Page 31 of The Unseelie Wish

Shuddering, she held back the moan that threatened to leave her.

When he released her, her feet finally touched the floor again as he set her down and uncoiled his tail from around her waist. She wondered what he was doing for a moment before she had her answer.

Moving away from her, he lifted his hand, grasping it like he was holding the end of a string. He pulled.

And she felt herself get tugged forward by the collar. A thin chain—no bigger than what she’d use for her jewelry—ran between it and him. It was silver, the delicate loops too small to be seen.

“I simply want to make the reality of your situation known, songbird, before I make you pay your dues. Just in case that changes your opinion of the situation.” He smirked.

“Take this thing off me, Iz—” She yelped as he pulled her forward again.

“Hm…no. For two reasons. One, I do not believe I have ever been so turned on in my life—” He gave the chain another pull, sending her staggering into him. When she hit his bare chest, she felt his tail behind her, pressing her to him. It ran in a wave up her body until it stopped at her lower back. She might as well have been trapped between two brick walls.

“Izael—”

“And two?” He cut her off. “It will remain until either you are removed of your powers, or…I can be certain that you are fully loyal to me in all things. That you are willing to fight the Seelie, standing at my side.” He leaned toward her, grazing his lips over her cheek, before snatching her face in his hand and forcing her to turn to look at him. “As my songbird. My pet. And the woman who wanted to love me so very badly…she wished for it.”

Stunned, she didn’t know what to say. He watched her lips, his eyes lidded and heavy, clearly waiting for her to respond.

That was his new game.

Give up her magic or use her wish to make herself love him.

“Now, keep in mind, your soul will be mine either way. Why not make sure your centuries at my side are spent as joyful ones?” His smile was pure sin. “Not that it would have been…without its pleasures, otherwise.”

She was shivering. Her anger was gone, replaced with an overwhelming need mixed with fear. Why did this feel so much worse than wishing away the treaty?

It was dizzying. The muscle at her back shifted, curling around her. She gasped as the end of his tail slid up the back of her shirt, curling over her skin.

“Tell me to stop.” He combed a hand through her hair, watching the purple strands slide through his fingers. His other hand slid down under the back of her pants, digging his nails into her skin as he grabbed her ass. “Or pay me what I’m owed.”

Alex let out a breath.

And said nothing at all.

CHAPTER TEN

Izael kissed her as if that action alone would eat her soul. And if it were only that simple—then her soul would be where it belonged already. But no. No. Tonight would be about a very different kind of exchange.

He hadn’t expected to lose his temper with her. How happy he was that he had, though. To see her spitting and fuming at the collar—it was so much better than if he had explained the situation to her and she chose to wear it, mournful and forlorn.

No. This was better. Let her be angry. Let her feel wronged. Let her mind rage while her body surrendered.

And how it would surrender to him this night. He hadn’t been lying when he’d said that he was intending to make this night easy on her. He wanted her to feel just a little bit punished when she woke up the next morning. But if he was going to regain her trust and convince her to use her wish to love him, he knew he should take it slow. Gentle. Kind.

That had clearly gone right out the window.

Instead, he had told her the whole scheme. Saw the horror in her eyes turn her lust for him darker and all the more volcanic. By the Morrigan, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever lain eyes on.

He was also not lying when he said this arousal that he was suffering would drive him to oblivion if it were not resolved. But doubt prevailed. He was a gentleman, after all—and so he had given his songbird the chance to retreat. The chance to tell him that he had misread the desire in her eyes.

When she only watched him in frightened need, lips parted as she gasped for breath—when she was speechless—he somehow loved her more. With his sharp nails, he ripped her top to shreds, tossing it aside. Her bra followed a moment later—never breaking the kiss.

But he wasn’t done terrifying her just yet. No, there was a further level of fear that he would like her to experience. He wanted to show her just what she was in for this night. Turning her back to his chest, he pressed her tight to him.

Settling back on a collection of pillows at the base of his tree, he propped himself up at an angle. He wanted the perfect viewing angle, after all. He grasped Alex’s breasts, squeezing the warm, soft flesh.

Unable to fight the moan, she arched her back into his chest. She was half lying on his chest, half sitting where his tail met his abdomen.