The breath I had been holding left my body on a sharp exhale. I didn’t know what I expected to hear from Lucius, but I found my heart opening as I’d listened to his tale. Finally, I found someone who may well understand darkness and depravity. I reached up and touched his face. Tenderly, I stroked his cheek, and he gave me a heartbreakingly sad smile. So much pent-up pain flowed from Lucius to me, unspoken pain emanating from both of us. Truly, we were connected, somehow.
“I killed many people, people who were not necessarily bad, because I believed in my king and his court. I sold my soul to the king, never once questioning his power and leadership. I was so wrong, Ivy. I soon discovered what the devil’s face looks like . . . I saw him every time I looked in the mirror.”
I shivered, whether from the cold evening or from the emotions brought on by Lucius’ tale, I was not sure. He moved off the loveseat, knelt between my legs, and gazed up into my eyes, his stare hypnotic. I reached out and stroked his cheek. Leaning into my hand, he kissed my wrist. Only then did I notice the scar had taken shape, and now looked like a blood red teardrop. I gasped, and Lucius straightened.
“What is going on? What is wrong with me? How and why has my scar changed into the form of a teardrop?”
Lucius took both of my hands in his and held my gaze. “You will understand everything very soon. Allow me to finish my story, to tell you more about where I came from and what your marking truly means.”
I held Lucius’ gaze, but I could not stop shivering. His touch felt like a bolt of lightning striking my skin. Goose bumps pebbled all over my flesh, and my sensitive nipples hardened. Lucius’ eyes widened, and he leaned into me. Brief seconds passed with our lips barely touching, our breaths caressing each other’s mouths. I moaned, and Lucius closed the distance and kissed me. He pulled my upper lip between his and suckled. Have mercy, the man could kiss! I pressed against him, and in one smooth motion, he stood and lifted me. He moved back, sank onto the loveseat, taking me with him.
I straddled his knees and wrapped my hands around his head, caressing his thick, dark, curly hair. Oh, how could a man give so much pleasure with so little effort? My body’s heat made me feel uncomfortable in my clothing. Itching to feel Lucius naked against me, I pulled at his shirt. Buttons popped and flew through the air, hit the wooden floor, and bounced away. All the while, Lucius played havoc with my lips, sucking them, biting them, licking them. I ground against his hardness, so obvious between my spread legs. Dear Gods, the man is huge. I could suddenly imagine myself staying with this man—a man I’d only just met—for the rest of my life. I felt totally out of control.
Lucius slid my loosened top down off my shoulders. “Oh, Ivy, you have the sweetest complexion of peaches and cream.”
I couldn’t respond; my mind focused on one thing and one thing, only—getting Lucius naked. I ripped his shirt off his shoulders and gasped at his physique. True, masculine perfection met my heated gaze. I ran my hands over his smooth, defined, muscular chest. Leaning in, I followed the path my hands had made with my lips, kissing my way down his chest. His nipples grew as erect as mine, and I wrapped my lips around one while pinching the other between my fingers. Lucius grabbed my hair, lifted my head, and cupped my chin with his other hand.
“Ivy, please, stop, I have little control left.”
I barely registered his words, so desperate was I for a fast relief. Feverishly, I wrapped my legs around his hips, while I tugged his hair and pulled him in for a long, passionate kiss. I don’t know whose moans filled my ears; all I knew was the more I tasted of Lucius, the more I wanted him. Faster and faster, I slid up and down on his lap, pressing against him harder and harder, riding him until my panties grew so wet they stuck to my skin.
“Lucius, please help me.” I begged for release, speaking against his lips as we continued our tongue duel.
Lucius grabbed the hem of my shirt and lifted, pulling my blouse up and over my head. He then made quick work of my bra, baring me completely to his teasing touch. Lazily, as if we had all night, he stroked my breasts, tweaked my nipples, drove me mad with desire. My nipples were hard as stone, and when I dared to look up at Lucius, I gasped at the need reflected in his eyes, which had grown dark with emotion. His breathing raspy, slowly he lowered his head and ravished one nipple. I let out a scream and pulled him tightly against my breast. I rode the edge of release, and when Lucius slid his fingers beneath my long skirt and up between my thighs, he found my panties soaked.
With a low growl, he ripped them off, and then both of us moaned, and I arched into his fingers. Slowly . . . ever so slowly . . . he caressed my bare skin.
“Ivy, my God, you are exquisite.”
He drowned out my moans by claiming my mouth again, and my body shuddered at his expert touch. I ground my crotch against his, and my movement caused his fingers to effortlessly slide inside my sheath. I slammed my eyes shut, and my body convulsed around his fingers, over and over again.
“Ivy, sweet, you feel so good, so tight and wet.”
I barely made out his words, but I didn’t care—the world could have ended right there, and I would never have noticed, such was the power Lucius had over me.
I started to rip open Lucius’ buttoned fly, but he pushed my hand away.
“No. I cannot afford to lose control now. We need to finish our talk.”
I ignored him and returned to my task, undoing Lucius’ fly, button by painful button. Finally, his erect cock broke free and stood at attention. I couldn’t help but stare, so beautiful was his smooth but rigid shaft. Velvet to the touch, his cock jerked when I ran my fingertips up the length. The tip glistened with pre-cum caught in the Tiffany lamp’s glow. I grew hungry, mesmerized, and I slid off Lucius’ lap, onto my knees. Slowly, I dragged my fingernails up his thighs, watching his face for reaction. He looked like a fallen angel, tormented but beautiful, and I smiled and kissed the tip of his cock. A low rumble came from deep in his chest, and he rested his hands on top of my head. With pleasure, I started to suck his cock, breathing deeply through my nose, adjusting to his enormous size. Slowly and deeply I sucked him in, enjoying every sensation and taste. I had never taken such pleasure from any man before. I felt like I had awakened, my body blossoming this autumn night. With wild abandon, I sucked faster and deeper, and he dug his nails into my scalp.
“Yes, Ivy, harder.”
I smiled around his cock and did as he’d requested, and soon I felt him tightening in my mouth. I cupped his balls, massaged them, until I heard him cry out and his seed burst against the back of my throat. I swallowed every drop of the salty treat. Lucius grabbed me by the hair and pulled me up onto his lap again. Holding me closely, he gave me a bruising kiss, our tongues tasting and dueling, our breathing furious and hearts beating hard. Any reservations I had left disintegrated; there would be no control tonight.
Suddenly, Lucius picked me up, stood, and then gently deposited me on the loveseat so that I lay down.
“Ivy, I have never wanted a woman the way I want you right now. The little control I had is completely gone. Please, tell me now if you want me to stop, and I will, but if you don’t, I am going to make love to you over and over again until the dawn awakens the earth.”
My heartbeat hiccupped in my chest, and I felt as if a thousand fluttering butterflies swarmed around my stomach. This man truly wanted me. But why? Why would a man who looks like an angel sent from heaven want plain old, boring me? I forced my mind back to what he had just asked of me.
“Lucius, please make love to me now. I want you as I have never wanted another man.”
No sooner had the words passed my lips, than Lucius knelt before me and gently kissed me. He stroked his way down my body to my skirt zipper, and within moments, he’d removed the last of my clothing, sliding the material down past my hips over my quivering thighs and off over my feet.
The dawning realization I lay naked in front of Lucius made me conscious of my scars. Not since the assault had I allowed a man near me, t
o see me without clothing to cover my ravaged flesh. And as much as I wanted Lucius, shame overwhelmed me.
“Ivy, look at me, look at me now.”
I found myself starring up at him, obeying his command.
“I love you, all of you. Every inch of your body is a beautiful miracle for me to savor and cherish, for me to explore and devour. You are beautiful. I waited lifetimes for you; you are mine.”
His words shattered the wall behind which I had hid my pain, and the tears I’d held back for way too long fell openly in front of a man I barely knew, but with whom I was falling madly in love. Lucius stroked each and every tear off my face, then replaced his finger with his mouth and kissed away my pain. My eyes slid shut, and I savored the sensation of his tender administrations. He continued raining kisses on my face, while gently stroking my neck, and I arched into his touch.
“Relax, my sweet, and let me show you real love.”
I lay back and opened my eyes. His beautiful gaze, warm and molten grey, shone down on me like a light welcoming me back home. His mouth found my neck and he suckled me, his hand having traveled down to my swollen, erect nipples. Ever so gently, he teased the hardened nubs. Again, I arched against him, gasped as he replaced his teasing fingers with his hot mouth, drawing a tender nipple between his lips. Back and forth between them, he moved his head from side to side, lathing my breasts with his hot tongue. Desperate moans sounded from somewhere deep within me, and I writhed beneath him, longing for release.
“Please, Lucius, I need you now.”
He smiled against my breast, slid his hand down over my quivering stomach. He caressed me ever so gently, circling my stomach with his fingertips. His light touch caused goose bumps to form all over me. His hand drifted farther, until he found my scarred pelvis, and tenderly he slid his face down and started to kiss me there. He placed tiny, gentle kisses over my scars, and never had I felt so loved. He ran his hand down between my thighs and found my wet core. Gasping, I arched up to meet his seeking fingers.
“Ivy, you are my everything. You have no idea how much I have longed for you, for this moment.”
I tried to pull his face up to mine, to kiss him, but he continued lavishing his love upon my body. Suddenly, he slid a finger inside my aching vagina, and I cried out. I reached down to grasp his cock, which lay hard against my thigh, but Lucius gently pushed my hand away.
“Put your arms over your head,” he said.
Mindless with passion, I obeyed him at once, and the moment I had them in the appropriate position, Lucius grasped my wrists with his free hand and held them there. With his other hand, he continued teasing my aching pussy, adding a second finger, working me into a heated frenzy. He stretched my tight sheath, and I lifted my pelvis, rising to meet his thrusts in a sexy duel. All too soon, I felt myself tightening around Lucius’ fingers.
“Please, Lucius, hurry; I’m about to come. I want you to make love to me now. Please, I’m begging you.” Frantically, I writhed beneath his hands.
He shifted, slid over until he lay on top of me on the sofa, and then, still holding my wrists, he nudged one of my legs to the side and lifted the other, placing it over his shoulder. In this position, he inched his hips forward, until the head of his hard cock found my entrance. With light, teasing strokes, he ran the head up and down along my swollen slit, gathering moisture. I wondered as I lay there in a daze if his cock would actually fit inside me. He was truly huge, but as much as I feared, I knew in my heart I wanted him more. I arched my body, hoping to entice him to enter me. Lucius dipped his head and devoured my lips, scorching me with a kiss that sent my heart soaring to the heavens.
My mind had all but left my body. I pulled my wrists from his easy grip and blindly reached for him. Wrapping my hands around his neck, I moaned softly as our tongues engaged in a frantic, lovers’ duel. My other leg found its way up onto his shoulder, and I opened myself wider. And then, before I could draw in a bracing breath, he slammed forward, sank deep inside me, until his balls brushed against me. Lucius gripped my ass, pulled me to him, and began a thrusting rhythm that took me to heaven and back. He let out a primal roar that started the mating of our souls, and I clung to him desperately, afraid, somehow, he might disappear—that this exquisite experience might all be a dream. He continued his frantic pace, thrusting into me over and over again, both of us dancing to our souls’ desires. My sheath tightened around his cock. I could not get enough, and I slid my arms down his back, past the dimples near his ass, and quickly gripped his cheeks. Screaming until my voice grew hoarse, I clung to him, until he suddenly stilled, dropped his head, and bit down on my neck. His hard sucking brought on the most violent orgasm I’d ever had, and he joined me, coating my womb with his white-hot seed.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I sobbed, unable to keep the scalding tears from falling. Lucius stopped sucking my neck and slid his tongue over the bite marks, then slowly slid up my body and kissed my mouth. The taste of my blood on his lips should have frightened me, but instead, I found myself smiling, savoring the metallic taste, the taste of me, of my vital life force, on Lucius’ lips. I ran my hands up his back and idly stroked his shoulders. Suddenly, pain like none I had ever experienced gripped my wrist. I screamed and tried to push Lucius off.
“Ivy, I have to explain. What is happening to you is natural for our kind. Please don’t panic. Listen to me.”
But I could hardly hear him over the pain. Beyond crazed, I pushed him off, slid to the floor, and let loose a deep, guttural—howl.
Chapter Four
My naked body cooled rapidly while I lay curled up on the floor. I heard Lucius move to sit behind me, and he draped a soft blanket over my shoulders.
“Ivy, I promise you will be okay. Just try to breathe through the pain.”
“What is wrong with me? I feel as if I’m dying.” My voice cracked. The burning sensation returned, only this time, throughout my entire body. A sudden onslaught of nausea had me clutching my stomach and rolling tightly into a ball.
Lucius laid behind me and wrapped himself around me. His cool skin helped ease the fire burning inside me. Was I going to hell for what I had just done? If so, then I’d sacrifice my soul. I did not regret a single moment of our lovemaking—and we had made love. Lucius pulled back the hair that had fallen into my face and kissed the back of my neck. He gently rocked me, quieting my body with his. Soon, and much to my relief, my body calmed and grew cooler, and I felt like I might be able to breathe again.
I turned to face Lucius and wrapped my legs around his waist. He pulled me into his arms, tightly against him, and placed a light kiss on the tip of my nose.
“I’m so sorry you had to experience that, Ivy. I should have talked you through the whole process first before I lost complete control like I did.”
I shook my head and placed my finger over his beautiful full lips. “It was not your fault, Lucius. You tried to talk to me, remember? I had to have you, and I wouldn’t wait long enough to listen to you.”
He smiled at me, his eyes shining like diamonds, radiating the warmth from his very soul. He slowly rolled onto his back, pulling me to lie on top of him. He ran his hands up and down my back, caressing my tortured skin. “You are so very beautiful. Now, I will tell you about yourself and why you mean so very much to me.”
I lay there quietly, listening to his deep, resonating voice. His accent lulled my frayed nerves; my body seemed to recognize him, respond to him as it never had to another.
“When I worked for my kingdom as a dark knight, my dear brother Zorion found the love of his life. The woman was beautiful in every way, had charm and a fun, easy manner. Her name was Maria, and we all loved her dearly. Soon, my brother asked her father, Marco, for Maria’s hand in marriage. We were all so very excited. One day, I was commanded to attend court. I went and could not believe what I was told. My king asked too much of me this time, Ivy. But I was sworn to allegiance. If I disobeyed, not only would I die, but my whole family would perish too. We’
d suffer a form of communal punishment, be made an example of, so our village would adhere to the King at all costs. Ivy?”
I looked up into Lucius’ eyes; they were so full of pain. The illuminating light that shone so bright when we’d made love had disappeared, leaving his gaze a dark, dull pewter. I raised my hand to caress his cheek, but he pulled it down and held it tightly in his lap. He stared at me for a moment; I could see his struggle in deciding whether to continue with his story. What could be so terrible that could affect this man so profoundly?
“The king declared that Maria Adao and her family where traitors to the kingdom. He suggested that Maria was a witch that had been sent to spy on the court.”
“Wait a minute. Wait just one minute.” I interrupted him and sat up. “A witch? Lucius, I—“
“Ivy, I know. I realize all of this is far beyond your understanding, that it must sound like something from a novel or a fairy tale, but I swear to you, what I’m telling you is the truth. There are many things mankind does not know, and many things they once knew, but have now forgotten. What I’m telling you occurred many lifetimes ago, during a time when men recognized that creatures such as witches and vampires and werewolves—and many other dark and sinister beings—roamed the land. Remember, I said you’d need to trust me? To have faith? This is what I meant, Ivy. You must believe. Our love—our very lives—depends upon it.”
My mind fought to make sense of his words. Believe. Was I capable of accepting something that sounded so crazy? A witch. And once again, he’d made reference to living many lifetimes. Could I sit here and accept his story at face value? Could I believe the man I’d made love to moments ago was really an ancient being, some supernatural creature who had once served as a dark knight in some long-ago kingdom? I looked into his eyes, and the answer came to me with a surety I’d never known. My soul recognized his; our hearts beat as one. Yes, I could believe him. I could trust him and have faith. What choice did I have, really? I loved him.
Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology) Page 45