"Come on. Play," he whispered into her ear. His direct look managed to stir what part of her wasn't already desperate.
Near frenzied, Deidre fought to pull some part of him close enough for her to taste. He growled in response and nipped her neck, pushing her away roughly. He was different than the last deity she'd slept with. Whereas Gabriel was willing to give-and-take, Darkyn toyed with her and demanded submission in exchange for controlled pleasure.
He alternately let her feed just enough to drive her mad then drank from her, while he commanded her body relentlessly. Only when he finished with her did he relent.
Panting and exhausted, Deidre couldn't have moved, had he not shifted to hold her against him.
"Drink," he whispered.
Deidre let her newfound instincts guide her. She fed. The hunger abated, and she dropped her head back to the pillow, satisfied. Her body entwined with his, she breathed in his scent as deeply as she could. Her mind returned now that her need was gone, and she opened her eyes.
She drank blood. She slept with the devil. Why wasn't she freaking out?
"I am very satisfied with you, my little human," Darkyn said, his lips moving against her temple.
"I get to live another day," she murmured.
"Maybe two, if you please me again."
"You're not funny."
"You have nothing to fear from me now."
"Is that true?" she asked. "Like, really true?"
"I have no need to lie to you."
Deidre was quiet. Physically at ease with him, she nonetheless had no idea how to talk to a lover who was neither one she chose nor human. She couldn't help thinking the creature whose job it was to trick people into Hell wasn't above lying to the human mate he took.
"You're not afraid I'll try to run away?" she asked.
"You need my blood and don't yet understand how to curb the hunger. If you leave, you won't stay away long or go far."
Her face warmed at how desperate she'd been for a single drop of him, to feel him inside her while his fangs sank into her neck.
"Insurance," she whispered, distraught. "You're serious about keeping me."
"I don't lose. I love a fight and an absolute victory even more," he replied.
Her eyes blurred with tears. She wiped them away. Darkyn was quiet and still, his body relaxed for the first time since she'd known him. He slid a pointed fingernail down her arm. Blood bubbled up. The scratch healed itself as fast as it formed.
"You will be able to use some of my magic," he said, following her gaze. "You will heal like I do. You will have the instincts of a demon and a human. I've assessed that you are vulnerable to the deception and depravity of others. In time, the ability I've shared with you will enable you to determine deception, weakness and threat from others."