Shivering, she imagined feeling his hand on her leg, fingers running lightly up the back of her calf to her knee, before moving along the outside of her thigh to her hip. Every fiber of her being reached for him, as heat washed over her. She was no fool. She knew what happened between a man and a woman. Why, after all her years, she’d desire that something to happen with Merrick was beyond her. The touch skimmed her stomach, a soft brush of lips, gliding through the beads of water on her flesh.
“Merrick,” she whispered dreamily, as the touch moved between her breasts to her throat. Her imagination had always been so real that she didn’t stop to consider anything else. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and beg him to carry her away from it all, to a soft, warm bed where she never had to wake up. In her fantasy the children were safe and she didn’t have to marry Eadward. She was free to do as she wanted. The dream felt amazing and real and Juliana had no desire to fight it. Fingers tipped her face, holding gently beneath her chin. Her limbs were heavy, lethargic. “Merrick.”
“Aye,” came a soft answer.
She gasped, her lips parting as she struggled to open her eyes. When she did, she saw him before her. His dark eyes met hers, narrowed, predatory. His mouth lowered, gently brushing along her lips. The unique smell of his body roused her senses, lighting a flaming trail that torched its way through her blood. She moaned softly, keeping her lips parted as she discovered the texture of him, the heat.
Juliana lifted her hands, resting them on his chest. His long, wet hair was pushed back, but her fingers managed to twine in a long strand as she touched the smooth, toned flesh. He wasn’t wearing a tunic and she didn’t hesitate to spread her palms flat over his naked chest. Not a measure of fat marred his taller frame. His heart beat against her hand, sure and steady. Fear and nervous anticipation knotted her stomach, as she tentatively lifted her knee to brush alongside his leg. It was with a strange mix of relief and disappointment that she found he wore breeches. The material was wet and oddly slick to the touch. She let her leg fall back down into the water, away from him.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, sanity tried to take root. She pushed lightly at his shoulder, though the gesture was barely hard enough to be considered an adequate protest. His hands didn’t touch her, save for the light finger to her chin, tilting her face up for his kiss.
* * *
Merrick didn’t heed her gentle objection as he deepened his kiss. He slid his tongue into her mouth, snaking it around her teeth as he probed her depths. Soft noises came from the back of her throat, both natural and accepting. As her fear of him lessened, he was fed with a new kind of power—a power that did not belong to the King of the Unblessed but to a man starved for the arms of a woman, for contact beyond that of fearful submission.
He’d been a fool to think he could stay away as he watched her bathe in the moonlight. Water had beaded on her flesh like stars, glistening in silver trails, calling to him. His intent had been to frighten her, to push her away from him, but as he rose up from the water and she didn’t scream, he couldn’t help but kiss her. Her lips didn’t move with expert skill and still he felt her as he had no other woman before her. The sensations took him by surprise and he abruptly pulled back.
“Merrick, don’t go. Not yet,” she pleaded, her lips pursed for more.
Merrick tried to resist, tried to leave her, but couldn’t. She asked him to stay by her own free will. He ached to possess her. Why should he deny them both? It’s what they wanted. She admitted it by her own words, even if she believed him to be a dream.
He glided his fingers over Juliana’s wet skin and she didn’t move to stop him as he kneeled in the water. Merrick watched her closely as he leaned to kiss her thigh. Her full lips trembled and he groaned, sensing the heady scent of her need. Unable to resist, he dipped his tongue into the slick folds of her sex, parting them as he briefly tasted her. She grabbed his hair with shaky fingers. The trembling was so bad it vibrated against his skull as she weakly tried to pull his mouth back. Her thighs tightened beneath his searching hands. Merrick kissed along her stomach, slowly standing as he made his way up, only stopping to pull an erect nipple into his mouth.
He became more aggressive in his urgency, letting his breeches dissolve to leave his body naked and ready. Merrick knew he would make love to her, taking his time, weaving a web of his magic around them. He let his own pleasure radiate onto her and she took it willingly.
* * *
Juliana gasped. Her eyes fluttered open with a soft moan. A strange mist surrounded her senses. Her body was alive with sensations so potent they made her knees weak. Her nipples ached and it felt as if her whole body was being burned alive.
Why did she beg for him? He was the enemy, wasn’t he? He’d kidnapped the children. He made her go on this journey, possibly facing death. Despite this, she couldn’t stop. God forgive her, she wanted him to touch her.
All thoughts left her as she felt his fingers along her back. His heat wrapped around her from behind, drawing her to his chest. He pressed his body to hers. The naked, hard length of his desire was unmistakable.
Juliana jerked in his arms. Merrick’s hands glided over her chest, rubbing her breasts from behind. He ran his fingers down her stomach, rocking his hips into her. He kissed her neck, licking a trail from her earlobe to her pulse. Pleasure coursed through her at his touch. He nudged her from behind, parting her legs with his thigh so he could run his fingers along her center.
Juliana arched into him as he intimately caressed her. Moisture that had nothing to do with the water gathered between her thighs, welcoming him. The heat of his touch was so real, felt so good, that she couldn’t help but wiggle against his exploring hand. She wanted more of him. She wanted it all.
“Ahhh,” he said into her ear, the vibrations of his voice causing her to shiver.
“Please, I don’t want to wake up, not yet,” she whispered, knowing none of this could be real. Merrick wouldn’t touch her like this. His hands wouldn’t be so gentle. His body wouldn’t be so close. He liked to torment her too much to give her what her body craved. She turned in the water to wrap her arms about him, but Merrick was gone.
A derisive laugh escaped her. It was only her imagination. It had always been so vivid, even in girlhood. But this time was different somehow, more real. She touched her lips, which still stung, still tasted unlike her own. When she started to step from the pond, her stomach pulled in protest. Her sex ached, nearly pulsing with sensitive jolts. Now was not the time to take care of such a private thing.
As she stepped, her leg hit flesh. She glanced down to the water. Merrick knelt before her. What was happening? Why was her mind tormenting her? Perhaps none of this was real—this world, Merrick, her feelings. Had she finally imagined too much and gone mad? Nothing made sense. Her world was turned upside down. Looking down into Merrick’s eyes, she shivered. Juliana tried to resist him, tried to stop. It was no use. She wanted him. Whatever madness this was, she wanted it to happen.
Merrick grabbed her hips, lifting her up. She naturally wrapped her legs around him for support. Water caressed their skin, hitting upon them in small waves. She felt like she was in the stars. Nothing else mattered right now. Somehow, she knew that first moment she saw him they would come to this.
Juliana ran her hands over his strong chest and back. She kissed his throat, enjoying the taste of him. His erection probed her from underneath, making her stomach knot in a mixture of anticipation and fear. Every time she would try to think, the mist would surround her senses once more, drawing her under the euphoric spell.
“Ah, Merrick,” she said softly against his mouth. Their wet bodies slid, molding together as he pulled her closer. “Merrick.”
Then he lifted her, angling her body to accept his. His thick arousal probed her sex. She tensed, waiting for the pain that was said to come. He let her hips slide from his grasp, her own weight impaling her on him. The size of him stretched her, but the fullness felt too good t
o resist. When she thought she could take no more, he pushed deeper. She squirmed, naturally drawn to pull off him. Suddenly, he gripped her hips and thrust her down, hard and sure, taking her maidenhead in one painful stab.
Juliana gasped, her eyes opening wide at the discomfort. Merrick groaned, leaning forward to kiss her. She felt him inside her, not only his arousal and his tongue, but his power. She felt his pleasure as he took away all lingering pain. His satisfaction heightened her own until all she could do was beg him for more. His voice was in her head, drowning out her thoughts. “Ah, aye, Merrick, please, please.”
Fearful that they’d fall over into the water, she gripped his arms tight. He lifted her, thrust his body into hers in shallow strokes. It seemed his hands were everywhere at once. Her skin tingled as she accepted him in. Learning his rhythm, Juliana followed his lead. He quickened the pace as tension strained his body, pushing himself into her. His fingers slid from her hips to her butt, supporting her as he squeezed her cheeks, pulling her open to him. She felt the end coming, welcomed it. Her body jerked. She couldn’t stop and he wouldn’t let her.
Suddenly, she tensed, her body convulsing around him as she climaxed. A light scream of surprise left her throat as she clung to him. His body jerked within her, signifying his release. Dazed she took a deep breath and closed her eyes tight. A tear slid over her cheek, not because she was sad, but because she felt so much. He lowered her back to her feet, kissing her for a long moment. Slowly, flesh was replaced by water, his lips by air.
She opened her eyes, still breathing hard. Merrick was gone, but the aftermath of his intense pleasure was still there. What had she expected? It was only her imagination, right? None of this was real.
Juliana laughed, shaking. The mist was gone and she felt strangely tired. She pulled her heavy limbs onto the shore and reached for her clothing. What just happened? Her gown was gone. She gasped, her gaze darting around the dark forest. She found a pair of horse legs, then another. Frozen in fear, her gaze moved slowly up to the riders.
“Hugh?” she gasped, blinking in surprise. She instantly hid her body from view, mortified that they should see her naked. “Thomas?”
“Aye,” they said in unison, their voices gruff. They didn’t look at her. Thomas tossed down her wool cloak. She caught it and quickly wrapped it around her naked body. It was stiff, caked with mud in spots, but she didn’t care. That was when she saw Nicholas. His hot eyes were on her, burning and passionate. She instantly blushed. He was like a brother and she didn’t relish the idea of him seeing her bare any more than she wanted Thomas or Hugh to.
“What? How?” she asked, shaking in embarrassment to be caught fantasizing in the pond.
“Where are your clothes, Juliana?” Thomas asked.
Thomas’ stern voice was nothing compared to the grave tone of Hugh’s. Hugh’s dark eyes turned to her in outrage. “Are you compromised?”
“What?” Juliana gasped. “What do you mean? I was bathing. Alone.”
Nicholas snorted. She turned her round eyes to him, confused. He didn’t look away.
“Is this any way to greet me?” Juliana asked. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“We saw you,” Thomas said quietly.
“Saw me what?” Juliana swallowed, nervous. Her lips trembled.
“We saw you kissing him,” Thomas elaborated.
“Who is he?” Hugh demanded. “Is that why you left? Why you ran away from you duties? Your family?”
“Who is who? And you know I’d never run from my duties. I will marry Eadward. I…I just can’t yet. There is something I must do first.” Juliana took another step back. All three pairs of eyes bore into her. Hugh swung from his horse, landing before her on steady feet. He towered over her, his look dark and protective, yet tormented at the same time.
“We saw you, Juliana. Who was the man you were kissing? Have you been compromised?” Hugh asked.
Juliana paled. Her knees weakened and she fell to the soft ground. It was real? Merrick had been there? What had she done? “Nay, I only imagined—”
“Do not!” Hugh growled. “I will have none of your stories. The truth this time. Who was he? And where did he go? We saw him disappear.”
Juliana cringed as Hugh lunged for her. She expected him to strike. Instead, he pulled his arms around her, hugging her so tight she could barely breathe.
“Did he force himself on you?” Hugh whispered in her ear, patting down her wet hair as if by wrapping her in his arms he could protect her. He was shaking terribly. So that was why he and Thomas looked at her with such grim eyes. They thought she’d been ravished.
“Nay, I’m pure,” Juliana lied, knowing by her brother’s questions that he hadn’t seen everything. Her voice was barely audible, but Hugh heard her.
Hugh instantly relaxed, letting her go. He cupped her face. “We thought the worst when we saw him holding you…”
He gave a brief glance at Thomas and Nicholas. Both men seemed to understand for they too loosened the grip on their reins. Thomas swung down from his horse. Nicholas soon did the same, keeping his distance from the siblings.
“Who was he? The one who brought you here?” Thomas’ words were soft as he glanced at the pond.
“His name’s Merrick. I can’t tell you why he brought me here.” Juliana looked away, embarrassed anew. It was bad enough knowing her shared passion hadn’t been a dream, but to have her brothers see her kissing him willingly? It was mortifying.
“You don’t know?” Thomas prompted.
“I can’t tell you.” Juliana still couldn’t meet their eyes.
“Do you protect that murderer?” Nicholas hissed. Juliana’s round gaze darted to his. Nicholas’ green eyes burned with a deadly passion. She trembled, never having seen the brooding man in such a rage of emotions. “Do you give yourself to him?”
“I have given myself to no one,” Juliana whispered. She couldn’t look at them. Surely he only asked for his father, since she was to be Eadward’s bride.
“You were missing and after Lord Eadward’s death we feared the worse,” Thomas admitted.
Juliana paled. Nicholas’ words about a murderer slowly sunk in. “Eadward is dead? Thomas?”
“I’m sorry, Juliana,” Hugh said.
“Thomas?” she insisted, looking at him. He could never lie to her. She’d read the truth of it if he did. A sinking sensation consumed her chest. Tears threatened, not so much that she loved Eadward, but because she’d known him as a friend for so long. “What has happened?”
Thomas couldn’t meet her gaze. That was never good. His mouth opened and shut several times. In the end, it was Hugh who answered, unwilling to give the details of it to her. “He’s been murdered.”
“Nay,” Juliana shook her head. “Nay.”
“By your lover,” Nicholas spat.
If she felt bad before, Nicholas’ words positively ripped her apart. She sobbed once, a loud, echoing noise. She turned to the water. The pond was empty, but the memories it held were branded on her skin. Merrick had murdered Eadward? She didn’t want to believe Merrick capable of such a thing, but how could she do otherwise? Had he not said he’d see to it she never married? Thomas, Hugh and Nicholas would not lie to her. She shook violently.
“He’s not my lover, Nicholas,” she said weakly, clinging to her lie. The words tore at her. What else could she say? How could she admit to what she had done? A tear slipped over her cheek. “How could I ever love a demon?”
* * *
Merrick crossed the empty hall. Suddenly, a pain seized his gut and he fell to one knee. One hand braced the wall, his nails digging into stone, as the other gripped below his chest. The memory of Juliana’s sweet touch had been on his flesh until that moment. Now all that was left was raw, numbing pain. It radiated from his chest to his stomach, swirling through each limb, climbing up his neck to his head. He couldn’t escape it and it refused to lessen.
Faint words, her words, echoed in his mind.
With much effort he stood, ignoring his discomfort. He breathed hard, knowing his eyes darkened to a deadly black. He didn’t care. He welcomed the beast in him. The beast would feed off the pain, grow powerful from it. It would kill his emotions until he was dead inside.
I swear to you, her voice whispered in his head, I could never love him. I would rather die than feel his touch.
Chapter Six
Merrick stepped into the Black Palace’s great hall only to see the King of the Damned sitting on his throne. Lucien’s eyes lifted, his long nails idly tapping against the stone arm of the chair. Merrick had felt the Demon King before entering and wasn’t surprised to see him. He bowed his head in slight acknowledgement. It had been a long time since they’d met, but neither of them needed a reintroduction.
Grinning indolently, Lucien took in the blackness of Merrick’s eyes before rolling lazily over his unlaced overtunic. Since Merrick’s coronation, the two kings had felt more than they ever needed to say with words. Being different types of evil, they shared an undeniable bond. The Demon King stared at Merrick’s blond hair for a moment, as if contemplating the color. Merrick quirked a brow. Lucien shook himself slightly.
“Let me introduce you to my new pet, Mia,” Lucien said, sounding bored. He motioned his hand to the side where Mia sat in chains and strips of leather. She didn’t bother to look up. Merrick in turn ignored her. There was nothing he could do for her. Already, he could tell her soul was half gone. Why Lucien didn’t take it all the way was a mystery Merrick didn’t wish to solve. Lucien grew a ball of fire in his hand, twirling it about his fingers. “Mia, where are your manners?”
“King Merrick,” Mia mumbled dutifully, tilting her head at him, though her eyes stayed turned to the nearest fireplace. After a pause, she moved to look Lucien in the eye without flinching. That was a feat in itself. “Where are your manners? You’re in his seat.”
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