Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology)

by Chrissy Peebles

  Chapter Nine

  I awoke suddenly with the dire need to use the bathroom. I was back at Lucius’ house, and I slid out of the bed but almost crashed to the floor as my legs gave out beneath me. Every muscle in my body ached badly, and I steadied myself with the bedpost for a moment before hobbling toward the connected bathroom. A light glowed softly from there, lighting my way. I closed the door gently so as not to awaken him, and then quickly sat down to relieve my full bladder.

  As I sat there, I gazed down at my feet and winced. They were raw and bloody, and I wondered mildly if I had stained Lucius’ satin sheets. Tomorrow, I thought, I would wash them. My thoughts turned to the previous day’s events. How had I managed to escape the king and his cronies? Truly, they were far stronger than I was. Did the king have some ulterior motive for letting me go? I looked down at my wrist and saw it was almost silver in color now. Gingerly, I rubbed it, but no sign of pain or heat came from my touch. What did that mean?

  A soft knock on the door stopped my contemplation.

  “Ivy, are you okay?”

  “Fine. Just give me one minute, please.”

  Smiling shyly, I finished quickly, then got up and washed my hands. I then hobbled over to the door to open it. As I pulled open the door, I saw Lucius’ molten eyes shone with concern. The look on his face nearly stole my breath away. This man truly loved me. I slid my arms around him and kissed the tip of his nose. Giggling, I snuggled into him, inhaling the spot just under his ear.

  Lucius lifted my legs up and around his waist and pushed me against the sink counter.

  “Ivy, your feet, they are so sore. Let me clean them for you and rub some salve on them to help heal them.” He set me on the counter.

  I shrugged and sat there waiting while he filled the sink with warm water and some bath salts. He then turned me slightly and leaned me against him so I could place my foot into the sink. Ever so gently, he rubbed my left foot, kneading it with his fingers. Every touch sent shivers down my spine, every touch pooled moisture into my panties. Squirming with awakened desire, I grabbed onto Lucius’ muscled arms.

  “Sit still, I need to clean your poor feet.” Slowly, almost painfully, he administered tender care to my left foot, before turning his attention to the other one. While my foot soaked, he used a soft towel and dried my clean one. He then warmed some salve in his palms, before applying it to the sole and toes with gentle hands.

  Every fiber of my being roared into desirous awakening. My nipples hardened, and my throat went dry. I started rubbing my hands across Lucius’ chest, reveling in the feel of his beautiful skin. Leaning forward, I kissed his chest, and then, on a sigh, I found his nipple and sucked it into my mouth. Lucius let out a loud groan and roughly rushed through the washing of my other foot. Smiling, I continued to suck his nipple into my mouth. My body found the taste of him addicting. Quickly, Lucius slid my foot out of the sink and toweled it off. He then grabbed the salve and massaged some in, and all the while I continued lathing his hard little nipple. When I peered up at him from beneath lowered lashes and teasingly flicked my tongue, he groaned, dropped the bottle of salve onto the sink, and grabbed me to pull me close. He lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes shone like stars, filled with passion for me. Intense heat rippled off his body, and the red rings around his pupils shone like passion-filled eternity rings. Gasping, I reached up and pulled him toward me. His mouth crashed down on mine, and I plunged my tongue into his mouth. I wanted him. Now.

  A trickle of sweat dripped off his brow, and I slid my finger along the line, following it as it dropped to his stomach. I dipped my head and lapped the droplet up with the tip of my tongue. On a groan, Lucius dropped to his knees and pushed my legs wide open. Slowly, he kissed his way up my legs to my inner thighs. Wriggling with urgent need, I arched forward, nearly falling off the sink. Lucius held me there and pushed his face into my soaking, inner core. Inhaling, he moaned loudly and bit my swollen clit. I screamed at the intense pleasure rippling through my body. Lucius ran a finger along my wet core and then pressed it slowly inside me. Instantly, I gripped his finger, squeezing tightly with my inner walls. My body finding its natural rhythm, I bucked into his finger. He placed a second finger inside me, and I rode them both wildly. I could not stop my wanton body’s need, slamming my drenched pussy around his fingers, soaking him with my desire. Lucius slid my legs up over his shoulders and slowly danced up my body. I noted somewhere along the way he had lost his shorts, and I cried out with the frenzy of desire building up inside of me.

  “Lucius, please I can’t take it anymore; I need you so badly.”

  “How badly do you want me?”

  “Please, oh dear Gods, Lucius, fuck me. Fuck me like you are mad at me.”

  Grinning, Lucius slid forward and removed his fingers.

  “No, don’t pull away. I need you.” I clutched at him, and my body screamed for release.

  Lucius leaned in, and on one hard thrust, I found my world becoming everything I ever wanted it to be. Oh dear Gods, heaven must have sent this man. He grabbed my ass and pulled me into him, slamming into me. I met his thrusts, Our bodies became one, sweat coated our skin, and I could barely breathe with the desire mounting inside me. I felt like a wild cat in heat, and I use my nails on him, scrapping and digging into his backside. Every thrust he gave sent me closer to complete bliss. Our tongues mated in a wild dance, choreographed by Venus herself. Suddenly, my body convulsed around Lucius’ cock. He roared, throwing back his head like a proud lion, and his seed shot into me over and over again, filling me with a warmth that only we would share. I fell against his chest, unable to stay upright anymore. Lucius lifted me off the sink, and we slid to the floor of the bathroom. He lay on his back, and I wrapped myself around him. Lucius pulled my hair, and I looked up at him.

  “You are mine,” he said. “Always mine.”

  Smiling at his caveman talk, I gave him a chaste kiss on his perfect full lips and then laid my head on his chest. I did not know what it was like for other couples when they made love. I only knew this was perfection for me, for us; there were truly no words in any language suitable for what we had. Smiling and content, I found myself falling into a deep sleep.

  “I love you, Lucius,” I whispered as I drifted off.

  A loud bang woke me up, and I sat there a moment, trying to figure out what it was. Dazed, I sat there rubbing my eyes, my heart banging wildly.

  “Ivy, it’s okay; it’s just thunder. Lay back down.”

  Turning, I saw Lucius lying beside me in the bed. His hair was all mussed, a delicious, rumpled look that begged to be ruffled. Snuggling down into his open arms, I sighed.

  “I don’t like storms; they are never good news.”

  Lucius held me tightly and stroked my back, making circles with his fingers.

  “You are safe with me, Ivy.”

  Lightning streaked across the sky, casting the room in an eerie glow. Shuddering, I snuggled in closer. Looking up into his face, I fought the urge to cry. His face was a lovefest for my tired eyes. His shone like stars, illuminating my weary world, and his mouth was a beacon for my soul, calling me to kiss him, which I did. Smiling, Lucius held me tight, and our kiss went from sweet to seductive in seconds. I pushed him back and moved to straddle him.

  “Ivy, you are beautiful; every inch of you drives my body wild with desire.”

  I smiled and stoked my hands down his chest, my naked core slightly above his rising desire.

  “Take what you want from me,” he said.

  With that, I slid down on to his rigid cock. I rode him slowly, rising up and down, my pussy soaking him with my desire. Harder and harder I rode him, his hips rising to meet me, my breasts bouncing with every thrust Lucius gave. He gripped my hips and slammed into my tight sheath, finding my sensitive spot. Arching back, leaning my arms back on the bed, opening myself up to his eyes, I rode on. He pinched around my clit, making me scream. Harder and harder I rode him, my breasts bouncing wildly, my h
ead thrown the whole way back, exposing my neck. Lucius grabbed hold of me and pulled me up hard against him. I slid my legs around his waist, and he grabbed my hair, pulling my head to the side. Without a word, he bit into my neck, and my sheath clamped down on his cock. My world exploded, his sucking of my neck, my milking of his cock, my world just imploded. Lucius broke the bite and licked my wounds clean.

  Pulling my face back up to his, he looked at me, his eyes completely black and the red rings glowing wildly with heated desire. I kissed his swollen lips and tasted the metallic tang on them. My nipples burned with desire, and I lifted myself up off his cock and held onto the headboard in front of me. Lucius held onto me, stroking his fingers near my breasts. He took one of my nipples into his mouth, swirling his tongue around, over and over. My legs were spread wide, as I knelt above him so he could bite and suckle my nipples. His hands found my ass, and he pulled me in closer. One hand slid to my front, and he teased my engorged bud. I found myself losing the will to kneel in front of him, but Lucius held me up, grabbing my ass with one hand, sucking my nipple, fingering my bud and soaking core. He bit down hard on one nipple, sucking it into his mouth, and I screamed and slid down his body where his erect shaft waited for me. He pulled hard on my hips, and I closed the distance, slamming onto his beautiful phallus.

  How this man could be so turned on so quickly was yet another question that fleetingly crossed my mind, only to be swallowed up by a delicious French kiss. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I heard a noise, but my body’s needs tamped down my normal, rational brain function. Moaning into Lucius’ kiss, I slid down his cock, tightening myself around it, feeling Lucius shudder in my grip. Sliding my hands through his hair, I pulled him closer to me, and our kiss grew so passionate, breathing was becoming difficult.

  All at once, the double windows in Lucius’ room crashed open. Shards of glass flew through the air like a million sprites dancing around the room. Before I could react, several pieces impaled themselves into me. I heard Lucius roar, and he pulled me down off the bed onto the floor. Covering my body with his, he looked up and shouted in a language I had never heard. Shivering, naked and cut beneath Lucius, I cowered on the Persian rug, trying to find something to cover myself with. Somehow, I felt I could deal with anything if I were more suitably attired. Spotting a throw on the chaise, I tried to crawl away from Lucius, but he grabbed me roughly and held me down. I glanced up at him, only to find myself looking into the face of a stranger. This was not the man I loved. His eyes glowed eerily; his face was more angular and haunted. Shivering, I tried to explain my predicament, but words failed me. Instead, I slumped down, wondering who had come through the window, but inside, I knew. King Casimiro and those dreaded cronies of his had finally found us. Lucius leaped up off me and dove across the bed. Risking a glance, I peeked up over the bed and saw Lucius reach the other side to retrieve a sword. I felt like I was watching a 3D movie about the Knights of the Round Table, but somehow, I doubted this version would have a happy ending.

  Taking my chances, I dove across the floor and just reached the chaise when I felt my arm being wrenched out from in front of me. Screaming in pain, I tried to turn and kick whoever had me, only to find myself facing the king. He had me hanging by my arm, naked. The pain immobilized me. The king flashed an evil smile, his fangs descending from his mouth. They looked as large as a tiger’s canines. His eyes, like Lucius’, glowed eerily.

  “Little Ivy, how nice of you to dress for the occasion.”

  Dying of mortification, I tried to pull myself out of the king’s grip, but he was unmerciful in his hold, tightening it all the more. Gasping for breath, trying to breathe through the pain, I stole a glance at Lucius, who was standing frozen in place, facing us. This was going to be a fight to the death; there truly could be no other conclusion than a grizzly knock down orgy of testosterone. I turned to face the king, and he stopped looking at Lucius long enough to leer at me.

  “I will not, for any reason in this world or our own, let Lucius live. You will see him fall to his knees and beg me to let him die.” Turning away from me, he laughed.

  Something in that laugh hit a switch inside me. Never before had I felt so enraged, so completely removed from my normal, sensitive self. And yet, I felt totally in control, totally empowered. Gazing down at my wrist, I saw once more it was a blood red tear drop, and I smiled as I realized why. It was somehow up to me to get Lucius and I out of this deadly predicament, and quickly. Of course, knowing and doing were two very different things. Looking around the room, I wondered what I could possibly do to tip the scales in Lucius’ favor. Perhaps, if I could distract the king and his guards, Lucius could do his—well, whatever it was he did. Whatever he did, I hoped he was good at it. Realizing I had precious little time, I lunged forward toward the bed. Jumping onto it, I spread my legs wide open, confident the king would at least follow me. The king’s jaw actually dropped; perhaps he’d never seen a modern, clean-shaven woman before.

  Slowly, he inched his way toward me, his leering men following closely behind him. One stayed with Lucius, whose face, I noticed, was void of emotion. I hoped he knew what I was thinking, I hoped he knew I had no intention of bed hopping with these frightening men, that he truly was the only man I ever wanted to be with. My heart tripped over its own beats with fear that he thought I could ever look at another man.

  “Ivy, dear, sweet, tempting little Ivy, you surprise me.”

  Swinging my head around, I was shocked to see the king had reached the bed. He grabbed my ankles and pulled me nearer to the edge of the mattress, spreading my legs wide open in front of him. Whimpering, I tried to kick myself free, but the king had a death grip and yanked at my ankles to stop me from moving. Crying out, I felt my bravery wane, but something, something small inside me, willed me on. I smiled up at the king and licked my lips. The king dropped to his knees.

  Now or never, I told myself. I shifted lower, nearer to the king. As he watched, I slid my fingers down to my core and rubbed my clit. I moaned, half closing my eyes, but keeping my gaze pinned on the king and his men, two of which had partially disrobed and had taken themselves in hand. I swallowed back my revulsion and used their own depravity against them. I started to rock my pelvis, harder and harder, as I slid my fingers along my core. Finally, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucius spring into action. No one but I saw him dispatch the one guard who’d stayed with him. No one but me noticed him as he crept up behind the king and his remaining men. Rolling my hips, licking my lips, gasping with pretend pleasure, I continued my careful distraction. Slowly, I slid one hand up to my breasts and rolled and flicked my nipples, all the while riding down on my fingers. The king slid forward, as did his men, and anger filled me to think they thought they could have me. Slowly, ever so slowly, Lucius came up behind them. Sheer will kept me going, my determination to see them all brought to justice riding on this very moment. Faking my near orgasm, I cried out, and with that, Lucius struck. He raised his arm in an arc and swung swiftly, removing three men’s heads at once. I didn’t know where to look. I froze, felt I’d be sick. I’d known he would have to harm them all, but to see three heads fall from the shoulders of men who had been very much alive and reactive, thanks to my amorous actions, made me go quite numb. Fountains of blood rose from the necks up into the air, and then rained down upon me. Screaming, I tried to crawl away from the bloodfest, but the king had other ideas. Apparently, he had become very turned on with all that was going on around him. He pulled my legs with one hand and then held me in place; with his other arm, he swung his sword high to keep Lucius away.

  “Had I known what a beauty you were, I would have had you earlier. However, I shall make up for lost time now. This will hurt, Ivy, have no illusions. I love hurting human women.”

  Screaming every obscenity I ever heard, I tried to push him away, but he dug his nails into my legs and crawled on top of me. Crying out, I tried to squirm from his grasp. I could feel his excitement pressing on my belly and
in my desperation, I tried to claw out his eyes. In return, I received a swift fist to my face. Tasting my blood, I vowed vengeance. He gripped my hair and yanked my head to the side, and I fought to disengage his hold. The world seemed to stand still at that moment. I remember hearing Lucius scream and saw him dive toward us. The king bit into my neck. An insidious poison attacked every fiber of my being, spreading rapidly through my bloodstream. I felt my heart weaken; I felt myself being drained of my life’s blood. I tried so hard to push the king off me. Lucius appeared in my line of vision, and he too tried in vain to pull the king from on top of me, but in a shocking move, the king picked me up, and we simply disappeared.

  A moment later, we reappeared at the cemetery. Fear coursed through my veins. Shivering violently, I tried to pull my weakened body away from the king. He stood there, towering over me, laughing violently.

  “Little Ivy, I’ve brought you to a very special place, don’t you think, to consummate our intimate union? I believe I will keep you, use you as my blood donor, at least until I get bored, which shouldn’t be too long from now.”

  Not truly understanding him but not wanting to find out the meaning of his hateful words, I started to drag myself around the very tombstone before which I’d met Lucius. How cruel fate could be. Feeling overwhelmed and finding it hard to move, I started to cry, to roar, to scream at all the Gods in the heavens to hear me and to come to my aide. Lightning lit up the blackened sky, freezing rain pelted down on my bare, tender skin, tree branches whipped around us, and still I kept screaming. Something inside me started to change, but still I ranted. The king stood there, obviously bemused, an evil smile splashed across his cold face.

  I somehow found the strength to stand, and leaning against Lucius’ tombstone, I turned to face the king. Nothing would stop me now; if I died, I would die knowing I tried to kill this monster before me. Glaring at him, I started to shout. Words flew from my mouth in a tongue I did not recognize, and yet, they all sounded strangely familiar. The king’s smiled disappeared, quickly replaced by a frown.