Page 378 of Coal Hearts

The way he’d defended me tonight.

The way he begged me to accept his black-riddled heart.

I had no immunity anymore.

No defence against him when he had an uncanny knack of making me see the tortured boy within, all while layering me in bruises.

Swallowing hard, he grunted, “This is me, Ily. All of me. You can’t change me. I. Can’t. Change. God knows I’ve tried. I hate being this way. I hate that I can’t let you go. I hate that I can’t stop. I hate that you hate me, but when you look at me the way you are—without all that loathing I deserve—you make me wonder if I could have your heart...after all.”

I couldn’t look away.

The hollowness of his cheeks and intensity of his smoky eyes...

It was a terrible, terrible thing to be in lust with your enemy.

A tragic, tragic thing to completely forget why you should hate him when every part of your heart said mine.

God, this needs to stop...before it’s too late.

His hips drove into mine, fucking me slowly, thoroughly.

Ahhh, don’t stop...I take it back.

Don’t.

Stop.

My clit hummed.

My lower belly tightened.

My vision grew hazy as he grabbed my throat and added punishment to my pleasure. Squeezing me above my collar, he hovered over my mouth again. His pace increasing. His cock plunging and withdrawing.

“Fuck, you feel so good.”

His curse almost made me come.

I moaned as he rutted shallower, crueller—

“You’re mine, Ilyana,” he growled. “Every piece. You’re mine to use. My slave to fuck.” His voice turned guttural. “Mine to defend. Mine to kill for. Mine, do you hear me? All mine, always mine...whether you hate me or not.”

I couldn’t speak anymore.

Deny anymore.

He blinded me, deafened me—

“Kiss me,” he suddenly whispered, his plea hot on my lips.

My eyes shot wide, fogged with clouds of passion.

Our stare locked.

His breath caught.

And then...

...his mouth slammed over mine.