God of Ruin (Legacy of Gods #4) by Rina Kent

Both?

I slowly lift my head and stare at the dark figure standing by my bed like the Big Bad Wolf. It’s a monster, all right, but it’s far from being the terror of my life.

Landon’s face is barely visible through the shadows, but I know it’s him.

The new monster who won’t leave me the hell alone.

“Though perhaps you did it on purpose because you wanted me to jump inside.” He runs his fingers through my hair and pulls on the only ribbon I wear at night, then uses it to wipe beneath my eyes. “Are these tears, muse?”

I slap his hand away, ashamed of my weakness and the fact that none other than Landon is witnessing it.

“Is that a challenge?” He grabs both my wrists in one of his hands. “Because I love those.”

I don’t know what comes over me next. Maybe I’m still on a high from the emotions I experienced just now or I always wanted to give this asshole an actual taste of my temper.

I kick him the hardest I can. I aim for his dick, but I think I only hit his thigh. He jerks back, but he doesn’t release my wrists.

I pull and push him with my leg, but it’s like he’s securing them in stone.

“Well, well, looks like I got myself a fighter. I love it when they fight.” His amused voice is laced with subtle sadism as he pushes me down on the mattress.

My back bounces, but before I can sit up again, he’s on me. Landon slams my wrists on the pillow above my head, still securing them with his hand. His knees rest on either side of my stomach, locking me in place.

“There, much better.” He hovers over me like a tyrant king who’s expecting all his demands to be met.

I snarl up at him and wiggle. My wrists hurt from how much I’ve tried to pull them from his grip.

“It’s utterly pointless to fight against me, so how about you relax and enjoy the process?”

I still kick my legs in the air and try to hit his back or anywhere where it’ll hurt. Badly.

“But then again, you did punch me after I made you cum. Do you get off on violence?”

My cheeks heat and I sneer at him.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” I can hear the grin in his voice. “What am I if not a good sport? I’ll let you fight me before you return the favor for the orgasm.”

As soon as he releases my wrists, I headbutt him and punch him in the chest, then I kick him, not sure where, but it sure feels so damn good.

He’s the one who falls on the mattress this time, and I mount his hard body and punch him in the shoulder, collarbone, anywhere my hands can reach.

Fuck you fuck you fuck you.

I chant in my head as I take out all the frustration, fear, and completely unhinged emotions on him.

It isn’t until I’m partially spent that I realize he hasn’t even attempted to stop me or hit back.

So I direct my fist at his face. This time, he grabs it in midair and tuts. “Not the face. It’s actual real estate that’s worth more than you reincarnated a hundred times.”

All of a sudden, he flips us back so that I’m beneath him and he’s on top of me. He does it so effortlessly, as if he’s mocking my earlier enthusiasm and the short-lived feelings of victory I experienced.

“Now that you got your violence kink out of the way…” He slides up so his knees are on either side of my head and unbuckles his belt. “It’s time for my kink.”

My eyes widen as he pulls out his hard cock, which looks huge despite the lack of light. And for some reason, my inner thighs tingle at the sight.

“Your fight is such a turn-on.” He slides his fingers from my forehead over the slope of my cheek and then down to my mouth before he pulls on my lower lip. “As expected of my little muse.”

I grab on to his thigh over the lowered pants, my chest squeezing, as is the case whenever he calls me that. His muse.

Why?

Just why did he pick me as his muse?

Is this my curse?

“What’s the meaning of this? Playing hard to get again?” He wraps his fingers around my throat and squeezes. “We both know you want me. You’re shuddering at the prospect of sucking my cock. Deep down, you’re begging for all the cum I will spill down your throat.

I dig my nails into his thigh and shake my head. I refuse to think that I’m by any means attracted to this enigma of a man whom I barely know.

A man who’s only tormented me.

But it hits me then.

The reason why my panties are slick with arousal even as he chokes me.

I’m in pitch-darkness and I’m not thinking about the monster. I’m surrounded by black, and yet I’m not scared for my life.

I’ve never felt like this, not even when I invaded Maya’s room and hugged her to sleep.

“Just for your information, I have girls falling arse over tits and begging to choke on my cock like seasoned pros. I’m not interested in your reluctance.” His voice turns deeper, more menacing.

“And yet you’re here instead of going to those girls,” I sign, not sure if he sees much of it in the dark.

But even if he doesn’t see it, he must sense it from my tightening grip on his thigh. I’m no one’s second or third choice.

I’m the first. The one and only.

“Touché.” He squeezes my throat one last time before he releases me. “So how about you do us both a favor and open those lips.”