Page 12 of Moth & Flame
Fire licks my cheeks and throat alongside a shocking swell of sudden emotion. No matter the fact, he’s stalked me too, the fact that I did it to him when I’d never even met him and went to such great lengths to learn more about him, makes me cringe with shame.
Gods damn it, I should just let him kill me.
Draven’s brows lift in surprise, and further explanation rushes out of me. “I saw you… Just after Moth & Flame opened. I searched Spyder’s Web to find out what it was and to find…you.When I saw it was a kink house, I was terrified to risk coming here because of all the repercussions of someone catching me, so when I couldn’t find any information on you… I…”
My eyes dare a glance up from the hole I’ve been burning into the floor with my shame up to his face—an utterly blank mask.
“You…?”
A tear streaks down my cheek as my gaze collapses beneath his cool stare.
“I hired someone to find out your name and your history for me.”
His brows pinch as he scrubs a hand down his jaw. “Why?”
Incredulous, my eyes leap back up to his.“Why?”
Draven’s vacant stare provokes my tears further. I’ve never seen him look at me with such a cold expression.
“Because I wasdrawnto you.Compelledby you. And I neverfeel anything for people in that way. I tried my best to ignore it, but I couldn’t. I thought maybe if I could find out who you are, come to know some fragment of you–even if only from afar–that I’d be able to move on with my life. But I couldn’t because I love you, you idiot! I’ve loved you since the moment I laid eyes onyou! I would leave work early just in the hope of being able to watch you come and go?—”
My half-sobbed words are cut short by my yelp as Draven suddenly shoves his face inches from mine, eyes darting between each of mine.
“Say it again.”
I sniffle, trying to stifle the sob clawing its way up my throat.
“I love you?”
Draven’s eyes slip shut, and the shadowy binds around my wrists and ankles finally give way as his hands capture my face, and he presses his forehead to mine.
“Again.”
Relief washes over me like a fucking tidal wave.
“I love you, Draven Morainu.”
A soft smile perches on his perfect lips.
“I love you too, Kitten.”
DRAVEN
With eyes squeezed shut to quell their burning, I throw Hella over my shoulder. She yelps in surprise, attempting to cover her exposed ass and pussy as I march my way to the lift that will take me to my penthouse above Moth & Flame. She’s rewarded with a swift smack to the voluptuous cheeks I’m moments from sinking my fangs into.
“Wait! Where are we going?! You have to take my bag!”
“My home.”
My shadows grasp her leather bag, following us inside the elevator.
“…What if I’d been an assassin or something?”
My deep chuckle rumbles from me.
“Kitten, even if you were, my life is yours to take.”
The lift’s glass doors close, swiftly carrying us 45 floors into the sky. I’ve spent years slaving away for the Blackspire Empire, eliminating threats posed to the public and our democracy. Now, centuries later, I’ve finally broken free.
