Wrath moved behind me, lightly running his hands down my arms, then slowly dragging them back up again. Each stroke felt like magic and had my body craving more. “Do you remember when you asked if I’d be willing to tie you up?”
Goddess curse me, I did. “Yes. You were about to freeze us both to death. I had to find some way to distract you.”
He pressed a kiss to the back of my neck, the sensation causing the peaks of my breasts to ache, needing his touch. “It wasn’t your request that caught my attention, but the arousal I sensed.” His hands slowly worked my bodice down. “Much like what I’m sensing now.”
His thumb stroked over the little nub of my breast. I reached back, threaded my hand in his hair as he bent forward to kiss along my neck, my shoulder. I arched against him, feeling the proof of his own arousal hard against my backside. Wicked demon.
“Be careful what you wish for, wife. Your husband might be depraved enough to deliver.”
I turned in the circle of his arms and wet my lips, drawing his hunter’s gaze right where I wanted it. “I should hope so. I’d hate for things to get boring or predictable between us.”
Wrath chuckled darkly, his expression promising to torture me in the best of ways for that sassy comment. “That mouth…” His attention fell to my lips like he had some very wicked ideas for it indeed. “Will ensure things remain interesting. For a very long time.”
He cast a ward around his personal library, then turned his fierce, hungry focus on me again. No one would hear my screams of pleasure. Or his moans. Because I swore to myself I’d have him shouting loud enough to reach every House of Sin.
My immortal heart went from thumping to galloping in my chest as he backed me into the alcove. The heat that started gently spread like wildfire through my body. His lips curved with the hint of a sardonic smile. “You twisted, dark angel. I haven’t even touched you, and you’re more aroused than ever.”
I dropped my attention to the strained material of his trousers. “Seems to be a problem we share, husband.”
“We are lucky, indeed.” Wrath admired me for a beat, his attention moving across my face, before dropping to take in my bare breasts. He dipped his head and sucked a bud into his mouth, flicking his tongue until I writhed against him. “I’m going to give you everything you desire.”
“Dangerous proclamation.” I wanted to spend hours submitting to every devious, debauched thing I craved from my husband.
“How dangerous would you like me to be?” He trailed a finger between my breasts, following a line down my middle. Goddess-cursed demon, he stopped right below my belly button.
“Do your worst, your majesty. I’m ready for every twisted, dark thing you can dream up.”
With a flick of his wrist, my gown disappeared. Wrath’s clothing followed next. His raw masculine sensuality sent a searing ripple of heat through me as he looked me over again; this time there was strategy in his gaze. Like he’d taken this particular challenge personally.
“One thing I can promise you.” Wrath stepped forward and clasped a manacle around one of my wrists. He bent to whisper in my ear, his breath sending pleasant goose bumps along my body as he slowly took my other wrist in hand. “I can be very, very wicked, my love.”
Of that I had little doubt.
I allowed my gaze to drift over the pale tattoo written along his collarbone. Acta non verba. It was the perfect reminder that now was the time for action, not words. I rattled my chains, enjoying the way his gaze snagged on my body right before he hoisted my leg up.
A smile teased the edges of my lips. “It’s high time you showed me, demon.”
Wrath’s ebony wings shot out to either side. He looked like sin incarnate, and as his magic enveloped me, I thanked the goddess he was mine.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This entire trilogy was launched, written, and concluded during a global pandemic, yet it still found its home in the world because of YOU. Thank you, dear reader, for loving these characters and this sin-fueled world so much. I absolutely adore the Seven Circles and am so grateful you followed Wrath and Emilia on this treacherous journey through the underworld. Thank you a thousand, million times over for your support and for championing these books. I’m so happy they were able to take you away from the chaotic state of the world for a few hours.
Many thanks to my publishing team for turning my dreams into a reality. Barbara Poelle, agent, friend, and goddess extraordinaire, thank you for the many hats you wear and for all that you do behind the scenes. The whole crew at Irene Goodman Agency. Heather Baror-Shapiro for getting these books translated into more languages than I could ever dream possible. To Sean Berard at Grandview.