Sweet Hatred

ARIA'S POV

This fucking bastard.

I hated the way he looked at me—like he knew what I wanted before I did.

Like he was in control. Even now. Especially now.

With my wrists bound, my body pinned beneath his, my breath shaky from the heat pooling between my legs—he was winning. And I refused to let him.

His mouth was everywhere. Warm, wet, torturous.

Sucking. Biting. Licking. Over my collarbone. Down my ribs. Across the swell of my breasts. Everywhere except where I wanted.

I clenched my jaw. "This is getting old, Kael—I expected more"

His hands slid under the fabric pushing it up leaving me bare and exposed and then—His teeth sank into my nipple. A sharp, almost-too-much bite that sent a jolt of heat straight between my legs.

I gasped—fuck, too late. He heard it.

His tongue followed, smoothing over the sting, dragging slowly before he latched on completely.

The wet, obscene pull of his mouth made me shudder. No. No, I wouldn't.

I forced my back flat against the mattress, willing my body to ignore him.

His teeth grazed me again. Then his tongue, slow and deliberate, swirling over my areolas before sucking it between his lips—harder.

My stomach tightened. My legs tensed. This fucking— I bit my lip. Hard.

His chuckle burned hotter than his mouth.

"Still think I talk too much, Firefly?"

I glared.

He grinned. And then he moved lower. A sharp tug.

Cool air rushed over my bare thighs. My panties—the thong that barely covered anything. He'd moved them. Pulling it to the side gently. Heat spread through my chest. My breath stuttered.

"Kael—" his name slipped out before I could stop myself. Shame descended instantly.

"Shhh." His lips brushed my stomach. His fingers slid lower, just barely teasing over my slit.

"Nnngh" I clenched my fists. The silk around my wrists strained.

His fingers trailed up, so slow, so fucking slow—a light, teasing stroke over the slickness he'd caused. Then another. And another.

Never pressing. Never giving me what I needed. I wanted to bash his fucking skull. Calm down Aria.

"Look at me," he murmured.

I didn't. I wouldn't. His fingers circled, spreading my wetness, never dipping inside. I bit my lip hard to stop the moans that settled at the edge of my tongue.

"I said eyes on me, Firefly."

A sharp, deliberate tap of his fingers over my clit. Electricity. My whole body jumped. I gasped—fuck, again. I looked. No—shot him a glare. And damn him, damn him, damn him—

That smirk. That lazy, cocky, starving smirk. Like he could devour me whole and still be hungry.

"Good girl."

"Don't fucking call me that." I snapped.

His fingers slipped inside. A moan slipped out again.

"Look at that."

His voice was low, smug, cruel.

I didn't have to look to know what he meant—I could feel it. The way his fingers had slipped inside me so easily, like I'd been aching for it, like my body had been waiting. My pussy clenched tight around him—so shamelessly.

"God, Firefly," Kael chuckled, fingers curling, stretching inside me. "You are so ready for me, aren't you? You should've told me you needed this much earlier. Maybe we could have ditched the party or gave Niccolo and his guests a show."

"Shut your fucking trap pervert!" I hissed, hating the burn in my cheeks, hating how my body pulsed around him—tight, desperate, completely out of my control.

But he wasn't wrong.

The heat pulsed through me, too good, too much, my thighs tensing around his wrist. I couldn't help it.

Kael's smirk deepened. His fingers stilled, pressed deep. And then he pushed. Right there in my spot. My breath shattered. My back arched. "Ahhh~"

Oh fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fucking—

I knew he felt it—knew he felt the way I was squeezing tightly around his fingers, a silent, unspoken plea for more.

Because his grin turned sinister.

His eyes, sharp and burning, locked onto mine. The way his pupils had swallowed up the green, the raw hunger he wasn't even bothering to hide—it was almost scary.

Almost. Because God help me, he looked good like this. This bastard had exchanged his empathy for that damned beautiful face. I was going to bury myself out of shame in the dirt after this.

His black shirt was wrinkled, the collar slightly stretched, the top two buttons undone, like he'd torn them open. His skin flushed, his lips parted—wet from where he'd sucked my nipples, pink and full and so fucking sinful.

And his hair.

Messy, wild, his fingers running through it between every taunt, every slow thrust inside me.

I bit my lip hard again. A mistake. Because Kael's gaze flicked to it.

And then he moved.

His fingers slid out—then back in, slower this time. His other hand trailed back to my chest, his thumb rolling over my aching nipple in lazy, torturous circles.

"You're not fighting me anymore, Firefly." His smirk deepened. "Starting to feel good, huh?"

No. I wouldn't—couldn't let him be right.

But my body was shaking, quivering under him, my wrists straining against the silk binding them to the headboard.

"Go to… hell." I managed to wring out.

His fingers pressed against that spot again, dragging slow, deep, making my thighs tremble. "ahhh~nngh~fuuuck."

"You hate me, don't you?" he murmured, lips skimming the side of my face. "So why are you squeezing around my fingers like you don't want me to stop?"

God. This blood sucker. I hated him. I hated how good he was. How good this felt. How his hand between my legs, his mouth on my skin, his words in my ear, could pull me apart so easily.

"Ugh!" I squeezed my eyes shut. Bit back a moan. "Eat shit! You bastard!"

Kael laughed. And then his pace changed.

Slow, torturous strokes turned into sharp, fast thrusts—his fingers driving into me, curling hard, his palm grinding against my clit.

"Wait—I"I gasped. My back arched completely off the bed. "Shiiit!"

"Oh, you like that, huh?" His teeth scraped my jaw, his breath heavy and dark.

I wanted to curse him. I wanted to claw at him, sink my teeth into his perfect, hot, infuriating skin.

But I couldn't. I was tied. Pinned. And completely at his mercy.

Pleasure ripped through me, tighter, sharper, closer—My breath hitched. My stomach clenched, pulse hammering.

Oh fuck, I was—And then he was gone.

His fingers slipped out. All of it—gone.

My orgasm, the heat, the edge I'd been so close to falling over—

I gasped—more frustration than air.

My legs snapped shut, my hips still twitching, still aching, still needing.

Kael grinned.

He pulled back on his knees, licking his fingers slowly, his eyes locked on mine.

"Shame," he murmured. "You looked so pretty about to fall apart for me."

I sucked in a sharp breath, eyes glaring daggers at him.

"I'm gonna kill you"