The Elfbitten Trilogy

by Leila Bryce Sin

  I watched with rapt attention as he lifted the glass to his lips and the amber liquid tipped into his mouth. He threw the entire drink back, swallowing it all at once. He made a face as he swallowed and looked at his glass as if he could see what was so offensive in its empty depths. My heart was slamming into my chest, threatening to burst out; I felt a bead of sweat form on the back of my neck. He lowered the glass and eyed me. I quickly dropped my eyes.

  “Taryn,” he said, in his tone I could hear the command and something on my shoulder twitched; he was trying to compel me with the power of his bite.

  “Yes?” I answered, raising my eyes to meet his, using the power of determination to push him out of my head.

  “What have you done?” he demanded, his voice little more than a growl of anger now. In a flash my drink was knocked from my hand and I was pressed into the couch with the Hunter hovering over me. His face was contorted with rage and his breath was hot on my face as he bore down on me. My throat threatened to close and my stomach was knotted up to my spine, but I held his gaze with my own defiant one.

  “What I had to do,” I rasped, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “I am no man’s slave.”

  “You are mine!” he roared, making me flinch from the volume of his voice. I felt his magic lash out at me but the familiar thrum of the bite on my shoulder was weaker now than it had been even a moment ago. I clenched my jaw and glared up at him.

  “I belong to no one!” I screamed in his face as I brought my hands up, alive with snapping, biting power and lashed out at his face. My nails raked his skin as my power struck him, blasting him back and away from me so that I could scramble to my feet.

  “Taryn,” he called my name and something in me made me hesitate, the bond was not yet broken. Would I have to kill him? I turned to look at him, just as I knew he wanted me to and when I saw his eyes, I knew that yes, I could kill him. If I needed to.

  He got to his feet and advanced towards me. I backed up quickly, my hands held in front of me to ward him off. I hit a wall and the Hunter pressed forward until he was looming over me, bracing one hand on the wall above my head. He smelled of cinnamon, leather and violence. Something low in my body clenched and I had the undeniable urge to touch his skin. His muscled chest was so close to my face I knew I could lick his skin and taste those spices. I closed my eyes and shook my head to clear it, push those thoughts away.

  “You want me,” he said, gripping the length of my hair with his free hand and pulling to tilt my head back to look at him. A small noise fell from my parted lips at the movement and he grinned at me in a way he didn’t deserve.

  “No, I don’t,” I said weakly. He dropped his other hand and gripped my leg, just under my ass and pulled to hook it on his hip. He pressed his hips into me, pushing my skirt up so that I could feel his hard, bulging cock beneath the fabric of his pants and ground it against me. Another noise betrayed me as I fought the desire to rub myself against him. I put my hands on his chest and pushed feebly.

  “Yes,” he said, smiling now so that I could see those damned sharpened teeth that had marked me all those nights ago. He bent his face closer to mine, his lips were so close to mine and I fought to meet them. The bite on my shoulder began to stir again.

  “No!” I screamed and unleashed my power. A bolt of energy shot through my body and struck him in the chest. He lost his grip on me and fell back on his ass, sliding a few feet. I nearly fell to my knees, suddenly unsupported.

  “You will,” the Hunter started to say but I waved an angry hand and struck him with another bolt of lightening, effectively cutting him off.

  “No I wont!” I screamed, all control lost now that I was the one advancing on him. “I will kill you before I bend to your will!” I flung my arms out, all the magic I had been gathering since that fateful night singed through me and struck him, knocking him on his back again. I heard him grunt in pain and before he could get his wits about him I struck him again and again until I felt weak with the loss of power. But he was still on the floor and the bite on my shoulder was quiet. I stood over him, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. I felt my hair drifting away from me on the wind of my magic. And as I looked at him I felt nothing but anger and loathing. Our bond was broken. I lifted my booted foot and brought it down on his unconscious face, feeling his nose burst under my heel.

  “I belong to no man,” I said even though he couldn’t hear me before I spun and walked out the door.

  I didn’t remember making it back out to my car or driving through town. I’m only grateful that it was so late at night that there were few others on the road otherwise I doubt it would have been such an uneventful drive. I couldn’t tell you if I pressed the buzzer to be let in, but I was just coming back to my senses as I climb the mountain of stairs leading up to Corbin’s floor of the old, creaking building. This time the life hidden behind the walls of the lower floors seemed quieter now, as if the beings I couldn’t see were fast asleep before the coming dawn.

  I raised a heavy hand to knock on Corbin’s door. I expected he would be asleep and I would have to wait for him to get to the door, but he had it open almost as soon as my hand dropped back to my side. A tired smile curled my lips at the look on his face when he saw me. I could only imagine what I looked like just then; clothing in disarray, hair mussed and disheveled, scorch marks on my fingers. Corbin on the other hand looked much the same way as when I had left him; baggy gray sweats hanging from his narrow hips, topless from the waist up with his golden curls haphazardly tumbling around his jaw.

  “Did you kill him?” Corbin asked once he collected himself.

  “Not for lack of trying,” I said with a sigh. Corbin’s mouth twitched at that, like he would laugh.

  “But the bite?”

  “Your potion worked,” I said with a nod. I reached out for the door frame then to brace myself. I didn’t have much left in me and I didn’t know how much longer I could remain standing. Corbin finally picked up on my signals and stepped back to let me pass. I saw a look of worry cross his face before he turned to close the door and hide it from me.

  “That’s good,” he said when he turned around, trying for the life of him to sound casual, but I could see the strain in face just around his eyes. We both knew the bite had been influencing me since it’s magic seeped into my blood and once I broke the bond with the Hunter there was a chance all my desires and impulses for the men I had met in the last few days would fade away. But my first thought when I walked out of the Hunter’s house was how Daniel was doing and that it would only be a few weeks before he’d be back in town. My next thought was the pile of pillows on Corbin’s bed and the curling tattoo on his chest.

  “So are you going to stand there all night or what?” I teased though my voice lacked the conviction.

  “Right,” he chuckled lightly, pushing away from the door and moving into the room. “You should probably eat something.” He took my hand and led me to the kitchen, guiding me into a chair. I hadn’t really thought about food, but as soon as he mentioned it, my stomach rumbled. I watched as Corbin moved around the kitchen, making me some hot chocolate and toast with strawberry jam. Carbs and sugar, if he wasn’t careful, I’d fall in love with this man. He slid the steaming cup in front of me with the small plate of toast. I took a careful sip of the hot chocolate, pleased to find out he made it real chocolate and milk, no instant powder here. The bread really helped steady my nerves as it settled my stomach. I was feeling more like myself when I licked the sticky jam from my finger tips, watching Corbin across the table.

  “Better?” he asked, cradling his own cup of chocolate. I nodded, licking my thumb slowly. Corbin watched my tongue curl around my fingers, a glint in his eye shone as they caught the light. My stomach was full but my magic was still depleted. Corbin looked like a human, but being a witch, he held power that called to mine. I stood up, pushing the chair back with my legs before I moved around the table until I stood over him. Corbin set his cup on the tab
le before turning his chair to face me. There was a mixture of emotion in his eyes as he raised his face to meet my gaze. I saw his trepidation mixed with hope; he really thought once the power of the bite was gone I’d forget about my offer, forget about him. But right now I needed him as much as he needed me.

  I gathered the edge of my shirt in my hands and pulled it up and over my head, dropping it on the floor, making my hair whip out before cascading down my back. I held his gaze as I reached behind my back and unhooked my bra, letting it slip down my arms and fall to the ground. I had to shimmy my hips to slide out of the skirt, but once it was off I was completely naked except for my boots, but I didn’t worry about those. I lowered myself to the floor, kneeling in front of him and placed my hands on his knees to push his legs apart. He watched me as I moved, wonder on his face. I slipped my fingers into the elastic band of his sweats and tugged. Corbin lifted his hips to help me and I was able to pull them all the way down and off, tossing them behind me with my discarded clothes.

  He wasn’t wearing anything under the sweats and his cock was already hard and anxiously waiting for me, swaying a little from his movement. I tugged on Corbin’s knees, making him slide forward in his chair until he was leaning his shoulders back and was sprawled comfortably in front of me. I placed my hands on his inner thighs, running my nails along the tender flesh. He had stopped me from doing this before, but it seemed now, he had no objections. I leaned forward, reaching with one hand to grip the base of his cock and I heard him sigh in pleasure. I licked my lips before taking the head of his cock into my mouth, my lips sliding over the swollen tip until I was able to swirl my tongue around it. Corbin’s body relaxed almost instantly.

  I sucked on his head until he moaned for me and then slid my mouth down his shaft until it pressed against the back of my throat. Corbin moaned again and I felt a stirring of magic swirl in my belly, making my own shoulders relax into it. I slid up and down his shaft, my hand following my mouth, up and down as I stroked him with lips, tongue and fingers. Gently I grazed my teeth over the tip of his head before sliding my mouth back down his cock. I felt Corbin’s fingers in my hair, tangling and gripping until his pulled just hard enough to make me squirm in pleasure. I began to work his cock faster, slamming my hand into the base, his hips shifted in time with me until he was fucking my mouth and I was trying to take even more of him in. The power built between us as his cock became thicker in my hand, I knew he was close and my magic began to grow, drinking in the lust and heat he offered me.

  Just when I thought he was about to cum, his hands were on my shoulders, pushing me back and he was sliding out of the chair to join me on the kitchen floor. He sat on the cold floor, propping himself against the low cabinets and reached for me. He grabbed me around the hips and pulled me to him. I let him guide me until I was straddling his legs, then I reached between us and gripped his slippery cock and guided it to my opening. When I felt the head of his cock pressing into my pussy I slammed my hips down, sheathing him inside of me, making us both groan in pleasure. I settled myself around him, feeling the titled floor bite into my knees, but with him throbbing inside of me and my magic swirling like a feral creature around us, I barely noticed the discomfort.

  I rocked my hips back and forth, rubbing my clit against him. I dropped my head back, feeling my long blond hair tickling the mound of my ass and Corbin’s hands came up to cup my breasts. His fingers were warm and rough on my skin as he massaged the soft flesh. I arched my back, bracing myself with my hands behind me on his thighs, which pressed my clit harder against him. I felt his cock curve into me as I rocked. I gasped as his mouth latched around one of my nipples and he began to suckle in earnest, feeling me clench around his cock as the orgasm built inside of me, all the quicker for the concentration I was placing on my clit. I felt his tongue flick over the hardened nub as his fingers teased and played with the other. The orgasm was sudden and fierce; crashing through me so that I screamed my pleasure to the ceiling and I came over his cock, rocking my hips frantically to savor every last wave.

  Slowly I lowered my face until I could look at his smiling face. My body was warm with magic, but not yet full, not until I made him cum.

  “Feel better?” he teased, his hands still caressing my breasts.

  “More,” I whispered, making him blink. I shifted my hips again, placing my hands on his shoulders and rose up a few inches before coming back down and began to ride his cock, slamming my body down onto him. Corbin swore in a language I didn’t know, but I recognized the tone of voice and I grinned. His hands fell from my breasts and latched onto my hips, helping to lift me and guide me up and down his shaft until my breasts were bouncing in his face and I was screaming yes, more, faster, to fuck me harder. I felt his legs begin to tremble and his fingers curled into my hips, making the skin run red between them. I felt a second orgasm begin to crest inside of me and just as I felt him explode and he yelled my name I came again, my magic out of control as it lashed at my body, making my pussy clench around him until I was hoarse from screaming.

  We crumpled around each other, spent and my body full and heavy with magic. I felt stronger than I had in weeks. Corbin’s breath was hot against my skin as he panted, trying to catch his breath. I squirmed against him, enjoying the tiny after shocks that raced up my body and he chuckled against me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pressing me closer to him. I felt his lips on my skin, hot and wet.

  It took a few minutes before we felt sturdy enough to get to our feet and make it to the bedroom. I was more than ready for sleep when I crawled into Corbin’s bed, slipping under the covers and resting my head on his chest. I ran my fingers over his chest where it was tattooed, imagining the intricate lines as my eyes drifted closed.

  “So it really had nothing to do with the bite?” he finally asked, his voice coming out of the dark above me. I felt his muscles tense around me as he waited.

  “It only made me want to have sex more often, it didn’t dictate with whom,” I said, trying to choose my words carefully. “It definitely didn’t have anything to do with wanting to see you again and be there for you when you needed someone.”

  “Hmm,” he said, I thought maybe he nodded his head, but in the dark I couldn’t be sure.

  “I needed you tonight just as much as you needed me earlier and you were there for me,” I said.

  “You did, didn’t you?” he said and I heard his voice change and felt his body relax under me.

  “Yes I did.”

  Sneak Peak of the Fourth Installment of The Taryn Malloy Fantasies: Elfmoon

  Roxy and I walked towards the park on a crisp June night. It was lit up with thousands of lights and fires, making it as bright as day. Even though we were still a few blocks away, I could see the glow over the buildings and smell foods roasting in the midway. It was the Summer Solstice, and the entire city was celebrating, humans and supernaturals alike. In the couple of months since I managed to get the Hunter’s bite removed from my shoulder, I had been feeling much more like myself. I think I had been with Cillian for so long that I forgot who I was without him. Luckily, Bright Elves live long lives, and a few misspent years with that bastard didn’t steal the flower of my youth. I probably wouldn’t start to look over forty until I was well into my hundreds.

  I couldn’t remember the last Solstice I had celebrated outside with other people. As the years went on, Cillian didn’t seem interested in things like this, so we just stayed in and watched the televised celebrations from our couch. Not tonight. Tonight I was going to eat food that was horrible for me; I was going to drink honey mead and dance at the bonfire. And, if things went my way, I was going dance the dance of the Bright Elves with some lucky guy.

  “Taryn,” Roxy said, pulling me out of my thoughts, and the way she said it made me think it wasn’t the first time.

  “What?”

  “Have you heard a word I’ve been saying?” she asked as we crossed the last street before the park. I could see the entrance no
w, two tall trees, strung with twinkly lights, with a welcome banner between them. Standing guard in front of the trees were two half trolls, their seven foot frames and brackish skin cutting an intimidating figure. But I knew one of the guards, Baven, from childhood, so I wasn’t the least bit scared. The humans had their police patrolling the grounds so the fae had to have their own security presence as well.

  “Sorry, I guess not,” I said as we set foot on the grass of the park.

  “Whatever, it wasn’t important,” Roxy said dismissively. “So, what’s the plan?”

  “Plan?” I turned a confused face towards her. It always surprised me how much we looked alike, and yet just how opposite so many of our features were. Though we were both just about five feet tall and had the fair skin of the Bright Elves, I had the long, shimmering blonde hair of our tribe and Roxy’s hair was rich and thick and dark, a telltale mark that there was a human hanging around somewhere in her family tree. And of course our eyes were always the same color; normally grey and quicksilver when we raised our power.