Demon Forged

know. But there is apparently nothing you can do to me that will not make me want you. You could cut my chest open and I would beg you for more.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t want that.”
    “And I don’t need pain to want you. God knows, I want you without it.” His mouth twisted. “But don’t tell me you never want to hurt me. When you do—and you will , Irena—know that no harm is done. It is only foreplay.”
    She didn’t want that kind of freedom, that much power over him. Did she? Excitement crackled along beside her anger, her astonishment.
    His laugh was harsh. “You balk? Last night, you sucked my soul into your keeping. Do you not take this part of me, too?”
    He dared bring last night up now? Rage shook her. She made herself remain still. “I do not want to fight.”
    “About this? About Rael? What else about me will you not take?”
    Not take? Her throat tightened. “Olek—”
    “No!” He started toward her, then stopped. His hand slashed through the air in a gesture that felt too close to finality. “I have accepted all of you. You cannot do the same.”
    How could he believe that? “I do.”
    “No. You cannot make a good weapon of faulty steel.” His voice roughened, and she did not know if it was in anger or pain. “And you cannot imagine that I would see the same faults you do, but transform them into something good. That I can take a demon’s deception and create something honorable. Or that I could step into a corrupted role and use it in the right way.”
    She stared at him, his accusation echoing between her ears. While she tried to take it in, he shook his head and walked away. Her heart leapt in fear. She stalked after him.
    “Face me, Olek!” Let me fight for you.
    Panic surged through her when he didn’t stop. She didn’t give him warning. In a burst of speed, she launched herself onto his back, rammed her knee into his spine and pulled at his hair.
    He turned on her like a predator unleashed. His fingers digging into her arms, he hauled her over his shoulder and slammed her back to the ground. He came down over her. Fury stretched his body as tight as a steel wire. She stared up at him, tried to catch her breath to speak. His thighs pushed between hers, spreading them wide.
    His lips drew back from clenched teeth. “I have taken you! Your anger and your stubborn head and all of you.” He reached between them, ripping her leggings. “One way or another, you will take me!”
    Surprise held her motionless before need swept it away. Yes. She’d take him just like this, wanted him just like this. Irena vanished her leggings and his fingers scraped her bare skin. Her blood racing, she felt his clothes disappear, and the heat of his flesh against hers.
    Bracing his hands beside her shoulders, Alejandro loomed over her. The blunt tip of his shaft parted her wet folds. Shaking with anticipation, she lifted to him.
    He shoved inside, huge and thick, and her body screamed with the pleasure of it. Oh, gods. Fierce joy pierced the heart of her. She’d measured his length, but hadn’t known what it was to be taken by Olek, finally. She arched, trying to force him deeper, and cried out when she did.
    He froze at the sound, awareness sweeping through his psychic scent like an icy wind. Irena hauled his mouth down to hers. No stopping. No thinking. She bit his lip and tasted blood.
    With a feral growl, Olek kissed her back, hot and wet. His hips swung, hammering deep with every stroke. Yes. By the gods, yes. Finally, taken. Finally taking. Each heavy thrust sent her heartbeat racing faster, wound the ecstasy tighter. Her nails raked his back, digging furrows in his skin. He groaned and licked deeper into her mouth. Her frantic breaths filled their kiss. He pinned her hips and twisted his and she slammed into orgasm, slick muscles clamping around his thick shaft.
    When she fell out of its grip, Olek lifted his head. Remorse darkened his eyes. “Again,” he demanded hoarsely. “Forgive me. Again.”
    She breathed his name and his mouth reclaimed hers. No fury heated this kiss. Only need. Only the feel of him against her, inside her. And although the anger between them was spent, his skin was still fire. His lips burned.
    Without breaking their kiss, he lifted her ankle to his shoulder. He worked into her in a relentless rhythm—in and in, slow inch by inch, he kept his vow and repeated it. Pleasure became the sweetest pain, sizzling across her nerves. Every endless