Page 2 of What The Hex (The Family Spells)
“Who said that’s what I wanted from you?” he asked casually, but he’d never been a reasonable man before, so why start now? I stopped walking, turning to look at him. He was as tall as Argent, but I’d been married to the fae prince for five years and dated him for many more before that. I wasn’t intimidated by height or physical strength or magical prowess. No, the only thing I was afraid of was losing my mind.
“What do you want then, Monster? Name your price.” I stared back at him, at that face that had once consumed both my dreams and my nightmares. He had high, regal cheekbones, but a very sturdy jaw, a broad nose, and a smile that could shatter mirrors with its beauty. He also had a heart as black as coal, no soul to speak of, and morals like loose change—every once in a while, you’d find some, but it never amounted to much.
He just stared back at me, chuckled, and then reached out a hand for one of mine. I jerked back, but he was too quick. Monster’s fingers found my wrist and yanked me forward violently; at the same time, he brushed the back of his other hand across my cheek, poisoning me with his essence.
“Wait …” I started, but my words caught in my throat. Instead, all that came out was a moan. I was ashamed of myself, even as I knew that none of this was my fault.
“You can’t even begin to fathom what I want, Everen Sinnes,” he whispered, brushing his thumb over my lower lip. His copper eyes stared down into mine as I felt my knees go weak; a spark of energy lashed through me, similar to what I’d felt when I’d met Hex’s gaze for the first time. In the past, I’d assumed that meant Monster was my soulmate. Now, I knew the feeling for what it was: his magic, his aphrodisiac, his pheromones. Passion coursed through my veins, hot and poisonous, making my heart thunder so fast I felt like I might pass out.
Everen Sinnes.
That was demon tongue, a nickname from long, long ago.
“Regardless, what I truly want, I cannot have.” Monster leaned down, hovering his mouth above mine. Even though my heart screamed for me to back up, my body whimpered for touch, for kisses, for … more. Whatever Monster could give me, I wanted. I wanted him above me, fucking me into the black sand beach. And I both hated and loved every moment of it. “But I’m willing to set my true desires aside for the time being.” He released me and stepped back, and even though I didn’t want to, I stepped toward him. “I’ll help you—and by proxy, your men—for a price.”
My lips parted, but all I could think about was the taste of his mouth. That ardent fire that used to course through and consume me. When I was with Monster, I didn’t have any worries, stresses, anxieties … but I also didn’t have any dreams. No, he was an all-consuming passion that obliterated everything that made me, me.
“I want time in your world, little witch.” He circled me, running his tongue over his full lower lip. He flipped some snow-white hair over one shoulder, smirking as he paused in front of my quaking form. His eyes dropped to the hardened points of my nipples, and the way my thighs shifted from the uncomfortable throbbing in my core. “One year, with the privilege of coming and going as I please.”
“It’ll never happen,” I choked out, but it sounded more like I was asking for him to lay me down and make love to me. My voice was a crooked, wobbly thing, and I didn’t trust myself not to throw my body into Monster’s arms. My eyes squeezed shut, and I curled my hands into fists, digging my nails into my palms until I made myself bleed. “I’m not one of my coven’s Three, Monster; I can’t make deals like that.”
“If you were one of the Three,” Monster purred, reaching out to touch a loose strand of my red hair. I tried to jerk back from him, but he wrapped his long, dark fingers around the tendril and pulled me forward. I stumbled, and nearly fell to my knees, gritting my teeth against the rush of hormones. It wasn’t fair, that his aphrodisiac-laden skin could do this to me.
I didn’t want to like being touched by this man.
And yet … I couldn’t help myself.
“I’d have taken advantage far beyond a simple, free trip above. You do know that, right?”
“You’re a monster,” I growled out, and even though that was cliché as fuck, I couldn’t help myself. I had to say something besides please throw me down and fuck me right here and now. That wouldn’t really get across how much I hated him, now would it?
