by Nikki Landis
Oh, I didn’t forget. Not at all.
He swiped that rough, heated tongue upward as I grabbed the sheets, a soft mew passing through my lips.
Kayde climbed up next to us, his eyes hooded with desire. “I love your tits, babe,” he joked, kneading the flesh until my nipples hardened into little points. His mouth lowered as he flicked his tongue over each nub, enjoying the way I was squirming in response.
Gabe held my hips in place with a light chuckle. “I plan to feast until you come at least twice.”
As the Lycan’s tongue swiped through my wet folds and began to lick at my center, Kayde was lavishing all his attention on my breasts. My eyes met Ryder’s as he slowly unzipped his jeans and they dropped to the floor, exposing his throbbing erection.
Damn. My men were all well-endowed. I was the luckiest girl in the world.
Damian’s soft chuckle echoed in my head. He joined the party next, quick to strip as he stroked his length and approached the bed. I pushed his hand away as he kneeled on the mattress and positioned his dick close to my mouth. I took him in slowly, savoring the taste of his flesh as I ran my palm over the veins, sucking on the tip before twirling my tongue. He groaned with pleasure, thrusting his hips slowly as I bobbed my head. The angle was a bit off on the mattress and he moved closer, hissing as I swallowed him almost down to the base.
Ryder was watching all of the action as his eyes glazed over with need. I held out my hand and he climbed the bed on the right, the opposite of Damian. I was working the vampire over with deep strokes and it wasn’t long before he stiffened.
“You keep doing that and I’m going to explode in your throat.”
Inside my head he added, ‘please, my precious. Let me cum in your sexy mouth.’
‘Yes.’
He jerked a couple of times and then growled a low, sexy groan as he emptied his seed, pumping his hips as Kayde watched, moaning loudly as he stroked himself, releasing his own pleasure only a few seconds later as the sticky strands covered my stomach. Gabriel was making sounds of approval and lust low in his throat while I reached for Ryder’s cock and began pumping him steadily up and down. He thrust his hips gently, matching the action of my hand.
With Gabe’s focused attention I felt my own climax build to the point that I couldn’t hold back anymore. I cried out as my walls clamped down on his fingers and I moved my hips, riding his face with abandon. My Lycan stood and growled once I was settled, dazed but momentarily sated, taking his throbbing length in hand and jerking himself off with frenzied lust. It wasn’t long before thick ropes of his semen joined the mess that Kayde had made. Gabe collapsed at my feet and lifted his head, rising up and kissing me thoroughly.
“I want to finish inside you,” Ryder announced as the others backed away, giving him space.
One of the guys swiped a washcloth over my stomach and chest seconds before I lifted my arms and Ryder thrust home, lodging deep inside me with a single deep thrust. I was vaguely aware of the others watching as Ryder intertwined our fingers and lowered his head, sliding in and out with a gentle rhythm as he pressed his lips to mine.
This was different.
The others had given themselves over to lust. I didn’t mind. I’d done the same. But with Ryder, he wasn’t just pumping wildly and filling me up. He moved with deliberate care, prolonging the amount of time we spent together in deep connection. His hips plunged with every thrust, but it wasn’t only to satiate his own need. He was making sure I enjoyed this as much as he was, that I understood his desire came from both affection and pleasure.
Ryder was making love to me.
My eyes widened as he smiled, pushing my arms up over my head. “I love you, Cassandra Howe. It’s time you knew.”
He wasn’t the first to tell me but the sincerity and depth of emotion that poured through our joined union was unlike anything I had ever felt before. The other members of my Cosan drifted away, the walls of Howe Manor disappearing as the room began to spin.
“Ryder?” I whispered, feeling his embrace tighten.
“I’m here. Always, my love.”
The familiar hum of magic vibrated the air around us. “We’re spirit walking again, aren’t we?”
“Somewhat. This is on a much more personal level.” His lips met mine, increasing our merger, uniting us in a way that could never be described with words alone. “Our mortal flesh is joined, and we aren’t only here mentally and physically. We’re making love with our spirits. Our souls are that in sync, my Cassie.”
“That’s impossible . . .” I blinked, taking in the rainbow of colors that swirled, dancing with bursts of shooting stars. Like a mirage or faint echo, our spirits were experiencing the same pleasure and union as our physical bodies. Fascinated, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the beauty that surrounded us or the unmistakable joy in his voice. It was beautiful.
“Do you see?” He picked up the multi-colored thread that resembled an umbilical cord, twisted in every shade of the rainbow as it protruded from his abdomen. Several of the strings were attached to my own stomach as I gasped.
“How did this happen?”
“Do you remember what I said before?”
I wasn’t sure what he meant.
“Every emotion and facet of my personality, my unique abilities and skills, they all combine to make this thread. It begins a solid color at birth and then thickens and changes, growing longer and more colorful as we age. The strength, skill level, and depth of magic we obtain is infused within the strand but there’s something more.”
“Tell me, please.”
Ryder smiled, kissing me again before he answered. “Once you touched my thread, you knew we were forever linked. A consummation of our spiritual bodies. The source of my power, as you know, my angel. We’ve linked our physical bodies now and our mental connection is already strong, growing deeper with every visit to the spirit realm. However, it’s the final piece of this puzzle – the soul connection – that we haven’t completed until this moment.”
My eyes widened. “Really?”
He smiled and his whole face took on a look of such deep love and adoration that I kissed him before he could continue. “Yes.”
“What does the soul connection mean?”
“We’re fused together now, my Cassie. Our souls have finally found their mate. Your power is my power. My essence is now combined with yours. You’re invincible.”
“Invincible?”
“Yes, I give all of myself to you. Every part of me is linked, syphoned, available for your use. You’ll win against the darkness and the enemy, my angel. You’re everything you need.”
“Ryder,” I gasped, moaning with pleasure as the act of our physical bodies in intercourse was leaking into our spiritual connection to the point that I could barely breathe or respond without shudders of ecstasy riding throughout my body.
My hand closed around the warm thread that connected his soul to mine, pulsing beneath my palm. My spirit trembled as a whoosh of power and knowledge, energy and magic vibrated between us.
Ryder’s emotions were so strong they dominated my brain – his attraction, desire, and need to protect were fiercely driven. Adding to those intense feelings was his joy and determination. He would suffer, sacrifice, give up everything for me if needed.
Ryder’s hazel eyes misted over as he gulped loudly. “You’re mine,” he whispered with conviction. “Even if I share you with my Cosan brothers.”
“Yes,” I confirmed, “always.”
“I may share you, but no other is connected to you like I am.” We shared a kiss that sealed that statement as I realized our physical bodies had been still for quite a while now. “I’ll finish making love to you, my sweet angel. I promise.”
Trembling with awe, I pulled him close until our lips met again. This kiss was different, deeper, stronger, more powerful than any kiss I’d had before. “Ryder,” I finally managed to whisper. “I’m glad it’s you.”
“Cass, my love, it was always
meant to be us.”
“I know.” Somehow, I had always known.
“Our bond is complete. Every facet. Forever.”
“I guess we’re pretty much married now,” I joked.
“To a ghoul, yes. To my family, yes. To the other members of your Cosan, yes. They will feel it. Don’t worry, angel. They already knew this was happening tonight.”
“I remember what you said before,” I whispered. “I feel it too.”
“Good. It’s a merging of hearts, memories, souls, and power. A bond that can never be broken, not by magic or any other means.”
A contentedness that I didn’t expect filled my heart with warmth. Reality emerged as Howe Manor and my bedroom once more surrounded us. Ryder smiled as the other members of my Cosan stood behind him. He was still lodged deep inside me, his thick, engorged cock moving slowly as I adjusted to the fullness again. It wasn’t long before I was moaning loudly, gripping Ryder’s arms as he thrust faster and faster. Harder. Deeper.
My breasts bounced with the movement of his hips as Ryder made a noise of approval in his throat. My core clenched, my body responding to his as the pleasure increased. I called out his name, jolting in his arms when his fingers slid between my legs and pressed down with slow circles over my clit. I couldn’t get enough, couldn’t reach high enough, didn’t want the moment to end.
Ryder was pounding into me so hard I didn’t realize how verbal I had become. I came with a shudder, my hips lifting off the mattress to meet his wild thrusts until Ryder roared his own release. Pumping repeatedly, he filled me as he promised, gripping our fingers tightly together.
“I love you, my angel,” he whispered against my lips, kissing me as the room spun and then my eyes drifted closed. Exhausted, I never had the energy to utter a reply.
Chapter 13
October 12th –
Aunt Gwen and Gypsy were seated at the dining room table as I joined them the next morning, padding through as I yawned and accepted the cup of coffee sweetened with pumpkin, cinnamon, and cream. Perfect.
“How did you sleep, dear?”
“Wonderful. I haven’t slept that well since I was little.”
Gypsy giggled as my aunt shot her a stern look of disapproval. “I bet.”
No one said anything for a minute. The truth was slow in coming but I blushed to my roots when I realized that my cousin had definitely heard my bedroom activities with my Cosan. I was pretty sure this meant that my aunt and uncle caught a few noises as well.
Shit. I was absolutely mortified.
Gabe sauntered in through the back door and grinned, winking as our eyes met. Kayde followed about half a minute later, his lips lifting in a smile that was both guilty and pleased. Damian practically glided into the kitchen, a low rumbling laugh issuing from his throat as he placed a kiss on my cheek.
“Morning, precious.” He snickered as our eyes met. ‘Feeling well rested?’
I glared in his direction. ‘Don’t start.’
My aunt cleared her throat. “I made plenty of eggs, sausage, biscuits, and gravy. Help yourself, boys.”
Murmurs of thanks were issued as the guys heaped large portions on their plates and gathered around the table, those who ate human food chewing as they joked with one another and Gypsy. She was extremely entertained.
I was tempted to give in to my sarcasm and sudden ill humor.
My aunt seemed to be enjoying the exchange. “Tom will be back soon. He met with the council this morning.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, he thinks your restriction is unnecessary. Willow and I also agree. We’re doing everything possible to reverse their decision.”
“Thank you,” I replied with relief.
“I heard about your little confrontation with Jadis. Who knew she possessed the skill needed for transformation?”
Snorting, I shook my head. “Right? It wasn’t pretty.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re alright,” she answered with a smile, “and that your evening was a success afterward.”
Holy hell. I slumped down in my seat as Gypsy laughed so hard, she hiccupped and couldn’t stop.
Wonderful. “Glad I could provide you all with entertainment,” I muttered, resisting the urge to glare at my Cosan and pout.
“You shouldn’t fear spiders, my dear,” Aunt Gwen admonished, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. “They represent a connection between the past and the future.”
“What do you mean?” Gypsy asked, sliding into the empty seat to my right as she tried to control her mirth, sipping on the fresh cup of coffee she’s just refilled.
“Spiders remind us that the web we weave today is the web we inhabit tomorrow. Creativity is to be admired when combined with balance. Life is a natural cycle. Consider the web you weave and if it aligns with the will of the ancestors.”
A tingle slid down my spine with those words.
“Magic always has a cost,” I whispered softly, understanding her meaning. All choices led to actions, those actions led to consequences. In other words, we reap what we sow.
My aunt nodded. “Yes. True enough as I’ve said many times. Magic doesn’t suit everyone. There’s a hefty responsibility involved and only those who are willing to be held accountable are worthy.”
“Like the Salem bloodlines,” Gypsy added.
“Exactly,” Aunt Gwen agreed.
A half hour later I stood, pushing off the table as I cleared the dishes for my aunt. The guys helped clean the kitchen and it was done quickly. In all that time, I had yet to see the final member of my Cosan emerge.
“Where’s Ryder?”
“He’ll be here soon.”
Frowning, I opened my mouth to ask what he meant when the back door opened, and a disheveled Ryder entered. He wiped blood from his knuckles as he headed directly to the sink. After washing his hands, he finally acknowledged the weight of my stare.
“Cassie, beloved. Give me just a minute.”
Ryder left the kitchen as the rest of my Cosan was conspicuously silent.
“What’s going on?”
Gabe shrugged. Kayde wouldn’t meet my gaze.
‘He wants to explain.’
‘Explain what?’
Damian didn’t answer.
“You’re all being weird. In fact, you’ve been weird since I left for Hell. What gives?”
Gabe pursed his lips, refusing to answer.
“Sometimes you just have to be a little patient, Cass.”
I frowned at Kayde’s response.
Ryder returned before I could say more. He reached for my hand and pulled me into the backyard as the rest of my Cosan remained inside. This was beyond strange. My stomach churned with anxiety and worry. Had something happened?
“Hey, drop the frown. You’re too pretty to pout.” The humor in his voice didn’t reach his eyes.
“You’re keeping something from me.” Why were his knuckles all bloody?
A look of panic briefly flashed in his eyes. He didn’t respond to my words. “You are flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone. The beating heart inside my soul. You give me life, Cassie,” he choked out, brushing his fingers across my face. “Angel, you’re my entire world.”
“I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“You forget that we are intertwined. Our spirits are wrapped up in one another. My thread has grown deep roots and has buried deep down into your soul, my sweet. There is no decision you can make without my knowledge. No emotion you can hide without the feeling bursting inside my head.” He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss against my forehead. “Your heart beats with the same rhythm as my own. We’re in sync. Because of this, I anticipate your choices and desires and act accordingly.”
What was he saying?
“I did what had to be done to save you and I don’t regret the outcome.”
“You must accept this, pet.” Damian’s expression was haunting as he joined us, and the kitchen door slammed shut in the wind. Melancholy seemed to permeate the air.<
br />
“I don’t understand,” I repeated, looking up and into Ryder’s eyes.
“In order to reach Hell safely, a sacrifice had to be made.” Tears filled Ryder’s eyes and he blinked them back quickly.
Cold dread clutched at my heart. “A sacrifice?”
“Yes, the ancestors could only provide so much assistance. Ryder insisted on adding his own power and as a result, broke the sacred oath of his fellow ghouls.”
“What oath?” Wasn’t his obligation to my Cosan more important?
Ryder cleared his throat. “I gave a portion of my spirit to the fade in order to bring you back.”
What. The. Fuck.
“Tell me you didn’t do that,” I whispered with shock.
“The spirit realm belongs to ghouls. What I did was unforgiveable in the eyes of my elders.”
“Who asked you to do this?” I demanded. “Who?”
“You did,” he whispered, his expression apologetic. “I know you don’t remember.”
Shaking my head, I couldn’t fathom what he was saying. “What?”
“Your spirit reached for mine from the fade. You were dead, Cass. You don’t know because the memory was erased when you entered the Tomb of Lost Souls. Didn’t you stop to think over what happened in the two days that you were gone?”
“No,” I wailed, stepping closer and gripping his shoulders. “I would never ask you to tear a hole in your spirit for me. It must have been a deception.” Agony spread through my chest and I refused to believe I would ask him to willingly taint his own soul.
“It wasn’t a deception,” Gabe interrupted quietly. “We confirmed it was you. Kayde could feel your essence. He brought in your aunt and cousin. They made sure the request was real.”
I sank to my knees, tears filling my eyes and spilling over. “I was a coward. I must have been afraid. I’m so sorry, Ryder. I’m so terribly sorry I asked you to do that.”
He pulled me to my feet, his embrace tight as he placed a sweet kiss against my lips. “You’re wrong. You were very brave, my angel. You fought the darkness and demons for almost two whole days without faltering. None of us could have lasted so long. I doubt any mortal or witch could do the same.”