Mass release tomorrow! Don’t forget to drop your votes!

[Warning: Mature content ahead.]

.

.

[Music recommendation: PIXIE-T - So Dark]

.

.

No sooner did her skin come into contact with a cool, hard surface than she gasped at the sudden chill. She quickly realised Gavriel had placed her right on top of the bathroom counter.

Just then, he finally pulled back from her mouth, as if knowing the exact moment to let her take in the much-needed air.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly while her head dropped against his shoulder.

A soft sigh escaped her lips when she felt his hot mouth peppering kisses down her neck and along her collarbone, until he stopped right above the swell of her chest.

Suddenly, he gripped a fistful of her hair, gently pulling her head back. Her hands instinctively clung to the edge of the counter for support as he leaned away just enough to finally let his eyes rake over her beautiful, bare body.

Her pulse raced so wildly beneath her skin that Aliana was certain she might pass out from the sheer intensity of his gaze, which felt like a literal, burning caress against her flesh.

The urge to raise her arms and cover herself returned with a vengeance.

But the moment her hands twitched to do exactly that, his rough, magnetic voice sliced through the steam.

"Don’t."

Releasing his grip on her hair, his icy blue eyes locked onto her trembling ones. "You’re beautiful," he murmured. His fingers found her jaw, gripping it firmly as he leaned in close to hiss with acute possessiveness, "And only mine. Mine to see... mine to touch."

A loud moan spilled from her lips the moment his free hand finally cupped her left breast, giving the soft flesh a firm, possessive squeeze.

Too overwhelmed to keep looking at him, she closed her eyes as if that could somehow shield her from his intense gaze, but Gavriel was not merciful. Without warning, he rolled her hardened nipple between his thumb and forefinger, sending a jolt of sensation through her that made her eyes snap open instantly.

Looking up, she saw a small, wicked smile forming on his face at her helpless reaction.

He commanded in his low, sinuous voice, "Eyes on me. I want you to see exactly who makes you come undone. I want you to brand this scene into your mind forever so that you never forget."

But even as he said those words, Aliana knew that even if she wanted to, he would never truly let her forget this.

Suddenly, he captured her lips in a brief, deep kiss before driving lower until his mouth wrapped hungrily around her right breast. He sucked on the supple skin hard enough to make her arch her back in a beautiful mix of pleasure and pain as a breathless cry tore from her lips. While his other hand began kneading and pitching her other breast.

Soon, a breathless chorus of scandalous sucking, sighs and moans filled the steamy bathroom as he alternated his attention between her soft curves, driving her to the point where her brain completely turned to jelly.

Beads of sweat began trickling down her forehead and back from his relentless assault.

She felt thoroughly savoured by nothing more than his tongue and teeth.

By the time he finally released her breasts, Aliana was leaning back on her arms against the counter, staring at the ceiling as she panted heavily.

She was so dazed that she didn’t even realise what he was doing until... another sharp rip echoed through the air.

Her heart shuddered when she felt the cool air brush against her weeping core.

Looking down, her eyes widened, and she felt the air knocked clean out of her lungs at the sight of him.

Gavriel was on his knees on the floor before her, staring directly at her wetness as if he was.... worshipping it?

On sheer instinct, she attempted to snap her legs shut, but Gavriel had already anticipated the move. Placing his palms flat against her inner thighs, he parted them even wider than before. Then, hoisted her knees up over his broad shoulders to completely lock her legs in place.

When his intense gaze lifted to meet hers, a wave of heat and shame flooded her all at once. She quickly threw her hands over her face to cover her eyes, her muffled, quivering voice crying out, "Gavriel... don’t..."

"So wet," he whispered against her down there, and Aliana felt that she wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and bury herself the moment she felt his hot breath brushing against her core.

But another sharp sting on her inner thigh pulled her right out of her thoughts.

Peeking through the gaps of her fingers, she looked down to find him sucking hard on her sensitive skin.

When he finally let go, his dark voice delivered a low warning: "Continue to hide yourself from me, and I promise I’ll be more than glad to cover this gorgeous body of yours with my marks."

And Aliana could feel that he meant every single word. Knowing she was completely at his mercy in this moment, she reluctantly complied.

The moment her shy gaze met his, he praised her, which made her heart sing, "Good girl."

Then, without missing a beat, he pulled on her thighs until she shifted dangerously close to the very edge of the counter, leaving barely any distance between his face and her sacred place.

Her skin burned scarlet, but Gavriel kept his bold eyes fixed on hers before he stuck out his tongue and finally delivered a long, deliberate lick to her wet folds.

The second he made contact, a deep moan of his name tore from her lips, and Gavriel felt his own eyes draw shut the instant he tasted her. She was intoxicatingly sweet to him, like a taste of forbidden, heavenly nectar... that he knew he was going to be hopelessly addicted to her... forever.

He knew right then that there was absolutely no going back.

That this was the exact moment something shifted within him, a permanent change that he could not, and would not, ever undo.