Page 106 of Bloodlust

It's truly heartbreaking.

As the song comes to an end, I pull away, tipping my head back to meet his glistening gaze. "I..." I swallow, lost in the foliage of his eyes. "I'm scared, Hayden."

"I won't let anything happen to you," he whispers, stroking my cheek with the back of his rough hand. "I promise."

A spell is cast around me as he cups my chin and arches over.

Time slows down to a bearable speed as his lips press against mine, soft, tender, and nothing like I've ever experienced before.

I kiss him back so gently, as if he's a bomb, as if he could end our lives at any moment.

In speechless unison, lips locked and hands roaming uncharted territories, we sway toward his bedroom for the real final dance.

I keep my eyes closed as he plucks away my clothes, removing the dead, withering leaves of my soul, hoping, almost praying, that they somehow regrow, become stronger, more resilient.

"You or me?" I whisper, mind swirling with clouded need and desire as I watch him undress and shed every last piece of deceit. Chest rising, I take a step toward him and trail my fingers up his taut abs, making circles that, unlike us, don't have an end. He groans, looking down at me, tortured and tempting. I lick my dry lips, swallowing hard as I add, "You can?—"

"No," he breathes, grabbing hold of my wrist and spinning me around, the back of my calves pressing against the bed frame. He rakes his fingers through my hair, with no force, no pain. "Tonight..." He takes a step forward, balmy-sweet breath blowing against my lips as he whispers, "Tonight, it's us. Youandme."

And.

So similar to end.

"Hayden..."

Snaking his hand around my waist, he lowers me onto the bed, my legs wrapping around his torso, his cock gliding across my sex. I wither under his dociletouch as he feels how wet I am for him, how desperately I want him.

My head tips back, a moan slipping past my lips as he fills me, my walls stretching around his hard, destructive cock. I dig my nails into his flesh as he rocks back and forth, his lips trailing wet kisses on the parts of my body that are still burning, still on fire.

With every rhythmic thrust, every touch, every debilitating groan and moan and grunt that permeates the air, I feel closer to heaven than I've ever dreamed possible.

He says my name like it's a vow, an oath, a declaration that I'm not willing to sign, but it doesn't matter. It's already there, engraved in marble, and notarized for all of eternity.

"Hayden," I cry out, pressure building in my core as the last letter is etched. "Hay?—"

"Fuck," he grunts, coming undone inside me, my pussy clenching as I orgasm. "Baby..."

Catching my breath, brain foggy and no longer in charge, I let my heart speak for the first time in forever.

"Yellow," I whisper. "My favorite color is yellow."

Hayden smiles down at me, gaze flitting across my subdued features as he breathes, "Like the sun."

I hope I get to see it rise again.

Chapter 29

Shark

Turquoise water ebbs and flows, reflecting off of Zoey's face as we stroll through the shark tunnel at the aquarium, only the tank lights glowing, every hallway dark, silent.

It's fitting that we gear up here.

Among the predators.

Among the ocean's royal family.

My own crown is fading. And in an hour… It will cease to exist. My title will be stripped, my kingdom pillaged and condemned, and all my people hung on the gallows.