“That’s a reckless proposition, Professor.”
Mocking it is. That pulls a smile from me. God, I might have to tie my little ember to the bed and teach her how to behave.
“So we’re going to do…what? Start sharing our favorite colors?” she continues, daring me to step back on my word. If sarcasm is what makes her happy…
“You seemed quite fascinated by the color of my blood last night.”
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Takes a special kind of man to confuse violence with flirting.”
She’s usually so tense, like any moment someone could jump her from behind and she’d still be able to knock them down in under three seconds. But here, in her house, there’s a hint of something soft in her expression, something almost…familiar, and I can only hope that it’s because of me somehow.
“Victoria, we can do or be whatever you want,” I say, carefully choosing my words to describe exactly what I want her to understand. “You need time to adjust, and we have all the time in the world. As long as you understand, I am a patient person.”
“Understand what?”
“Who you belong to.”
This is just that simple. The only thing she needs to know from now on.
“There is one thing I’m curious about, though.” I continue. “You said I made you fuck up at your job.”
She blinks confused, clearly not expecting the conversation to take such a turn.
“What exactly do you do?”
She stares at me for a second too long, like she’s trying to decide how much to tell me.Why am I even asking this? It’s not like?—.
“I kill people.” She shrugs nonchalantly.
I raise an eyebrow. Well, it’s not like Victoria is subtle.
“For money,” she adds. “So we’re not that different.”
I leave her apartment much later than I should have.
The city feels strange, quieter in a way that only foresees chaos. It knows something has shifted, and now it’s holding its breath for the inevitable destruction.
When I finally reach my place, I try to take my mind off of her for even a second. Victoria has become such a central point in my existence, everything else fades in comparison to her. I try to remember what life felt like before her, but I’m not even sure I want to go back there. Yeah. That version of me? It’s gone. I’m officially fucked.
My thoughts are cut off at the buzz of a new message.
Unknown number: Accepted.
Well. This should be fun.
CHAPTER 25
VICTORIA
Now this…this is what waking up should feel like.
For a second, everything’s still. No noise in my head. No claws digging into my brain. Just…quiet. It’s not the numbness I’m used to. This feeling is peaceful, and I don’t recognize it.
I keep my eyes shut—breathe in, breathe out—trying to enjoy this moment while I still can, fully aware my demons will take over any second now.
Then I feel something…between my legs? Wait, someone. Who the fu—Azrael!Azrael’s mouth is between my legs, licking, sucking, giving me the best oral of my life. Who would have thought being tongue-fucked so early in the morning is what I need to keep my demons at bay? I would have just asked him sooner.
I come way too fast, seconds after waking up. I just cannot help myself when he is involved. Everything is fast, pushed to the limits, out of control. Yet, seeing him looking at me with burning passion makes me feel like I’m the one in control, and that’s what messes with me.