Wait, were jokes and puns sexy?
Luckily, Sang laughed against my throat, his lips travelling lower. He had to bend considerably to touch me and the awareness of how much bigger and stronger he was made me breathless.
He could literally snap you in half,the sensible voice in my head pointed out.
But he could snap the keepers in half, too,another voice argued.
I choked on air when hot hands covered my chest, the pads of his thumbs brushing my nipples through my vest and making them hard, sensitive. His claws were so close, black and sharp and deadly.
A shadowkind monster was touching my nipples; this was legitimately insane. It was crazygood. I didn’t know how to process any of it. But maybe the seduction was working?
"Your horns are so pretty," I breathed, and instantly knew that was a dumb thing to say.3
But Sang's breath caught, air blowing hot against my neck, and a low, rattling sound came from his throat. "You like my horns?"
I nodded fast in relief, my face scalding hot when he pinched both my nipples at the same time. I gasped when a shot of pleasure hit my clit, making it hard, throbbing. The gasp echoed around the empty room, repeating my pleasure until I couldn’t deny that I really, genuinely, liked this.
Was the flirting working, or failing? I didn't seem any closer to freedom. But my lonely soul hurt a little less, and part of me didn’t care. I was pathetic.
"Remember what I promised you, sweet human?"
He drew back to see my expression, and at my blank look, said, "I'm going to spread your thighs and hook you on these horns you like so much. And I'm going to eat your pussy until you lose count of your orgasms."
My eyes flew wide. Okay. Right. Cool.
"I know you're wet for me," he added with a smile curling his wide mouth, dimples appearing in his striped brown cheeks. "I can smell your desire, and it's every bit as sweet as your skin tastes."
To emphasise that, he flicked the very tip of his tongue across my throat, and my mouth fell open at the delirious, mind-melting bliss that bled slowly into me. My arms slackened, my head fell onto my shoulder, and I sighed happily.
"I could get you high on my venom, but I want you aware this time. That's just a taste, sweet human. What's your name?"
"Mm?" I blinked, a smile on my face at the sight of my big kitty man. I wanted to ride his face like he promised. I wanted him to keep touching my nipples. Wait, why had he stopped?
"Your name," he pressed, watching me with something like obsession.
"Hala," I answered, trying to touch his fuzzy ears but stopped by chains. Oh right, he chained me up.4"Just Hala. They never gave me a last name; I didn't need one."
Sang reared back, and I pouted at the loss of his heat.
"You're being mean, Cheshire Cat," I whined.
"Who arethey?" he growled, deep and scary. His yellow eyes flashed with danger, his ears flat to his head and tail lashing behind him. So cute! I wanted to touch it.
"Hala," he snapped, drawing my attention. "Who arethey?Who didn't give you a name?"
I shrugged. I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't like to eventhinkabout those years. Well, most of my life. "It doesn't matter."
"It matters," he insisted, sharp teeth bared as he came closer again. "It matters to me, sweet human. You're mine now. Your enemies are my enemies. I'll behead them with my horns if you ask. Or I can use my claws to rip out their hearts. Lady's choice."
I made a surprised sound, my head dazed but clearing enough for me to realise what I'd let slip—and to be blindsided by Sang’s response. He wanted to mutilate my enemies? For me?
I swallowed. Trapped words on my tongue, too afraid to say them.
Soft fingers glided across my cheek, the claws retracted for now. "Where did you get this necklace?"
The haze of his venom cleared in an instant when he touched the amethyst locket hanging around my throat. I jerked back, hissing at him, my heart hammering so fast. I reached for my magic, diving into my worst memories and recoiling at the fear I'd never managed to outrun.
Power roared through me, but with my hands chained, it was completely useless.