Eclipsed by Midnight

by Kristina Canady

  As our skin touches, urgency takes flight once more, forcing her nails to bite into the flesh of my back, dragging across in delicious agony. Her body writhes under mine, ready for more. Settling into her, I gently kiss those soft, cherry-red lips that have been calling my name all night. Luscious, soft legs come up to wrap around my waist, positioning the head of my cock right where we both want it to be. The damp contact on my sensitive head sends my body into a rage. But I can’t dive in just yet; I need a moment to savor her. Locked into her gaze, I kiss her with a determination of my own, as if our very lives depended on it. Tongues duel, eagerly dipping and tasting as they slide against one another, sending new thrills, building that aching need to fill her in every possible way.

  Finally, breaking the seal to breathlessly pull away, I swing my hips and dive deep into her silken pussy with a satisfied groan. As I revel in the sensation of being tightly buried within her, our joined stare stays locked. The love, trust, and devotion reflecting between our eyes shifts me internally, making me feel intoxicated as my hips pull back and drive forward again. There is something profoundly intimate about the continual eye contact as I fuck her. We remain wordless, our normal dirty talk nowhere to be heard as our bodies take control, freely taking everything they want from one another.

  Slender, needy fingers slide up my neck, into my hair, and pull hard as a shudder rips through her, an orgasm on the brink. She clenches down hard around my cock, taking all that’s needed from my driving flesh.

  “Oh God, Etienne!” She screams my name, her body electrifying as she comes undone.

  It is not long after that my thighs begin to deliciously ache, my balls tighten, and her slick, wet pussy milks my release. With a deep bellow, my head throws back as my own orgasm rockets, sending my seed spilling into her. Her answering shouts of pleasure explodes in my ears as her greedy cunt clamps down even harder, attempting to steal yet another release. Stilling, I push in hard against her undulating hips, giving her more pressure and friction to catch that last wave. And she does. As she rides me, her nails rip open my flesh as her body works my dick, hard. Finding the right angle, she grips my ass, pulling me in even deeper as I feel the beading of blood in the wake of her aggression. The sting feels like a welcome breath of fresh air. I revel in it as a hiss escapes me.

  “Fuck yes!” she cries before falling apart one last time, her body bucking under mine in sheer ecstasy.

  Sweaty and trembling, we collapse as our breathing labors on and reverberations rain down. As I fall to my elbows, my forehead on hers, her lips gently seek mine as we attempt to ease off the high. Forever passes all too quickly before I move to lay aside her, legs entwined, fingers lovingly lingering over each other’s bodies.

  Drawing lazy circles around her budded nipples, I attempt to push forward in my original plight. “Sasha, what do you feel?” My fingers dance down her sternum toward the swell of her belly, trying to clue her in.

  “Loved, completely.” She sinks lower into the white, down pillows with a satiated grin, eyes now closed in bliss. Her dark auburn hair is fanned around her, like a work of art.

  Resting my palm over her womb, I seek the connection once found there not that long ago. Sure enough, the young responds instantly to my attempt, reaching out with its own magic. “And now?”

  “War-” Her sleepy words are cut short as her eyes fly open and her breathing erratically picks up. “That’s impossible!” she exclaims as she freezes, pure disbelief seizing her.

  “Let down your barrier and listen, please?” I sense her need to run and quickly intervene. That bad little habit of hers will do us no good. “Sasha, now,” I impatiently bark. She quickly responds without thinking, dropping her barrier as her internal battle takes flight.

  With her blockade down, the little one’s heartbeat buzzes to life, ringing in our ears in its sweet, harmonic rhythm. Her mouth guppies as she hears and feels what I do. “I don’t understand. I bled and everything,” she mumbles to no one in particular, eyes locked on the ceiling, afraid to even look down. “Etienne, how did you know and I did not?” she fearfully begs as she fights a panic attack.

  “Mon amour, I feel it has something to do with your powerful wall and extreme focus on balancing. I only found out the night you were entombed. I could hear both heartbeats.” My fingers fan in an attempt to encompass as much of her belly as I can, loving the connection found there.

  “You knew and didn’t say anything!” She sits up and scoots back, a look of betrayal clear as day as she pulls the cream duvet up and around her shaking body.

  “I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know if you knew and didn’t want to tell me.” I admit my stupidity and, furthermore, my doubt in our shared trust.

  “How could you think I would ever keep something like that from you?” Her accusatory glare makes me internally berate myself even further as shame washes through me.

  “My own pride, fear you didn’t want me to know.”

  “Etienne…” She sighs my name and crosses her arms over her bare breasts, the covers falling down to around her waist. “Why would you think that?”

  “Because you knew I never wanted young and am not the most loving male.” That was a small part of it, but I am trying.

  “True, but that doesn’t mean I’d take away your right to decide how you felt about it if it actually happened.”

  “I am not father material.”

  “And I am not the exemplary motherly type either.” Her own doubts and fears come crashing in, her imperfections helping me to connect deeper to her in this moment. We might just figure this out after all.

  “Looking at your boys, I’d say otherwise.” It was true. She needs not to self-doubt. Her track record is impeccable.

  “Boys I raised in another life. Goddess help me, what are we going to do!” She frustratingly bangs her head back on the headboard.

  “First, we will refrain from self-harm. Second, we will raise this miracle together, the best we can.” My fingers sneak under the blankets to wrap around her slender calf.

  “You want to keep it?” Her forehead wrinkles as her eyes search for mine.

  “How could you not?” I gasp, shocked and a tad offended that she’d ever consider anything else.

  “I didn’t say I didn’t want it. I just have a hard time reading you on these things.” Her meekness is another blow to the gut.

  Yanking her back down, I cover her once more with my body, dominating her with my form. Eye for eye, nose for nose, lips to lips, I breathe, “Read this loud and clear, we are having a baby together. It is a part of you and me, and I couldn’t be happier. Scared? Of course, I am male enough to admit that. But never doubt my intentions again.”

  She nods in understanding and dampness claims her eyes once more. “We are having a baby?” She sniffs, her brilliant green eyes seeking validation and comfort as her vulnerability lies before me.

  “Yes, we are,” I affirm her on as many levels as possible.

  Chapter 12

  “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”

  ~Aristotle Onassis

  Sasha

  Sitting around the dining table in a symphony of clinking of glasses, scraping of forks and contended grunts upon inhalation of Molly’s gourmet sustenance, an odd comfort is found in simply being as a family. Even Niall showed for breakfast and is now chatting excitedly with the twins, their apparent night out on the town formulating an intense bond from the wisp of novel introductions. All parties involved assured me profusely that nothing had gone awry, but I didn’t believe it for a second.

  Tristan and Niall’s reputations alone preceded them, and I am all too aware of how my boys are now turning into men. All five of them smelt guilty upon my inquisitions, and the fading bruises on their faces said enough, but I didn’t push the matter. Oddly, Niall has suddenly filled a gap that neither Etienne nor I could manage, a gap their father left years ago that a mother cannot fill. I am happy for them, real
ly, but subsequently sad in a sense. And now I am knocked up with another surprise bundle, much like the first time, by a man who is scared shitless yet determined, much like the first time as well. Oh boy. I need Ang, I need to just sit and talk it out with her. But I refuse to interrupt her vacation. She’s called in a few times to check on us, always the caretaker when she should be selfishly focused on her own. Each time, I have rushed her off the line and back to her family. They need her most right now. I can handle this like a big girl.

  Christian is holding up all right but she isn’t sure if he can manage a few more weeks abroad, but he is hell-bent on trying. I told her to find a beautiful beach and just hang out there until it is time to come home, but Christian has gotten a second wind and a mighty strong bug about seeing as much as he can. Sadness eats away at me as I contemplate his new vigor possibly being the surge. People will wake up from a damn near comatose state, sit up in bed like nothing happened, and interact with their loved ones for a few days or even a week then bam—celestial discharge.

  “Why the sullen face, me wee lass?” Niall breaks me from my internal rattling.

  “What? Oh, just hoping Ang and the family are doing okay.” He nods in understanding as the twins’ shoulders stoop a bit before they resume whatever it is they were engrossed in. Aiden’s energy seems conflicted about something as well, but I let it go. Now is not the time to prod as much as I want to.

  Erik casually peers over the top of his newspaper at Etienne, who is typing away on his phone, most likely taking care of some official business matter or another. “Yo, boss, don’t forget your parents and dinner.” Boom, fucker drops a bomb like that as if it were nothing.

  “Hold the phone. What the hell? When was this decided?” I ask in surprise. I am in no hurry to be around the lie detector right now when we haven’t even agreed on when to tell those closest to us about the bun. It’s kinda hard to pinpoint that when I’ll be carrying it for so long, like a damn elephant. And there might still be rogues out there trying to kidnap me. You know, another day in paradise.

  “Few days ago,” Erik mumbles and then proceeds to ignore me for the political page in an irritated rustling of paper.

  That’s it. I need some air. I need to breathe. I can’t fucking breathe. We finally get one semi-peaceful meal together as a family with everyone in good spirits and now that has been shaken. I am still expected to hide my powers from the living, breathing, and infallible lie-detecting queen, a bun, and newly embellished powers I haven’t even played with to understand. They could be nothing, or they could be harder to wield.

  “Sasha?” Etienne questions in a deep and gravely tone, a thick brow raising my way over the top of the phone pressed to his face.

  “I’m fine.” Ignoring him, I continue on in my meal, reaching for generous seconds. Not because I feel like I need to eat for two, but because I will be heading straight to the warehouse. Too many sets of eyes track me, questioning the validity of my statement.

  “Seriously, all is good.” I wave them off and all but lick my plate clean in a hurry.

  Making a mental note to stash the leftovers of my favorite dishes for myself, I push back from the table and head to change my clothes. Momma can’t kick anyone’s ass very comfortably in these jeans and ankle boots. Thankfully, my family pays me no mind as I disappear.

  As my leather pants slide into place, my mate’s presence registers, making the closet feel smaller in an instant. “You are not training.” It wasn’t a question or start to a communicative discussion.

  “How about you start over instead of telling me what I am or am not going to do? How bout’ a ‘babe, I don’t think that it’s safe for you to train’ or something to that effect?” This guy better not try me right now.

  “Fine, what you said.” His sexy lips press together hard as his jaw ticks.

  “Lil, I am pregnant, not crippled. And I doubt any of them will be able to get close enough to land a shot.” My arms cross tightly over my chest.

  “And they won’t get the opportunity to try.” He growls, his slicked back hair adding to his intensity.

  “Don’t. I am going and that is that. If I stay here another minute, I might vibrate right out of my skin.” That is truer than I care to admit.

  “Fine, at least consider telling those you spar with about your condition.”

  “It is not a condition and no, because then they will go easy on me.” I slip the soft, bunched cotton in my hand over my head and roll my long-sleeve shirt down over my figure.

  “Then let’s go down to our dungeon and have a session,” he pleads as his eyes roam my body.

  “No, I need to throw my power around and get a feel for it. It has vastly expanded and I have to understand it before I can control it. We already agreed that we didn’t want your parents knowing about any of this yet.” My hand sweeps across my belly on its own accord before I realize. My need to protect what is there is fierce, even if I still waver on the fence a bit.

  “No, not until I can figure out what is going on within the court,” he agrees as his eyes track my hands and the lines deepen in his beautiful face.

  “There ya go. I love you, Lil. It’s going to be okay.” Lifting up on combat-boot tipped toes, I peck him on the lips, smoothing away the heaviness building there.

  “Well, I am coming with you then.” He decidedly backs up and bends to change his dress shoes.

  “No, you have missed too much work already because of me. You have shit to do.”

  “That is not for you to worry about.” His growly voice echoes up at me as he bends into the fold of clothes to produce his shit-kicking leather boots, reminiscent of what bikers wear. He looks good in whatever he puts on. I thought I liked the well-groomed ‘I’m going to conquer the world from my desk’ appeal best… until I saw him in his field gear. Fuck me. How does he expect me to concentrate looking like that?

  “See, this is why I don’t tell you things and I just take care of it. I don’t need you rescuing me all the time.” I huff, tired of being treated like glass.

  He quickly steps into me, hand on the base of my neck, asserting his control instantly. I can’t help but relax back into it. As much as it kills me to admit, I love what I find in surrendering my hardheaded ways to his dominating force.

  “This isn’t about a pissing race or however you say it—this is about me protecting what is mine. That is my job. It is not your job to ‘take care of it,’ especially on your own. We do this together or not at all.” His close proximity causes my chest to flush.

  “Well, after you then.” I wink, the brat in me satisfied.

  His eyes intensely search my face before his lips crash down into mine, his hold tightening. My belly heats as electricity travels down my thighs, making me quiver. He swallows the moans now reverently escaping my throat as my body sways. A deep, baritone resonance climbs up from his depths as he rips his mouth away from mine and licks his lips, leaving me gasping for more.

  “No, mon amour, after you.” He grins, satisfied with the state he has quickly baited me into.

  “Fucker,” I breathe, pissed at being left hot and bothered. His grip tightens in warning, and I whimper instantly. “Sorry, Lil.” He sighs and lets me go, stepping aside so that I can lead the way.

  ∞

  Sizing up my opponent, I tilt my head to the side and crack my neck as my senses travel out and around. Closing my eyes, I use my breath to focus and allow the elements to freely travel around and through me like a never-ending river. When I feel their power swell, my eyes flash open, ready.

  Maurizio deepens his stance as Inessa patiently leans back against the wall behind him with one foot braced on the cement; hands carelessly playing with one of her deadly knives. Etienne stalks up and down the arena behind me like a pissed-off predator, clearly unhappy as his sour mood notably drops the temperature around us. Inessa’s nieces, Vlad, Erik, Niall, my boys, and a few others anxiously crowd the perimeter up top. I didn’t want the boys to come, fought
them on it, but once they saw me in my leathers, they knew what I was off to do and there was no convincing them otherwise. They were going to come whether I wanted them to or not, and Niall made it quite clear he’d help them.

  “Come on, princess.” Maurizio attempts to jab me into starting already. Inwardly, I cringe, but outwardly, I hold statue still.

  Another surge passes through me, and I use it to run full force at him. Which is probably laughable to some because he quickly meets my slow ass head-on. Maurizio doesn’t waste time as he throws a lethal cross hook. Instantly blocking him, I follow through with an upper cut, front-kick combo that propels him across the pit, landing him against the wall with a sickening thud. Bracing for him to quickly jump to, my heart freezes as I realize that something is wrong. His eyes glass over as his body slumps to the ground and doesn’t move. Horror and panic consume me as I race to him. In my need to get to the broken body, my super transport mode kicks in without my permission and I am instantly kneeling by his side. Assessing his injuries, the blood trickling from the back of his head has my fingers prying opening his eyes and launching into a neurological exam. Erik jumps down into the pit as Inessa and Etienne join me and the others circle above, waiting for answers.

  “Erik, shine your phones flashlight for me.” He quickly whips it out and much to my dismay, Maurizio’s pupils don’t react. Motherfucker. Without wasting time, I plunge my fangs into my wrist and drip my blood into Maurizio’s lifeless, slacked jaw. His color is fading fast even though his heart still weakly beats. Etienne protectively growls in a painful manner as my blood goes to another. It is a sacred act that is unbearable for him, but this is for one of our own, he will get over it.