Page 73 of When Roses Burn

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, some of the fevered gleam had left them. When she focused on me, I saw something more than desperation in her beautiful, sea green eyes.

“I never kept a journal, and even if I did, I’d never be so stupid as to write anything about us down,” she said.

While a part of me truly wanted to believe her, I didn’t see how her mother could have known unless Briar told her.

Could someone have followed her into the tunnels without me knowing?

But that wasn’t possible. We were both always so careful, and I’d triple-checked to ensure no one was near her when she entered the tunnels. I’d stand in the shadows and wait until I was sure no one followed her before retreating to our spot.

There was never anyone there. Not to mention, her mother knew details from not just the day they took me, but from other days before then. She’d revealed different pieces of the puzzle we’d created for our escape.

I clasped my hands before me and gazed at the orange fur covering me up to my elbows. There was no way Briar didn’t betray me.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Knox

“I didn’t tell her. That day was the worst of my life, and I’ve missed you… I mean, Seth… ever since.”

My head shot up at her qualifying words, and a snarl rumbled through my chest, but I didn’t release it. Her words were true. I wasn’t the man she remembered; I’d told her that repeatedly.

She also wasn’t the woman I’d believed her to be.

When I rose again, she recoiled from me. Her limbs stretched as far back as they could go as she strained against the chains.

Her breath came faster as I prowled closer. The scent of her was intoxicating, as were her hardened nipples and the wetness sliding down her leg.

Standing before her, I drew her aroma deep into me as the rise and fall of her breasts caused them to brush against my chest. She bit her bottom lip again, drawing more blood as she swayed toward me.

Unable to resist, I skimmed my knuckles down her side, tracing her lush curves. My fingers opened to splay across her hip as she watched me.

“I bet you’d give anything for some release,” I murmured.

I moved my hand lower, gliding it across her belly to just above the dark hair shielding her pussy. I recalled the wiry feel of that hair against my face when I buried myself in it and listened to her cries as her hips thrust toward me.

“Knox,” she breathed.

And then she let out a sound that was a mixture of desperation and pain. When I dipped my hand lower, my fingers slid through her wetness, and my mouth watered.

She’d always been so wet and tight, but I’d never felt her this wet before. When my finger grazed her clit, the hardened bud quivered as it begged for more. If I rubbed it a few more times, I’d push her right over the edge.

“Fuck,” I growled as I forced my hand away.

I’d chained her so she couldn’t experience any pleasure, not even with herself. If I gave her the orgasm her body clamored for, she’d have no reason to provide me with any answers.

But I’d seen the casters in that harem, I could give her twenty orgasms, and she’d still beg for more. I could give her this one and let myself hear her cries of ecstasy again. I could bury my mouth in her cunt and drink down the taste of her while she bucked against me and begged for me.

I shouldn’t want it, but I did so badly my body thrummed with tension, and the beast was a panting, desperate monstrosity within me.

“Please,” she whispered.

My other hand fell to my cock. I rubbed it through my pants while I waited to hear what she wanted. “Please, what?”

“Stop.”

“What?”

“Don’t touch me.”