Keegan brushes the back of his fingers against her cheek. “Fly as fast as you can back to camp. She won’t survive this much longer, I can barely feel her anymore...” His voice cracks when he speaks about her potential death. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath before he continues. “She is our only priority, nothing else matters if she dies. I don’t need to impress on you her importance. The fate of our entire race lies dying in your arms, Lach.”
The world stills around me as Ri places the Princess in my arms. Time stops and all that exists in this moment are her and I. A feeling of completeness fills me as I gaze into her perfect face. I close my eyes and breathe her in as I embrace her, pulling the Princess tight against my chest. I still can’t quite believe that I’m actually holding her, that she’s real.
Mine.
My heart surges with an emotion I can’t identify as I clutch at the tiny bundle in my arms. Opening my eyes, I look up to see Orian and Keegan staring at me with knowing looks, grins stretched across their soot-covered faces.
Ignoring them, I shift and take to the skies, my white phoenix feathers gleaming in the moonlight. The Princess weighs so little that she doesn’t affect my balance at all. My thoughts start to drift while I soar through the starlight.
Could she really be my fated mate too? Is that even possible?
My heart knows the truth even if my brain is too slow to keep up. My Phoenix is already staking claim on her. Even in her despondent condition, he can sense what’s his.
Flying through the cool night air, following closely behind Keegan, I rapidly flap my wings as fast as I can, desperate to get the Princess to safety. The crumbling ruins of the castle crash to the ground behind me as flames engulf the decrepit structure.
Good fucking riddance.
Our camp isn’t far from the castle of horrors, and soon I see the cluster of trees where we stashed our camper. Diving through the trees, I hold the Princess close to my body, not wanting responsibility for any additional bumps or bruises. The poor thing has been through enough without the trees accosting her during our descent. Relief floods my body when I land with a soft thud next to Ri with the Princess safely tucked against my chest. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Keegan stands by the door, holding it open for us as we approach. His golden eyes remain focused on the Princess, and a stern look is on his face. Walking past the stoic male, I step inside and watch Ri scramble to set up a makeshift infirmary. He prepares everything he needs on the lower bunk. Several blankets layer the top of the mattress, and a waterproof liner rests on top of them.
“Bring her here, Lach. I need to treat her wound,” Orian says to me. The urgency in his voice spurs on my own, and I hurry over to him, lowering the Princess onto the bed. Ri’s dirty white shirt looks huge on her, draping over her like a tablecloth. He ushers me out of the way and gets to work. I back up just a few feet not willing to move too far from her. Keegan positions himself right beside me.
“I need your help,” Ri says from the bed.
Keegan and I walk over, eager to assist in any way we can. “What can we do?”
“I need to get this shirt off, then cauterize and disinfect the wound. Who knows what kinds of pathogens were introduced into her system.” Orian runs a hand through his hair. “Keegan, grab the iodine, a bag of saline and a cannula for me please.” Keegan searches the medical supplies.
“Lach, I’d like you to help me with her.”
“Whatever you need, Ri. Just tell me what to do.”
“Fill that bucket with warm water, I need her shirt wet before we remove it because her wound has started to clot around it.”
Grabbing the pail off the floor, I fill it in the sink as Keegen gives Ri his supplies. Ri swabs the back of her hand with iodine then inserts the needle into her vein. He attaches one end of the IV line into the cannula and the other to the bag of saline which he hangs off the top bunk. He administers antibiotics and morphine into her hand before taking a warm rag from the pail of water in my hands. He trickles water down the center of her body. The dried blood, now damp with water, turns the shirt a sickening shade of pink as it bleeds into the white fabric.
Orian lets it soak for a moment before testing to see if it loosened from her skin. When he meets resistance he repeats the process, not wanting to tear at her already damaged skin. Drizzling a small amount of water down the valley of the Princess’s body, the liquid spreads further to the sides of the wet cotton fabric. The saturated shirt clings to her damp skin, gradually revealing her gorgeous form like an old polaroid picture.
I know it shouldn’t, but my cock twitches in my pants, and my phoenix stirs underneath my skin, ready to stake his claim on what he believes is his.
Mine.
Testing the resistance once more, Orian is now able to carefully lift the entire shirt off her wound. “Grab the shears and cut the shirt down the middle while I hold it off her skin.” I move to get the shears, but Keegan beats me to it, and a low growl rumbles from my throat. Keegan stops to look at me with a confused expression on his face. It’s only then that I realize what I did.
“I’m sorry, Keegan, I don’t know what came over me. My phoenix, it-”
“I know what your phoenix is doing, mine did it too.” He smiles at me with a knowing look on his face. “He’s asserting his dominance. Here.” He hands me the shears. I nod at him.
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem, Lach. Now go help our girl.”
Orian is looking at me like he wants to rip my face off. “I’m sorry, Ri!”
“This isn’t a pissing contest, you two! Her very life is on the line! Now help me help her, please!”
“I’m sorry, brother! I’m ready.”
“Slowly.” He draws out the word and holds up her mess of a shirt. Holding the edge, I carefully cut up through the center, exposing her mangled but beautiful body as I go. The noise of the shears slicing and our heavy breathing are the only sounds in the camper. As I reveal more of her skin, the horrifying gash down her body is fully exposed as well.
I’m shocked at the amount of damage done to her. That fucker dug his hand wrist-deep in her chest, and the evidence of his malice is right before me. Her poor body. It’s hard to even look at. I swallow down a wave of nausea.
I can’t imagine the agony she experienced as he mutilated her, slicing through her body while she laid there helpless and chained down. All three layers of skin are visible and her muscles below that. The edges of the cut are raw and jagged, a testament to the brutality of the event.
I finish my job, splitting the shirt in two and look to Orian for direction.
“Grab some antibacterial soap and more water… And some clean towels.”
“On it.” I set down the shears and get the supplies. Orian watches her chest rise and fall, the two halves of the shirt barely covering the swell of her breasts. Keegan stands guard by the door with his arms crossed over his chest. His blue hair is messy and his golden eyes are stern as he watches us like a hawk from his post.
I gulp and move to help Ri. “Okay, now what?”
“Now we remove the rest of this shirt.” He looks up at me to gauge my reaction. I hold my face steady, determined not to be an insensitive prick, at least just this once. He nods and looks to the Princess.
Excitement and trepidation mix inside of me. This shouldn't be arousing, but it’s the Princess! And she won’t have clothes on.
Down boy.
Fuck, I need to pull it together or these guys might throw me outside for the night. I glance behind me and see Keegan glaring at me. My eyebrows raise of their own accord, and I turn back to Ri, who has removed the rest of his tattered shirt off her broken body.
I gasp when I look at her, but arousal isn't what I’m feeling. It’s a boiling anger. A towering rage. My fists clench as I teeter on the edge of madness, trying to comprehend the savagery displayed before me. There isn’t an inch of her that isn’t covered in bruises, bites, and blood. It�
�s a wonder she’s alive.
We stand silent for a moment as the magnitude of her suffering sinks in. The onslaught of emotions running through my mind completely overwhelms me. Orian snaps us out of it by grabbing a warm rag.
Keegan and I follow suit, dunking our clean rags in the warm water. I squirt soap on our rags and rub the sides of mine together to create a lather. Then I bathe the Princess, we all do, gently cleaning her broken body. I start with her arm, removing layers and layers of dirt, soot, and caked-on blood. Slowly, her creamy skin is revealed through the aftermath of her encounter with the giant vampire.
Ri works on her other arm and Keegan focuses on her legs. Next I clean her angelic face, carefully washing off the filth. God, she’s so fucking beautiful. She takes my breath away. Her features are delicate, elfin almost, with a tiny pointed nose, full plump lips, and high cheekbones. Her lavender eyebrows arch above her thick black lashes. I get caught staring, and Keegan smacks my arm, waking me from my stupor.
“Sorry.” I wash under her chin and around her neck next as Ri finishes her hair. There are some deep bite marks here. Breaks my fucking heart to know she was used like some fucking animal. Working my way down to her chest, I look to Ri for help.
“How should we tackle the wound?”
“You guys just take care of her body, I’ll get the wound treated, okay?”
“You’re the boss.”
I’ve been avoiding what needs to be done next. Internally I groan, wishing I was alone with her to do this task, not wanting the others to watch me, to judge me.
I dunk my rag in the warm water, squirt on more soap and take a deep breath. Washing her breast with care, I slide the bubbly rag over her now pink nipple, which hardens beneath the rag in response to my touch.
Fuck!
My boner doesn’t care that she lies there on her fucking deathbed, he just knows he likes what he sees.
Daddy likey.
Closing my eyes, I try to compose myself, encouraging my blood to leave my pants and make its way back to my other brain. I open my eyes and see Orian also struggling as he carefully cleans her other breast. His teeth are clenched and his eyes remain trained on the plump pink bud he is washing. The pulse in his neck is beating awfully fast for how composed he is trying to present himself.
Seems we’re all affected by the Princess.
Ri and I catch each other's eye. His bright green eyes go wide, and his eyebrows raise in a you’ve got to be fucking kidding me, look. I watch as he takes a deep breath, trying to slow his heart rate before getting back to work. Focusing back on the Princess, I wash the underside of her breast, the tiny amount of pressure causing the soft flesh to jiggle.
So fucking sexy.
Even covered in bite marks, she has the nicest rack I have ever seen. In fact, I’d like to bite them myself.
I close my eyes and grip the sides of my head. I’m losing control. This girl’s got a hold on me. I need to step out and get some fresh air before I do or say something I regret.
“I need some air.” Without further explanation, I leave my ministrations, dropping my wet rag in the sink and exit the camper with the hardest cock in the history of the world.
I could tell Lach was struggling with washing the Princess. The potent scent of his arousal could not be denied. To tell you the truth, I’m struggling too. I’m trying to be professional while I wash her smooth legs, but the closer I get to the graceland that lies between them, the more I begin to lose the fight to stay in control.
Her tits are clean and her pink nipples stand erect, just begging me to wrap my lips around them and suckle until she moans in pleasure beneath me. Oh god the noises that come out of her sensual mouth. I could come in my pants from just the sounds of her mewls and whimpers.
Fuck!
Need to concentrate.
Dipping my rag in the warm water, I glance up and see Ri hard at work, treating her wound. Wringing out the excess water, I work my way up her thighs, washing away the grunge while taking care around the many bites that mar her there. I need to spread her legs apart to get to the worst of them, but I’m worried about how I’ll handle seeing a flash of her pink pussy.
“Ri, can you grab her right leg and help me?” The question doesn’t need a response. Instead, he crawls to the bottom of the bed and gently moves her right leg out as I move her left, exposing her slit to our eager eyes. In unison we groan and look at each other, our faces ripe with arousal. Even Ri, my always composed professional can’t hold his shit together at the sight.
Grabbing our wash rags, I soak them in the warm water and pass one to Ri. Each taking a side, we clean her inner thighs, our movements in sync as we circle her tender skin. The bites here are deep and fierce.
My breath catches when we both work her lower lips at the same time, the movement pulling those lips apart, revealing the pink flesh of her pussy. It’s so fucking erotic.
I groan. My phoenix preens, and my cock strains against my pants, begging me to grab it or stroke it, something. With only that tender pink skin left to wash, I glance up at Ri to find him staring at me.
“She’s your mate, Keegan. You do it. I’ll go check on Lach. Come get me when you’re done so I can bandage her wound.” He stares at Trinity with a longing in his eyes that I know too well. Then he crawls over her and leaves the camper.
Finally. I’m alone with my mate after weeks of pining for her and missing her. My phoenix mourned the loss of her presence. It felt like a slow death, despair and frustration battling within me. My thoughts were scattered and my heart was torn. I hardly knew up from down, right from wrong, and rational thought often escaped me.
Now as I gaze upon the Princess, my fucking mate, a calm spreads throughout my body, knowing that I’ve got her back, that we’re together again.
Not wanting the textured fabric of the wash rag to irritate her tender skin, I decide to use my hands to clean in between her delicate folds. Opening her legs further, I bend them at the knee and push them out, giving me better access. Creating a lather between my fingers, I spread her lips apart with one hand and with tender swipes begin to clean her with the other.
So fucking erotic.
Needing a better angle, I crawl over her and take Orian’s place, now facing her feet. I use one arm to brace myself across her body, my torso hanging over her center. With a view as pretty as a sunset, I begin. Using my middle finger, I delve between the warm folds of her slit. I slide my hand all the way back to her asshole, spreading warm bubbles the entire length of her crack. I gently massage her there, loving the way her ridged circle feels under the pad of my finger.
After thoroughly washing her back side, I drag my finger slowly to her front, dipping into the opening of her entrance as I make my way back up. Adding a second finger, I massage around the hood of her clit, sliding my fingers up and down, the pink flesh seductively peeking from between my fingers.
My cock aches as I watch her clit peek out, submitting to my fingers, asking me to pay attention to it. And god, do I want to. Nothing would bring me more pleasure than to wrap my lips around that tiny pink nub, sucking and licking until Trinity screams beneath me.
Soon.
For now I must not take advantage anymore than I already have. Leaving her warm folds, I immediately feel the loss but need to finish the job. Ri awaits, needing to tend to his patient.
Crawling back over her, I dip my rag in the warm pail and drizzle the water between her legs. Just the sight of the water cascading between her pussy lips and rinsing away the bubbles that linger there makes me want to come in my pants.
Fuck, I can’t take it anymore.
I leave the Princess and enter our tiny bathroom. I fumble with the zipper on my pants in my haste to release my cock from its prison. With the zipper down, I take my dick in a firm grip and get to work. Stroking up and down, paying special attention to the rim of my cock’s head, thinking about those hard nipples and the way her clit peaked out at me, like it was begging me for attention
. My balls tighten as I squeeze my shaft, my hand sliding up and down my entire length in rapid strokes. Grunting, I clench my teeth and try to keep quiet as cum explodes from my cock.
I let out a long exhale and collapse into a post orgasm heap on the bathroom floor, trying to regain control of my breathing. A loud knock on the door jars me.
“Keegan! What the fuck are you doing in there man? Ri told me you were supposed to get him as soon as you were done with the Princess!”
“Uhh.” I find I’m at a loss for words.
“Were you whacking it in there, Keegan? For fucks sake man, can’t you control yourself?”
I stand up, right my pants, and open the door, finding Lachlan right outside of it with a shit eating grin on his face. “I did, too.” He says with a chuckle. “I couldn't take it. She’s just so fucking hot.”
Laughing at each other, we turn to find Orian tending to Trinity. His brows furrowed as he takes his time stitching the jagged edges of her sternum back together with deft fingers. The visual of her repaired body is grotesque, like something out of a horror movie. Ri doesn’t notice. He takes his time applying different salves and medicinal herbs around the laceration, ensuring the job is done right. Once finished, he grabs some sterile gauze and medical tape to seal the wound, holding the medicine in place.
“Can one of you pick her up? Carefully. I want to get this tarp off and make the bed for her. She’s going to require a lot of rest before she fully recovers. I want to make her as comfortable as possible.” He crawls off the bed. “And don’t forget, she will have no idea where she is or who we are when she wakes. We need to be vigilant and prepared for any potential reaction to us.”
“Good point,” Lachlan says as he moves to pick up her delicate naked form. Bracing his large arms under her legs and shoulders, he lifts her up with ease. He leans his face into the crook of her neck as he does, inhaling her sweet scent. At least she smells sweet to me, like strawberries, but I’m not sure how she smells to him.
Bound For Blood (Feathers & Fire Book 1) Page 15