Page 103 of A Deal in Darkness
I nod.
“Take my hand.” He squeezes my fingers as his curl around them. “I'm still the same, Adriana.”
Lines of illusion blur as shimmers of colors break the world around him. They rise like waves of heat, rippling over a mirage, and the reality I thought I knew comes apart. Its safety net is lifted and I'm left with something truly terrifying.
Long, ribbed horns protrude from Enzo's forehead, curling through the world with sheer damn menace. They're vicious, violent and their edges are made for slicing through flesh. Their pointed edges are sharper and my blood turns to ice as I stare at them, questioning the reality I'm sure must be true.
“Breathe, baby,” Enzo says. “You're doing surprisingly well. Most lose control of their bladder or bowels or both.”
I nod and my hands tremble, turning white as my blood rushes back to my heart, frantically trying to keep it pumping.
“What do...”
My fingers move, and I don't know if I'm controlling them. I must be, but I stare dumbfounded as they reach for the terrifying horns. I'm more surprised when I touch them and they're smooth. Sleek. Comforting in a peculiar way. They're fucking nice to touch and my hands disagree with my eyes and head, demanding more.
“Careful, Adi. They're sensitive.”
“Really?”They don't look like it. “How sensitive?”
Enzo closes his eyes. “Too sensitive when you do that, baby. Fuck.”
My fingers trace their curves as my confidence grows, and I start to recover. My circulation resumes and terror turns to anxiety as Enzo holds himself absolutely still. There's not a chance he's moving until he's sure I'm ready, and this slight gesture is, for him, an act of epic proportions.
He's accepting my needs and giving me time.
Just as I'm accepting his demonic form, albeit one part of it.
“When I'm not around, do you hide them?”
He shakes his head, and I freeze. I steel myself and smile, regaining my composure as I stroke his horns again.
“I only hide them around mortals who I don't wish to terrify. I keep to my demonic form otherwise.”
Our eyes meet and the darkness in them pulls me towards him, like black holes with irresistible gravitational fields. The rules of a quantum universe cease to apply as light and time diverge, and I fall into the infinite chaos left behind.
Enzo leans in and kisses me, rolling his lips over mine. He's slow, careful and his eyes stay open, locked on mine as he checks for any sign of distress.
My heart explodes like a supernova when he pulls me onto his lap. He dips his head and grabs my collar, gently pulling it toward him. I close my eyes as pleasure washes over me and I give him the control he wants. The pressure on my neck heightens my excitement as I calm and surrender, finding peace in the moment with Enzo.
“Let's get this off,” he rasps.
My bra tugs, and fabric rips as something shreds it, catching my skin with its sharpness. It's a bolt of electricity that thunders through me and I gasp, snapping my eyes open.
“Eyes on me, baby. Keep those pretty eyes on Daddy while he plays with you.”
I glance down and watch his hands stroke my body. They're even larger than before and their nails sharper, replaced with claw-like talons. I know this touch, remembering my back coming alive when he marked me before I came, except it's different. Unhurried. Unconcerned. Uninhibited.
Their points glide over my stomach and skate over my thighs.
“Shall we try something new?”
Enzo's voice is a tease and I watch his claws trail over me, moaning as every stroke sets my core on fire.
“Will it hurt?”
“Not if you behave, sweet girl. Relax and let me take care of you.”
I giggle, and he pulls me closer, kissing me so damn hard my lips swell. My legs tremble as his hands cup my ass and lift it, holding me against him as his claws shred the remaining lace underwear.
