InSpire (Spire Chronicles Book 1)

by April Wood

  “Am I too ugly to look at?” He got up and checked on the pizza. Her eyes snapped up quickly. She admired his rear until he turned around. Then she made sure to keep eye contact with him. She hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings. It just wasn’t normal for a guy that hot to be interested in her.

  “Certainly not.”

  “Good.” He winked and then pulled the pizza out of the oven. He threw it on the stove and expertly cut it. He moved around the kitchen like a pro. He put two pieces on each plate then sat down at the table.

  “Thank you.” She fluttered her eyes at him. That was the first glimmer of hope she had given him.

  “You’re welcome.” He toasted her with his wine. Glasses clinked then she dove right in to the pizza. She ate like she was starving. It should have disgusted him, but it didn’t. Darian had always loved a woman with an appetite. Athena was a healthy eater back home as well. They finished off the pizza and an entire bottle of wine over the next thirty minutes.

  “Now that we’re full, what’s next?” He was leaning back in his chair. His top button was undone and his hand was shoved under the waistband. It brought a huge smile to Athena’s face. He smiled back at her feeling relieved that he finally was able to reach her. It took a human reaction to food to do it, but he was thrilled none the less.

  “I don’t know.” The shy girl from the grocery store was back. He didn’t like this version of Athena. It would be attractive to a human, but not to a Prin. Prin’s appreciated strength.

  “We could watch a movie. Do you have DIRECTV?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Great.” He picked up the dishes. Athena wasn’t expecting him to start washing the dishes. She walked over to help him but he shewed her away.

  “I have this. You go pick out a movie.”

  “You sure? I don’t mind helping.”

  “I’m sure. I want you to just relax.” He put his hands in the water and started scrubbing. It took her a few seconds to realize he was serious. She finally got it and went to the living room.

  “Do you want to watch anything in particular?” She was skimming through the guide not really looking for anything. She was curled up underneath a blanket.

  “Some porn would be great.” His voice was so serious, it made her pause to really digest what he just said.

  “WHAT?” Once reality sunk in, she nearly dropped the remote from shock. She couldn’t believe how bold he was. He was standing over the sink snickering. He said it as mostly shock value, but her reaction was truly priceless.

  “Just kidding. I am not a picky movie watcher, so whatever you like.” It was nearly impossible for him to hide the laughter in his throat. Sure it was ballsy of him, but her reaction let him know she was thinking about it too. That was the encouragement he needed.

  “How about Under the Tuscan Sun?” She finally found the movie that would be perfect for a first date. She couldn’t get her head around that either. She didn’t know if this was a first date or if this was just some wild experiment in torture.

  “Sure.”

  “It’s my favorite movie.” She was excited that he was willing to watch it. He came around the corner and eyed her for a minute. She was curled up under a quilt and looked so comfortable. He had not ever seen her this way. It broke his heart. He had missed so many nights with her. He should have moved faster. He stood there too long just staring. She was starting to get nervous again. He straightened up and walked over to her.

  He plopped down beside her. It took him seconds to take his shoes off and pull some of the cover over himself. He patted his chest and cleared his throat. It took her a minute to figure out he wanted her to lay on his chest. It wasn’t something she seemed to be comfortable with, but Darian wasn’t giving way. She finally laid her head down on his chest. He smiled as the movie started. It was the first time in over a hundred years their bodies had touched.

  “Now this is cozy.”

  “It is.”

  “What’s the name of the lady?”

  “Diane Lane.”

  “Yeah. She’s always been one of my favorite actresses.” Darian really didn’t care about the woman on screen. He just wanted Athena to feel like he took an interest in her likes.

  “This movie is great.” She didn’t say much. His heart beat beneath her ear was completely distracting. She really hadn’t even looked at the screen. Darian smiled realizing she was more than comfortable.

  She took a few deep breaths while lying there. Each one seemed to relax her body more than the last. It was all he wanted right now. Sure having sex with her would complete their bond, but it wasn’t the most important thing right now. Gaining her trust was his goal. He was doing it one pain staking minute at a time.

  “We can always watch this in the bedroom.” He was hoping she wouldn’t read too much into that. He meant to keep his promise to her, for tonight anyway. He let it go for another few minutes. She looked up to see the character on television renovating her new house in Italy. His suggestion made her cheeks go red. She had been looking at him intently. Now she was focused on the movie. Darian could see her mind was reeling, but he didn’t know what had suddenly occupied her.

  “You know I don’t know your name.” She was right. He had never introduced himself to her.

  “It’s Darian. So how about we move to the bedroom? I promise I will be good. I won’t even try anything.” He was completely sincere. She thought about it for a minute.

  “Okay.” He stood then put his hand out for her. She grabbed it and shut the television off. They walked hand in hand back to my bedroom. For Darian it was the most natural thing in the world. He had loved her for hundreds of years. He was certain it wasn’t as natural for her, but she wasn’t trying to break the bond or run away. At the door he stopped.

  “Do you mind if I get into my boxers?”

  She shook her head no. He went into the bathroom and closed the door. She headed into her room and frantically picked up some of the filth. Then she threw the blankets back on the bed and turned the television on. She got into the bed and got comfortable. He came out of the bathroom wearing nothing but his boxers. She was completely covered by the blankets when Darian made it to the door. He stood there in his boxers and let her admire his sculpted body for a few minutes. If she hadn’t been clutching the blankets so hard he would have admired her in the same way.

  “You like?” He moved around like a model letting her get a good look at his entire body. He chuckled that sexy laugh and walked over to the bed. She tried very hard not to make eye contact, but his body was too perfect not to look at. She turned on her side when he climbed into the bed. He spooned right up beside her.

  “You know we can stay like this, but watching the movie might be difficult.” His voice was deep and sent a current of electricity up and down her spine.

  “You’re right.” She rolled over and relaxed her grip on the blankets. He folded them down to his waist.

  “That’s better. Now lay your head right here.” He pointed to his hard pecs. She brushed her hair off to the side and laid her head where she could hear the gentle bump, bump of his heart. It was a strangely comforting sound. It didn’t take long for her to fall fast asleep.

  “You have to go now, Athena.” Darian kissed her cheek.

  “I don’t want to leave you.”

  “If your father discovers us, he will certainly punish us both.” Darian was right. Father could be completely uncontrollable when it came to his only child. He stood up and pulled up his pants. His black wings were furled tightly. She loved the look of his naked body. She licked her lips remembering what they had just done.

  “He can’t split us up. I’m yours for all eternity.” She was certain.

  “I know you are. Still we must be safe. I can’t have you getting hurt.” Darian bent over and kissed her on the cheek. Their love was soft and tender. Nothing like the place they called home.

  “I love you, Darian.” She called out to him as he took off.

 
“I love you, Athena.” He had spun around in the air to face her. Then he was gone from my sight. She buttoned her white dress back up and noticed the blood. She didn’t know how she was going to hide this. She was a virgin twenty minutes ago. Father would surely notice. She ripped the skirt of her dress and flew home. Somehow she managed to make it to her room without being seen. She came out of her bathroom just in time to meet her father.

  “Where have you been?” He stood there in all his kingly regalia looking very disapproving.

  “Walking in the fields of Spire.” It was her favorite thing to do, though she hadn’t been doing only that just now.

  “You know I don’t like it when you lose your guard. It’s not safe for my daughter to be out alone.” He moved around her room with a grace few could manage. His giant black wings were just as disapproving as his body was. It irritated her how they could both be so disappointed in her at the same time.

  “I am a big girl. I can take care of myself.” She put her foot down like a child.

  “I know.” He kissed her cheek. Then he was gone from her room. She took a big sigh and collapsed on her bed. She touched herself where Darian had been. She felt like a woman for the first time.

  Athena woke up covered in sweat. This was the first time in weeks she had dreamt about that place. Ever since her accident the dreams had become more frequent. This one felt real. She sat up startled. Darian was lying next to her sound asleep. Her heart was beating a thousand miles an hour.

  The sound of a thousand hummingbird wings woke him from a sound sleep. He knew right away there was something bothering Athena. It wasn’t something he had done as he was still in his boxers. “Are you alright?”

  “Just a bad dream.” Her hand was on her chest making her slow down her breathing.

  “Lay here.” He pointed to his chest again. She laid down and he started stroking her hair. Something about being in his arms felt right. Even though they weren’t having sex, she felt a strong connection to him. She found her hand wandering over his hard body. She was tracing the curves of his pecs and the mounds of his abs.

  “Are you trying to make me break my promise?”

  “What do you mean?” She stopped her hand and looked up at him. His green eyes were piercing even at this early hour.

  “I promised I wouldn’t try anything with you, but if you keep touching me like that I won’t be able to keep that promise.” His animal magnetism was practically dripping off of every word.

  “To be honest I don’t think I want you to keep that promise.” Her mind was still remembering how much she loved having him touch her. She could still feel him between her legs. Her hand started to move further south on his body. When she reached his waistband, he stopped her hand before she could reach the goal. He sat up and looked her in the eye.

  “I think you need to eliminate some layers before we go any further.”

  “Like?” She sat up beside him. He turned toward her.

  “Let’s start with this t-shirt.” He tugged at the hem. He had it up over her head in seconds. Now she was kneeling there in pajama bottoms and a sports bra. Darian couldn’t help but admire her body. She was on her knees and looking like a sex goddess. He wanted to explore every single inch of her as slowly as possible

  “Good, now these.” He tugged on the waistband of her sweatpants. She stood up from the bed and pulled her bottoms down. She didn’t do it with any ceremony, but he loved the show anyway. He leaned over and turned on the lamp next to the bed. Standing there in a sports bra and lace underwear, the feeling of being a piece of meat came over her again.

  “Why is it when you look at me I feel like a lamb waiting for slaughter?”

  “Probably because I would love nothing more than to devour every inch of you.” He even sounded like a wolf. She believed him.

  She giggled and hid her face with my hands. He quickly moved off of the bed and stood in front of her. “Don’t hide from me.” He put his finger under her chin.

  “I just don’t see what you see.” She couldn’t look him in the eye.

  “In time you will. Now it’s your turn.” He dropped his shorts unceremoniously on the floor. She tried not to look, but the temptation was too much. She panned down to his manhood. His girth was remarkable. He was by far the largest man she had ever seen naked.

  “Pleased?” He sat down on the bed and put his hands around her waist pulling her closer.

  “Who wouldn’t be?”

  “I feel the same way about you. Now let’s take this off.” He slid his muscular hands up her torso under the elastic of her sports bra. She bent over so he could pull it over her head. When she righted herself, he stared at her size D breasts for a few minutes. He licked his lips once. “And now these.” His fingers slid under the waistband of her undies. He gently guided them to the floor running his hands over every inch of her legs on the way down. If she wasn’t turned on before she was now.

  As he found his way back up her body, he stopped his face right in front of her womanly bits. “That is like heaven.”

  She had never had a man admire her in this way before. He could tell she wasn’t used to someone being this close to her. He took a few deep breaths enjoying her scent every time he did. Darian wasn’t about to let that happen. She finally got the courage to look down. His hands were gripped tightly around her hips, but his eyes were locked on her red curls. He licked his lips a few more times. He couldn’t wait to dive in.

  “How is this like heaven?” She was pointing to her round hips.

  “Because it’s mine.” His voice came out as a growl. He pulled her closer to him. The soft caress of his lips right above her pubic bone had shivers running all over her body. Her heart felt like she was running a marathon. He put his foot between hers spreading her legs. Once he had better access his kisses went even further south. When she felt his tongue swipe across her wet opening, a moan escaped her. Darian was charged by her reaction to his tongue. He wanted more of her, but wouldn’t force her.

  “Want me to stop?”

  “No.” The way her answer moaned passed her lips he knew she was all his.

  “Good.” The grin on his face was enormous. His tongue was back to work seconds later. She reached out and grabbed a hold of his hair. She drove his face further into her giving him more access to the areas his tongue was desperately searching out. He reciprocated by using more pressure and speed with his tongue. Her eyes were starting to roll back in her head when he stopped.

  “Lay down.”

  He stood up and let her get on the bed. She laid on my back, but kept her legs together. He crawled on the bed on his hands and knees. He stopped at her feet.

  “Now we can’t have this.” He smiled like a wolf and then gently pried her legs apart. “Now bend them.” When she did he practically dove in between her legs. He put his hands on my hips and went right back to licking and sucking.

  “Oh my. Yes, just like that.” He put pressure on her very tender and sensitive center. She was getting close to releasing. He could feel the tension building in her body. It made him want to go even harder. He wanted her to climax on him.

  “Let me have it.” He took his lips off of her heated core for a moment. Then he went right back to work. She stopped trying to hold out. As she started to climax he plunged two fingers inside her. Her body tightened and contracted around them. Her back was arched off of the bed and she was panting.

  “That’s my girl.”

  He took his fingers out and sucked them clean. Then he started placing kisses on her belly. She watched him stalk up her body. His eyes were glowing with need. When his waist was between her thighs she felt his erection.

  “Are you ready?” He looked her in the eye and smiled. She wanted him buried deep inside her. Her patience was starting to wane.

  “Sure.” Her answer didn’t seem very convincing.

  “I won’t go any further if you don’t want me to.”

  “God no. I want you so bad.”

&nb
sp; “I’ll go slowly.”

  “No, I want it fast!”

  “Whatever you say.” He kissed her hard. He slammed his enormous girth all the way inside of her in one powerful thrust. She broke the kiss with a gasp. He looked her in the eyes to make sure she was okay. When she bit her lip, he started to thrust. He went slow at first, then picked up the pace. She felt an orgasm building again. Her body was going for a record. Normally she was lucky to have one self-induced orgasm. Now she was working her way to the second. He pumped hard into her and they came together. He looked her in the eyes. “I love you, Athena.”

  “I love you, Darian.” It was the most natural statement to ever cross either of their lips. It was meant to be said and it was right. He slid out of her then wrapped her up in his arms. The best thing to happen to her in a while was caused by a nightmare. If she hadn’t woken up in the middle of the night they wouldn’t have experienced the greatest sex of their life thus far. This man was her hero. He kissed her neck until they both fell asleep.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Good morning.” Darian’s breath was hot on her neck. He never felt so alive or so connected in his life. Athena was his forever and he finally had her. He had searched a lifetime to get her back.

  “Good morning.” She bent over and picked up her robe from the ground. She bolted from the room quicker than he had seen anyone run in a while. It made him smile. He got up and walked to the bathroom slowly. He wanted to give her enough time to get her morning routine completed. He pushed the door open to find her brushing her teeth. She looked over at him surprised to find him not wearing anything. He was so confident. It made her blush.

  “Got one for me?”

  “Sure.”

  She opened the medicine cabinet to reveal two extra toothbrushes. He picked one then brushed his teeth. Leaving him alone, she headed back to the bedroom. Darian watched her walk away. The natural sway of her body made him start to get hard again. He shook his head and focused on his teeth.