Unhallowed Redemption

by Tara Rose

  But the best secret had been the one he’d just shown her, and it also sent questions racing through her mind. “Will you miss your powers when you become human again?”

  They didn’t answer, and when she turned to face them, she was taken aback by the pain on both their faces. What had she said to upset them so much? Wasn’t that what they’d told her they wanted? To be mortal again? Had they lied to her, or was something else going on?

  How long would she be here before she completely understood them? Or would that never happen? As her thoughts wandered toward the reality of her situation, her delight at being given a tour of the home led to fear of the unknown. Her unknown especially, and that of her four friends. How she wished she could speak with each of them just once, just to know they were indeed okay.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Alexei had never had trouble coming up with something to say, but he’d be damned twice if he wasn’t at a complete loss for words at her question. The panic on her face at his and Konstantin’s silence tore at his heart. One of them had to say something. She thought she’d done something wrong, and nothing was further from the truth.

  Alexei finally found his voice. “Well, it will be different, I suppose.”

  She wasn’t buying it. She was far too intelligent and perceptive for that. He forced a neutral expression to his face, but it was too late. She’d seen his initial reaction. She’d seen the same reaction on both their faces.

  “That’s what you want, right?” Her question was tentative, unsure. She asked it in the same tone she’d used her first day in this house.

  “It is.” Alexei took her hand and plastered a smile on his face that he didn’t feel. “Come on. Konstantin is dying to show you more of his tiny dungeon.”

  She didn’t move. He sighed and pulled her close, not knowing what else to do. When he glanced at his brother, Konstantin shrugged. What could they say to her? They certainly couldn’t tell her the truth.

  “What did I say wrong? Please tell me.”

  He stroked her hair, wishing things were different. If they’d met her under other circumstances, who knows what might have been? Even her adventures on the balconies yesterday hadn’t dimmed her charm or sexiness in his eyes. He and Konstantin had been terrified that someone had spotted her, and if they had, they’d have to deal with that one day. But they weren’t upset that she’d tried to get out of the room. On the contrary. One can’t cage a spirited bird forever, after all. Sooner or later it will find a way to spread its wings and fly.

  “You’ve done nothing wrong. Nothing. It’s just difficult to talk about. So…so much rests on the unknown with respect to whether or not we’ll ever be human again.” That certainly wasn’t a lie.

  “You said it has something to do with the turf war, right?”

  Was that what they’d told her? Yes, it was. They’d better learn to keep those things straight. She remembered every word they said. “That’s correct.” That wasn’t a lie, either, but neither was it the whole truth.

  “This all must be so difficult for you both.”

  He closed his eyes as guilt washed over him. That he could still feel it at all was a testament to Faina’s presence in this home having a profound effect on them. “This hasn’t been fun for you either.” Her warmth and passion had caused a subtle change in both of them during the past few days. Before she’d come downstairs for breakfast, Konstantin had remarked on how much better coffee had begun to taste again. And that wasn’t the only instance of one of them noticing their human senses being more attuned lately.

  She had done that for them. But what did it mean? What could it mean, in the end?

  She pulled away and looked at him with so much lust that he had to bite back a moan. “Did I hear you say something about Konstantin’s dungeon?” There it was. That carefree sexiness to her voice that he’d already grown so used to.

  Konstantin gave him a look that didn’t require words or the ability to read each other’s thoughts. They both had reached the same conclusion together.

  Were they to enjoy her company and her body only to have to watch her die? He couldn’t do it. As Alexei held her and stroked her hair, he knew that as surely as he’d ever known anything. He would never be able to do it. He couldn’t offer her up as a sacrifice in order to become human again. He’d stay in this state for eternity before he’d watch her die and lose her forever.

  He kissed her. “Yes, I did. Come with us, beautiful.”

  * * * *

  The dungeon was smaller than she remembered or it might have only appeared that way now since all three of them were crammed inside. Konstantin gave the wheel a spin, and Faina was grateful to see it took considerable strength for him to do so, and that it revolved slowly. “It’s ancient.”

  “Have you used it often?”

  He grinned. “Not really. It was here when we bought the house, along with manacles and actual chains attached to the walls.” He pointed toward dark marks against the far wall, which she hadn’t noticed the first time she’d been in here. “We’re not entirely sure this room was used for play.”

  Faina shivered. “But you want to do that now, right?”

  Konstantin laughed, but the sound wasn’t derisive. He ruffled her hair. “Not if what I just said is going to freak you out. You’ll have safewords, and we’ll respect your limits, just as we’ve done so far.”

  “I know you will.” It was true. She had no reason not to trust them in here any less than she’d trusted them in the rest of the house. She stepped closer to the wheel and touched it, running her fingers along the rough wood. Now that she had time to examine it, the leather straps were worn and thick, obviously older than she’d first thought, but still intact. “Will you minimize the time I’m upside down? I think that might make me dizzy.”

  “Absolutely.” Konstantin moved behind her and placed his hands over hers, guiding them across the wood and leather. “This wheel isn’t just about bondage, Faina.” His voice, sultry and dark, sent shivers up and down her spine. “It’s about sensations and experiences from every possible angle, to maximize pleasure.”

  He moved his hands up her arms, slowly, and she moaned softly. When he brushed them over her breasts, Faina leaned against him and closed her eyes. Her earlier cares melted away as Konstantin traced a line with the edge of one hand between her breasts, over her abdomen, and then between her legs. He nuzzled her neck as he rubbed her clit, pushing his erection against her ass cheeks at the same time.

  Her moans grew louder as her orgasm drew near, and for a few seconds Faina thought he was going to let her come, but he moved his hand away, chuckling softly against her hair. “Time to get naked, my love.”

  She couldn’t have disobeyed that voice if she’d wanted to. He turned her around and kissed her, shoving his tongue into her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and pushed closer to his body, not caring about the wheel or anything else right now. All she wanted was to feel him and Alexei inside her again.

  When Konstantin released the kiss, she glanced around. Where was Alexei?

  “He’ll be right back. Went to get a few things for us to play with.”

  She hadn’t even realized he’d left the room. “Can you read each other’s thoughts?”

  “Yes.” He pulled off her top and tossed it into his bedroom. Then he unhooked her bra and removed it, tossing it as well. She started to remove her pants, but he did it for her, and then he took off her panties and slippers. He tilted the wheel as far flat as it would go, then lifted her in his arms and placed her on top of the wood.

  “Just lie there for a second and get used to it. It’s a bit wobbly because it’s so old.”

  “I won’t fall off, will I?”

  He brushed a finger over her left nipple, and she shivered in anticipation. “We’d never let anything happen to you.” The serious tone of his voice and the intense look in his eyes was a bit disconcerting. She had the feeling his words held a deeper meaning, but she didn’t
have time to think about it because Alexei returned, carrying an armful of kitchen utensils.

  Faina laughed as erotic images of what they were going to do to her raced through her mind. He and Konstantin fastened the leather straps around her wrists and ankles, checking to make sure they weren’t too tight or loose. Then they slowly tipped the wheel to a vertical position.

  Without the narrow wooden shelves that protruded above the straps, she would have felt like she was suspended by the leather alone, and that would have been very uncomfortable, especially being totally spread-eagle. But instead, she liked the feeling. She was definitely at their mercy, but she could stay in this position for a long time without it becoming painful or too restrictive.

  “Do you remember your safeword?” asked Alexei, slapping a wooden spoon lightly against his palm.

  “Red.”

  “Good girl. We’re giving you one additional safeword today. Use ‘yellow’ for anything that needs to be adjusted, like a limb, or if you need a water or bathroom break. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  Alexei placed the wooden spoon on the table where he’d dumped the other utensils and kissed her. “No, Faina. Thank you. For all of this. The trust, the apology for yesterday, and for being so patient while we figure all this out.”

  Once again, she had the impression he was talking about a hidden meaning, but she pushed that out of her mind. This wasn’t the time to dwell on the unpleasant circumstances of why she was here. She only wanted to enjoy them both, and give herself to them once again, completely.

  They licked her nipples, taking turns, until her pussy was so wet and she was so ready to come, she didn’t think she could stand it. Then Alexei picked up the wooden spoon again and tapped her nipples with it, lightly, but she definitely felt it. His grin nearly made her come. “And you thought this was only good for mixing things.”

  She giggled. “It’s an ingenious use.”

  Konstantin held up a wire whisk. “You won’t be saying that for long.” He smacked the insides of her thighs and she yelped. Alexei kept up his swats on her nipples with the wooden spoon. But then as Konstantin began to hit her pussy with the whisk, Alexei switched to using a plastic spatula.

  Faina tossed her head back and forth and bit her lip against the pain, but at the same time her pussy contracted in tiny spasms. Her orgasm was so close. The pain was all mixed up with the pleasure once again, and she wondered if it would always feel this way when they played with her, or if she’d grow used to it. They were so creative, she doubted she’d ever find it routine.

  Don’t go there. This isn’t permanent.

  She sighed loudly as thoughts about their uncertain future once more tried to crowd in. No. They weren’t allowed here today. She wouldn’t let them in. This day was only for Konstantin and Alexei, and the incredible pleasure they could give her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Konstantin had never been so aroused by any woman, as a human or a demon. It wasn’t the first time in the past couple of days he realized how easy it would be to lose his heart to her. But that was madness. And it would mean her death. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t watch her die, knowing she’d be forever lost to them even in that state.

  As he switched to using a pastry cutter in the same way he would a Wartenberg wheel, running it over her pussy lips and the insides of her thighs, he watched her eyes go soft and her lids dip partway closed. She was near subspace again. The easy way she gave herself over to them was unlike anything he’d seen before.

  It made him feel powerful and alive. It made him want to be human again in the worst way, but it also brought home the reality of their situation more painfully than any experience had in all these decades. The more they touched her and spent time with her, the closer they both edged toward falling for her. Hard. And once they did that, what would happen? What events would come together to bring about her death?

  For neither he nor Alexei were naïve enough to believe they could keep this a secret from Sargatanas or the other supernatural beings for very long. Someone would discover them, and plenty of the vamps, magi, witches, or ghosts would gladly betray them for the chance to win favors with Sargatanas and his allies.

  Konstantin slapped her clit with a pastry brush, then ran it along her entire soaking-wet slit. He’d never look at kitchen utensils in the same way again. When Alexei nodded toward him, he put down the pastry brush and they turned the wheel so that she was lying sideways, with her feet facing them.

  They took turns licking her pussy and sucking her clit. They fucked her with their fingers, one in her pussy and one in her asshole, taking care to use plenty of lube because of what they’d shared with her the other night.

  Had it really only been three days she’d been here with them? It felt much longer. It was as if they’d always known her and had each been waiting for her to find them. Dagon had said she was marked. But did that mean she belonged to this Lidérc who had never returned for her, or could they now claim her as their own?

  Her climax went on and on, and Konstantin couldn’t take much more. He had to have her. “Let’s turn her over and place towels under her torso. Experiment a bit with this thing.”

  Alexei grinned. “I was thinking the exact same thing.”

  * * * *

  Faina’s orgasm still hadn’t stopped when they untied her, gave her water to drink, and then tied her to the wheel again, this time lying prone. They placed rolled-up towels under her torso and head, made sure twice again that she was comfortable and well-supported, and then they tipped it vertical.

  She moaned loudly as they punished her ass with the same kitchen utensils they’d used on her pussy and nipples. Her ass cheeks were on fire, but she loved every second of this. Sweat broke out along her hairline and under the towels. She clenched her teeth at some of the harder swats, but she didn’t want them to stop. It was exquisite, because she was completely at their mercy, and she knew how much they were enjoying it.

  “You know,” said Alexei, pausing in between his strikes, “she does need to be punished for what she did yesterday.” He’d been using a metal serving spoon with holes in it, and she was grateful for the interruption, even though what he said sent shivers up and down her spine.

  “That’s true.” Konstantin was currently using a hand-held cheese grater, and he resumed swatting her with it now, harder than before. She yelled in surprise as tiny pinpricks of fiery pain danced across her cheeks. “You deserve this, Faina. You know you do.”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “That wasn’t very convincing.”

  She held her breath, then cried out again as he pinched her with the salad tongs, one end just above her asshole and the other against her clit. He didn’t pinch hard, but it definitely hurt. “Not just for salad tossing.”

  She giggled at his choice of words, but it turned out to be the wrong thing to do. They assumed she was having way too much fun with this, and now they alternated punishing her ass with the wooden spoon and the wire whisk.

  Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes, but she didn’t want them to stop. She’d never felt anything like this. She’d never even fabricated something like this in her wildest, darkest fantasies. There was nothing she’d deny these two. Nothing. She was theirs, body and soul. She could so easily lose her heart as well, but she shook away those thoughts once again. Nothing frightening or ugly was allowed in today. She wanted her mind clear to enjoy them.

  Konstantin gave her hair a hard tug. “Now what do you think? Do you deserve this for what you did yesterday?”

  “Yes. Yes, I do. I shouldn’t have done it.” Her voice came out breathy, and she hoped they didn’t interpret it as more laughter.

  “Good girl.” The deep, rich tone washed over her, silky and smooth, and she sighed. Hands caressed her lower back and ass cheeks, and then one of them spread something cool and soothing over her tender skin. “This will help.”

  “Thank you so much.”


  “But your punishment will continue with something a bit different.”

  She shivered at his words. They took her off the wheel, and then each of them held her for a few moments and checked to make sure the leather hadn’t hurt her wrists or ankles. Konstantin carried her to his bed, and she caught the scent of flowers, remembering Magda’s words to Will the day before.

  She searched for them. One vase was on the nightstand next to Konstantin’s bed, and two were on the dresser across the room. “Those are so beautiful.”

  “I had them placed in here yesterday in the hopes you would spend the night in this room with us.”

  She gazed into his beautiful eyes, wishing she could take back what she’d done. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

  His smile was genuine, and deep in his eyes, she glimpsed a hint of humor. “You’re almost forgiven. Almost. But first you must do one more thing for us. And then the incident will truly be forgotten.”

  “Anything.”

  He straddled her chest and tilted his head slightly. “Be careful. We’ll hold you to that.”

  She held his gaze, her entire body trembling with need. “I mean it. I’ll do anything for you two.” It didn’t even matter at that moment that they’d told her the entire incident had been forgotten and forgiven. She knew this was part of the play, and she loved it.

  They exchanged a quick glance that once again had her wondering at deeper meanings, but she didn’t have time to give it a second thought because Konstantin crawled off her, and both men stripped with lightning speed. She sighed and enjoyed the sight of their hard, muscled bodies, knowing that from this moment on, she’d compare every experience in her life to her time here with these two.

  Alexei placed the bottle of lube on the nightstand, and Konstantin lay next to her. “Climb on, my love.”