ValiasVillain Page 12
Feeling ridiculous because of his declaration, he sobered, hardened. “You will stay until I convince you to be mine. If I have to keep you cuffed to my bed for fifty years, so be it. You will be mine.”
She stared at him with an unreadable expression for a long time and then she laughed. Why was this female always laughing at him? It should anger him, but her face lit up as though she was an angel glowing in the sunshine when she laughed and the sound soothed a little of the frustration inside him.
She sobered and said, “So bossy. Relationships aren’t really my thing.”
Rydin’s gut clenched, she couldn’t turn him down, not after he’d declared himself. No. He wouldn’t allow it, wouldn’t allow her to say no. He’d meant what he’d said, he would keep her locked up in his home until he changed her mind.
He stood abruptly and looked down at her. “You will stay. I will change your mind.”
“Wait, I was…” Valia started, but he flashed away before she finished. Once again, he’d left her handcuffed to a bed while he disappeared, but she didn’t care because all she could think about was that he’d said he wanted her to be his. Sparks of excitement and happiness had speared throughout her body when he’d said those words. She’d heard declarations of love from other suitors, but they’d just been crushing on her mad sex skills, it hadn’t been sincere and she wouldn’t have been interested even if it had been.
But for Rydin to admit that she’d bewitched him, that he wanted her to bind him again… She felt the same, as if he’d bewitched her. He was everything she wanted in a male and she couldn’t imagine desiring another as long as she had him.
Chapter Nine
Two hours later, Valia had to pee and she was restless. She’d hoped Rydin wouldn’t be gone much longer. She was all for being cuffed to his huge bed but only if he was there with her making her body sing with his.
She tensed as heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs and exhaled in relief when his handsome face rounded the corner.
“Where ya been? A girl’s gotta pee sometimes.” Did his face actually redden at her announcement?
He rushed over and released the cuff from the bed. “I didn’t mean to be gone so long. Come,” he said, and reached a hand toward her.
She grinned at him, accepting his hand as he pulled her up from the bed. “Love to but gotta pee.”
His eyes darkened with desire at her joke. Obviously he’d also like to come.
He showed her to the facilities and reluctantly let her close the door behind her. Hello, I can’t flash with these damn cuffs on. Where the hell did he think she’d go? When she finished, he was standing right outside the door. He grabbed her hand and led her down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Her eyes bugged at the massive spread on the counter. There were platters of sliced kiwi and pineapple piled high with more than she could eat in a week. There were two brown grocery bags with all types of other fruits peeking out the tops. She grabbed a chunk of pineapple and slipped it into her mouth, then a piece of kiwi, both perfectly ripe, a combination of tangy and sweet.
She spied two more bags on the floor. Not groceries. She looked at Rydin questioningly and he motioned for her to look.
She dug through the first bag. It was filled with different shades of green bikinis and sarongs. Her throat constricted and she couldn’t form words. Instead she peered at him with what she figured was a dumbfounded look on her face.
“Look in the other,” he demanded.
She dug into it excitedly and let out a little squeal as she pulled out silky green and gold lingerie.
He picked up a box, sporting a shiny gold bow, and handed it to her. “Open it.”
She opened it and choked on a shocked laugh. Inside lay a large, shiny machete. She took it out and tested the weight of it, noticing a green stone set in the hilt. “I don’t get it,” she said.
“Everyone living on a tropical island needs a machete. I know the hilt isn’t as glamorous as your dagger—”
“Love it.” She beamed at him. “But why?”
“When you said relationships aren’t your thing, I had to do something to convince you that I am worthy of you.”
He meant it. He really did want her for himself to live here with him. He didn’t need to do this, to buy her things. She loved all the gifts, the ridiculous amounts of food, the emerald encrusted machete, but she didn’t need that from him. She just needed him. Needed him. She’d never needed a male for anything but semen.
“Ya know, this girl loves her some gifts but, I don’t need that from you.” His hands clenched at his sides and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “Lemme finish this time,” she said quickly.
“No, I don’t accept that.” He closed the distance between them and took the machete from her hand, placing it on the counter and held her face in his hands. “I will add on to the bungalow, build you a fancy house. If I don’t have enough money saved, I’ll take side jobs. I need you to stay with me, Valia. I feel empty, desolate without you. You plague my mind. I’ll buy you whatever you want, need. I’ll steal it if I don’t have enough money. Kill for it. Whatever, but you will stay with me.”
Valia’s breath caught in her throat. A declaration like that coming from a Ferox demon was a thing to behold. She’d asked Araya what it felt like to be in love but Valia thought she might just have a clue for herself now.
She pressed a finger to his lips. “If you’d shut it and lemme finish, you’d already know that’s what I want too. I want to be with you, you bossy, arrogant, villainous male.” She smiled as a look of pure relief washed over his face and couldn’t resist teasing him a little. “You’re gonna have to quit cuffing me though, unless it’s for…fun.
“Whatever it takes, Valia. Whatever it takes to convince you to stay and be mine.”
She stood on tiptoes, looking into his eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his lips to hers. “Whatcha waiting for?” She spoke lightly against his lips. “Start with the convincing already.”
Rydin’s amber eyes blazed with desire as he swung her into his arms and flashed them to his bedroom where they convinced each other all night long.
* * * * *
The next morning, Rydin woke her with breakfast in bed. He fed her kiwi and pineapple and then decorated her with pieces of fruit and ate his breakfast from her naked body.
After a leisurely shower, she dressed in one of the bikinis Rydin had bought for her before they went out to explore the island. They walked hand in hand along the beach and along paths Rydin had cut through the jungle. The small island was truly a paradise. Their paradise. It was breathtakingly beautiful. She loved the palm trees, the blue water, the sand beneath her bare feet and salty tang in the air.
Valia couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Yeah, Rydin was gonna have to build on to the bungalow a little to house her clothes and boots but no biggie and no hurry. Here, she wouldn’t have much use for clothes anyway as she planned to be in bikinis or naked most of the time.
She couldn’t believe she’d found a male she wanted to keep, wanted to be monogamous with. It sounded so absurd to her but at the same time felt too right to be wrong. She wouldn’t be going all crazy and jumping on the marriage bandwagon like her sister, but at least now she had a better understanding of Araya’s thought process and her feelings.
Rydin stopped as they came to a clearing with a huge hammock hanging between two palm trees. He maneuvered himself into it and held out his arms to her. “Come,” he said.
Valia carefully climbed onto the hammock and curled around him. “In this thing? Dunno if that’s possible.”
He laughed, a hearty male sound that warmed her insides, made her feel all gooey. “We’re going to find out. Soon.”
“Not now?” She pouted.
He lifted her chin and kissed her forehead. “Insatiable.”
“I thought spoiled was your fave word for me.”
“I will spoil you always.”
Valia still felt weird
about the whole love thing but as she absently stroked one of his horns she felt compelled to ask. “Have you ever been…in love?”
Rydin sighed, his amber gaze locking with hers. “Not until now.”
Valia’s heart skipped, felt full to bursting. Her face heated and she thought she might be blushing. She’d never felt such happiness, such completeness as she did in this moment. She nuzzled his neck and whispered, “Me neither.”
About Jocelyn Dex
Jocelyn was born in Iowa and currently resides in Texas. Her preferred vacation locations are islands with sandy beaches, palm trees, iguanas, and unfettered views of clear, blue-green water.
She shares her home with her very own 6'4" alpha male and varying numbers of spoiled cats and dogs. Teaching one of her dogs to file his own nails is one of her all-time favorite accomplishments.
Jocelyn loves to paint, loves to read, and loves to write sizzling erotic romance about yummy demons that would make your momma blush.
Jocelyn welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Jocelyn Dex
Araya’s Addiction
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Valia’s Villain
ISBN 9781419948275
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Valia’s Villain Copyright © 2013 Jocelyn Dex
Edited by Briana St. James
Cover design and photography by Syneca
Models: Georgio & Taylor
Electronic book publication October 2013
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