Chapter 66 Sixty Six

Chapter 66 Sixty Six
  DANIKA
           His voice is small and unsteady when he utters those precious words. But they pierce deep into my heart until I'm sobbing. His eyes widen slightly.
   "I—" He swallows hard.
   Kaziel cups my face with shaking hands.
   "I love you," he whispers softly. "And it's terrifying. I don't know what it means for us. But I can't take it back."
   I lean in to kiss him right then, pouring all of my emotions into it. I let him feel my ache for him, my gratitude, my relief, my happiness and my desire. And he kisses me just as intensely, holding me closer. We don't stop until we're both running out of air, breathing hard.
   "Kaziel..." My voice trembles. "I never thought anyone would say that to me. Especially not like this."
   His breathing falters.
   "I used to be the girl people overlooked. The one no one would chose. The one who tried to take up as little space as possible so I wouldn't be a burden. I was always scared someone would look at me too closely and realize I wasn't worth wanting."
   A wretched sound leaves him, but I keep going because he needs to hear this.
   "But you..." I place my hand over his heart, feeling the wild, frantic thump under my palm.
   "You saw me when I was invisible. You made me feel safe in my own skin. You were terrifying at first, overwhelming, and impossible—" I laugh breathlessly. "But somehow you're the person I can't imagine a day without."
   His grip tightens.
   "I love you," I whisper, my voice cracking. "Not because I'm bonded to you, not because fate shoved us together, but because you chose me. Even when I didn't know how to choose myself."
   His eyes glow wildly.
   "I love everything about you, Kaziel," I say again, my voice firmer. "Completely. Stupidly. Hopelessly. And I'm not taking it back either."
   Kaziel pulls me against his chest, his body trembling against mine. At first, I think he's just breathing hard.
   But then I feel a wet drop hitting my shoulder.
   My eyes widen.
   "Kaziel...?" I whisper.
   He turns his face away, but not fast enough.
   A tear slides down his cheek, catching on the sharp edge of his jaw before falling.
   He's crying...quietly.
   I lift my hand and gently thumb the next tear away. His eyes shut instantly, as if my touch physically hurts him.
   "N-no," he rasps, shaking his head. "Don't...Dani, don't comfort me."
   I cup his face anyway.
   "I don't deserve you," he croaks.
   My throat tightens painfully. This terrifying creature thinks he's unworthy of me. How silly of him.
   I press my forehead to his.
   "You deserve love," I whisper. "You deserve peace. And you deserve me."
   My hand slides down his cheek, soothing slow strokes along the line of his jaw. "Let me give you that."
   His breathing hitches, his wings twitching behind him. Something compels me then. Probably a gentle curiosity or a need to comfort him further. So, I trail my fingers down the nearest wing.
   A low, involuntary moan tumbles out of him. It’s raw, strangled, and torn from somewhere deep. His head jerks back, his eyes squeezed shut. He clenches his jaw as if he's trying to trap the sound in his throat.
   But he can't.
   Another breathy groan escapes. It’s softer this time. And it’s suspiciously as though the shock of pleasure is too much to swallow.
   "Kaziel...?" I whisper, startled.
   He's panting now. Actually panting.
   When his eyes flutter open, they're unfocused.
   "D-Danika..." His voice is wrecked. "You don't—you don't understand what that does to me."
   I swallow and let my fingertips trace a slow circle along the wing's inner curve. He shudders hard. And then his hand shoots out, digging into the grass to keep himself upright.
   "Kaziel?" I whisper again.
   His face contorts, an almost pained expression of pleasure washing over his features. His lips part, his breathing catching mid-gasp. The muscles in his neck tighten, the tendons standing out.
   "Please..." he breathes, his voice barely audible. "Dani, you have to stop."
   But the way he says it...it doesn't sound like a command. It’s more like a plea from someone being undone.
   "What's happening?" I ask softly, mesmerized.
   His wings twitch helplessly, the feathers ruffling as if they're responding straight to my touch.
   "In my demon form..." He swallows hard, his shoulders shaking. "My wings are... they're…too sensitive. It's…fuck… it's overwhelming."
   He squeezes his eyes shut again, and another low sound slips out. His claws dig grooves into the earth. Even his wings spread and curl toward me instinctively, as if they're trying to pull me closer.
   "Kaziel..." I whisper. "Does it feel good?"
   His eyes snap open.
   "That doesn't even begin to cover it," he growls through clenched teeth. "Dani, you're touching the one place my body can't handle. The one place I lose control."
   My pulse roars in my ears as I process his statement, my mouth going dry.
   He leans forward slightly, trembling.
   "I— I can't think," he admits, his breathing ragged. "One more touch and I... I won't trust myself. Not out here. Especially not with you this close."
   He looks terrified and hungry all at once.
   I pull my hand back slowly, and his entire body follows the motion. However, he forces himself to freeze in place.
   Kaziel is still breathing unevenly. But his face is flushed now. It doesn’t look like he’s feverish. It’s more like he’s…blushing!
   I stare at him, stunned.
   "Kaziel?" I whisper. "Is that... normal?"
   He doesn't answer. Which is exactly why I push further.
   "...Could you really—" I pause, lowering my voice. "Can you... climax just from your wings being touched?"
   His head snaps toward me. And he blushes harder.
   "I— Dani—" His voice cracks. "It's not—it's not about losing control, it's—it's just—"
   He breaks off with a strangled sound, covering his face with one clawed hand, his wings drooping like embarrassed puppies.
   Oh my god.
   He's actually mortified.
   "You can," I whisper slowly, my eyes widening.
   Kaziel groans into his hand. "Dani, please."
   I bite back a grin and lean a little closer.
   "So... you could actually—"
   I gesture vaguely, not saying the word.
   He stiffens.
   "Dani," he says again, but this time it's a warning. A desperate one. "Do not finish that sentence."
   My jaw drops.
   Holy. Stars.
   Demon boy can't handle his wing being grazed.
   I cover my mouth to hide the smile threatening to break out. But he notices anyway.
   He narrows his eyes at me. “Don't you dare laugh at me."
   Too late. A giggle bursts from me, causing his wings to snap upward in pure indignation.
   "Dani!"
   "Sorry," I wheeze, clutching my stomach. "You're just…you're never flustered. Like ever. I'm living for this."
   His glare is useless. He looks too adorable to be threatening.
   To distract him, I soften my expression and ask:
   "How does bonding with your demon side actually work? Between mates, I mean?"
   He goes still. Then his eyes widen with something that looks like fear... and awe.
   "That's..." His voice drops to a whisper. "...dangerous."
   "Why?"
   "The Hollow," he murmurs. "It resides in the same place where my demon part resides. If you enter that space with me… it binds you to my instincts, my hunger, and my darkness."
   I feel a strange chill. And then a spark of something fierce.
   "I'm not afraid of the Hollow," I say. "It has no match for me."
   He gulps.
   "Danika..." His wings twitch. "You can't just say things like that."
   "Why not?" I tease.
   "Because—" He gestures helplessly. "Because my demon side hears you and reacts."
   I giggle again. He looks offended and flustered and absolutely done with me.
   Grinning, I rise to my feet, brushing leaves off my dress. Then I hold out my hand.
   "Come home with me."
   He squints up at me, suspicion written all over his glowing eyes.
   "...I have a very bad feeling about this," he mutters.
   "Good," I grin, tugging his hand. "You should."
   Once he’s on his feet, I hear a loud cracking sound. And suddenly we’re in his bedroom. My eyes bulge in their sockets, my heart racing.
   “W-what was that?” I ask, and he shrugs loosely.
   “I teleported.”
   “No way. Can you, like…pop us into any country in the world and pop us out?”
   “Of course, dove.”
   I purse my lips, intrigued and excited. “I’m going to marry you,” I tell him fiercely, and he gapes at me.
   “Dove—”
   “Anyone who tries to take you away from me will be introduced to a world of pain,” I growl, unsure where this boost of confidence is coming from.
   My mate blinks at me, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. But I force myself to ignore it, reaching for the buttons on his black shirt.
   He smiles at me and rips it off. My stomach clenches at the sight of his powerfully ripped form.
   “Sit down on the bed, Kaziel. I want to try something different,” I say, and he smirks. And just as he’s about to retract his wings, I shake my head.
   “Leave them out. I want to see them.”
   He slowly sits on the bed, his abdomen flexing. Then I take off my dress and proceed to remove my bra.
   His eyes dilate instantly. His phone rings out then, and the instant he turns his head towards it, I move to stand in front of him, taking hold of his chin.
   “Eyes on me, hot stuff,” I say, and his eyes go wide.