I was naked, bleeding, covered in mud and soaked to my bones. My face was covered in cum and so were my legs. I was shaking as Zane turned me to face him, grasped my jaw, and whispered, “Mine. All mine, from now to eternity.”
Those words felt like a warm blanket wrapping around my exhausted body. I’d pushed myself to the very edge of my limits, I felt utterly ruined. It felt so good I wanted to cry, but there was no way I was showing him tears like that. It was time to collect my pride and be strong again, but I was certain if I tried to walk, I’d pass out.
It wouldn’t be an elegant swooning-upon-a-chaise-lounge moment either. I’d collapse face-down in the mud and really make a mess of myself.
I had to get it together. Walk back out of the woods. Go home. Sleep. I desperately needed sleep.
Could I sleep after this? After what I’d done…
I’d sold my soul. I’d made a deal with a demon. I’d let him do things to me I never thought I’d trust someone to do — ever. I’d let him bring up memories that terrified me, I’d let him hurt me in ways I should have killed him for.
But I’d let him. I’d trusted him to do it.
“Stay with me, Juniper,” Zane said, as my vision swam. His body was pressed close enough to keep me warm, and I wanted to nuzzle up against him. I wanted to absorb his heat and curl myself close to it. His arm was around me, and most of my weight was resting against him.
I had to gather the strength to hold myself up. This made me look so fucking weak.
I tried to push him. Tried. But once again, the resilience I encountered was similar to a brick wall. “Let go. I’m…I’m going home. It’s done.”
“If I let you go, you’re going to collapse.”
“Fuck you, I’m…I’m fine. Let go.”
He did, and my knees buckled. I caught myself on my hands, but my head hung down, dazed and groggy. I was only vaguely aware of his boots in the mud beside me.
“You know, Juniper, I value my possessions. Allowing you to lay in the mud isn’t really proper care and keeping of humans now, is it?”
“Shut up.” Slow deep breaths. That was all I needed. Just slow deep breaths, and I’d get up. “It’s done, just…just…”
“Just leave you alone in the woods?” He snorted. “Just leave my new human pet to fend for herself after I fucked her to exhaustion?” He crouched beside me, and his hand tugged up my hair, so I had to look at him smirking at me. “I think not, Juniper. I’m taking you home.”
My body decided to give up before my mind did. I was too tired, too overwhelmed. It didn’t help that I’d barely eaten or slept since the funeral. I was used to pushing myself, but I’d gone too far this time.
As my vision blurred, I expected my face to hit the mud. Instead, I felt him gripping me, holding me, lifting me. I wanted to struggle against him — I was fine, goddamn it! But once my head flopped against his chest, I couldn’t even muster up the strength to say a word, let alone fight. Not even the rain on my face could keep me awake.
