Darkest Risings

by S. K. Yule

  “Oh, I’m not blind, sister. They are all yummy indeed, but that’s beside the point. What are you going to do about Aldin? I don’t want you to give up your happiness because of me. If you love him, you fight for him.”

  She did love him, but could she really get over what his family had done to Lindsey? Lindsey held most of her grudge toward Marilena because of how Wilhemina had suffered. Wilhemina felt the same way toward Marilena about Lindsey’s suffering. She could come to terms with all of it eventually, but the fact that her sister had been upset and hurt emotionally? While it seemed Lindsey had been treated like a princess, that didn’t alleviate the mental suffering they had both endured from being separated.

  She couldn’t deny the fact that she wanted Aldin, would always want him, but could she get past what his mother had done? Before she could contemplate that further, a knock sounded on the door, and she was surprised to find the object of her thoughts on the other side.

  “I need to talk to you, Wilhemina.”

  He looked pale to her, and worry gnawed at her stomach. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. Just a bit shaky still.”

  “I think it is time I got to know the house I will be staying in. I also think it’s time for me to have a little chat with Uriah,” Lindsey said from behind her.

  “You don’t have to leave,” Wilhemina said.

  Lindsey hugged her and whispered into her ear, “I think I do. You two need to talk. And take your time talking. I won’t be back for awhile.”

  Wilhemina’s face blazed with heat as Lindsey turned to Aldin and patted him on the chest.

  “I know you heard what I just said even though I whispered it. My advice is to take advantage of it.”

  If Wilhemina’s nerves weren’t jumping all over the place, she might find Aldin’s dazed response to Lindsey’s comments funny. Lindsey brushed past him and disappeared down the hallway.

  She knew they would have to talk at some point. She guessed now was as good of time as any. She opened the door wider to let him inside before closing it behind him.

  No sooner had she turned to face him, he was crowding her back against the wall with his big frame. His mouth came down on hers hot and demanding. Her knees weakened along with her resolve when his tongue dipped past her lips and began a slow, erotic dance with her own.

  They were both panting by the time he broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. The hand he’d brought up to cup her nape while they’d kissed was warm, and his long fingers massaged her lightly.

  “I know we have to talk about everything at some point, but I need you right now, Wilhemina.”

  She looked up into turbulent eyes and nearly forgot how to breathe. He was beautiful when he was angry. And damn, he was pissed, but that anger was not directed toward her. His desire for her mingled with the anger, and it was evident that his body cried out for her…for comfort. She knew this because she felt the same way.

  No matter how upset she was about everything that had happened, about everything that was still happening, she wanted him. His touch soothed her. When his mouth and hands were on her, all the problems, all the rest of the world, disappeared for awhile. When they were together, only they existed.

  “I need you too, Aldin.” But she stopped him before his lips could claim hers again. “But I need you to be you. I don’t want gentle. I don’t want you to hold back. I need you. The real you.”

  His eyes instantly turned black, and she gasped.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.” He placed his palms flat against the wall on either side of her head.

  “I promise I will tell you if you hurt me or if you do anything that makes me uncomfortable. Now take me. I need you.”

  He trailed the backs of his fingers down her cheek to her neck and stopped just above the slope of her breast over her heart. “This is mine,” he said quietly. His fingers continued the journey over her nipple, along her ribcage, over her stomach, then slid between her legs. “And this is mine also. No one else but I will ever slide inside your pretty pink pussy again. You are mine, Wilhemina. No matter what. From now on. You are mine.”

  She groaned when he rubbed his fingers against her. Her body rocked against him, and wetness rushed between her thighs. How could he make her this hot this fast?

  Because you love him.

  “Don’t ever forget that. We can get through anything together.”

  “It’s still weird to me when we talk like this, but strangely comforting at the same time.”

  His laughter slid through her brain, and he rubbed his finger against her clit again. “It’s only weird because you’ve never talked to anyone like this. It’s comforting because it is meant to be. You reside in my mind now, Wilhemina. You are an addiction I never want to kick. You are embedded in my soul forever.”

  He still hadn’t said he loved her, and while she couldn’t deny she ached to hear him say those words, the ones he’d just spoken were nearly as good.

  The way he was touching her heated her body with every caress and brought out her naughty wanton side with abandon. She writhed hard against him and thought the words she would probably never find the nerve to speak out loud.

  “I need you inside me right now, Aldin. I want you to fuck me.”

  She waited for embarrassment to flood her, but when his black eyes seared her with need, she felt free and wicked and wanted to do things she’d only thought about in her deepest, darkest fantasies, wanted to do them with him and only him.

  His mouth slammed down on hers, and both of them frantically tore at each others’ clothing. Within moments, she was naked, and he was left only wearing jeans and boots. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he pushed her hard against the wall before wedging his hips between her thighs. She moaned as his tongue dipped inside her mouth and she dug her nails into his broad back while arching hard against him.

  When he dipped his head toward her breasts, she cupped one and guided the tightened nipple to his mouth. His tongue curled around the tight peak then flicked before his teeth nipped her. She reached between them and tugged impatiently on the buttons of his jeans. After they finally popped open, he sprang free into her hand.

  He groaned when she wrapped her fingers around his cock and stroked him firmly. She was mindless with need for him. She worked him while he tortured her nipples with his tongue and mouth, and when he scraped his teeth along her sensitive skin, fireworks shot off behind her eyelids. She wanted more. She needed more. She wanted all of him.

  “Do it, Aldin.” She guided him to the drenched opening that wept for him. “Do it now!”

  His teeth popped through her skin as his hips arched up and he pushed his cock deep inside her. The suction of his mouth made her inner muscles clench hard around him, and he froze.

  “You’re going to fucking kill me, Wilhemina. When you clench around my cock like that, I can’t think straight.”

  “I’m not thinking too clearly myself right now. It feels so good, almost too good, when you are inside me. I had no idea you drinking my blood could arouse me to the point where I could come from it.” She pushed her fingers through his short, dark hair and strained against him. “Fuck me while you take my blood.”

  A split second later, he was pounding into her over and over like there was no tomorrow. Her back thumped against the wall, and she slid up a few inches with each thrust of his hips. She held on for the ride as he took her hard and fast. Her muscles unclenched with each upward stroke, and clenched with each retreat as if trying to prevent him from leaving. Her skin turned clammy, and she cried out as the beginning of her release hit her like an avalanche.

  He pulled his teeth from her skin, stood straight, cupped her ass with his hands, and kissed her while he continued to thrust into her. She bounced on him while he held her with ease. His tongue tangled with hers and he tugged her up then down again over his thick cock.

  “Come for me now, Wilhemina.”

  The waves of her orgas
m had already begun to crash over her, but after his command, they rushed to shore, making her scream out with each surge. Her body trembled in pleasure from her release, sent shockwaves of bliss through her one after another until she thought she might black out from the sensory overload.

  “That’s it, honey. I’m right with you.”

  He slammed up into her again and threw his head back to yell out his own release. She cried out as he pulsed hot, hard, and deep inside her. The hot jets of his seed made her muscles clench again as if trying to milk him of every last drop.

  She was replete, satiated beyond comprehension, and sagged against him. She was glad he held her since she was sure her rubbery legs would not be able to support her weight at that moment.

  He tangled his fingers in her hair and tugged back until she was looking up into his face. The blackness started to recede from his eyes, and a hint of turquoise peeked around the perimeters of the onyx. He kissed her gently, thoroughly, and she felt the hot tug of desire once again.

  He let her slide down his big body, and she watched as he carefully tucked his impressive cock into his jeans and buttoned the front.

  “You held back again. You keep telling me how dominant you are in the bedroom, but I don’t see it.”

  “I don’t feel the need to be that way with you.”

  “Oh.” She frowned. Did she not excite him like other women had? Was she lacking the skills needed to draw his dominance out?

  “Wilhemina.”

  She looked up at him. His mesmerizing eyes nearly made her forget what she’d been thinking.

  “My dominance in the bedroom has always been a way for me to release my stress, my anger, my frustration. With you, I don’t need that release because the moment I touch you, all of those things cease to exist. The mere caress of your fingers on my skin has the ability to make me forget about everything but you and me. You can soothe me with a laugh or single longing look from those beautiful gray eyes. No other woman has been able to do what you do. I don’t need from you what I needed from them. With you, I need things that I’ve never wanted, never longed for.” He gently stroked her cheek. “With you, I yearn to make love to you thoroughly. I ache to bring you pleasure like you’ve never known, to hear you cry my name while I’m deep inside you, to know that you are aware that no other man can make you feel the way I can.”

  “Believe me when I tell you that even though I’m inexperienced, I know in here”—she placed her hand over her heart—”that there is no man on Earth that could make me feel the things you do.” She smiled up at him.

  He kissed her, but ended the kiss way too soon for her liking. She was about to protest when he spoke.

  “Grab you clothes, Wilhemina. Someone is coming.”

  “What? Oh my God!” She raced to the door with him close behind and bent to pick up her clothes. He retrieved his shirt from the floor, but when she turned to make a hasty retreat to the bathroom, he stopped her.

  “I need to get dressed,” she said.

  “There’s plenty of time.”

  “But you said someone was coming.”

  “Someone is.”

  “Then let me get dressed.”

  He shook his head and a hint of a smile tugged his lips up at the corner. He pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “Close your eyes and relax,” he murmured next to her ear.

  “But—”

  “Trust me. Take a deep breath and close those gorgeous eyes of yours.”

  She should be running for the bathroom before whoever was coming caught her bare-assed with Aldin wrapped around her, but her need to be in his arms was stronger. She leaned into him and did as he asked. A strange sensation washed through her, and when she opened her eyes, they were in Aldin’s room.

  She swayed, and a momentary bout of dizziness hit her. He held her against him until the sensation passed.

  “That…was…interesting,” she said for lack of better words.

  “I didn’t frighten you, did I?” he asked before running his finger gently down her cheek.

  “I think it happened too fast for me to have been startled by it. Maybe if I had known what you were about to do beforehand, it might have scared me.”

  “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt or scare you. Not on purpose.”

  “I know that.” She reached up and cupped his cheek.

  He closed his eyes for a moment and leaned into her touch. Her heart thudded at his response. She loved him more than she ever thought possible. But what kind of future did they have?

  “As much as I hate to say this, maybe you should get dressed. We need to talk, and I don’t think I’m going to be able to concentrate with your gorgeous curves on display.” He leaned down and kissed her quickly on the lips.

  She nodded and made her way to his bathroom to clean up and get dressed. They needed to talk, but she was dreading it. Would he expect her to forgive and forget what his mother had done? She didn’t think she could and prayed that wouldn’t create a wedge between them that had the capability of tearing their newly budding relationship apart.

  Lindsey wanted her to be happy, but things were chaotic and complicated at the moment. As she finished dressing, she wondered how long she could hide out in the bathroom. You can’t hide out, girl. Remember what Nana always said. She smiled when she thought of her grandmother’s favorite saying for tough times.

  “Hope is the very essence of our souls, and is the very thing that must be hardest fought for. Every hour wasted on anger holds the possibility for a lifetime of regrets.”

  She straightened her shoulders in determination and walked toward the door that led to her possible future.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “There was absolutely no reason for your mother to kidnap me.” Lindsey tapped her foot impatiently on the wood floor in the kitchen.

  Uriah leaned against the counter and stared at her with those eerie turquoise eyes, one condescending brow raised. She couldn’t deny that he was good-looking. Hell, he was more than good-looking. He was a hot piece of man candy any woman would be happy to lick, but she didn’t want anything to do with him. For someone who had been locked up his entire life, he had little compassion for his fellow human beings.

  She almost snorted. Maybe that was the problem. He wasn’t human. She’d only been locked up for seven years, and she’d never be more humbled or thankful for her freedom. Yet Uriah acted like a spoiled, rotten child who thought the world owed him something. She was not, and would never be one of those somethings.

  “Lovely Lindsey, whatever are you chattering about?” He crossed his arms over his broad chest and continued staring at her.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  Although she’d only met him a short time ago, she was certain of one thing. Uriah was crafty, witty, and sharp as a rapier’s edge. She wasn’t lacking in the brains department herself, but she was no fool either. To spar with Uriah, she would need to be on her toes.

  “Please enlighten me with your intellect.”

  “Fine. I’ll try to explain it in terms that even you can comprehend.”

  She didn’t miss the way he tensed at her dig. Lindsey, one. Uriah, zero. She wanted to smile smugly, but decided not to push her luck.

  “There was no need for your mother to kidnap me because you and I will never happen.”

  He didn’t move. Not even a twitch gave a hint to what he thought of her words. “Am I that repulsive to you?”

  That caught her off guard. Did he really not know how gorgeous he was? “No. I mean. Of course not.”

  “See. It wasn’t hard at all admitting I’m hot.” He grinned.

  Grrrr. The man was impossible. Uriah one. Now the score was tied.

  “Look, I’ve only known you for a few hours and already you’ve hit my sister and have acted like a spoiled ass.”

  He uncrossed his arms and laid one palm over his heart. “Oh how you wound me. Besides, I don’t know what you are talking about
.”

  “Really? Not only did you hit my sister, but you caused the fight that resulted in you hitting her. If we can agree on only one thing, it is that you are not dumb. It is obvious to anyone with eyes that Aldin and Wilhemina are involved, yet you came on to her anyway because you are selfish.”

  He straightened, and a somber expression painted his already dark features. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I was a prisoner just as you were. Only for far longer. And in case you’ve forgotten, until after the incident with Aldin and Wilhemina, I was not aware that you and I are life mates. She seemed familiar to me because she is your sister. If my mother had given me that information before I was released, I wouldn’t have made that mistake with Wilhemina.”

  Lindsey frowned.

  “Marilena not only stole my entire life from me, and seven years of yours, but she also nearly robbed me of my life mate. I haven’t a clue to what she might have done if not for the coincidence of your sister being here. Wilhemina’s presence at the estate was the final straw in Mother’s plans crashing down around her ears.

  “Before Wilhemina, Marilena had the option of wiping your memory and eventually returning you home. But Wilhemina’s ties to Aldin, and thus my family, puts not only her in danger, but you as well. I think Mother has finally come to the conclusion that if she does not allow us to find our life mates and let Ragnor perform the virtus ritus that will bring us into our true blood powers, we will lose the upcoming battle with the drifters. I think Mommy Dearest has finally realized that she cannot win against Fate, and that we will all most likely die if she doesn’t stop interfering.”

  “I will never be with you, therefore, Fate loses anyway.”

  She stiffened when he closed the distance between them. They stood toe to toe, and he stared down at her with that unsettling gaze.

  “You cannot fight Fate, Lindsey. One way or the other, you will be mine.” He reached out and traced his thumb along her lower lip.

  She jerked away from his touch. “No. I have been imprisoned by your family for seven years. I was not freed only to be trapped by another Aleksandrov.”