Chapter 339: Let Us Burn
[Music recommendation: LAUREL - I Forget]
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Once the couple’s voices faded into the distance, Cillian released a quiet sigh of relief, his warm breath brushing against Jade’s nape as he murmured, "That was close."
The sensation sent a shiver straight down her spine, making her fight the urge to lean into his warmth. Shaking off the haze, she turned her head and asked. "Close? What are you talking about?"
Cillian’s dark eyes lazily tracked over her face. "You clueless woman. I just saved you from becoming a permanent stain on the carpet."
"Huh?" Jade blinked, her alcohol-clouded mind struggling to catch up. She tilted her head up. "What do you mean?"
Cillian’s gaze slid down to her lips.
Reaching out, his fingers lightly brushed against her cheek as he tucked a stray lock behind her ear. "Because... had you put a hand on Gavriel, he would have broken your fingers before realizing it was you."
Jade blinked at him before pulling back from his grip. "What? That’s way too extreme! Besides, I wasn’t actually going to touch him," she huffed, standing up from the sofa.
"Extreme is Gavriel’s baseline. And even if it wasn’t..." Cillian slowly rose to his full height, his broad frame towering over her. "... it’s in your best interest not to let your hands wander toward other men."
Jade caught the possessive undertone in his voice and took a hasty step back, only for Cillian to match her stride, crowding her space.
"Do you understand me, Red?" he purred, his voice dropping an octave that made her heart flutter against her ribs.
But at the same time, alarm bells rang in Jade’s head.
With the staff retired for the night and the rest of the estate quiet, being left alone with him in this state was dangerous. So, mustering up every ounce of bravery, she looked the handsome demon in the eyes and replied, "I-I can touch whoever I want!"
Without waiting for his reaction, she turned on her heel and scurried away to the hallway toward her room.
Cillian’s eye twitched at her sharp tongue, a dangerous smirk curling his lips as he murmured, "Not so fast," before striding down the dimly lit corridor after her.
She had barely reached her room when a strong arm wrapped around her waist, spinning her around and slamming her back against the wooden door. Before she could catch her breath, Cillian ate up the space between them.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Jade gasped, placing both palms against his firm chest to keep some distance between them.
Without a word, Cillian seized both of her wrists in a single iron grip, pinning them above her head against the door while the other came to wrap around her waist. He leaned in until their noses brushed, his gaze boring into hers. "Say that again. What did you just say to me?"
Jade swallowed hard, forcing her chin up despite the wild hammering in her chest. "Y-You heard me... I can touch whoever I want."
Cillian’s eyes flared with a dark, possessive fire. Releasing her waist, his free hand travelled up to frame her face, his fingers digging gently into her skin. "Is that so?"
The sheer intensity in his gaze made Jade swallow hard. She parted her quivering lips, her voice barely a whisper. "C-Cillian... stop..."
"Shh..." Cillian pressed his thumb against her lower lip. "Have you forgotten so quickly, Red? Your body already speaks to me... it knows how to be honest."
He slowly dragged his thumb back and forth across her lip. "I can feel it... the desire pouring out of you that you try so hard to keep buried beneath that tough exterior."
With gentle pressure, his thumb slipped past her parted lips into her warmth.
He leaned down until his breath hovered right over her ear, his voice dropping into a low, velvet purr. "You’re terrified of getting burned... but what is life worth if you never let yourself burn with me, Jade?"
Jade shuddered and pressed her head back against the wood as a crimson flush spread across her cheeks. He dragged his wicked hand down the curve of her neck, stopping right over her heart, which was drumming furiously against her ribs. His words sounded like a devil whispering a temptation she couldn’t resist, and she was terrifyingly close to giving in to the man pressed against her body.
Her mind screamed at her to push him away, but her body and heart begged her to just let go.
In that moment, Jade realised just how deeply screwed she was.
Suddenly, a sharp hiss escaped her as Cillian bit the delicate shell of her ear before tracing his tongue over the sensitive skin.
"What do you say, Red?" he whispered darkly against her ear. "Daniel is waiting for you."
He drew back slightly to meet her gaze, and he paused for a second when he saw the desires pooling in her eyes.
A heavy, charged silence fell between them.
As if drawn by an inevitable pull, Cillian leaned in until his lips barely grazed hers.
And that faint contact ignited a fuse within her.
Leaning forward, Jade captured his lips and lightly nipped his bottom lip before whispering against his mouth, "Let’s burn together, Daniel."
A wicked, triumphant smirk touched Cillian’s lips. Dropping her wrists, he plunged one hand into her hair and locked his other arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest as he devoured her mouth in a fiery kiss.
Jade’s eyes fluttered shut as her arms locked onto his neck, returning his kiss with equal ferocity. She knew the sheer madness of giving in right here in the open hallway of Gavriel and Aliana’s home, but every shred of logic had vanished the second Cillian backed her against this door.
The dangerous thrill of it sent electric currents course through her blood. It felt intoxicatingly forbidden, and a soft moan slipped from her lips as his tongue pushed past hers, tasting her completely.
His palm slid down the curve of her spine, gripping her hip tightly as he effortlessly hoisted her off her feet. Jade wrapped her legs securely around his waist.
Without breaking the kiss, Cillian reached behind her, turned the doorknob, and swept her into the dark bedroom, snapping the door shut behind them.
Instead of carrying her to the bed, Cillian hoisted her onto the edge of the vanity table right in front of the tall mirror. Frantic hands worked at buttons and zippers, their clothes falling away in seconds until nothing remained between them.
Cillian finally released her mouth and trailed wet, open-mouthed kisses down her throat until he reached the swell of her breasts. He took one peak into his mouth and sucked hard.
"Oh, Cillian!" Jade moaned, throwing her head back as her fingers tangled in his dark hair.
Cillian released her with a soft pop before looking up at her, his eyes dark in the shadows.
He dug his fingers into her thighs before lifting her off the table, swiftly turning her around to face the mirror. Jade’s heart leapt into her throat at the sight of their bare reflection. Cillian wrapped one hand around her throat from behind and whispered roughly against her ear, "Not Cillian... tonight I’m Daniel, and you’re Red."