Hell Bound

CHAPTER 15

Alithiya put down the book she was reading when she felt someone's presence in front of her. She looked up and met the cold gaze of her intended. She closed the book on her lap, and looked at him, her gaze questioning.

He didn't say a word, but held out his hand, which she took without hesitance, and rose from the garden bench she was sitting on.

She put her hand in the crook of his arm and they settled into a companionable silence as he led them towards the forest.

"You need to learn how to stand up for yourself more," At the sound of his voice she looked up at him. "What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

He stopped, abruptly and she looked up at him to see him studying her with his usual impassive gaze."Last night, when your mother said you would get another week before getting married, you could've fought to extend it into a few more days," he said.

She looked at him, her eyebrows raised. "And you would've agreed to it?" she asked, disbelievingly.

He shrugged. "No. But that's not the point," he said, calmly. She crossed her arms over her chest, her face flushing with frustration. "How is that not the point? Even if I had argued, you still wouldn't have granted it,"she said.

"But you would've still fought for it," he pointed out. Then he closed the distance between them, and picked a lock of her raven black hair, and twined it around his finger.

"I can't have my princess acting all demure and meek when I fully well know what a spitfire she truly is," he said huskily as he let go of the lock and ran his knuckles softly along her cheek and jawline. She blushed and looked down, avoiding his smoldering gaze. "I'm not a spitfire," she mumbled, burying her head in his chest.

His chest rumbled with his quiet chuckle. She looked up at him and met his amused gaze. "You just frustrate me sometimes is all," she said and watched him as he looked down at her inquiringly. "How so?" he asked, as he ran a hand down her hair, caressing her soft locks, tenderly.

She shrugged and nuzzled her face into his neck, inhaling his scent. She shook her head. "Doesn't matter," she murmured. Then looked at him. "What brings you here?" she asked.

He took her chin in his fingers and rubbed his thumb along her bottom lip. "Can't a man come visit his intended?" he asked, then looked her up and down studying her attire, then he frowned. "You are not wearing the dress I gave you," he remarked.

She looked down, blushing. "I...well... I just thought that it would be better to wait till we go to your realm. I'm still not comfortable with showing so much skin and I didn't want anyone questioning my choice of attire," she said, softly.

"Just anyone? Or your former lover?" he sneered. She looked away, avoiding his gaze. He was silent for a moment. "You still love him," he said. His voice didn't held accusation or scorn, he just stated with a cold indifference that made him look like he was stating a fact. And he was. She cringed and looked up at him, her gaze pleading. "Does it matter? He has a mate. I'll be married to you, soon. Let's just let bygones be bygones," she said.

He didn't say anything but grunted, as he pulled her closer to him, and buried his hand in her hair. She didn't protest but went into his embrace willingly, letting his scent wash over her. Then his hot breath was on her neck and before she could protest he was nuzzling her neck. She melted into his embrace and jerked when she felt a sharp nip at the side of her neck where her pulse was beating wildly. Then his lips grazed her earlobe before nibbling on it, lightly. "Relax," he whispered into her ear.

Immediately she relaxed into his touch as his hands glided down her back and encircled her waist, crushing her front against his. With a sigh, she let her head fall back, exposing the column of her throat to his smoldering gaze, and was immediately rewarded by soft butterfly kisses as he kissed his way down her throat and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. She sighed then gave a small moan as she felt his fangs grazing her skin lightly. "Please," she whispered. He chuckled. "Soon, love,"