by Liza James
He pulls back just briefly, letting his hand slip between us so that he can work the front of my shorts down my thighs. “Never,” he says once he’s pulled them free of my legs. “You’re mine, forever. You’ll never lose me and I will destroy anyone who gets in between you and I.” He reaches the front of his slacks as he pulls his own cock free and drags it through my slick core. I writhe against him, moaning in surprise at how this feels so different from before.
I can feel everything pulsing between us. His emotions coursing through my blood, I finally know exactly where he stands. This was right, this is worth everything we’ve been through, and everything we’re going to have to do now that we’re bonded.
He’s my Fated, and I’ve completely submitted to this raging wildfire between us.
She’s flooding me with her emotions, and while I never put much stock in how that would feel before I met her, I sure as hell crave it now. She’s feeding my Incubus completely, consistently. It’s as if there’s never any need to feed again because our united bond is a continuous tether of energy.
She’s my addiction, my fixation, my fucking oxygen and the need to mark her slams through my chest and throbs through my stiff cock.
“Fuck me,” she begs as I continue teasing her entrance with only the tip. God, I love this. Having her at my mercy, needing her fucking fill of me while she shifts and rocks in greedy desire.
My mind is solely focused on her, on the connection we’re both seeking from each other. I know that Danner never actually found her, he doesn’t know where these woods are and I’m positive his body was with Sunan when Elijah and I were looking for them. That’s how he tricked us into the perfect position for him to slip in and make his fucking move.
But I’ll find him. I’ll slaughter him and show him exactly who Stella belongs to. Just like I told him I would when I claimed her at his attack on Luna at Elijah’s old house. When he tried to take her away from me, fuck that. He should’ve known then this would end with his blood on my hands.
“This is what you want, baby girl?” I say as I slowly push inside her, stretching her open while her sweet voice gasps in my ear.
“Yes please,” she moans and I thrust my hips up to fill her completely.
“Finally,” I breathe out as I take her mouth once again. Tasting her body, working against her pussy while we speak with this new voice of communication between us.
Our blood. Our bodies. Our souls. All speaking as one raging ocean of waves and collisions.
I continue moving inside her while I fist her hair and tug her head back. I expose the entire long column of her neck as I trail my tongue along her flesh. I bite into her, nipping at her milky skin before pressing my lips against her in heated kisses.
“I want to bleed with you,” she says quickly, while both of our releases begin tightening inside of us. I can feel it, on both our ends, but we both crave the touch of darkness that brings us even closer together.
“It’s a little different now,” I explain while I let my hand fall to ground in search of the knife I had earlier. I brought it out here in case I would need it against Danner and ended up using it against Luna when he controlled my body. But thankfully he didn’t get far in hurting her before Amelia stepped in, simultaneously wounding and saving us. “Our blood bond will heal us at a quicker pace than what our Succubus and Incubus did before.”
“I don’t care,” she says as she slows her movements along my cock and very intentionally draws out our pleasure.
A smirk pulls at my lips as I lean forward and lay her back against the ground. My fingers wrap around the hilt of the knife when I grip her wrist and bring it between both of us. I slide the tip of blade through her skin in a shallow cut that releases the blood we both feel in our veins. It’s powerful, this intentional show of vulnerability, and I pass her the blade so that she can do the same to me.
She takes my own arm in hers as she confidently pierces the soft skin on my forearm. Her eyes stay locked on to mine and she’s the one who sucks in a shallow breath when the pain pricks my own flesh. Her back arches off the ground while she drags the blade down my arm in a short stretch of stinging pain. But I love it, and I know she does too because her eyelids slip lower and her legs fall even wider apart as I roll into them again.
She drops the blade and I reach for her wrist, bringing it up so that it’s only an inch from my mouth while I watch her. “I’m going to devour you, baby girl. Feast on your flesh and fill you with my cock until it’s only me you see.”
I trail my tongue along the shallow cut on her wrist, tasting her while my thrusts fill her tight pussy at a faster pace. She moans as her eyes watch the movement of my lips, her hips rising up to meet mine with each drive I take into her. “I’ve wanted this for so long with you,” I whisper. “Every moment since we met I knew you were meant to be mine.” Her eyes drift closed and I feel her passion raging through our blood. I can taste it on her skin, it’s spilling from her pores.
I grip her waist again and pull her up against me so that she’s straddling my hips and knees like before. I fist her hair and pull her head back while lifting my own arm to her lips. She shifts forward so she can get close enough to taste my own blood, feed off of me herself while we ravage every possible part of each other’s bodies.
“You’re perfection, Stella. I only pushed you away because I believed I was keeping you safe. But God, now that I have you? I’m never letting go.” I slap my hand hard against her ass as she moves against me and yelps a seductive sound that quickly turns into a moan. Her body fucking sings, harmonizing with my own in a melody of dark sins and euphoric possession.
I can’t get enough, and soon we’re both thrusting and reaching our releases as I claim her mouth once again and her pussy milks and pulses around my cock.
We both slow our pace and I lay her back so I can pull out. We catch our breaths, the remaining high still lingering in our blood and through our bond together. I pull her on top of me as my eyes meet hers in all seriousness. “You know what this means,” I remind her, making sure she knows what we’re going to have to do.
“Yes, I know,” she replies honestly and I wait to feel the spark of regret in our bond.
But it never comes, and instead a feel a wash of excitement that vibrates through our blood.
“It’ll be worth it in the end, baby girl. We’ll make it work,” I say as I let my hand graze down the soft skin of her back and over her ass.
“I’m not afraid,” she whispers as her brave blue eyes look up to meet my own. I feel her truth, and I love the fact that she’s owning every part of it. This massive pitfall I thought would break us, we’re taking it and shouldering it together. “Because I have you. Finally, and wholly, in every way I could ever need.”
I lift my head as I grip the nape of her neck and pull her lips against mine once again. I kiss her in a wild and reckless way, a moment of pure vulnerability and release. It’s messy, and chaotic as our lips collide and our tongues dance with devotion. “I love you,” I say once more, reminding her in both my words and our newly established bond. “With everything that I am and in everything that we’re becoming. You’re mine.”
I step back into the house as Nathanial follows behind me. The chaotic burst of voices wrap around us as we move through the kitchen and into the sitting room where everyone awaits us.
At first glance, I’m confused. Amelia seems to be tied up in the corner of the room, her hands are bound above her head, where Leon holds her tightly in place. Her cheeks are stained red and her face is completely flat, emotionless as she silently watches the people around her.
“Stella,” Luna’s voice interrupts the conversation when she launches towards me. She shoves me backwards in a hard embrace and I fall against Nathanial’s chest. His strong hands wrap around my waist and he holds me steady.
“Luna,” I reply, feeling that sudden burst of relief at her safety. I’m sure Elijah healed her after they all left us alone. “I’m so glad you
’re okay.”
“I would have killed you,” Elijah’s hard voice cracks around us as he directs it towards Nathanial. I glance up to look at his response, but he doesn’t even flinch at the confession.
“I know,” he replies dryly.
Elijah drops his gaze to mine and then meets his brother’s again. “But now you understand.”
He pauses before answering, his shoulders squaring and a tick settles in the base of his jaw. “I’ve always understood, brother.”
It’s quiet for a moment, but Elijah nods in acknowledgement and the conversation moves on to another topic.
“Why is Amelia tied up?” I ask, looking to Leon for answers.
“Because this little witch tried to kill you. And we don’t know what the fuck is happening with this bullshit,” he bites out as he grabs her hair and roughly yanks it back, showcasing her eyes. She doesn’t yelp, she doesn’t cry out. She simply accepts his punishment and refuses to respond.
“No, she didn’t,” I say and take a step forward, coming to stand directly in front of Leon and Amelia. “She’s the one who told me to initiate the bond.” I let my gaze fall harshly on Leon’s, I don’t want Amelia punished for what happened. I’ve come to realize there’s a lot more going on underneath the surface than what we let everyone else see.
“Don’t try to save me, Stella. How many times do I have to fucking tell you? I’m not the hero. Never the hero.” Her voice cuts into me like a blade, shredding me apart with her self-damning tone. She believes every single word she says, she isn’t worth saving.
“I don’t care how she possibly helped, she fucking stabbed you and then took off after Nathanial. She can’t be trusted, and we’re keeping her restrained until we know what’s happening,” Leon orders the demand with little room for negotiation.
I look to Amelia, meeting her watery red gaze as I try to make sense of her. She’s broken, shattered into a million pieces that she’s attempted placing back together. Only she’s pointed each glass shard outwards, so that it stabs and injures everyone who comes near her.
“You don’t know what’s happening?” I ask, tilting my head to the side as I wait for her response.
She pauses for a moment, her eyes dancing between my own when she sucks her bottom lip into her mouth. It’s the smallest act of vulnerability that I’ve ever seen her show, other than when she collapsed outside when we were alone. This is different, she’s around everyone else who can see the glimpse of humanity as well. But Leon snaps her head back and grinds his teeth against her ear. “Don’t fucking play us, Millie. I can see right through your bullshit.”
Amelia turns her head and spits in his face. He steps back for a second, his shoulders stiffening, and his hand comes up to swipe away the bloodied saliva before he rears back to launch at her.
“Well, well, well. How are my newly acquired king and queen of Hell?” Lucifer’s voice interrupts the impending commotion as he flashes into the room. I whip my head around and feel Nathanial tense behind me, his entire body stands rigid as our big news is revealed. I knew we would have to talk about this, tell everyone what was going to happen to us. But I thought we’d have a little more time. I should have known Lucifer wouldn’t allow such leisure.
My eyes jump to each person in the room as they tense and take a step away from Lucifer. We all come closer together, with Nathanial and Elijah immediately stepping by mine and Luna’s sides possessively.
Lucifer stands ahead of us, with Esme to his left. He’s donning a pair of ripped and distressed, tight black denim jeans, with a solid red dress shirt. It’s unbuttoned at the top several spaces, revealing his entirely tattooed chest and the sleeves are cuffed closely at his forearms. Esme’s eyes fall to me. A small, hidden smile pulls at her lips for just a brief moment before it’s gone again. She’s wearing another one of her long, bohemian like skirts, but this one is the same red that matches Lucifer’s shirt.
“Amelia, I’ve been waiting anxiously to talk to you. I anticipated having to tie you up for answers on mommy dearest myself, but it looks like you’ve already fucked yourself over with this lot and they’ve done it for me.”
“Fuck off, Luc,” she snaps as she pulls against the binds on her wrists.
None of us say a word in greeting, but Leon takes a firm step towards them.
“Luc, it’s been too fuckin’ long,” he says dryly as he lifts his thick arms and crosses them over his chest. He nods to Esme next, “Witch, long time no see as well. Why are you hiding your pretty little ass under that skirt?”
Lucifer slides a possessive arm around Esme’s waist as he drags her against him, pressing his chest to her back while he wraps his arms around her. “You’re still the same I see, the disgusting little thief after everyone’s property.” Esme’s back stiffens at their interaction, or Lucifer’s hold, I’m not sure. But Leon’s eyes narrow in their direction.
“Last I checked, she was a human being who didn’t belong to anyone,” Leon snaps out. Lucifer’s face falls flat as a growl rips from his throat.
“She’s my fucking property,” he states firmly, and just to prove his words, he grips Esme’s head by her hair and pulls her back for a kiss.
Elijah visibly relaxes while Leon holds Lucifer’s attention. He steps away from us and casually strides past Amelia in order to pour himself a drink. On the surface, he looks indifferent, as if he couldn’t care less about what’s happening, but I notice the way his eyes trace across Esme’s face, drift over to Leon and Amelia and then track back over Luna. He’s a silent watcher, on alert and ready to attack if necessary.
Nathanial is tense for completely different reasons. I can feel the rising agitation slipping through our bond as he steadies his shoulders and prepares himself for the fight that’s about to take place between him and Elijah.
“I’m here for only two reasons, actually.” Lucifer’s eyes snap to Nathanial and me as a spark of apprehension lights in my chest. I’m nervous for how Luna will react to this information as well. Nathanial slips his fingers across my back and around my waist to rest on my hip as he pulls me against him. I can feel his confidence, the way he reassures me through touch and through our blood as he stands firm behind me. “Let’s take care of you two first.”
Lucifer releases his hold on Esme as he stands straight and a wide, cocky smile breaks out across his face. “Stella and Nathanial, you two have 4 days to report to Avernus, where your new home awaits and your leadership is needed. Don’t fuck it up like Leon did,” he nods his head towards Leon as everyone’s eyes quickly shift to us. Confusion muddles my mind for a brief moment at the mention of Leon somehow ruining something in Avernus, but the thick energy that has now swallowed the room keeps me trained on our own secret.
Silence.
Complete and total silence as the tension in the room grows heavily. It’s almost suffocating, the weight of everyone’s stares sinking into our flesh. But Nathanial is hardly phased, he’s ready to deal with this head on while I’m struggling to keep up to pace.
“What the fuck did he just say?” Elijah says slowly, stepping around Luna to come stand in front of us.
“What? No round of applause? No congratulations? I’m confused as to why no one is throwing a goddamn party right now. Nathanial and Stella have basically won the lottery on life,” Lucifer sneers, a lace of narcissistic humor lining his tone.
“Shut the fuck up,” Nathanial grinds out through clenched teeth at my side as his eyes stay glued to Elijah.
“What is he talking about, brother? Why do you both have to lead Avernus?” he asks and my heart breaks when Luna comes to stand at his side. She slips her hand through his, and the two of them meet our gazes with their colder ones.
“Because I made a deal with Lucifer a very long time ago,” he starts, his voice low but firm in its own right.
“What deal?”
“I gave up my Fated bond, in exchange for becoming something that would be exiled from Arcadia,” Nathanial begins, releasing hi
s hold on me and stepping closer to Elijah. The two of them stand head to head. Two strong, tall bodies, both opposites and similar at the same time. A mix of destruction and pain, the two of them. But together they’ve lived through loyalty and trust. This piece of truth fractures that, and I’m not sure how Elijah is going to take it.
“Why would you need to do that? And what the Hell did you do to yourself?” Elijah asks again, he’s growing more frustrated by the second, as is Nathanial in having to divulge his past.
“Because he was never going to Fall with you and I,” Amelia’s soft voice breaks through the room as the realization hits her. She’s perceptive, truly. “They were going to keep you, weren’t they? Because of your ability to heal.”
Elijah’s eyes fly to Amelia as she speaks and then snap back to Nathanial as his eyes widen in disbelief.
“Yes,” Nathanial says. “So, I traded my Fated in order to become an Incubus. Esme accessed the dark magic and performed the spell at the time. I didn’t ever expect to meet Stella. At that point, we hadn’t seen a true Fated bond other than the supposed one between Estera and Archophys. Even then, we didn’t actually know the truth behind that information. I didn’t think I was giving up something tangible.”
Elijah takes a quick step back and scrubs a hand down the front of his face. His shoulders are practically vibrating and Luna takes a step behind him in as she runs her hands up his back. “So, what the fuck does that mean? Is that why you haven’t accepted Stella all this fucking time?”
“It means that because Stella and I bonded, we have to lead Avernus and take our places in the Underworld. Yes, that’s exactly why I pushed her away for so long. I never wanted to put us in a position to have to live in Hell.” Nathanial speaks with regret and it tears me apart. I understand why he wouldn’t want this for us, I can literally feel how badly he wishes things were different. But strangely enough, I’m not terrified of what we’re about to embark on, and I intentionally look to him in hopes he feels that within me as well.