God of Pain (Legacy of Gods, #2)

by Rina Kent

Before the thought is fully formed, his rich, deep, and absolutely familiar voice rings in the air. “You talk too much. One day, this mouth will get you in trouble.”

“Hypothetically speaking, I have deviant tastes and violent tendencies for the opposite sex. You’re so fucking breakable, I’d crush you in no time.”

We drive away from the mansion, or more like Landon does in his show-off one-of-a-kind McLaren.

This is my one and only warning, Annika. You have no clue what you’re asking for. Be grateful that I have no interest in you and run the fuck away. If you let me catch you, I’ll swallow you alive.

Outside, Creighton has removed his shirt and is lifting two heavy bags of pet food at a time. His abs ripple with the effort and sweat glistens over honed muscles.

That’s me. I’m girls. Girls is me. Or were me. I’m totally over him now. Totally.

“Don’t ask Bran or anyone else to be your fake boyfriend,” he repeats, with an edge this time. “And if I refuse to follow your demands, which are super illogical, by the way?” He steps closer until his chest nearly brushes against mine and grabs my jaw with his thumb and forefinger, imprisoning me in place. “Then you’ll be acquainted with the pain you’re so scared of.”

We’re in the apartment she shares with my cousin, the silver angel, and the girl my brother is obsessed with.

Cecily is one of the purest souls to ever exist with enough heart to fit the globe. When we were young, she defended me every time someone made fun of me. Not that I cared, but I won’t forget how she told me ‘I’ll protect you, Creigh. That’s what friends are for.’ I tried to protect her, too, from the monster on my right, to no avail.

The girl treats animals like a mother would treat her baby, for fuck’s sake.

It’s been almost a week, and I’ve been going there every single day, deliberately sacrificing my sleeping time.

“You should’ve listened, little purple. You really shouldn’t have provoked me.”

“From now on, when I tell you to do something, you do it.” Slap. “If I warn you, you don’t ignore me.” Slap. “You’ll listen to fucking orders.” Slap. “You will obey me.” Slap.

My lips part. Holy. Shit. Who thought the quiet Creighton had such a dirty mouth? It’s almost like I’m meeting another version of him.

You’ve fucked up again. I’ve given you an opening to try and run away, but you went ahead and refused to take it. Don’t blame me for what’ll happen next. You’re now mine to punish and discipline, little purple.

sneak inside. The thought of something happening to her turns me into a feral beast.

The deep gravel of his voice reverberates on my skin when he whispers too close to my face, “I’m going to ask you a few questions and you’ll answer them, Annika. Lie to me, and you’ll be punished. Are we clear?”

little purple?”

When I grab a bottle of water, I realize she’s watching me with big eyes and parted lips. “How is it?” “Not bad.” An overstatement. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever consumed and that’s saying something, considering Mum isn’t that great of a cook either.

please.’” I glide my fork on the plate without eating. It’s not that I hate the saltiness so much, but her storytelling in that soft, energetic voice is more entertaining than food. That’s a first.

“If you think this is a temporary game or experimenting, then you have no fucking clue what you’re dealing with, little purple. I’ll eat your life up for breakfast and leave no leftovers for anyone to pick at. When I order you to do something, you don’t question it, you don’t give me attitude, and you certainly don’t be a brat about it. Is that clear?”

The moment she gasps, I lower my head and capture her lips with mine. Annika goes slack against me, her mouth slightly open, probably due to shock, and I use the chance to thrust my tongue inside.

I kiss her like I’ve never kissed before, because I have never kissed before, never considered the act of any value—not until this wrecking ball bulldozed through my life. My lips feast on hers with the energy of an unsatiated beast until she’s gasping, until her body molds against mine. Until I can no longer decipher where she starts and I end. The rain beats down on us like a witness of this moment. The moment I decide that Annika Volkov won’t be able to escape me. Not even if she wants to.

He’s a sadist like that. But he’s my sadist.

I throw a glance behind me and gasp when Creighton jumps from one of the ring posts. He completely ignores Remi and Landon and jogs in our direction. The crowd parts for him, and some slap him on the back while others attempt to shake his hand. He pays none of them any attention. His sole focus is on me. There’s a cut on his lip and his face looks like that of an underworld lord who’s fresh out of a battle. “Oh, hi—” Whatever I had to say dies in my throat when he grabs me by the waist and slams me to his side.

Creighton’s voice is clipped at best as he glares at his brother. “Stay the fuck away from what’s mine.” And then he drags me out of the club.

“You owe me at least three dates for that,” I grumble. My body goes still when something I’ve never witnessed before happens. Creighton throws his head back and laughs.

My lungs burn with the words and how true they are. Annika is mine. She was mine long before I even considered it,

and I’ll fuck up anyone who attempts to hurt her. No, I’ll destroy anyone who causes her discomfort. That’s enough to land anyone on my shit list.

I shake my head. The thought of touching anyone but her makes me physically ill.

Getting under my skin. Being the person I didn’t know I needed.

He’s loyal like that. And he’s mine. This gorgeous, beautiful man is all mine. Even if only temporarily.

“Trying is a good start.” She grins then lifts an index finger. “Oh, and I forgot something very important. I will do all the cooking since you don’t know how.” I internally wince. “We should probably outsource that.” “But why? You like my food.” Because you put effort into it, not because it tastes good.

“Is there something wrong with my cooking? Ava calls it horrendous and Papa flat-out ordered me not to cook anymore back home and Jeremy barely touches the dishes I make for him. And now, you said we should outsource it.” I stroke her hair. “You can cook if you like. I just don’t want you to exert yourself.” “Aw, really? I knew you were my favorite.”

I think I’m in trouble. When I first took interest in Creighton, I never thought things would get so…out of control. In the best way.

Just when I think the kiss will never end, I’m jerked back by the elbow and I crash against none other than my brother. Who’s glaring.

When someone wrenches Annika from my arms, my first thought is murder.

My second thought is to pound them until their features are unrecognizable and they’re begging for death.

Once we’re in the car, I check my messages and choke on my sobs when I read a text I got while I was on the flight. Remington I thought you should know that Creighton woke up. He’s disoriented, but the doctors said he’ll get better with time :)

“I brought biscuits.” Mum rushes back in with half-burnt biscuits that look like murdered Smurfs. Dad and I groan, but we eat every last bite. And that idea from earlier? It’s becoming more of a reality with every passing second.

But his deep, rich voice sounds absolutely real when he whispers, “Did you think it was over, little purple?”

He pours himself a glass of wine. No kidding, he drinks wine. At fucking twenty. He’s like an old man sometimes, I swear.

“I lost to you a long time ago. I love you, Annika. I love you to the point I see darkness without you and light only when I’m with you. You’re my sanctuary and the one person who makes me whole.”

Because he’s it for me.

The fucker-on-borrowed-time

This little fucking shit will be buried six feet under before my wife and daughter wake up tomorrow.

“I love you, Creigh, I love you.”

“I love you, too.”