Bloodlust Denied by Christina Phillips

from the swollen bud of her breast to her trembling cleft. Couldn’t he see she’d agree to anything, obey whatever he demanded, so long as he promised to quell the ache consuming every atom of her quivering flesh?
    “Tell me.” His scorching whisper grazed across her ear, and his lips briefly tugged on her lobe.
    “I will obey your every command.” She breathed her surrender that was no surrender because he demanded nothing she hadn’t craved since the moment she’d left him in that dark alley.
    His lips curved against her sensitized skin. She could imagine the arrogance in that smile but it didn’t matter. Let him have his moment of victory if it meant that much to him. In the end, they were both victors.
    “On your knees.” His fingers, still clasped around her nape, bore her downward.
    “What?” She stumbled as the carriage rocked over a pothole in the road and clung to his broad shoulders for support. “My knees?” Had she understood correctly?
    “Where you belong.” The arrogant smile he arrowed her way far surpassed her imagination.
    She braced her palms over his broad shoulders. Trepidation licked through her at the realization the duke had other pursuits on his mind than simple copulation.
    “No.” She knelt before no man. No woman, either.
    “Are you disobeying my command?” He sounded neither surprised nor angered by her refusal, but aroused.
    She flattened her hands against the base of his throat. What would he do if she tore that elegantly tied cravat from his neck?
    “Yes.” The husky word slipped from her lips as her fingers toyed with the cravat. She wanted him naked as he plowed into her, wanted to see his muscled arms and chest and groin without any sensual silk or fine lawn cloth between their writhing bodies.
    He molded her breast, and the touch of his fingers holding her, caressing her, caused desire to arrow through the wet folds of her pussy. And then his hands clamped over her shoulders and forced her to the floor of the carriage.
    “I said no.” She slammed her hands on his granite thighs and despite her anger, lust flared at the strength beneath those tight cream breeches.
    Pinning her in place with only one hand, he traced a finger along the outline of her face and across her parted lips.
    “If you want to survive this night, you will do exactly as I say.” His words sent a sensual shiver across her naked breast.
    Her fingers clawed, but his thighs were impenetrable. “And if I refuse?” Her heart pounded. Dark excitement thundered through her veins at the raw danger exuding from every measured word he uttered.
    There was nothing he could do that could physically harm her. She knew it and yet a thrill of alarm vibrated through her soul, warning her that this man, this stranger she had fucked and yet knew not at all, had the power to destroy her in ways she could barely imagine.
    “You’ll never see the sun rise again.”
    His smile was predatory. He believed she was his prey and at his complete mercy. Had she been an ordinary woman, doubtless she would by now be begging for her life, acquiescing to all his demands, promising him whatever he desired in exchange for her continued mortality.
    But she wasn’t. And his threats didn’t flay her soul or terrify her heart. Instead they stoked her lust and inflamed her desire. Because how easy it would be for her to break the arm that held her and grind his autocratic hauteur beneath her dainty heel.
    She could still escape and return to Thanatos any time she wished.
    “A threat, Your Grace?” She flexed her shoulder, to show him she wasn’t in his power as he imagined.
    Ice coiled through her, chilling her heart as her shoulder remained immobile beneath his touch. She tried again, exerted herself, concentrated in using all her strength to throw off his hand, yet again it was as if she had scarcely attempted to shrug.
    “No, my love.” The duke bestowed another mirthless smile at her. “A promise.”

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