with it. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d willfully disobeyed an order—outside that fateful night, at least.

Shadrach chuckled, shaking his head. There was a soft snick , like a cap opening, and then Shadrach drizzled some lubricant over his cock. “I can’t fucking believe you.” It was said softly, mirthfully, and Isaac couldn’t tell if there was danger behind it .

Sparks were firing under his skin, fear and excitement mingling together in a heady rush. “Oh?”

Shadrach was on him in an instant, his weight bearing down on him.

An electric charge surged through him, the primal need to defend outweighing his logical brain.

Isaac brought his knees up too late—Shadrach was already between them.

He reacted instinctively, swinging the bar toward Shadrach—to hit him, to block him, something .

But Shadrach caught it with one hand, pinning it to the bed above Isaac’s head as his other hand notched his slick cock against Isaac’s hole.

“ Oh .” Isaac didn’t mean to speak, but the shock of pleasure zinged down his spine as he realized what Shadrach intended.

Instead of fighting, his legs tightened around Shadrach, eager.

This was good. This was what he wanted—what he always wanted.

This wasn’t a punishment. There was no need for fear.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Shadrach pushed inside him, and the burn whited out his vision with pleasure.

Isaac was dimly aware of making some sort of sound, his body screaming with tension.

It all hit him at once, like a shockwave, stealing his breath and his thoughts and everything in between.

All that existed was him and Shadrach and this , the most exquisite pain and pleasure he’d ever known.

“Goddamn, that’s hot,” Shadrach groaned as he pounded into Isaac.

Awareness slowly came back to him, along with a deep, drugging sort of pleasure he’d never experienced before.

Low, keening sounds filled the air, and it took him a moment to realize they were coming from him .

He bucked, at once overwhelmed and needy for more, uncertain whether to rock into it or away .

“Too much, baby?”

Something smeared on his stomach, and he looked down to find Shadrach smearing cum on his skin. He’d already come, and he barely remembered it.

His shock must’ve been evident, because Shadrach said, “You came as soon as I pushed inside, killer. It was fucking beautiful. You’re so fucking unbelievable.

So goddamn perfect. Everything I ever wanted.

Such a brat . You challenge me at every turn.

You’re incredible. I can’t believe anybody tried to break this feral spirit.

” He fucked into him hard and fast, panting raggedly.

“I’ll never let you go now, understand? You’re mine and only mine.

So help me God and Satan and everybody in-between , I’ll bring down Heaven and Hell both to keep you if I have to. ”

Oh God, he was getting hard again just listening to those low, ragged growls. The dark, possessive promise in Shadrach’s words should’ve frightened or disgusted him, but instead his eyes burned with more emotion than he’d ever felt before.

“Yeah, yeah,” he gasped eagerly. “Yours. I’m yours, only yours.

God, Shadrach, you make me feel so—alive.

I’ve never felt this way before. I never want to let you go.

Gonna stay with you forever, I promise—oh fuck oh fuck oh fuuuck !

” He shrieked as hot pleasure boiled through him for the second time, bucking hard as he came in weak spurts across his stomach, bucking so hard Shadrach nearly lost his grip on him.

“Bite me,” Shadrach said, angling the arm that held the spreader bar. His forearm was right beside Isaac’s head. “Bite me, killer. Do it.”

Isaac leaned in and bit down hard, and black blood flooded his mouth. Shadrach thrust hard, rooting in deep as he came with a shout. He collapsed on top of Isaac, burying his face in his neck. Isaac felt teeth, not quite hard enough to break the skin. The pain sparkled behind his eyes.

Neither of them moved for a few moments.

Isaac’s thighs were sore, but it was a distant, inconsequential ache.

He hooked his ankles behind Shadrach’s back, resistant to the idea of letting him go, though Shadrach made no move to do so.

He lifted his head just far enough to seal their mouths together, sweeping his tongue inside Isaac’s mouth to taste his own blood.

The emotion he’d felt while listening to Shadrach’s words came back to him now, a fragile thing that cracked within him. A ragged sound—a sob —escaped him, and Shadrach pulled back at once, startled.

“Killer?”

“Sorry, I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what was happening.

When he tried to reign the emotion in, it only flooded out harder.

Tears leaked from his eyes, but he couldn’t raise his hands to wipe them away or hide them.

Shadrach still held the bar pinned above his head, the metal rings rattling uselessly when he tried to lift his hand.

His stomach quivered, and there was a knot in his throat.

“Oh, baby,” Shadrach murmured softly. A moment later Isaac’s hands were free, and Shadrach was tossing the bar away. “Come here.”

Shadrach sat up, putting his back to the headboard and pulling Isaac between his legs. He collapsed against the demon’s warm chest, barely noticing as Shadrach tugged the blankets over their naked bodies.

He was struck so suddenly by Shadrach’s incredible kindness. He was a demon , and yet he went out of his way to provide for Isaac. No matter what Isaac did, he never harmed him. Never threatened him. Never judged or indicated that Isaac was lacking in any way.

He tucked his face in the curve of Shadrach’s neck and tried to stifle his own wet sobs.

“I should’ve expected this, honestly,” Shadrach murmured, his hands stroking Isaac’s body in slow, soothing motions.

The sound of his low voice set Isaac at ease.

“You’ve already been through a lot, and the humans say your brains are fragile, that you need time to process big events.

I should’ve known all of that combined with this kind of surrender would send you into sub-drop. ”

Isaac made a curious noise in his throat, unwilling to raise his head yet. He slipped his arms around Shadrach’s waist.

“It happens sometimes after intense play.” His fingers cradled Isaac’s head. “It can make you feel sad. I’ve never really bothered with aftercare, though, so if there’s something in particular you want from me, just let me know.”

“Aftercare?” he croaked. He rebelled against the word on principle, because it sounded too much like coddling.

“Mm-hm. This. Tending to a partner afterward.”

Shadrach had never bothered doing this with anyone else? “Why not?” He tilted his head back so he could peer up at Shadrach’s handsome face.

“Because I didn’t care about them. They were all consenting adults who knew what they were getting into. After it was over, they could fuck off and take care of themselves.”

A little shiver went down Isaac’s spine. “And me?”

Shadrach’s eyes narrowed at him. “I’m starting to think you just like to hear me say it.”

“Maybe I do. ”

Shadrach curled an arm around the back of Isaac’s neck and tipped them sideways, almost as though he was dipping Isaac during a dance.

He licked a wet stripe up both of Isaac’s lips, causing him to sputter.

“You’re mine , killer. Mine to hurt, mine to pamper, mine to kiss and fight and fuck and hold.

You’re not like anyone else I’ve ever met.

None of those others were mine. You are.

They didn’t matter. You do. You’re special. ”

Heat flickered to life under Isaac’s skin. “Special,” he repeated. He’d never been called that before.

“Yes. I have lived for thousands of years and never felt this way. Whether you choose to believe that is up to you.”

Isaac tightened his arms around Shadrach and leaned in to press a soft kiss to his lips. “I’m starting to.”

A low rumble left Shadrach as he straightened them once more, a sound so akin to a purr that it brought a smile to Isaac’s lips. He’d always wanted a pet, but Sloan and Hawley had forbidden it. They’d been afraid he would harm it.

He pointedly turned his attention away from those bitter memories, focusing on the naked body of the demon in his arms.

Shadrach could do things he didn’t know halflings could do. Could all halflings teleport like Shadrach and Talon? Why didn’t the guild know about that?

“I didn’t know halflings could teleport,” Isaac said. “How is that possible?”

Shadrach chuckled. “I’m not a halfling.”

Isaac blinked. “What are you?”

“I’m a leviathan. We’re much worse than halflings.” Shadrach grinned, but the gentle way his fingers trailed up and down Isaac’s spine belied his words.

“What’s a leviathan?” he asked, boneless under Shadrach’s clever touch. He never wanted to move from this spot.

“Me.”

Isaac cast him an unamused look. “No, really. We aren’t taught about leviathans. They’re mentioned in some old text about being ancient beasts, I think. I thought you were a halfling. I thought all demons who looked human were called halflings.”

Shadrach chuckled. “Aw, killer, that’s cute.”

Isaac thumped him on the chest. “Come on, I’m serious.”