Chapter 57 - 56 - Hunger Like a Prayer
Riven descended Ashtoria’s body with scorching kisses—starting from her chin, then gently nipping her ear, moving down her cheek to her pale neck. Each brush of his lips left searing imprints, as if her skin were a canvas he sought to mark with his possession.
When his gaze caught the scar beside her breast, his breath hitched. Without hesitation, he lowered his mouth to it—not to heal, but to acknowledge.
"Ah—!"
Ashtoria’s fingers tangled in Riven’s coarse black hair, gripping tightly. She didn’t understand. Didn’t comprehend why this man explored every inch of her with such ravenous hunger. As if Riven wanted to devour her whole, consume every shred of innocence beneath her cool flesh.
Yet strangely—
She didn’t want him to stop.
Even when Riven’s teeth grazed her collarbone, even when his tongue traced what should have been shameful scars, all Ashtoria felt was overwhelming satisfaction. Her body burned as if gripped by flames, her pulse racing in perfect sync with the wild rhythm of Riven’s heart.
’More,’ she thought through the haze of desire, ’touch me more.’
She held her breath as Riven continued downward, his powerful hands gripping her hips with pressure that made her shiver.
’What will you do next?’
The question floated in her mind—not as protest, but as anticipation. An intoxicating uncertainty, like standing at a cliff’s edge with closed eyes, not knowing when she’d be pushed over yet yearning for it.