Beyond the Veil (Vampires of Velum Mortis Book 1)

by Stephanie Summers

  I fought the urge to be offended by the word pussy since I normally couldn’t stand it, but hearing it come from his lips in such an erotic way had it quickly becoming one of the sexiest words I’d ever heard.

  “Is that so?” I purred.

  “For someone who insisted I skip it, you’re awfully ready for me to taste you. Think I’ll make you wait a little longer,” he said, his tongue grazing his bottom lip as he moved up to face me and settled himself between my thighs.

  He kissed me deeply while supporting his weight on his forearms. His erection grinded against me, sending waves of ecstasy over my body. Kissing a pattern over my neck and chest, he worked his way lower and lower.

  Breathing me in, a groan caught in his throat. His lips trailed across my pubic bone and around my sex, never actually touching my clit.

  I watched as his eyes raised to mine, his mouth lingering so close I could feel his breath against my flesh.

  “Tell me you want this.”

  “I want this,” I answered with no hesitation.

  “Tell me exactly what you want me to do.”

  “I want you to lick me. Please?” I begged.

  He opened his mouth, his tongue sweeping one long motion, parting me as he went. My toes curled as I dug my fingers into the sheet and whimpered. His tongue, warmer than I’d expected and wet, worked over me in tiny swirls before pressing his lips to me and sucking gently. The more he sucked, the faster his tongue moved. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that it could feel so good. My channel clenched as pressure raised. There’s no way I was going to last more than a few seconds, but I never wanted this moment to end.

  He pulled me to the edge of the bed, and said, “Watch me…”

  Casting my eyes down, I watched as he slipped a finger inside me and spread me open with the other. His tongue barely flicked my clit as his eyes raised to mine before sucking it into his mouth again. I couldn’t stop myself from touching him, and I grabbed his head, fisting my hands into his hair. Spasms originating deep within my core burst from me in waves as I watched him pleasure me.

  My thighs squeezed together uncontrollably, and I tried to back away from him, hardly able to bear his touch for one more second. He forced my legs apart and continued working my clit with his tongue to the point that sweet pain washed over me. I screamed out. Bucking my hips, I rode his tongue until the aftershocks took over.

  Taking a deep breath, I could barely keep myself upright as he placed a soft kiss against my belly. He swiped his hand over his lips and came in for a passionate kiss.

  Pulling away, the muscles in his jaws bounced as he hesitated to speak.

  My eyes locked onto his. I swallowed hard.

  “Shall I fuck you now?”

  I nodded and kissed him, pulling him tightly to me.

  Still sitting on the edge of the bed, I spread my legs and waited for him. He moved closer, his cock pressing against my opening.

  “You ready for this?” he asked and rubbed the head against me.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  Plunging himself into me, he exhaled sharply, and whispered, “I never want to leave this place.”

  I wrapped my legs around him and grabbed onto his shoulders as my body readily accepted him. Pushing himself deeper, he pulled out of me before sheathing himself again. I found myself unable to control the sensuous noises coming from my throat and every time I moaned, he echoed with a sexy grunt of his own.

  Hooking his arms under my knees, he grabbed my backside and stood. I pressed my hips to him, trying to get him as deep inside of me as he could go. Gripping my ass, he moved me up and down his shaft roughly. I couldn’t do anything but hold on tight to his neck and relish him pounding into me, enjoying every second of the ride. Minutes, perhaps hours, ticked by as his strong arms never seemed to tire.

  Tossing me onto the bed, he lay beside me, and said, “Get on my cock and ride me.”

  I’d never been with someone so assertive who took charge the way he had. It just made him that much hotter and more attractive to me. Straddling him, he guided his cock into me as I settled down onto him and began to rock my hips back and forth. My knees squeezed against his hips in an effort to balance myself.

  “Put your feet like this, beauty,” he said and placed my feet flat on the bed so that my knees were straight up, and my legs were wide open. “I want to see my cock inside that beautiful pussy of yours.”

  I watched his face as I moved up and down his shaft, and it was a thing of absolute beauty and grace, a true work of art. His lips parted as he breathed through his mouth, his chest lightly rising and falling. Brows furrowed as his tongue made a quick appearance against his bottom lip. Clenching his teeth together, his lips were still open just a little as his eyes raised to mine. He sat up, pressing his body against me. Grabbing my hips, he nipped at my throat and coaxed me to go harder and faster. Placing my hands on his face, I lowered my lips to his and kissed him deeply.

  Holding me tight, he flipped me to my back and pushed his hips forward until he was as far inside of me as he could get. His eyes locked with mine. Breaths came quick and heavily while he pumped his cock with everything he had. The sensation in my core began to build once again, my flesh pulsing around his cock as I screamed out in ecstasy.

  “Liam,” I cried out. “My king…”

  A sexy sort of laugh vibrated his chest as he kissed my neck.

  He continued to fuck me harder and faster, until I couldn’t hold on any longer.

  And just as I came down from the massive orgasm he’d gifted me for the second time, he cried out in his own fit of passion.

  His body shuttered as his eyes closed and he grabbed a fistful of my hair. His hips pressed into me slower and slower until his body went nearly limp on top of me. I relished the feel of his weight pressing against me.

  It was in that moment, as he held me tight, that I knew I had been foolish to ever question the way I felt about him and the love that had blossomed between us. Yes, we had fallen fast and hard for one another, but when a thing is meant to be, it’s simply meant to be.

  And no force in the universe could ever stop it.

  Epilogue - Delia

  “Take my arm,” he said, jutting his elbow out toward me.

  Wrapping my arm around his, we headed for the throne room, stopping just before the door. Liam stood firm, his shoulders squared while we waited for our introduction. Tall and imposing, I couldn’t help but stare at him in wonderment. To me, he had always just been Liam, but right now, he was a king. My king.

  Leaving the bedroom hadn’t been at the top of my list but he had insisted we finally deal with Lucien after he’d been locked away for the last few months. He’d also insisted I needed to be more present in the throne room, but I hadn’t grown comfortable with all that yet and had readily avoided it. The vampires mostly accepted me as their queen now, though they hadn’t had a choice really. With Liam back, they’d all fallen effortlessly under his rule again.

  He told them I was their queen, so I was their queen, but I hadn’t earned it. Hadn’t earned their respect the way he had. Shortly after coming to Velum Mortis, Liam had told me the story of how he came to be king.

  The Fae had taken over the forest surrounding the city, ambushing any vampires who dared set foot into the woods and casting dark magic that prevented anyone from piercing the veil. With no living creatures in Velum Mortis, many vampires began to starve. The reigning king, an uncle of Liam’s did nothing to save his people. That’s when Liam stepped up and led a force into the forest, slaughtering the Fae and losing many of his own in the process, including an ancient line of warriors tasked with protecting the crown. They were cursed now and lost to the king, though he had vowed to eventually find them and bring them back to their former glory.

  When confronted with the Fae king during that fateful battle, he showed courage and strength by not backing down, determined to fight for his people’s survival. After the battle was won, the vampires exiled
the former king and crowned Liam.

  He’d proven himself to them.

  I hadn’t.

  It was like Mallory Falls all over again. Would there ever be a time when I felt good enough?

  The doors opened a moment later and we stepped through. A hush fell over the crowd as everyone turned their attention toward the two of us. We made our way down the carpet that lead up to the throne.

  “I want you to take the lead on this one,” Liam said as we approached the throne.

  “No,” I replied. “I can’t.”

  “You can, my queen,” he said. “And you will. No better time than now.”

  “Why should any of them listen to me. They don’t see me the way they see you.”

  “You have to make them.”

  “What do you expect me to do?” I asked Liam quietly, aware that there were many ears probably fixed on my words.

  “I would have him put to death, but you may do as you wish.”

  “But he’s your only brother… Is there actual proof he betrayed you? Anything that makes death the only viable option?”

  “Nothing concrete. The whisperings of a few trusted informants.”

  “And the word of a witch?”

  “Yes.”

  “The same one who cursed you in the first place?”

  He didn’t answer, and though I was very fond of Theodosia, I didn’t have a very good impression of either of her sisters.

  I understood being blinded by betrayal. Knew it more than I ever cared to but sentencing someone to death on nothing more than hearsay was wrong. Even if that person was an asshole like Lucien.

  Then do with him what you will, his words caressed my mind. And I’ll stand behind it, my queen. I still hadn’t gotten used to the fact that he could listen to my thoughts at any time he pleased or hearing his voice in my head so clearly I’d have to check to see if he’d said the words out loud. It’d been there so many times before, but I’d written it off when I was still human as my own conscience speaking to me. I hadn’t quite mastered the skill myself, but I was working on it.

  Liam didn’t meet any of the audience’s eyes, instead he focused his attention forward as if we were alone in the room.

  He removed my arm from his, cradling my hand as he guided me toward my throne. After I was seated, he took his place in the throne next to me. With a wave of his hand, the vampires in the room raised to their feet.

  “Bring Lucien,” he commanded.

  A short time later, two vampires escorted Lucien, hands bound in front of him, into the room with Stellan following close behind.

  “You wish to confess?” Liam asked.

  “To what, Your Highness. I’ve done nothing wrong but rule as you would in your absence.”

  “You betrayed me. You sent me to the meeting with the slayers knowing what was waiting for me.”

  “I did no such thing, my king. It was the witch who told me to pass on the message to you. I had no idea of the slayer’s plan to take you down. Had I known, I would’ve been right by your side. It was you who insisted I stay behind, if you recall.”

  “You swear before me that you didn’t betray me.”

  “I swear it.”

  “From the moment I took up the throne, you wanted it for yourself. I don’t trust you,” he said, leaning forward. “And I don’t believe you.”

  “So be it,” Lucien said, never breaking his composure. “Punish me as you will.”

  “I sentence you to death,” Liam said and sat back in the chair.

  An audible gasp passed over the crowd.

  “Silence,” Liam bellowed.

  I reached over and placed my hand on his forearm, squeezing him tightly.

  I’m sorry. I should’ve let you speak.

  The two vampires took ahold of Lucien and yanked him violently toward the door.

  “Wait,” I called out. It’s not too late, I thought to myself, hoping Liam was still listening. Lucien hadn’t made a good impression on me, but death was a bit harsh for a crime he may or may not have committed, especially without proof of his deeds. And I knew at some point in time, Liam would regret putting his brother to death.

  The vampires stopped, the one on the right glancing over his shoulder at me. A moment later, they took a step forward as if I hadn’t said a word.

  Liam leapt to his feet, his body tense. “Your queen commanded you to stop.”

  The two vampires instantly dropped to their knees as Stellan grabbed Lucien by the arm and threw him to the ground in front of me.

  Lucien’s honey-colored eyes glowed at me as he fixed his gaze on me, his lips set into a hard line. Dirt marred his face and his once perfectly straight hair was now frizzy and unkempt.

  “My lady,” he said. He blamed me for his downfall. I could see it written all over his face, but then, I guess he wasn’t too far off. Had it not been for me waking Liam, he would still be sitting where I sat now.

  “Lucien,” I said, slightly bowing my head. “I don’t know whether or not you betrayed your king, but I believe in mercy and justice.”

  “Wasn’t it your father who put our king to sleep?”

  “He played a part.”

  “Where is justice for that?”

  “My father died years ago.”

  “And if he hadn’t? Would you have him in front of you now, determining whether he should live or die for his crime? A crime you know he committed?”

  “No. Call me a hypocrite if you must, but no, I wouldn’t. We are vampires, and he wasn’t. We have no domain over them.”

  Murmurs echoed through the crowd, but I didn’t care. I wouldn’t lie to them.

  “You would hold them as equals?” Lucien scoffed.

  “In many ways they aren’t, that’s true. They can’t match our speed or our strength, but they aren’t vermin. They’re living beings with thoughts and feelings and independence.”

  “You’re just saying that because you were one not long ago. Give it time and you’ll think differently.”

  “Doubtful, but I want to ask you something… If you were here, faced with a prisoner charged with what you’ve been charged, what would you do with him or her?”

  “As my king ordered. Death.”

  “You’ll be exiled for a period of twenty years. You’ll live among the humans as a human, concealing all of your abilities and your thirst for blood during this time. After the twenty years are up, you’ll be free to return to Velum Mortis where I will determine whether or not you can be trusted to come back permanently. I won’t put you to death for something I’m not convinced you did.”

  Outrage poured over the crowd as Lucien stood.

  “He’s a traitor,” someone cried out.

  “I’ll kill him myself,” another shouted.

  “She is no queen of mine,” a voice close to the front sneered.

  “Shut the fuck up, all of you,” Stellan’s voice boomed, bouncing off the walls. “Forgive me, Your Majesties.”

  “Speak your mind, my brother,” Liam said.

  “All of you should be down on your knees praising your queen,” he said, pointing at the gathering of vampires. “If it weren’t for her, your king would be dead, lost to you all forever. Do you know what she did? When none of you could so much as lift a finger or be bothered to aid us in our journey to bring him home, she sacrificed her life to save him.”

  They looked to Liam for reassurance of Stellan’s claim.

  “It’s true. There is a prisoner in the dungeons now, a former slayer, who had enhanced his abilities with magic. He charged at me from behind as I discussed peace with the slayers. He couldn’t let progress happen. I couldn’t hear him coming due to magical intervention, but your queen, Cordelia, saw what he was about to do, his sword aimed at my back.”

  I thought I’d cringe at the sound of my full first name, but somehow, coming from his lips, it didn’t jar me the way it had when others had spoken it.

  “He would’ve pierced my heart before I ever knew what hit me
. I stand here before you today only because she put herself between us, giving her life for mine,” he said, taking my hand in his.

  “It is only by the grace of Hades himself that our king was able to turn her before it was too late,” Stellan added.

  The crowd undulated with activity for several seconds before stilling once again. Meredith, one of the only vampires aside from Stellan who I could call a friend, stepped forward and dropped to one knee, bowing her head.

  Lucien studied me and bowed deeply before dropping to his knee. “I am forever grateful for the mercy you have shown upon me today.”

  One by one, the others followed suit until the entire room knelt before me.

  Before their queen…

  Ready to read more about Stellan and the mysterious punishment placed upon him by the king? Check out Into the Storm, Book 2 in the Vampires of Velum Mortis Series. Available March 23, 2019!

  Preorder now!

  Also by Stephanie Summers

  PARANORMAL ROMANCE

  The Willow Creek Vampires Series

  Craving

  Haunting

  Awakening

  The Bludworth Chronicles

  Origin

  Bloodlust

  CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

  Under the Pen Name Scarlett Alexander

  The Take Me Duet

  Take Me On

  Take Me Home

  About the Author

  Stephanie Summers has written several books including The Willow Creek Vampires Series, The Bludworth Chronicles, and The Take Me Duet, with several more books in the works. She's a wife, and a mom to two kids, two dogs, and two cats. When she isn't busy running Casa De Summers, you can usually find her in her pajamas working on her next book.

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