Chapter Thirty Three

Rina gripped her arms as she slid against the rock behind her, scraping against her back. The cool breeze swept against her neck, she flinched at the sensation. It was still wet from Tristen's forceful attention. She pulled her sleeve over her hand and rubbed her neck and lips until they were raw but dry.

She couldn't help but think about how Tristen made her feel compared to the demon Lord. She shuddered in disgust, Tristen thought his forceful ways would convince her to desire him. How wrong he was.

She clearly explained her situation to him. Her and Nathaniel's life would be endangered simply for having ties to Damien. He would protect them, yet Tristen did not care to listen or understand her.

She shuddered at the feeling of the harsh kiss, his actions were unexpected and shocking. She never thought to use her blessed holy powers on anyone let alone someone she knew. Yet he pushed her into attack mode. She grazed her fingers over her swollen lips, had she been a normal human with no way of defending herself…

Nausea struck her as she thought of what he would have done if she was helpless. She felt nothing for him and the kiss proved it. There was no spark, no emotional response, there was nothing save for a spark of fear he instilled in her. Tristen had been a part of her life for years, he was never physically forceful with her.

She would admit he was verbally demanding, but never in a million years did she think he would do this.

Thoughts of the demon Lord spilled through the cracks. In one day she shared a wanton, passionate kiss with the Lord and a painful forceful kiss with the prince.

Damien made her do and say things she never thought she would experience. But she found extreme pleasure in his attention. She was human but he brought the beast out of her. Her hand trailed to the familiar mark on her neck, it brought out the boldness in her.

She provoked the demon Lord into a kiss that would have led into another passionate encounter had he not stopped her. Then he tells her it was her right to have him, yet made no move to enact that same privilege with her.

Rina shook her head, so much had already happened in the few days she was here.

Rina wasn't sure how much more she could handle and now she was supposed to go to Damien's home and play Lady of his lands. Doubt began to surface, she wasn't sure she could handle it.

She had yet to know the full responsibility of what was expected of a Lady of demons and she was beginning to fear the uncertain future.

Her hands trembled as she wiped her tears before they fell. She stood from her spot and began to walk towards the trail. Soon the blue that surrounded her began to fade. She paused for a moment to let her eyes adjust to the darkness around her.

The crescent moon was clear in the sky but she needed more time to be able to see the bare minimum of the dirt path ahead.

Her marked pulsed, thoughts of the demon Lord came back. The insane encounter that turned from a clear denial to dripping pleasure came in full force.

Maybe she was losing her mind, maybe she didn't really remember the things they did and felt the right way. She shook her head, she must be crazy to compare the two brothers.

"Rina?"

Her head shot up so quickly she thought she snapped her own neck.

-Damien-

The distraught look on her face did nothing to calm his beast or him. He wasn't sure what happened but the look on her face said it all. He internally growled as his beast came up with different scenarios of what might have transpired. He forced his inner beast to the edge of his mind casting away the images that would likely set him off.

She continued to move forward without awareness of her surroundings.

"Rina," he called.

He walked towards her as her head shot up in shock.

"Damien?"

"What happened?" he asked.

He could clearly see her as she could barely see his features, the light glow of the moon cast a shadow over his features. He shifted closer, until he was a foot away.

"What happened?" he repeated.

"Nothing," she tried to turn away from him.

Damien gently curled his fingers around her slim wrist and tugged her towards him. Rina placed her free hand against his chest.

"Stop," she muttered.

Rina looked at anything but the person standing in front of him. A low growl vibrated against her hand. Damien's nostrils flared as he took in her scent, his eyes flashed red. But she couldn't see any of this.

"You carry his scent." he whispered.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Damien let go of her wrist and wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her against him. His inner beast was joyous with the intimate contact he had with his mate but his hackles rose as his younger brother's scent wafted forward.

The demon Lord's scent covered hers when she left but now the mongrel's smell was laced around her. His lips lifted into a snarl. Rina sighed and laid her head on his chest. The action caught him by surprise, he froze. Her arms remained limp at her sides but she put most of her weight forward and let Damien hold her.

She sought comfort in his arms.

Rina pressed her nose into his muscled chest and sighed. She pulled back and looked up but could barely see his face.

"Sorry," she whispered and wiped her eyes again.

"You do not need to apologize for seeking comfort in your mate, no matter how little we have experienced together. I will honor our bond."

A small smile stretched her pouty lips. Damien's brows furrowed as he leaned forward tilting his head towards her face. Damien pulls her in for a kiss and growls against her lips. The scent of his brother was clear.

"He dares to kiss-"

She quickly pulls away from him.

"I said I don't want to talk about it." Rina snapped.

Damien pulled her back, Rina stumbled and fell against his chest. He circled his arms around her and pressed her tightly against him as he shifted her up.

"Stop, it's over. There is nothing between us. He knows that now." she pressed her forehead against his and took in a deep breath. Damien seemed to be able to always take her breath away with the smallest kiss. Her thoughts went back to the forced kiss she experienced with Tristen and shuddered. It was nothing compared to what she was feeling now.

Her mark pulsed, sending a rush of heat through her that resulted in a breathy moan. Her hands sank into his silver strands scraping against his scalp. Damien slanted his mouth over hers and ran his tongue over her lips. He dived into her parted lips when she moaned.

Rina was his, no one had a right to touch her. To tarnish her scent, the possessiveness should have shocked him. But the thought of his brother touching what was his overruled any logic that was left.

The demon Lord growled into the kiss, the vibration sent Rina's hips into a rocking motion. Damien slid his hands under her bottom and gripped her tightly. Rina let out another moan and wrapped her legs around him.

"Why?" she asked.

Damien began to walk and trailed kisses down her jaw toward the mating mark. Her body twitched the moment his teeth scraped against her sensitive skin. Rina's grip on his hair was painfully tight.

Her head thrust back and let out a stream of moans as she arched into him. Rina tried to restrain herself as she repeated her question.

"Why?" came out the breathy word.

Damien growled against her neck and sucked her tender flesh.

"Ahh.. Damien, stop."

He pressed her gently against the closest tree, it seemed to be a familiar position they kept finding themselves in.

"Why what?" he growled.

He ran his hands over her curves before he gripped her thick thighs. She let out another moan and arched into him. A steady growl rumbled in his chest as he took in her desperate action to gain more pleasure from him.

"Why do I feel like this towards you?"

Damien stole her breath away with another kiss then gently pulled her bottom lip into his mouth before he pulled back.

"The bond we share, brings out the tiniest desire we have. It is nothing to be ashamed of." his voice had taken a deeper tone after they started kissing.

Rina trailed her hands from his hair to his face, her hand movements mirrored the other. Her thumbs traced his cheeks then his brows, she lifted one finger to trace down his perfect nose and reached his lips. Rina pressed her thumb against his lower lip before her finger clasped around his chin.

Damien could see every expression flickering over her face while she could not. She blindly traced his face while he remained still and waited to see what she would do.

Rina leaned in and flicked her small tongue over his lips before she dived in. She arched and rotated her hips as their hungry lips fought for dominance. Damien smoothed his hand over the base of her neck and grabbed her hair. Rina squealed at the sudden move then moaned.

"You are mine, never forget that." he growled.

Her eyes narrowed. "No one owns me." the hand that was gripping his chin wrapped around his neck.

"No one can have you but me." Damien countered.

"Who are you to say what I can and cannot do?"

"Women do not push me." he growled. "You are my mate."

"Will you be faithful?"

His inner beast roared to life, he clawed at his cage before roaring in anger.

The question caught him off guard. Many would expect a Lord to have plenty of mistresses but he was a wolf demon. They mated for life and honored their bond until death.

"I shall," he answered.

"Good." Rina said and pulled him in for another kiss.