Rise of Silver & Steam (Alliance of Silver and Steam Book 0)

by Lexi Ostrow

  “Thomas,” the word was breathy.

  He fumbled to undo the gown and slipped it over her shoulders, kissing the top of each before sliding it down her body. Her hand reached behind her and rubbed up the length of his shaft, causing his hips to buck, demanding she touch him more. He made quick work of the corset, shoving it off, and not caring as it fell forwards onto the carpeted floor at their feet.

  He turned them as he slipped her bottoms down, and gently pushed her into the wooden front door. He nipped her earlobe and whispered into her ear, “I’ve never dreamed of taking someone like this, standing and consumed by passion.”

  She didn’t respond, only ground her arse against him, so seductively he saw stars, as his own need grew stronger than he would have thought possible. Slipping his hand between her supple body and the door, he trailed his fingers over her stomach to the junction of her thighs. His finger ran across her folds, feeling the evidence of her arousal. Audrey was slick, ready for him.

  His lips returned to her throat as he suckeled on her skin while his two forefingers dipped inside her willing core. His other hand worked at the obnoxious belt at his waist, tugging his breeches and knickers free at once when the belt was open. His toe got stuck in the leg hole of one of the garments, and he growled as he kicked it off. Springing free, his prick pressed into her back. He moved, creating a delicious friction up and down his shaft, as he pushed his digits in and out, in and out. She gasped, and her hips began to buck against his fingers, sinking them deeper into her folds.

  A grin spread over his lips as her channel began to pulse around his fingers. He wanted her to come with him and slipped his fingers free. He was breathing heavily, as if he’d run a marathon, trying not to come undone as his prick had rubbed along her lower back.

  “I want to see you,” he breathed heavily.

  Audrey turned, and he groaned at the lust that shone in her eyes, lust all for him. He grabbed her and placed a hungry kiss on her lips, even as he felt her step backwards, putting her back against the wall. She felt light as a feather as he lifted her off the ground, and her legs came up and wrapped around his waist. His hands pressed firmly into the door on either side of her head as he used the press of his hips to keep her upright. Audrey’s slick core pressed against the tip of his shaft, and the muscles in his body tensed. Without breaking their kiss, he reached to take hold of his erection and guided it into her body, slamming in to the hilt and crying out at the first wave of ecstasy that washed over him.

  Sounds vanished, as all he could hear was the steady pounding of his heart. Thrust after thrust, he felt his release bubbling up, nearing completion, but not quite hitting. Her hands raked over his back, and her body began to rock faster, harder, against his own. Vision blurred from passion, he closed his eyes and drove into her body, thinking about nothing other than ensuring she came screaming his name. His balls slapped against her arse as their bodies moved quicker, harder, against one another. Panting breaths and sharp moans filled the room, and he felt the first tendril of her release begin as her core throbbed around his prick. Slamming his hips faster and faster, he growled low as his release jerked through him at the same time he heard Audrey shout his name.

  His whole body shuddered as his release pulsed and flowed around him. He couldn’t move his hips. He was lost in the sensation as pleasure rippled through his body. Audrey continued to ride him, and the motion of her hips drew his release out far longer than any he had ever had. When she finally stopped moving, his body was tingling from sensation, but his mind was slowly clearing the sex-induced fog lifting.

  Pulling her away from the wall, he moved with her, still buried deep inside. Every step thrust him into her body, and she gave a strangled moan. He was not done with his wife, not in the slightest. Before the day was done, he planned to take her in more than just a hallway.

  Ten

  Audrey had never experienced such a feeling of contentment. Every millimeter of her body had been kissed, caressed and loved in a day unlike anything she’d ever imagined. Stretching, she felt the delicious pull on her muscles and knew that she would be the pleasant kind of sore—the kind only a husband could give to his wife.

  She rolled over to stare at him while he slept, and a smile crossed her face as she tucked her hands under her head. There was so much for her to be grateful for with Thomas. She knew that now and knew it was time to speak to him about what she had done. For a fortnight, her indiscretion with a man she had almost believed to be an Angel had plagued her, keeping her distant from her husband. There were strict laws against infidelity, she had known that the moment she’d felt desire for the strange man blossom that night. Yet, she could not ignore the pulsing desire he’d created deep within her.

  Seeing him outside her home had stirred all of those emotions once more. So much so when Thomas had forcefully removed her, she’d realized what lengths her husband would go to protect her. Lovemaking hadn’t been intended to be a distraction, though it had become one. The moment his lips had met hers, she’d been lost to anything but the passion he could stir within her.

  “But it’s morning now,” she whispered to the silent room

  “Mmm?” Thomas murmured as he struggled to sit up, his eyes crusted closed with sleep as he ran his hands over them.

  Even in his most vulnerable moment, she could not deny the attraction she felt to him. Marriage had been wondrous thus far, and while this might destroy it and find her on the end of a noose, she could not lie to him any longer. She did not wish to lie to him any longer.

  “Do you think it might be too early for a conversation? I am ready to discuss what happened that evening,” she breathed deeply, “the night I was attacked.”

  Thomas shot up so quickly in the bed that his arm connected with her nose, and she cried out. Her eyes water from the force and suddenness of the blow. Reaching up to ascertain if he had done any damage, her fingers collided with his.

  “Bloody hell, Audrey, I’m sorry.” Thomas was touching her nose gently, just as she was, as he spoke.

  Sniffling from the intense onset of the pain, she rubbed at her nose. “It is alright. I know you have been wanting answers for some time, and I cannot tell you how difficult it was for me to find peace enough to tell you them.”

  “Audrey, you were a victim that night. If I am not mistaken, you were attacked by monsters, demons from Hell.”

  She sucked in a breath. “How could you know?” She hadn’t realized she’d said the words aloud until he began to speak.

  “I was, let’s call it approached, by King George. He spun a tale so wild my head spun, about demons running amuck in the world. Then Layel, the Angel that I believe saved you, appeared. It was impossible to believe. Yet, when he flew, I knew I could not disbelieve any longer. I’ve not had the drink in weeks, or fever to compel my mind to believe the impossible.”

  Her breathing was coming out in rapid, quick bursts. Her husband knew, and he knew about Layel.

  “Are you alright?”

  She looked at him through watery vision and realized, at some point, she had begun to cry. Wiping at the tears, she forced herself to slow her breathing. It did not matter that somehow, by some miracle, Thomas had been introduced to the nightmare she had faced. She was not finished.

  “I am having a little trouble processing. I know what I saw. Men that couldn’t be men, with yellow skin and spiny teeth. I am not shocked to hear they are demons, I was aware of what Layel was. Though, to an extent, I had thought my mind made him out to be an Angel purely because he saved me.”

  She closed her eyes and willed the images of the creatures away, but as she spoke, it was as if she was in the carriage all over again. “There were two of them, the yellow demons. Their limbs and torsos appeared human, but their faces and hands gave them away. Three clawed fingers, pointy teeth and soulless black eyes.” She whimpered unintentionally as she remembered one sitting atop the carriage and slashing at her.

  Thomas pulled her into him. “Shh,
shh. It’ll be all right, Audrey. It’s gone. You do not need to ever think on it again. I will protect you. I will never leave you without protection.”

  She settled perfectly against his chest and sighed. She had been coherent as she’d slept with Layel. She’d even found it to be one of the most amazing experiences of her life, but as she sat there, letting her husband stroke her hair, she realized the most important thing. She loved her husband.

  Tears sprang to her eyes, and she did not dare to stop them. Her body shuddered and convulsed, and the pain of realizing how badly she had behaved bore down on her. Her head throbbed from the tears, and she felt as if she’d run a long distance, despite never having moved. She couldn't remember crying that hard when her mother had died, but then, her mother had never been the kindest woman to her. She tried to stop the tears as best as she could, but they continued to fall silently down her face. Whether Thomas understood, he soon would.

  “Shh, it will be okay, Audrey. It is over, and you will never have to worry about such a thing again.” Thomas kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair.

  Moments ticked by, and she suddenly found the tears stopping and her breathing calming. If she were to damn her marriage and her life, she would tell him her true feelings first. Pulling out of his hold, Audrey turned her body so her legs hung over the side of the bed and she faced Thomas.

  “Thomas, I need you to know, I love you.” The words sounded foreign, and the magical music she’d thought would play when she finally found love with her husband did not play. It was just words said in the early morning’s light.

  His smile was broad and genuine, and for just a moment, she relaxed at the sight of it.

  “I love you, Audrey. I have known for a few weeks, but with what you went through, the timing seemed off.”

  Her lip trembled as tears threatened to fall once more. She fisted her hands and dug her nails into her palm to stop herself. “Thomas, there is more from that night.”

  “There is no need to discuss it further. You are not re—”

  “Layel, when he saved me, I needed to thank him. You’ve seen him, Thomas. He’s regal and sensual in all that he does. When his wings were exposed to me, I don’t know what I was thinking beyond the Lord had sent an Angel to save me. I . . . I . . .” she closed her eyes. “I slept with him, Thomas. My body screamed for his, and I felt no shame in it. I slept with him out of a compulsion that I cannot explain. I am sorry for my actions, so terribly sorry.”

  Not a word was spoken. Audrey opened her eyes to see Thomas’ face, and her heart felt as if it was shattering. His eyes were enraged, opened so widely, she could see the little red lines that ran through the white of them. His lips were twisted into a scowl, and his forehead set with wrinkles.

  “Thomas, please say something.” She watched as he sucked in a breath so deep, his throat appeared to collapse.

  “I know of his compulsion. I know you likely thought you wanted it at the time. When I looked upon him outside, I felt an urge to touch him as well.” he said the words through teeth so tightly clenched, it was difficult to understand him. “But I cannot overlook it. Know that I love you, know that your life is not in danger. But I cannot remain in this house. I will take to the Guild’s residence for a short time. Until I can make peace with what has occurred.”

  Horrified, she watched as he rose from the bed and, still in his night garments, opened the door and walked from their chambers. The door was left open, and she sat stupefied as he turned the corner and descended the stairs. What have I done?

  She was up in the blink of an eye, racing towards the armoire as quickly as she could. There was not time for the proper dressing, but she could not run about in her nightgown as effortlessly as her husband could his sleeping attire. Tearing at the sleeves, she managed to tug the chocolate-colored gown over her head. It dropped to the floor without a care as she looked betwixt the clothes. Grabbing his tunic, she slipped it on. As she had hoped, it fell to her knees.

  The sound of hooves outside her window made her blood turn cold. She must hurry if she was to stop him in time. Ignoring the need for breeches, she took off at a dead run, nearly slipping on the steps as she raced down them. Throwing open the front door she was met with nothing but the busy London morning street. And Layel.

  She wasn’t certain where the Angel had come from, but she slammed her eyes shut rather than look upon him.

  “You!” she hissed. “You have ruined my life.”

  There was compassion in Layel’s tone as he spoke, “You consented, Audrey. You welcomed me into your body, screamed out your release and what is done is done.”

  His words were like a slap, but he was right. She could still feel desire beginning to coil its way around her being in his presence.

  “Is it because of what you are?” she whispered.

  “That is among the reasons, but I desired you as well. There is a link betwixt us. One that compels me to you as it has you to me.”

  She didn’t like the words, but she couldn’t deny them. Her eyes were shut tight, and she knew in her heart she loved Thomas, but the urge to touch Layel, to touch a bloody Angel, was there. Her hand was moving towards his face before she could stop herself. Her eyes flew open, and the touch turned violent.

  Her nails scratched across his cheek as she struck him. Blood seeped out, and a hunger rolled through her. Suddenly, she could focus on nothing but the two crimson streaks marring his stunning face. He is stunning, she thought to herself as she took a step forwards. So stunning, Standing practically atop him, she slid her tongue over the red drips of ichor, and it was pure, unbridled ecstasy. A shiver of delight raced through her body, and she moaned. She slid her tongue over his cheek again, reveling in the taste of his blood.

  For a small moment, she felt Layel’s hands wrap in her hair before she heard a snarl, and he shoved her away.

  “No, this cannot be.” His voice was laced with horror as if someone was staring at their own corpse. “You should never have been exposed.” He took two steps backwards, stumbled really, before vanishing altogether.

  Audrey stared at the spot where the Angel had been and delicately licked the dark red blood from her lips. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she sighed contentedly.

  Then she realized what she had done.

  She gagged, trying to expel the ichor she had essentially drank from her body. Nothing happened, and she shuddered, feeling much better after just a taste of the stuff. She’d been woozy and incoherent since her attack. What does this mean if the blood of the gods makes me better?

  Closing her eyes, this time in regret, she stood outside in her husband’s tunic as people bustled by her. She could hear the sounds of the London morning, but she couldn’t bring herself to care about anything happening around her. She had been unfaithful to her husband, and he had left. What was worse, she had drunk blood and enjoyed it. What manner of a demon did that make her?

  Seraphina dragged a long, sharpened nail down the spine of the only Asag Demon to have ever reached their prime. She’d named him Ian. His body twitched under her nail, and she smirked. She’d practically raised the creature, and now he was going to do her bidding. He was perhaps the most loyal demon in Hell.

  “I want you to begin to reign terror on the humans in France. Take as many demons as you need with you, but do not get caught. We are too small in number to seek our revenge, but that does not mean we cannot play with them.

  He nodded eagerly before jumping off the bed where she’d been healing his latest wounds. With a last look at her, he bolted from the room, and she smiled. Nothing had been working in her favor as of late. London seemed to have a protector in Layel. If he would not or could not fall, well, she had to turn her attacks elsewhere if they were to succeed.

  Flashing herself to the dungeons, she appeared just inside the cell of a treacherous Imp. His blue skin was nearly completely peeled off around his hands, exposing bone and black-bloody stumps of muscle around it. Scratches shone an angry
black from where her nails had clawed his body. Demon manacles wrapped around its feet, locking them together. Its head lolled at an unflattering angle, his neck wasn’t broken, but there wasn’t much will to survive left in the demon.

  She had seen to that.

  For three days, she had spent more hours in the cell than away from it. The Imp hadn’t expected to be caught, but her spies were everywhere, and he could only deliver messages to the Pure Angels for so long before it was his downfall.

  She took a step closer and viciously kicked her toes into the bottoms of the demon’s three-toed foot. The small creature did not so much as stir. “I can see the rise and fall of your chest. You live,” she growled out.

  The demon did not move, did not so much as open an eye. Anger flared to life, and without thinking, she bent down and snapped the Imp’s neck. It shrieked as she did and then dropped to the floor. She narrowed her eyes at the lifeless body.

  “I remember there were days when demons would take torture, kicking and screaming as they spit their blood in your face.” She sighed wistfully.

  “I believe you have likely destroyed that, My Lady,” Lucius said by way of greeting.

  She turned and found the Nightmare Demon just outside the cell and grinned. He had brought her more souls then. Sauntering over to him, she closed the cell door once she was out. “I take it your return means your assignment was successful?”

  She saw a flash of something, regret perhaps, in his eyes before he spoke. “I have three souls to turn over to you. Three pointless deaths.”

  Lifting a brow, she looked him in his black eyes, “What was that, demon?”