“It’s late afternoon on Earth,” Obsidian answered.
“Shit. I’ve missed work. I didn’t even get to call in. What if someone goes by the house looking for me? They’ll think…well hell, I don’t know what they’ll think. They never know what to think of me. I guess if I’m going to move down here, though, I’ll need to say goodbye to the townspeople or they might worry. They’ve known me my whole life.”
“We’ll worry about that later, love. Let it go for now.” Obsidian urged.
“Yes, you need to rest. Later, after sunset, you can retrieve Squaker and whatever else you need. Only time will tell what changes this night’s business has wrought on your physiology. For now I suggest you take things slowly,” Tryton instructed, and rose as if to leave. “Let us go now, Grimm. And leave these two to their rest.”
Grimm rose, but paused before leaving. His cowl was back about his face, hiding his features in shadows. “I cannot stress to you the importance of keeping my identity a secret for now. I hope I can count on the both of you to keep this knowledge between us.”
“I can’t help but wonder where you have been all these long years. I certainly hope you will tell us someday. For now, until you give us leave to speak, we will keep this in strictest confidence,” Obsidian promised for both of them.
“Perhaps I will share the story with you, someday. But not for a little while yet,” Grimm said.
Cady watched Grimm turn and glide into the sitting room beyond, and was suddenly moved to say something to him. She raced after him. “Traveler, wait.”
Grimm stopped, hand upon the door handle, and turned to her. “Yes?”
Cady could only think how strange and still he always was. He was such an odd duck. “Thank you. For saving my life.”
“Perhaps you will grow to hate me for it in time. This is a new life. Nothing like what you had before.” Dark as death, his voice never ceased to give her pause.
“No. I won’t hate you. And I won’t be scared of you, though you’ve totally blown my mind tonight. Just thinking about what you did—bringing me back from the dead—freaks me out. But you know what they say, ‘Don’t fear the reaper.’ So I won’t. Thank you for saving my life, reaper man.” She grinned.
“You’re welcome, little warrior.” From the shadowed hood, his eyes flashed. Cady would have sworn he was grinning when he turned and left. She stood there for several moments, thinking back over the night’s events.
What would happen to her now? Was she really all that different? Glancing into a mirror on the wall she could see the bright amber luster of her eyes glinting back at her. It was an uncomfortable sight, so she looked away almost immediately.
“Come to bed, baby. I’m sure you need to get what sleep you can.” Obsidian was suddenly at her side, stroking her hair. “You scared the hell out of me. Don’t ever die on me again.”
Cady laughed, though it was a weak effort. She was tired. “I’ll try my best.”
“I never want to have to go through that again. I didn’t think you would make it back.” He seized her suddenly in a rock-hard grip. “Never scare me like that again.” Then his lips were on hers.
Ever since she’d awakened from the dark void of her death, she’d noticed how hypersensitive her senses had grown. Before, Obsidian’s kiss had drugged her and flooded her body with tingling heat. Now it stole her mind and made her see stars. God, how good would sex be now? She couldn’t help giggling over the thought.
Obsidian pulled back. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. I’m just so glad to be alive.” She kissed his chin. “Thank you for not being mad because I ate your come.” The words made her giggle again. What an odd thing—to fear ingesting sperm—though it was perfectly normal because he was a Shikar. Still, it sounded strange when spoken of aloud.
“Oh I will be mad, when you’ve rested and recovered. In fact, I’m thinking of spanking you. Being punished is probably the only way you’ll learn. I told you my coming inside of you was impossible, that it was against our laws. But you wouldn’t listen.”
“I thought it was to discourage having children. I thought swallowing was okay. I sure as hell didn’t think it was going to kill me,” she said defensively.
“It doesn’t matter. I will spank you, and you will remember to always heed what I say. Now, let’s go to bed. Worrying over you has worn me out completely.”
Later, as they snuggled beneath the sheets, Cady asked, “Does this mean you can come inside me now? Now that I’m a Shikar?”
Heat radiated from Obsidian’s body as he curved it spoon fashion around hers. “Yes.” His voice was husky. His cock was already hard against her rear. “But not right now. Just let me hold you.” He kissed her hair.
“Yes, please hold me. As tight as you can.” Cady yawned and drifted off to sleep.
“I’ll never let you go,” Obsidian vowed, before he too succumbed to slumber.
Chapter Fourteen
Cady woke up, face down over Obsidian’s thighs. “What the hell?” she exclaimed. What was he doing? She was naked, so her ass was bared to his gaze. One of his strong, large hands was rubbing over her appreciatively.
“You need to understand that what you did was wrong and that I was terrified for you.” His voice was soft, full of gentleness and a touch of regret. “I can’t let you be so foolish as to put your own safety at risk like that. I have to protect you from yourself, and this is the only way I know how to get your stubborn attention.” Smack! His hand rose and slapped down on her ass.
“Arrrrggh! Hijo de puta…you son of a—“ Whack!
“I’m only doing this to impress upon you the importance of following my orders. You knew better than to tempt fate last night.” Slap! “You knew better than to disobey me.”
“Screw you. You didn’t tell me sucking you off was forbidden. Let me up or I’ll kick your ass, so help me God.” The swats to her rear didn’t hurt so much as they humiliated. Her face was red with indignant anger. She struggled to rise, but his hand—the one not presently paddling her ass—pushed her head back down towards the floor. Her rear end was pointed skyward, growing red she was certain, as he continued his punishment.
Smack! “Don’t.” Whack! “Ever.” Slap! “Put yourself in danger like that again. I couldn’t bear it if you hurt yourself because of me ever again.”
“You’re hurting me now you—you big jerk!” she stuttered. For the first time in her memory she couldn’t find a smart-assed remark to express her displeasure. As soon as she could wriggle away from him, she was going to kill him!
“I’m not hurting you, we both know that.” His hand had ceased spanking her. Now it rubbed lightly over her red, abused flesh. It was arousing, no matter how she fought against it. Within seconds she grew wet, and his fingers inserted themselves between her legs. She remembered her anger and squirmed against him. Arousing or not she wasn’t going to forgive him so quickly just because he was petting her now.
“If you don’t let me up I’m going to shoot you the first chance I get,” she swore through gritted teeth.
Slap! “Don’t take that tone with me. Before I let you up you have to promise me that you’ll never disobey me again.”
“Fuck you.”
Smack! “I’m doing this for your own safety. I love you, and I don’t want anything to happen to you simply because you’re too stubborn to follow orders. I’m trying to save you from yourself.”
“W-what?” Her mouth was suddenly dry, and it wasn’t entirely because his fingers had once again insinuated themselves between her legs. “What did you say?”
“I’m saving you from your own stubborn nature,” he said, fingers finding her wet flesh.
“No, the other, you dolt.” Whack! “Ow! Stop that! Did you or did you not say that you love me?”
“Yes, I love you. Even if you are a smart-assed, stubborn human. I love you, and I don’t want to see you hurt ever again.”
“Let me up.”
“Will yo
u promise to obey me in the future?”
“No, I don’t obey anyone but myself.” Smack! Slap! Whack! “Aaaaaah! Okay, okay. I promise to obey you. When we’re on the battle-field,” she hastened to add.
Obsidian was silent for a moment, and since no more blows landed on her ass, she was inclined to believe he was thinking on her offer. It would be meeting her halfway on the whole ‘follow my orders’ thing, but it was all she was willing to agree to. Her rear was tingling, and much as she would have fought against admitting it, she was getting horny as hell.
The thick, hard ridge of Obsidian’s erection stabbed her in the hip. She wanted to rub against him like a cat. He seemed to sense her growing excitement, and thrust a long finger into her wet sheath. She opened her legs as much as she could to give him easier access.
“Very well then, it is agreed. On the battlefield you will obey my every command, no questions asked. And in the privacy of our chambers I will try to make an effort to explain any…suggestions I might have there.”
“I get to decide whether or not to obey you, though. On the battlefield and in the bedroom.”
“Only in the bedroom.” He was adamant on that point.
“Deal,” she said after a moment of thought.
“Deal,” he repeated. “Now, I find I am in need of relief. As part of your punishment for last night’s debacle, you will see to my needs first.” With those words his finger came out of her dripping flesh. Cady saw him lick his finger clean as she rose up and settled astride him.
Their eyes met for a moment then, quick as a blink, Cady pulled back her fist and socked him in the mouth. “Don’t ever treat me like that again. See to your needs indeed. You’re lucky I’m willing to have sex with you at all after the way you just treated me,” she said as he fell back onto the mattress.
Obsidian sputtered and tried to rise, but Cady held him down. There were advantages, she was quickly discovering, to having great strength.
“Cady,” he began in a warning tone, but he forgot what he’d meant to say as she fully sheathed him in her wet and welcoming body.
“What?” she said, knowing full well how dazed he was. Lucky for him she was horny as all get out and needed him now. She was still more than a little peeved over the spanking, but willing to let revenge go in lieu of sex. “Cady, what?”
“Nothing. Love me.” His words were spoken on a groan.
“I do love you,” she vowed, knowing it was true. She did love him.
Slowly she moved on him, rising up until he was almost free of her, then lowering back down. He was so deep at this angle, brushing against all the sensitive nerve endings inside of her. Stretching and filling her until she didn’t know where her body ended and his began.
With a ragged sound, Obsidian rose up and popped a nipple into his mouth. His hands moved around to squeeze and spread her ass cheeks as she rocked against him. It was deliciously wicked, the way he seemed to wrap himself up in her.
Dazed, Obsidian felt her hot, wet flesh tense and squeeze around his cock. Unable to hold back, he lifted and bounced her, coming into her harder and faster. She was so wet she was soaking his balls, and he thanked his lucky stars that he’d found so responsive a woman.
He bit and suckled her breasts. Licked and laved her from throat to nipple, bathing her with his mouth. His fingers kneaded the flesh of her rear, moving her on him faster and faster. The keening wails escaping her mouth echoed in his ears and in the room around them.
“Oooooo, it’s too much,” she screamed with the overwhelming pleasure. Her muscles clamped down on him. She could feel it, like a rippling fist in her vagina. Shuddering and moaning she came, heart pounding, senses reeling. Her stinging ass cheeks only heightened the erotic feel of his fingers squeezing her, and her breasts bounced as he sucked on them.
“You’re so fucking sexy when you come for me, baby,” he growled around her nipple. He pounded into her a few more delicious times. “I’m coming too, Cady. Take my seed. Every last drop,” he commanded.
Cady was still in the throes of her multiple orgasms, but she felt him when he stiffened against her. She felt the hot wash of come as it flooded her already soaking wet sheath. Every burst from his cock filled her with a kind of giddy joy, and she screamed. Somehow the hot feel of his come managed to heighten her ecstasy, flooding her body with a warm and glowing bliss.
“Oh my God!” she screamed, shuddering over and over against him.
Obsidian only groaned and gathered her tighter against her, still thrusting deep. He knew what she was feeling. Shikars always felt their partner’s orgasm along with their own when they indulged in unprotected sex. It was a bond that became more and more addictive each time they mated. He knew for certain then that Cady was no longer human.
She was a Shikar woman in every way.
Almost blacking out from the exquisite torment that wracked their bodies they collapsed back against the bed. They moaned and rocked together, still locked together in release. It was almost half an hour later before they regained their wits.
“Damn! Now that was good sex,” Cady laughed and snuggled down onto his chest.
Obsidian couldn’t have said it better himself.
* * * * *
“I am not wearing this.”
“It will protect you. Aren’t you glad it’s not the clunky body armor you envisioned? You’ll have freedom of movement as well as almost impenetrable protection from neck to toe.”
“Oh, hell no.”
“Cady, you are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. Several of our women spent three days and nights working to prepare this for you, and you quibble over how it looks. You will wear this and be grateful for it.” Obsidian’s voice had grown diamond hard during his speech.
It didn’t intimidate her one bit. “This is worse than Cat Woman’s body suit. You can see everything, from my nipples to the crack of my ass. No way.”
“You will wear this or you will not be allowed to fight the Daemons anymore.”
“Oh yeah? You think you’ve got the balls to start some shit with me? I’d like to see you try and stop me,” she shouted, practically stomping her foot in indignation.
“Nice outfit,” came a voice behind her, and she started. Edge and Cinder stepped into the room without so much as a by your leave.
“That looks very…um…very nice, Cady,” Cinder said, taking in her appearance with an appreciative look in his yellow eyes.
Obsidian sent a dark scowl in his direction and Cinder immediately backed away with a sheepish grin. “Regardless of how it looks on you, Cady, this suit can save your life. No tooth or claw can penetrate the material. There are retractable blades sewn into the wrists, and secure straps throughout for the guns you seem to fancy so much. It’s durable, easy to clean, and it will keep you cool or warm, depending on the weather. You will wear it.”
“I look like a dominatrix.” She did. From throat to ankle she was encased in a black, latex-like material that clung to her body like a second skin. How the Shikar women she’d met upon receiving the suit had known her measurements she couldn’t guess. But here she was, standing in a room of three men—each looking at her like she was a piece of pie—in the most revealing outfit ever made.
Blush? Her? Surely not.
Obsidian ignored her comment. He turned to face the other men. “You have a report for me, Edge?”
“We’ve found the back door. It’s in the middle of a large expanse of woodland. A massive oak has been uprooted from the ground, probably during a storm, leaving bare an entranceway into some underground caverns. It’s a large area but Tryton has assigned some Travelers to investigate the area. We’re sure its what we’ve been looking for.”
“Make sure everyone is on alert duties tonight. Send more men to guard the Gates, and stand at the ready near the backdoor in case some Daemons manage to get past our Travelers.”
Cinder and Edge both immediately left to see Obsidian’s orders carried out.
“I’ll wear this for now, Obsidian, under one condition,” she said through gritted teeth when his attention turned back to her.
“What is that?”
“That I help the women design a new suit. One not so…sex-fiendish.”
“Fine,” he conceded. “But you get to explain to them why you’re not happy with this one.”
“That’s not a problem. I’m not shy or anything.”
Obsidian laughed. “You, of all people, fail to see the irony in your statement.”
Cady cocked her head to the side, thinking. Then she blushed and swore. “Shit. Okay, so I’m shy when it comes to being an exhibitionist. But not when it comes to running my mouth.”
“Thank you for the clarification. Now, you’ve donned your weapons for the evening? Good. Let’s go get your cat.” The smile never wavered from his lips. He took her hand.
One moment they were standing in Obsidian’s bedroom, the next they were in the middle of hell.
Chapter Fifteen
Smoke engulfed the interior of her house. Flames licked and ate at the walls of what once had been the only safe haven in her life. “Oh no, oh no!” she wailed.
“Cady, grab what you can so we can get out of here.” Obsidian had to yell to be heard over the roaring of the flames.
Her grandparents’ house burned around them as she hurried to do his bidding. Thankful that Obsidian could just disappear them out of harm’s way when the time came, Cady ran through the house gathering her favorite belongings. Despite her pain over the loss of her house, she tried to look on the bright side. At least she had another home to go to. Not many people would be so fortunate.
Moving with preternatural speed, she grabbed a pillowcase and emptied her jewelry box into it. Followed it with her Grandmother’s precious signed copy of Gone With the Wind, and her Grandfather’s pipe. On her bed she found her brother’s stuffed giraffe and shoved it into the pillowcase with all the rest.
Hurrying through each room, darting between smoke and flames, the sack was soon full of the precious possessions she wanted to save most. Thankfully with her newfound speed and quick reflexes, she’d had enough time to glance about each room in search of Squaker. She’d found no sign of him. She hoped that the resourceful tom had escaped out of his pet door when the fire first started.
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