Chapter 8 Eight
KAZIEL
I linger in the shadows outside the orientation party venue, loud music floating through the walls. Laughter, chatter, footsteps... all of it fades beneath the sound of her heartbeat. Even in a crowd, I can hear it. She's nervous.
Danika steps inside, her little black dress clinging to her body. She is temptation incarnate.
My jaw tightens as my eyes trail over every curve.
Her luscious tits pressing against the neckline, the curve of her waist, and the thick thighs I ache to spread wide.
My cock throbs painfully, straining against my zipper until I can barely breathe.
What the fuck are you wearing, sweetheart...
I curse under my breath, dragging my hand over my mouth, fighting the urge to storm through the doors and tear that dress off her body.
She freezes suddenly, like prey catching the scent of its hunter. Her head turns, scanning the place, her lips parted.
She feels my presence. Interesting.
Her wide eyes dart over the crowd, searching for me.
I press myself back against the wall, gritting my teeth as I force myself to stay hidden.
If she saw me now, I wouldn't let her leave. Not in that fucking dress. Not with every bastard in that place staring at what's mine.
When she heads deeper into the venue, laughing at something her roommate says, my heart pounds faster. A goddess, that's what she is.
One who has no idea how close I am to snapping.
For a while, I pace outside, torn. My priority is keeping her safe. Still, I can't stop her from making new friends.
Screw this.
The smell of sweat and cheap alcohol hits me the moment I slip inside. My hood hangs low over my head, keeping my features half-hidden as I move quickly.
It doesn't take long before I find her.
Danika sits at a corner with a red cup in her hand. She's practically shrinking into the corner, desperately trying to make herself invisible. So much for socializing.
My unease grows when I don't see the other girl with her. The one she came with. My mate is alone and vulnerable.
I exhale heavily, my fingers twitching at my sides.
Some drunk bastard stumbles towards her, a sloppy grin plastered on his face. My beast surges instantly, my claws extending.
The urge to rip his throat out is so strong I have to wrench my gaze away.
‘Stay calm, don't lose your shit,' I think, squeezing my eyes shut.
There are too many fucking witnesses here.
Someone bumps into me from behind, but I ignore it, swallowing the growl rising in my chest—
Suddenly, her unease grips me.
My head snaps back towards her, and I freeze.
She's smiling. But it's wrong. Terribly forced.
The drunk bastard leans in closer, his hand landing on her thigh.
Red. That's all I see.
In a blink of an eye, I'm across the room, my hand clamping around his wrist. I yank it hard enough to ensure he never uses that hand again. He howls in pain, but before he can do anything, I've grabbed Danika's hand, pulling her out of the place.
I don't stop until we're at the back of the building, the shadows hiding us.
Her back hits the wall as I shove my hood back.
She lets out a shaky breath. "K–Kaziel..."
I lean in, my eyes locked on hers.
“Did you really like the attention?" I growl, anger stirring in my chest.
Her throat bobs as she swallows. "Y–yes."
My nostrils flare, my vision blurring at the edges. I spin her, pinning her hard against the wall, my palms caging her in.
“How about now?" I snarl, my chest heaving. "Do you like my attention on you?"
She stays silent, and that aggravates the fire burning in my chest.
She tries to shift in an attempt to pull away, only to press flush against me, her body grinding against the swell of my cock.
A guttural curse rips from my chest, and she shivers.
My cock throbs painfully against her, the heat of her ass pressing right into the ache.
A snarl rumbles from my chest as I lean down, my lips grazing her neck. Her pulse flutters wildly beneath my mouth.
I drag my teeth against that delicate skin, then bite down just enough to make her gasp. Her head falls back against my chest, exposing more of her throat to me.
The needy sound she makes sends fire tearing through me.
“Fuck, sweetheart..." I groan against her skin, grinding harder into her. "Do you really think anyone else is allowed to touch you like this? Make you sound like this?"
My hands trail down, gripping her thick thighs, pushing the hem of that little satin dress higher and higher until my fingers brush dangerously close to the lace of her panties.
She shudders, her hips jerking towards me.
“Tell me to stop," I rasp, my voice rough with hunger. "Push me away, sweetheart. Say the word."
But she doesn't. She arches into me instead, her body begging even if her lips stay silent.
A growl rips through me as I slide my hand higher, past the thin lace. My fingers find her pussy wet, and I almost lose it.
“Fuck," I hiss, pressing my forehead against the curve of her neck. "You're soaked for me already. Do you even realize what you're asking for?"
I brush over her clit with the barest touch, circling slowly. Her hips buck into my touch, and I let out a thick groan, the sweet smell of her arousal intoxicating me.
“You belong to me, Danika."
Her moan shreds my sanity, her hips rocking desperately against my hand. I stroke her again, firmer, savoring the way her breath hitches.
“Say it," I growl.
She whimpers, grinding against my fingers.
Still, she says nothing.
A dark smile twists my lips. "So that's how it is, hm? You want to play stubborn? Fine. Let's see how long you can last."
My fingers stroke her clit again, dragging circles that make her thighs quake. She moans feverishly, her nails clawing the wall.
“Look at you," I breathe, pressing harder and faster until she's gasping for breath. "Pretending you don't need me while you're dripping all over my fingers. Do you think anyone else will ever touch you like this? Make you this wet?"
Her answer comes in the form of a broken cry as I slide lower, teasing at her entrance before retreating, keeping her on the edge.
“Beg me," I snarl into her ear, my teeth grazing her earlobe. "Beg, and I'll let you come."
Her head shakes frantically, but her body betrays her, bucking into my hand.
I drag it out, teasing her until finally she snaps.
She lets out a loud moan, her body convulsing as her thighs clamp around my wrist.
It should've been enough. But it isn't. Fuck, it'll never be enough. Not with her.
Her chest heaves against the wall, her breathing shallow. She's been wrecked by my hands. And I want more. I want to watch her fall apart again and again until she has nothing left but me.
So, I brush her clit again with lazy strokes that make her twitch.
“Kaziel—" she gasps, but I cut her off with a growl, pressing harder.
“I’m not done with you,," I rasp against her throat, licking over the bite mark I left. "Not until you learn who you belong to."
Her moans turn frantic and breathless. Nonetheless, she still refuses to say the word I want to hear. Sweet little liar. Pretending she doesn't crave this as much as I do.
I reach for her boob, squeezing and kneading.
She lets out a sob as I pinch her nipple through her dress, rolling it between my fingers while working her clit.
I should stop. I know I should. She's not ready for the truth of what I am, not ready for the monster thrashing inside of me. But the thought of letting anyone else touch her?
Breathe near her?
I'd tear them to pieces. No. She has to understand that she belongs to me.
And the only way she'll learn is if I break her down until she can't deny it anymore.
Her next climax hits her so hard, she cries out, her legs barely holding her up.
Her panties are soaked through at this point.
By the time the third wave crashes over her, she's boneless in my grip, panting and gasping for breath.
I tilt her chin up, forcing her dazed eyes to meet mine.
Her face is flushed and tear-streaked, her lips swollen from biting down in an attempt to stay quiet.
My cock throbs painfully at the sight.
“You're barely standing," I murmur. "And I haven't even fucked you yet. Do you understand now, sweetheart? The only attention you'll ever crave is mine."
“W-won’t you regret this?" She asks, gazing deep into my eyes.
She thinks I’ll regret claiming her. She has no fucking clue how much power she has over me.
“Never,” I breathe.
And I mean it.
Suddenly, a blinding camera flash goes off. Danika gasps, turning her face away.
Just as I attempt to go after the perpetrator, she grips my wrist to stop me.
I frown, holding on to her waist.
A feeling of foreboding sinks into me when I squint into darkness to find that there's nobody there. But there's a faint metallic smell in the air.
This means whoever this person is, they are a vampire. And they're here for Danika.
Do they already know?
Do they know that she's the only one capable of ending my life?