“Fighting increases adrenaline, which is what you sense. Nothing more.”

His chuckle vibrated her back. “Oh, Caro, you have no idea, do you?” He let go of her arms. “Drop the knife and place your palms against the window.”

She released the weapon against her will. “That’s not necessary,” she growled as her hands touched the glass.

“As you lost, that’s not your decision to make.” He bent to retrieve the dagger. She had no idea what he did with the other but guessed he pocketed it.

“What now?” she groused, awaiting his next wave of compulsion.

“Quid pro quo, angel.” He traced the sharp edge down her spine, hard enough for her to feel without drawing blood. “I bled for you, so you will bleed for me.”

Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“Shh.” He used his opposite hand to gather her hair over one shoulder and kissed the back of her neck. “I’m still deciding where I wish to exact payment, darling. Don’t spoil my fun.”

The metal slid lower to her ass and then to the back of her thighs. Gooseflesh pebbled her arms as he dropped to his knees behind her.

“Wh-what are you doing?” She tried to face him, but her hands on the glass held her in place.

“Spread your legs for me,” he said, forcing her to comply.

She jolted as the razor point met her inner thigh. “Sethios,” she managed to say, her mouth going dry. There were far too many lethal options in that location.

“I’ve always been a fan of the femoral artery,” he murmured. “And Seraphim heal so quickly.”

Caro yelped as the steel pierced her skin in a quick, efficient move. She knew without looking that this gash was far deeper than the ones she inflicted on his cheek and his shoulder. Her Seraphim genetics would heal the laceration in minutes, but to maim her in this way seemed futile, if luxuriant.

“Beautiful.” The word was a breath against her leg. “I consider us even, angel.” His tongue soothed the ache as he laved the open wound he had created.

Confusion sifted through her thoughts.

Why is he—

Oh.

That’s new.

Heat emanated from his touch, spreading upward to her center and beyond. She bit her lip to hold in the moan that threatened to escape her mouth.

It held no practical recourse to react or enjoy this.

He wanted a night, and she was determined to give him that with silence. Because nothing—

The pad of his thumb swiped through her sex so unexpectedly that her knees nearly buckled.

“Remain on your feet, palms against the glass,” Sethios said. “No moving your body from that position until I give permission.”

Her responding growl turned to a groan as his tongue followed the path of his thumb.

She’d never.

This wasn’t.

“Wh—” She couldn’t voice her thought. It shattered as his mouth closed around her clit. Caro knew the purpose, had seen it done a thousand times, read about it in a variety of reference guides, but never understood the real reason. Until now.