Obsidian peered at his brother, noticed the hard lines on his face.
“Aside from keeping an eye on her, I haven’t made any progress,” Eclipse admitted, the words a dark rumble of disappointment.
“I’m in the same boat, brother,” Aphotic said.
“At least you’ve located yours,” Cimmerian grumbled, his frustration prevalent.
“We’ve got time,” Obsidian assured them.
“Yeah?” Shadow’s angry word snapped through the phone. “It’s been a month and a half, for fuck’s sake. Not a single one of us has mated. Full moon’s tomorrow, Obsidian. Please tell me you’ve prepared your amsouelot for the lintamair,” he pressed.
“I haven’t. But I will.”
For all intents and purposes, Penelope was ready. She’d even admitted as much. He knew if he made the request, she’d willingly walk into that mating chamber and lay down her life for him. Truth was, she wasn’t the holdup. He was. The thought of…
“Look, I know we thought splitting up was the right thing to do, but I think we need to make some changes,” Piceous stated.
“What do you suggest?” Shadow inquired.
“Personally, I think it’s best if we return to the mansion. Combine efforts and send out teams in rotation.”
It made sense, Obsidian thought. He couldn’t imagine the difficulty of continuing to move from one place to another only to end up disappointed because their intel had been insufficient or downright wrong.
“I agree,” Cimmerian said.
“Me, too,” Shadow chimed in.
“I’ll remain where I am,” Aphotic said. “But I’ll send Rinc back, keep Decebal with me. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Of which we have no idea how much we have,” Eclipse reminded him.
“I hear you, brother,” Aphotic said softly.
“I won’t be coming in yet. But I can give you Raksa and Viliam,” Stygian offered.
Obsidian stopped pacing, stared at the phone. “What?”
“I know where she is,” he said softly. “At least the vicinity.”
Finally some good news.
“Any word on Perfidious? He made a move yet?” Cimmerian asked.
“No,” he told him. “But he’s close. Gryffyth is fairly certain he’s gone to ground nearby, biding his time.”
“Seraphina and Sirius?” Stygian asked.
“Nothing on them, but I figure they’re with Perfidious,” Obsidian explained.
“So the brother’s safe?” Shadow inquired.
“As long as he’s in the mansion, yes.” He exhaled heavily. “Pissed but safe.”
“If you mate her, you can let him go,” Aphotic noted.
He knew that. Didn’t make the decision any easier.
Before he could launch into an excuse, Obsidian felt Penelope’s pull. The heat consuming her called out to his body like a beacon.
As though he sensed the shift, Eclipse looked up at him, nodded.
Without another word, Obsidian marched out of the room, down the hall to their bedroom. With every step he took, he felt Penelope, the painful longing that stole her breath, had her thrashing on the bed. For the past month, it had been growing immensely stronger with every passing day. The reprieve they’d expected when he started feeding from her had long since passed. Now it was merely a matter of staying nearby for when it overwhelmed one or both of them.
Throwing the door open, he made a beeline for the bed. “Penelope?”
His female was naked, lying on the bed, face flushed as she moved around, attempting to get comfortable.
“Why didn’t you call me?” he asked, using his mind to strip off his own clothes before joining her.
“You were busy.”
“Never too busy for you, ayreme,” he whispered, pressing his lips to hers as she ran her hands over his chest, his shoulders.
“I just want to feel you,” she answered. “To touch you. Plus I knew you’d come for me.”
“Always, ayreme.”
Before he could align their bodies, Penelope halted him by cupping his face.
“Not yet.”
He frowned, confused.
“I want to touch you first.”
“Touch me, ayreme. Whatever you need.”
The next thing he knew, Obsidian was on his back, his female smiling down at him, her breaths evening out.
“Let me touch you, Obsidian. I need to touch you.”
Her lips were sweet fire on his skin as she trailed down his neck, his shoulders, moving lower. He could only watch, endure. The way her fingers grazed his skin like butterfly wings, barely there, fluttering over him.
These were the moments he cherished, the times when they could explore. They were rare because the amnigh wasn’t giving much reprieve. And while Obsidian loved being lodged deep inside her, he loved this just as much.
Penelope kissed his chest, inching lower. Her desire morphed with his, sending flames licking at him. It was nearly unbearable, but the thought of stopping her didn’t occur to him. He could read her intentions. His amsouelot was hell-bent on driving him wild with only her mouth.
He widened his legs, allowing her room to settle between them. As she knelt there, the pads of her fingers dragged over him, across his chest, his stomach, moving lower. Obsidian sucked in air when she trailed across his hip bones, her heated gaze locked on his cock.
Rather than take him in hand, she teased him with the gentle sweep of her fingers, grazing the sensitive head, down his shaft. Warmth cupped his balls as she palmed his sac. And when her head lowered, it was all he could do to watch. Her pink tongue licking over the head, circling it. Teasing, tormenting.
A deep growl escaped when the blazing heat of her mouth enveloped him.
Penelope was focused on what she was doing, her eyes never meeting his as he watched her lips slide over his cock, taking more of him in her mouth. It was exquisite torture, a sensual pain unlike anything he’d ever known. Then again, she’d been growing bolder the more time that passed, and he couldn’t deny he loved that she wanted to explore him more.
She hummed, the vibrations rattling through him, causing his hips to lift. Her eyes shot up to his, and there was approval there. Her goal was to pleasure him. And while he was desperate to return the favor, he couldn’t seem to move, didn’t want this to end.
Her cheeks hollowed as she sucked him deep, dragged her lips over his sensitive flesh before releasing him. She did it again and again, that slight pause before she returned to her ministrations brutal.
Reaching for her head, Obsidian guided her back down. This time when she retreated, he urged her to remain as she was, not wanting her to release him from between her lips. Penelope moaned, making his cock pulse.
“Ayreme … sweet love … suck me.”
He dropped his head back with a groan when she did, her mouth moving over him faster, taking him deeper. His female had no idea how hot her mouth was or how wild she made him when she did this. It was a rare treat, one he looked forward to but would never demand.
“Tell me, Obsidian,” she whispered, her breath fluttering over his cock. “Tell me what you want.”
Tangling his fingers in her hair, he guided her back down. “I want you to suck me.”
She shivered and it was then he realized she enjoyed the assertiveness, wanted him to guide her.
“Take more of me,” he hissed. “As deep as you can.”
His stomach muscles clenched as undiluted pleasure slammed into him, the sensitive head of his cock brushing the back of her throat.
“Like that… Fuck.” He inhaled sharply. “Just like that, ayreme.”
Pumping his hips upward, Obsidian met every downstroke of her lips, his hand holding her there as she pleasured him in a way no one ever had.
“I want to come in your mouth,” he whispered. “Watch you swallow me down.”
Another moan, more vibrations. His entire body hardened, his balls drawing up tight to his body. He was so fucking cl
ose. Too close.
“You want that, ayreme? For me to come down your throat?”
Penelope nodded, never pulling her mouth from his cock.
Using two hands, Obsidian palmed her head, held her in place as he pumped his hips upward, gentle thrusts so as not to hurt her. A dark rumble started in his chest as his release stole over him, robbing him of all his senses as he pushed in deep, held her there, his cock pulsing as he came.
A brilliant smile pulled at her mouth as she crawled over him. He brought her mouth down, licked past her lips, showing her how much her actions humbled him. Never in his two thousand years had he ever had anyone bring him such overwhelming pleasure.
“Did you enjoy that?” she whispered, her eyes glittering with pride.
“Always, ayreme.”
He rolled them slowly, so that his body covered hers.
“Now it’s my turn,” he warned, grinning back at her.
Taking his time, Obsidian tormented her the same way, licking every inch of her as he worked his way down her body. When he settled between her thighs, he slid his hands beneath her ass, lifting her up to meet his mouth. He tortured her the same way, gentle, probing licks, exploring her slick folds, lapping at her juices.
“Obsidian!” Her hands fisted in the blanket, hips rising.
He buried his face between her legs, focused on her clit. His female came apart, writhing and moaning as he overwhelmed her with pleasure.
“Obsidian … Ob—” Penelope cried out, her clit pulsing against his tongue as she came.
In an instant, he was over her, sliding his cock into the slick, hot depth of her body. She welcomed him, her arms wreathing his neck, sex clenching around him. He took his time, rocking into her, driving them both up once again.
This time, when he launched them over that fragile edge, Obsidian fused his mouth to hers, letting her taste all the love he had for her.
Ten hours later, Penelope was writhing on the bed as had been the case since his body had answered her earlier call. Since that first exquisite exploration, they’d come together numerous times. They would make love, and no more than forty-five minutes later, she was moaning again, the heat overwhelming them both. Obsidian was exhausted, knew she had to be, yet it wasn’t letting up.
“Obsidian…” She groaned softly. “What’s happening to me?”
“Come here, ayreme,” he whispered, pulling her over him.
As she straddled his hips, he guided himself inside her.
She moaned, barely moving as she rested her head on his chest. Her hair was damp from sweat and exertion, her voice raspy from exhaustion.
He rocked up into her, slow, steady strokes deep inside her.
“I don’t think it’s going to stop,” she said, her limbs loose and weak.
He was starting to think she was right. As though it was in tune with her needs, his cock remained rock hard, never deflating. Not even as soon as he came.
“I need to sleep,” she whimpered, clutching at him.
“I know.”
Knowing she was wrung out completely, Obsidian remained as he was, pushing inside her, retreating for as long as he could. In an effort to send her over once more, he shifted her beneath him, continued the gentle, rolling motion of his hips until she was clenching around him again.
Penelope offered no words of encouragement, no desperate pleas. Just soft whimpers before her body clamped down on him, triggering his release.
This time, when she went boneless, Obsidian forced himself up, found his jeans.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” she murmured, sleep already taking her.
Not wanting to waste time, Obsidian dematerialized, reforming in the medical room. It was a place used more to store supplies for the heurosp since angels rarely required medical assistance. He rummaged through the cabinet until he found the sedatives.
“You’re going to need something stronger than that,” Taayin said, appearing beside him.
“Like what?” he growled.
“Morphine,” the lieterra said simply.
Obsidian spun around, glared at the male. “You want me to pump narcotics into my female?”
“I assume you want her to rest?”
Of course he did. Fuck.
“That’ll do the trick,” Taayin said. “Give her a reprieve. Hell. Give us all a reprieve.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s nonstop, Obsidian. The wave of sexual energy seems to have settled over the entire mansion. Constant. Give her the morphine, let her rest for a bit. Give us some time to figure this out.”
He passed over a syringe. Obsidian stared at it, nodded. “Fine, but let the record show I’m not happy about it.”
Then again, he would do anything to ease Penelope’s pain. Right now, it seemed as though he didn’t have much of a choice.
Taayin nodded, then disappeared before Obsidian did.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
FEELING AS THOUGH HER ENTIRE BODY WAS weighed down, Penelope fought to lift her head, tried to peer around. She could see the shutters were closed, which meant night had turned to day, but she wasn’t sure how many had passed.
“Obsidian?”
“I’m here, ayreme. Right here.”
Turning toward the sound of his voice, she noticed he was sitting in a chair beside the bed, watching over her. He looked exhausted, as though he’d been holding vigil for months, but she desperately hoped that wasn’t the case.
“How long have I been out?”
“Roughly ten hours.”
Okay, good. Not too long, anyway.
He reached for something. A glass. Water.
Her scratchy throat burned with the need for it even as he placed the straw against her lips. Blessed relief came as she sucked the chilled liquid down, draining the glass.
“What’s going on? Why am I so tired?”
The words were barely out when the sexual longing slammed into her, brutally painful in its intensity. She moaned, drawing her legs up, trying to ease the ache that resided there, her need for Obsidian overwhelming her. Oddly enough, tears formed, the desire too much for her overtaxed body and mind to handle.
Then she remembered. The incessant need. No matter what they did, it wasn’t easing off. The instant she was sated, it would flare up again, more intense until she was consumed by a throbbing, desperate ache.
Penelope was barely aware of Obsidian stripping out of his clothes, joining her on the bed. Her limbs were weak, but she seemed to draw strength from him. As his body covered hers, she managed to lift her arms, pulling him down to her.
Obsidian pressed his lips to a tear as it slid down her cheek.
“I’m so sorry, ayreme.”
“It’s not your fault.”
The look on his face said he didn’t agree with her.
“I love you, Penelope,” he whispered softly, his eyes beginning to glow.
She could feel his pain as though it was her own. A deep, throbbing ache in her chest. He hated to see her in pain as much as she hated to see him in pain. Right now, it was a vicious, never-ending cycle.
As he settled over her, Penelope stared into his beautiful eyes, watched the silver churn even as they became glassy with what she assumed were unshed tears.
“What’s wrong?”
“Tell me you love me, Penelope,” he whispered.
“Of course I do.”
His hips shifted as he guided himself inside her, pushing in deep.
The friction provided blessed relief, his warm body the blanket of security she needed.
“Tell me,” he urged.
“I love you, Obsidian.”
His head lowered, his lips brushing her neck as their bodies moved together as one. Her body knew exactly what it sought, her hips shifting with his, rocking, the two of them whole for the moment, complete. His love overwhelmed her. She could feel it, the weight of it as it shielded her f
rom all sides, keeping her safe.
But there was something he was holding back.
Not his body. He gave her that willingly, easing the ache as he brought them both the release necessary to sate the heat. For a few minutes, Penelope allowed it to be her sole focus. Kissing his cheek, his neck, she borrowed Obsidian’s strength, willing him to feel the love she had for him. She wanted this. Not just now. For eternity.
It became clearer as they moved together, as his emotions seeped into her.
“Penelope…” Obsidian moaned softly. “Ayreme … love me.”
“I do,” she promised, holding on to him as the pleasure intensified, her core coiling tightly as it sought the release only he could give her. “Obsidian…”
He lifted his head, his silver gaze glowing brightly as he thrust harder, deeper. She was overwhelmed by it, completely surrounded by his love. It was the most incredible feeling, to know he would care for her, that he would pledge his life to her.
“I want this,” she whispered. “You. The mating. I want to be yours, Obsidian.”
She wanted it more than air. The conviction surprised her, almost as though it was coming from a part of herself she’d never connected with.
Obsidian’s movements became more frantic, driving deep inside her until she was blinded by the pleasure, driven higher than she’d ever gone before. And when her body shattered, she cried out his name.
His head fell back as he roared. She could feel him pulsing deep inside her as he succumbed to his release. Only then did the ache dissolve, her body becoming her own once more. How long that would last was anyone’s guess.
“What’s happening?” she asked, realizing his eyes weren’t returning to normal. They continued to glow brightly, even as he rolled off her, pulling her with him.
Penelope curled up along his side, draping her arm over his torso, holding him close.
He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I love you, ayreme.”
“Do you not want this, Obsidian? The mating?”
“It’s more than what I told you,” he whispered. “Not as simple as I made it out to be, Penelope.”
The torment in his voice had her lifting her head, meeting his glowing eyes. “What did you leave out?”
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