Between the Devil and the Sea (The Devil and the Sea #1)

by Chani Lynn Feener

“What makes you say that? Is there someone else?” Apollo’s eyes seemed to darken in the next instant, though the easy smile never left his lips. “That partner of yours?”

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“Do you think it’s easy for me? I’m not used to these emotions either. I’m not used to feeling desperate. Before you, the only thing I even came close to being obsessed with was the urge to see inside people. But I don’t just want in you, baby, I want to own you. I want you wrapped around my finger, purring my name even in your sleep. I’m a devil with a weakness now, don’t you see how complicated that is? You aren’t the only one here having an identity crisis.”

“I want your love—no, I need it. Crave it even. And you’re going to give it to me. You’re going to give me everything, return every frenzied touch and ache and kiss. Every feeling. Every want. I’m going to have you mad for me. Going to make it so that it’s just you and me in here,” he tapped at Shade’s temple and then lowered his palm to the spot on his chest where his heart was located, “and here. I’m going to consume you, baby, and do you want to know the best part?”

“The best part,” he lowered those warm lips to Shade’s, the kiss brief and teasing, “is that you’re going to beg me to do it. You’re going to yearn for me to devour all of you, and I’m going to oblige.

All this time he’d been so scared of rejection that it’d blinded him to the truth. He’d abandoned himself that same day his parents had. He’d turned his own back and he’d hated and loathed the person he was. He didn’t need anyone else to accept him. He needed to accept himself. Want himself. Shade had fought for others, but he’d never fought for himself.

He was wanted. And he wanted. Without shame or fear, because Apollo wouldn’t abandon him, and he wouldn’t ever abandon Apollo. They were monstrous in their own ways, but they were tethered by their hearts and their minds and their souls.