by Sarah Bailey
“You should get some sleep.”
He kissed her forehead before moving off her and taking the call.
She couldn’t move for a long moment. Her whole body was aflame after his kiss. She sat up, watching him as he paced the room. He gave her a half smile when he noticed her gaze. He indicated the bed with his head. She slipped off the sofa and took her pyjamas into the bathroom.
When she came out, he was still deep in conversation. Suppressing a sigh, she crawled into bed, huddling under the covers. She had no idea how she would sleep after that kiss. She drifted off after a few minutes listening to the hushed tones of Lukas’ voice.
§
She became aware of something against her back. Ella shifted and found an arm around her, hand splayed out over her stomach. Lukas glued to her.
“Ella.” His voice was soft and seductive.
“What are you doing?”
“Sweet Ella.”
His hand moved lower, brushing against her most intimate parts. He ran his fingers up her inner thigh. She gasped, unable to comprehend what was happening.
“I know you want me.”
“What?”
“I see the way you look at me. I’ve tasted your desire on your tongue.”
“Lukas, this isn’t funny.”
“No, it’s most definitely not.”
His hand dipped into her pyjama bottoms.
“Let me make you feel good.”
She had no words as his fingers brushed against her sensitive skin, lower until he touched her core. She arched back into him and he chuckled in her ear.
“That’s right, sweet Ella. Give in to me.”
She groaned as his fingers circled her. It was gentle at first, but then he was pressing harder. She gripped the sheets in an iron hold.
“Come for me, Ella.”
She whimpered as he pressed into her back, hard and wanting.
“Come for me.”
She cried out as his tongue flicked over her ear, sending her off the cliff. Her climax rocking right through her. His breath was still hot on her ear when she came down from her high.
“Do you want me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to fuck you?”
“Lukas, please.”
He chuckled against her ear. She squirmed. His hands were on her clothes, pulling down her pyjamas just enough to allow him access to her.
She felt him, hot and hard between her legs as he pressed into her.
Chapter Six
Ella awoke with a jolt. What the hell was that? Her breathing was erratic and her thighs were damp. She put her hand against her mouth. I was dreaming. She tried not to groan with embarrassment. She turned her head. Lukas was lying on the other side of the big bed, his back to her. She eyed the window, but it was only the street lights peeping through the curtains. Still the middle of the night.
She turned on her side, trying to get comfortable again. But it was impossible. Her state of arousal was bothering her far too much. She shifted again and again.
“Ella, stop moving and go back to sleep.”
She flinched.
“I’m sorry I woke you up.”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t sleep much anyway.”
“Is that a demon thing?”
“Yes. What’s bothering you?”
“Nothing.”
He moved towards her.
“Nothing, eh?”
His face was next to hers. In the dim light, she could see his eyes gleaming.
“I’m fine.”
“The bed not comfy enough for you?”
“It’s perfectly fine.”
“What is it?”
“I… I swear it’s nothing.”
He took a deep breath as if he was tasting the air.
“You’re aroused.”
She stiffened.
“What? No, I’m not!”
She tried to move away from him, but he reached out and clamped his hand down on her arm.
“Yes, you are. I can smell it on you.”
That was very unnerving. He let go of her arm, only to pull her closer to him. She didn’t even try to fight him. She was too shocked by his admission that he could sense her state of need.
Before she could stop him, his hand dipped under her clothes and in between her thighs.
“You’re so wet.”
She tried to move away from him, embarrassed by her traitorous body.
“Lukas! What are you doing?”
She was almost at a loss for words. Does he think he can touch me just because we’ve kissed?
“What were you dreaming about?”
She squirmed as he brushed his fingers over her heated sex. This was far too close to what she’d dreamt about, but she wasn’t about to admit that to him.
“Nothing.”
She gasped as his fingers dipped inside her. I should push him away, but I can’t. I want him to continue. I want him to touch me.
“Tell me.” He continued, his fingers brushing against her core. “Were you dreaming about me?”
She trembled.
“Yes.”
He growled in her ear as his fingers moved faster.
“What was I doing?”
“Touching me like now.”
She couldn’t stop the words tumbling out. There was something demanding in his voice, urging her to be honest with him.
“Did I make you come?”
“Yes.”
Her face was flaming with embarrassment, but he had coaxed it out of her with his words and his fingers. She whimpered as the tension in her body building.
“Does the real thing feel as good?”
“No, it’s so much more. Please, don’t stop.”
“Oh, Ella, I have no intention of stopping now.”
His breath was hot against her ear as he continued to drive her upwards. It wasn’t long before she came, her hand clutched his t-shirt as her orgasm ripped through her. He buried his face in her neck, kissing her heated skin.
“I want to taste you.”
She shivered at his words. He removed his hand and brought his fingers to his lips.
“So sweet.”
“Lukas…”
“Mmm?”
“I… what was that?”
“Didn’t you want to relieve your tension?”
“Yes, but…”
“Don’t worry. Go to sleep.”
He kissed her forehead and moved away.
She lay there in the darkness trying to work out what had just happened. How had she gone from dreaming about him touching her to the real thing? And why didn’t he do anything further?
She sighed, curling up on her side. The tension had left her body. She could think about this in the morning.
§
There was no good way to bring up what happened in the middle of the night. Ella remained quiet when they got up the next day, far too embarrassed by the entire incident.
By the time they arrived at the thermal baths, she was so anxious, she had to force herself to remember to breathe.
Did he regret what happened? Why wasn’t he saying anything?
When she stepped out of the changing room in her new bikini, he was leaning up against the wall, his arms crossed. His smile was electrifying.
“Twirl for me.”
She flushed, but she did as he asked. He held his hand out to her. She took it without hesitation.
She glanced at his bare chest and swallowed hard. He really looked like a Greek God. She wanted to run her hands through the patch of hair on his chest. But they were in a public place. She sure as hell wasn’t going to make the first move.
“I always try to come here when I’m in the city,” he said.
“Is this your favourite one then?”
He smiled and nodded.
He dragged her into the mineral pool first. It was warm. She found the tension in her body from the swirling anxiety fading.
After twenty minutes, the
y swapped to one of the cooler pools. They swam into the corner, sitting together on the seating ledge that ran around the outside of the pool.
“Enjoying it?” he asked.
He snagged an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
“Yes. It’s relaxing.”
“I know another way to relax.”
She raised an eyebrow. There was a devious smile on his face. She was immediately suspicious. He tugged her around until she was in his lap, facing him.
“Should I be worried about what you’re planning?”
His eyes twinkled with mischief as he pulled her closer and kissed her. The touch of his lips on hers shut down her swirling thoughts. What was she worried about again?
“You look so beautiful.” His voice was a hushed whisper in her ear.
“Now you’re just trying to flatter me.”
He chuckled and shook his head as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“You don’t believe I’m being serious?”
“You’re not so easy to read.”
“Will this make it clearer?”
His hand ran up her inner thigh. She stifled a gasp.
“Or this?”
His fingers crept beneath her bikini bottoms, brushing up against her core.
“Lukas,” she hissed. “What are you doing?”
“Relaxing you.”
“That isn’t… OH!”
He was touching her in earnest now. She buried her face in his neck to stop herself from arching her back.
“Stop it. We’re in public.”
“No one is looking at us.”
She glanced around the pool, but it was quiet, only one or two people on the other side.
“That’s not the point.”
She bit her lip. His eyes were dark. She tried not to whimper. She turned her face into his neck again.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Let go.”
“I’m going to make you pay for this.”
“I’m sure.”
She groaned softly as the pressure inside her built. The wave of pleasure crashed over her when his touching became more insistent.
She dug her nails into his shoulder as she came, silently crying out. When she stopped trembling, he kissed her, fingers tangling in her hair.
“You’re terrible,” she whispered.
“It’s in my nature to be bad.”
She rolled her eyes and floated away a little before she splashed him. He was grinning from ear to ear. The two of them started a war that earned some disapproving stares and tuts.
They spent the rest of the day in the pools, play fighting and relaxing in the warm water. It was dark when they left and had dinner in a place away from the usual touristy areas.
“Thank you for today.”
His hand tightened in hers. They strolled through the city rather than taking the metro back to their hotel. She’d fallen in love with the sights and sounds of Budapest. It wasn’t like London, with its crowds and pollution.
They turned into another street. She hadn’t noticed just how dark it was until she felt the familiar prickles on the back of her neck. Before she had time to alert him, someone grabbed her from behind, tearing her out of Lukas’ grasp.
“Lukas!”
A hand clamped over her mouth as she watched at least four men swarming the demon. The man holding her was dragging her back the way they had just come. She struggled in his grasp, but he was too strong. Before they rounded the corner, she caught a glimpse of Lukas fighting off the werewolves in their human form.
Why were they being attacked? A stab of terror ran through her, but now was not the time to let fear hold her back. She bit down on the hand over her mouth. The man grunted and moved his hand.
“You little bitch.”
“Let go of me!”
She struggled in his grasp again as he pulled her down the street. She glanced around, but there was no one about.
“Stay still.”
“No. Get off me!”
“Val is not paying enough for this shit.”
She stopped struggling and froze. Valehal. Had he paid these shifters to kidnap her? Raquel wasn’t going to take no for an answer. The realisation struck her like a bolt.
“What does Valehal want with me?”
“None of your concern.”
She was not going to let this man take her to Valehal. He was still dragging her down the street. She abruptly stopped walking, causing the man to curse.
“Come along.”
“No.”
She stomped on his foot and elbowed him in the gut. He grunted but held fast. Twisting in his grasp, she smiled at him before she kneed him in the groin. He groaned with pain, his grip loosening for a moment. She took the opportunity to tear out of his arms and took off running.
“Get back here!”
She ran into the well-lit street, desperately looking around for somewhere to escape to. There were a few people walking, but she didn’t feel confident enough to go up to them. She kept running, glancing back to see the man chasing after her.
“You can’t hide!”
Ignoring the man and the burning sensation in her lungs, Ella didn’t stop. Dashing into the next street, she found it a little more crowded. She pushed through the people, who frowned at her in disgust. She didn’t care. She had to get away.
When she next looked back, she could see the man looking through the crowd for her. She flipped up her coat hood and ducked behind two tourists, hurrying across to the other side of the street and turning into another street. She took off, charging down it until she reached the end and ducked into the doorway of a closed shop, putting her hands on her knees as she panted.
When she’d caught her breath a little, she peered out. The street was empty. She put her hand to her mouth. Where am I? She wanted to go back and find Lukas, but she knew it wasn’t a good idea. He could handle things himself and didn’t need the added stress of her joining the fray.
Pulling out her phone, she plotted a way back to the hotel. Hurrying, she kept her eyes peeled for any sign of trouble.
She’d just turned into the street the hotel was on when someone grabbed her. She brought her arm up, ready to strike. When she saw who it was, she promptly burst into tears and buried herself in his chest.
“Shh.”
Lukas wrapped an arm around her, stroking her hair with his free hand.
“I was so scared,” she sobbed.
She pulled away, looking up into his dark eyes.
“Did he hurt you?”
“No, I hurt him.”
He raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“What? You didn’t think I could defend myself?”
“I never doubted you for a second. Come, let’s get out of the cold.”
She let him lead her back to the hotel. When they were safely inside the room, she looked at him more closely. There was a bruise forming on his jaw.
“You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing.”
She brushed his jaw gently. He winced.
“That’s not nothing.”
“I’ll be fine.”
He turned away, tugging off his coat before stripping out of most of his clothes. There were more bruises forming on his chest. She sucked in a breath. He watched her warily as she approached him. She kissed the bruise on his jaw before touching her lips to the one colouring his chest.
“Ella…”
He took a deep breath before putting his hands on her shoulders to stop her.
“I’m fine.”
She stared at him with confusion, but he simply shook his head.
“Let me help you out of those.”
He unbuttoned her coat, slipping it off her shoulders before placing it on a chair. She let him tug off her jumper and t-shirt before he made her sit down on the bed so he could take her shoes off. Her jeans came next before he helped her into her pyjamas. She noticed he deliberately didn’t look at her chest when she’d taken off her bra and put on a sl
eep shirt.
Before she had time to wonder why that was, he tucked them both up under the covers. His arms wrapped tightly around her.
“Ella, you’re trembling.”
The adrenaline had worn off. The attempted kidnapping hit her like a sack of bricks.
“It was Valehal.”
“What?”
“He paid them to kidnap me.”
He stiffened for a moment before his arms tightened around her.
“They’re not going to give up, are they?”
“No.”
She could hear the anger in his voice. She wanted to soothe him, but she was shaking so hard.
“It’s okay. Sweetheart, you’re safe now. I won’t let them take you.”
He ran his hand down her back. Despite his anger, he was making sure she was okay. Her heart lurched. She stared up into his dark eyes. They were unreadable.
He shifted, his hand coming up to cup her cheek. He tilted her face up before he kissed her. It was gentle, tentative. He was hurt, but he seemed more concerned about taking care of her. Was is that? Does he feel something for me?
His hand brushed down her side and under her t-shirt, sending those thoughts from her head. His fingers drew lazy circles across her stomach. She trembled again, but for an entirely different reason.
“Is this your idea of making me feel better?”
He was kissing her neck. His fingers tugged at her pyjama bottoms.
“Is it working?”
“Maybe.”
“I’ll just have to try harder in that case.”
His smile was devilish as he tugged off her pyjama bottoms and took her underwear with them. She flushed, utterly exposed to him. He was between her legs, brushing his fingers up her thighs. Why am I so embarrassed? He’s touched me before.
“Lukas,” she hissed as his fingers continued to tease her.
He moved lower and kissed her inner thighs. She gasped, trembling as she stared down at him nestled between her legs.
“You’re beautiful.”
His eyes gleamed with desire in the low light. Before she had a chance to respond, he buried his face in her, his tongue circling. She lost herself in a sea of pleasure as he drove her to the edge and back, over and over again. Her attempted kidnapping was soon the furthest thing from her mind.
Chapter Seven