Page 22 of The Monsters We Are
“Yeah, I was surprised too. Well, I guess you now know it’s extremely improbable that Eve and Noah are here to do Adam’s bidding. Sadly, we can’t be too sure about Rima yet, though I’m not certain her reluctance to help stems from anything other than the grudge she’s holding.”
“I’m rapidly losing my patience with her.”
Wynter gently laid her shawl over the armchair. “I noticed. She’s full of resentment and helplessness.”
“Helplessness?” Cain echoed.
Wynter nodded. “I get it. She had to watch her mother suffer for years in various ways. She couldn’t do anything to make it better. I felt that same sense of powerlessness when I watched my mother be exiled and taken away. Being unable to help someone you love leaves its mark on you.”
His gaze flitting over her face, Cain tipped his head to the side. “You’re thinking that I should be able to empathize, given I was unable to help Eve when I was a child.”
“Maybe not empathizeas such.” It wasn’t something he seemed to be much good at. “But I figure you can at least intellectually understand.”
He sighed long and loud. “The chip on her shoulder that Seth spoke of will hold her back. She gives her emotions so much power over her that it weakens her.”
“Well, that chip didn’t hold her back from flinging bold question after bold question at you.” Recalling something, Wynter said, “You told Rima you had an uncle who gave his life to save yours. What happened? You don’t have to tell me if you’d rather not talk about it, I won’t be upset or anything.”
“I don’t mind talking about it. Though there isn’t really much to tell. As it happens, you’ve probably heard of my uncle. His name was Baal.”
“As in the Baal who humans believe to be a demon?”
“Yes. They have a habit of mistaking Leviathans for demons.” Cain opened the top two buttons of his shirt. “Anyway, Baal was my father’s youngest brother but much older than me. He was exceptionally powerful. Brutal in battle. Utterly fearless. Loyal to family. And when an Aeon blasted me with power, Baal leaped in front of me and took the hit.”
“Then, as much as I’m sorry he died and you lost an uncle, I’m grateful to him.”
“Seth said the same thing. Abaddon took his loss the hardest. He was close to Baal. Very close. It will be yet another death that haunts Abaddon when we wake him. But it must be done.”
“Is the plan to still go ahead with it tomorrow night?”
“Yes, though there’s no saying it won’t take more than one attempt to bring him out of his Rest.”
Sensing that he was eager to change the subject, she asked, “Want to do some raw and dirty stuff?”
Cain’s lips bowed up. “Always, pretty witch. Always.” He slowly swept his gaze around the room. “I like that you brought more of your things here.”
She’d sensed that. When he’d earlier noticed the plant she’d propped on a nightstand and the books and bookends she’d set on a shelf she’d claimed, pure satisfaction had rippled across his face.
“I like seeing your possessions mixed with mine.” He took a fluid step toward her, raking his gaze over the full length of her body. “I also like this dress.” He put his face closer to hers. “But I want it on the floor.” He scraped her lower lip with his teeth. “I want every inch of you bare.”
Phantom fingertips ghosted up her spine as anticipation began to thrum through her. She licked her lips. “I can accommodate that wish.” She shed her dress, underwear, and shoes.
Humming to himself, he began to slowly circle her, dancing his fingers over her tingling skin. “So very beautiful. You make me want to take a big bite.” Facing her once more, he stepped back. “Don’t move.” He kept his gaze fixed on hers as he undressed. “Such a well-behaved toy.”
She narrowed her eyes.
His brow inched up. “Oh, are we pretending you don’t like it when I refer to you as my toy?” he asked, covering the small distance between them in one predatory step that sent her pulse wild.
“No. I simply didn’t like the taunting note in your voice. But then, you knew I wouldn’t.”
His lips kicked up. “Well, of course I knew.” He dipped his head and kissed her, sweeping his tongue into her mouth.
Wynter held his shoulders as he melted her with a wickedly slow kiss that quickly turned wet, deep, and dominant. His hand collared her throat as he backed her into the wall. The shock of the cool stone against her skin made her gasp.
He kept on ravishing her mouth until their breaths were ragged and she started to feel dizzy. Wynter wrenched her lips free and sucked in some much needed air. With a low growl, he took her mouth again and closed his hands over her breasts. She arched into him with a soft moan, wanting more. So much more.
“I do love these pretty breasts,” he said, squeezing them. “I love them so much more when they’re covered in my come.” He swooped down and latched onto a nipple.
Her breath caught as he sucked hard, sending streaks of pleasure to her clit. He licked his way to her other nipple and suckled until it throbbed. Then he bit down on it.