I ignored her, pushing onto my knees in front of her. “You’d think I’d be used to not healing quickly by now.” I tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace. “Are you okay?” I ran my fingers along her cheek and down her body, searching for any sign that she was injured.
“You’re asking me?” She sounded incredulous. “I’m not the one who passed out in a cage a couple of hours ago.”
“Just answer the question, Laila.” I already knew what had happened to me, and there was nothing I could do about it now.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. Just worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’ll be okay.” I had to be. I didn’t have any other options. “Did anyone tell you what happens now that the tournament is over?”
“Lucifer hosts a party to celebrate the winner the day after tomorrow. All the grand princes will be in attendance, and you get to bring one companion. According to Roth, the party usually lasts for a couple of days. After that…” She didn’t need to finish the statement. Lucifer was bound by the same rules of Hell as everyone else. While we were his guests, the champion of the Prince of Wrath’s tournament, we were untouchable. The second the party ended, however, all protection would cease.
“We’ll have to leave before the party ends.” I drank her in with my eyes, knowing I had only days left before I’d lose her.
Despite my certainty that becoming Sathanas’s champion was the destiny I’d been meant to fulfill, I didn’t feel like much of a victor at the moment.
“Joriel.” Her voice felt like a caress, warm and gentle.
“Can I kiss you?” I begged her.
“You don’t need to ask permission for that. You have an open invitation.” She said it as if it was no big deal, as if I could ever deserve her.
My hand found her waist and I lowered my lips to hers, claiming her mouth like I’d somehow be able to keep her. I poured everything into the kiss, letting it soothe the darkness and pain inside. She kissed me back, seeming just as desperate as I was. I could taste her relief… and the salt of her tears.
“Sweetness?”
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled against my lips. “Just ignore me and keep kissing me.”
“Those things sound a little mutually exclusive,” I said, pulling back enough to brush the drops from her cheeks. “Why are you crying?”
“Youwon,” she answered.
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“No. I just… It’s been a long week. And I’m so happy you’re okay. Well, mostly okay.”
“Shh.” I kissed her again. “I’m fine.”
“Do you have any idea how scared I was when I saw you collapse?”
Her scream echoed in my memory. “I know, sweetness. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I held her tight to my chest, feeling her tears against my bare skin.
“I could have lost you,” she said, her voice still shaking.
My fingers fisted in the back of her shirt. I didn’t want her to lose me. I didn’t want to lose her either. I just didn’t understand how that was avoidable. She belonged in Heaven, and even if I could leave Hell—something I wasn’t at all sure Lucifer would ever let me do—I could never follow her into Father’s court.
Laila’s lips on my chest drew all my attention to that spot, pushing all thoughts out of my head. It was impossible to focus on anything but her as she kissed her way up to my neck, her tongue flicking over where my pulse thundered. I shifted, ignoring the way the movement pulled at the gashes in my back.
The next second, Laila was on her back on my bed while I hovered over her, propped up on my elbows. My unbound hair fell over my shoulders, creating a curtain around us. She was so beautiful—her heart, her soul, and her body. It took physical effort to keep from telling her I loved her right then. She was it for me. I could live a thousand more years and never find another her.
I let my gaze trail over her body and back up to her jade-green eyes, my dick hardening to the point of pain. Her eyes were full of challenge, like she was daring me to take everything I wanted from her. Her fingers slid over my chest and down my abs, tracing every scar and brand that marred my skin. I held my breath as she got to the waistband of my shorts. There was nothing more arousing than watching the woman who owns your heart own your body.
Her gaze met mine as she bit her lower lip. Deliberately. She knew exactly what she was doing to me, and she was enjoying it. Fuck.
My eyes zeroed in on her lips as her hand slipped inside my shorts. Air hissed through my teeth when her fingers closed around my shaft. My dick throbbed in her hand, and I already felt close to coming in my damn shorts.
“Laila.”
“Kiss me.”
