by Grey, T. A.
“I know.” He paused then added much more softly. “I think I wanted that too.”
Her eyes widened and she turned around in his arms. His blue hair was matted to his pillow and shoulders in a wet clump. His golden skin looked better but the color was still dim compared to how he usually looked.
“What do you mean?” She told her heart not to get its hopes up, but it didn’t listen. It was ready to hang on to every word he said.
He looked away for a moment then caught her gaze again. Soft, warm eyes met hers, no lies hidden in there. “I could have kicked you out. I could have made you leave at any time, but, a part of me didn't want to.” His brow pinched and she knew it was because he didn't like his reaction to her. But for her, her heart thumped wildly in her chest.
“Why didn't you?” she asked so softly.
He looked away this time and didn't answer for so long she didn't think he would. “Something about you makes me come alive, makes me wish I was different.”
She swallowed hard. “Different how?”
He rolled onto his back with a sigh, one arm bending over the top of his head. “I don't know. More free, I suppose. Less controlled.”
Guilt suddenly pulled in her belly and now she looked away. A part of her now wanted to tell him that the only reason she acted the way she did was because of a drug-like mixture she drank daily. That she started drinking after she summoned a demon and was so consumed with guilt and worry for her sister Chloe that she'd wanted to hole herself up in her room and never come out. What would he think of that? She wondered. Nothing good.
But her feelings for him had never been a lie, not even close. He'd captured her attention from the moment she met him. He'd been like an untouchable God, so superior and smart. She'd wanted to pick his brain for knowledge while curled on his lap kissing him. That feeling had grown, though. What had started as excited butterflies every time she saw him turned into a needy pool in the pit of her stomach. And now? Now she'd spent the last several weeks together. They'd been nearly killed, nearly imprisoned, and had shared their bodies. Now her heart tugged every time she saw him. The few glimpses of a smile he gave her made her feel a thousand times lighter, like she'd never need that potion again.
“I like you just the way you are.” It sounded so cheesy she laughed. His eyes crinkled around the corners then his deep laughter followed. “Lame but true. I do. I've liked you from the first moment I set eyes on you.”
His expression turned grim. “I wanted to run hard and fast.”
Her mouth fell open and she slapped his arm as female indignation swept up through her. His heavy laughter floated over her though, but she still pouted.
“Not nice,” she said.
He nodded. “True enough.” His eyes locked on hers turning serious in a second. “But do you know why I wanted to run?” She shook her head mutely. “Because you scared me. I saw you with your free smiles, bubbly laughter and it felt good having it aimed at me. You looked at me not like I was a demon, but a man you could want. I liked that. I liked that a lot.” His voice grew even deeper, softer. As his words resonated in her addled mind he stiffened then sat up in the bed.
She knew after what he just revealed that he was ready to retreat and pretend it didn't happen. But she wasn't going to let that happen. Lily sat up and wrapped her arms around his chest, pressed her breasts against the warm skin of his back.
“It's all right. Just...be with me.” She felt as though she was secretly asking more from him but even she wasn't sure what, exactly.
He stood and she stifled her disappointment as a chill brushed over her where his body had kept her warm. Her nipples hardened at the chill and she crossed an arm across them. He turned around though and her heart started to thump. He was so big, so strong. A golden god of sorts. The blue hair, so surreal looking one would think it was a dye job, but not on him. He'd never do something so fake.
He leaned down, his fists landing on either side of her hips in the mattress, denting the material. His gaze roamed over her eyes, her lips. “I used to look forward to your letters.”
She laughed. It was either that or have a heart attack from shock. “No way.” His body moved in, cornering her and she leaned back and back until she fell flat across the mattress.
“Yes. Sometimes I'd read them half a dozen times. I could almost hear your voice talking to me. One in particular I kept.”
“So you did toss them in the fire!” She grinned because that had been a guess purely on her part.
He caught her bottom lip with his teeth and tugged. An answering jolt of arousal sparked inside her, made her breath catch. He released and growled a deep vibrating sound that went straight to her core.
“I did. But not all of them. I kept one.”
Her mind tried to rack through all the letters she'd sent him. She must have sent at least twelve. Had it been the first one where she told him she had a dream of them kissing under a sky that looked an awful lot like the rift's sky? Or maybe it was, no. A dark blush bloomed over her face making her feel warm under his focused scrutiny.
“You remember.” He pressed her fully onto the mattress, his strong hot upper body trapping her, thrilling her. “I recall each little detail. I suppose I could throw it away but I couldn't make myself do it. It kept me up some nights.”
She blushed so hard she had to look away. It was one thing writing to him about her sexual fantasies it was another to hear about it from his own lips. His hands caught her wrists and then he slid down her body like a slinking cat and pressed her hands into the mattress in a way that clearly meant: do not move. Her entire body tightened and her heart raced wildly like a stampede.
“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless. She felt his tongue before she saw it. Warm and wet he pressed his tongue to the center of her stomach and slowly licked a path down to her belly button. Her hips arched, writhing against him at the touch.
“What you said you wanted me to do that day at Lyonis'. I'm going to lick you from your head to your toes.”
Her fingers fisted the sheet beneath. A fine tremble began in her stomach, seeping out to her thighs and arms.
“Relax,” he said gently, his tongue dipping into her belly button. His soft lips kissed a path to each of her hipbones before starting down the top of one leg. His hands held her in place, gave her some stability or else she might shoot up and start making demands. A mixture of wet tongue and warm lips played against her skin, creating a stir of arousal and goose bumps. He made it to her first knee and she could barely catch her breath as he lifted it and spread her open.
A flash of embarrassment caught her and she scolded herself. They'd had sex before. Though he'd never actually been this close to her pussy, he'd been inside of it. Still, she stiffened because he could see her so clearly now. Then a soft moan left her as his tongue traced the seam behind her knees. Her breath caught and let out on a needy sigh; her hands kneaded the bed sheet.
“Oh my god.”
“You have beautiful legs, Lily.” His demonic voice sounded as if it'd dropped an octave. The sound of it unfurled need in her, making her wet and damp. He kissed his way down her leg, then released her hands when he couldn't do both at the same time. “Do not move,” he warned. The growl in his voice made her lock her hands in place. She'd do anything he asked so long as he continued to touch her.
He reached for a foot and pressed kisses to the arch, gently biting on her toe. She undulated as warm pleasure swarmed inside her. She'd never known. Never knew that being touched there went straight to her core making her pant like a dog.
He nibbled the toes on her other foot until she giggled and fought him. Then he made his way back up her other leg with wet tongue and warm kisses. Suddenly, seeing him creep up her body sent a wave of longing through her. She wanted to part her legs and feel his mouth between her legs, just like she'd teased him about a year ago.
“You are soft as silk,” he said as his lips kissed over her knee then inside her leg, movi
ng upwards. She had to part her legs or else he wouldn't fit, but insecurity got the better of her and she didn't. His eyes shot up her body to watch her. “Since when are you shy, Lily?”
Since I'm not juiced up on my meds. Instead of that honest declaration she said, “I've never done that before....”
His smile positively curled her toes. His hands grasped her thighs then slowly spread her open as he kissed his way up. Lily slammed her eyes closed, her entire body tense like a taut bowstring as she waited for the first touch.
One of his hands left her thighs and he kept her propped open with his big shoulders. A finger passed down her wet lips then pushed inside her needy tissues. A moan left her and when he slowly began to pump his finger even more breathy moans came. His stiff tongue passed over her then delved between her lips to find her clitoris. He barely moved it. Just rotated the tip of his stiff tongue across her excited nerves as if he had all the time in the world while pumping that finger in her slick passage.
“Telal,” she croaked, her head swishing from side to side.
Her entire body was tensing up, coiling, readying to fly apart with something she knew would be earth shattering. Then his tongue left her, and his finger pulled away leaving a heavy, empty feeling inside her. She panted, her hands crushing the sheet in her fists.
“Don't stop, please,” she moaned.
And then his tongue thrust inside her, retreated then thrust in again, fucking her. She moaned high, her hips rocking against him at the slick, soft intrusion. It felt wonderful, incredible but she needed more. Her hands threaded through his hair to tug but he pulled back.
“Touch your tits and don't stop.”
She met his stern gaze then did as he said. She realized she liked touching her breasts like this. Not only did it fuel the passion inside her, bringing her that much closer to ecstasy, but it gave her something to do. Her nipples became the next object of her attention as she tugged and pulled on them.
Only after he watched her play with her breasts with that hungry gaze for a minute did he go back down. He licked her everywhere, tasting every inch of her; even sucking her lips into his mouth in one of the most erotic sensations she'd ever felt.
Her clitoris felt so tight and needy like the barest of touches would set her off. He growled and set his mouth over it, flicking slowly, drawing little circles and zigzags across the nerves. Her breath raked in and out hard. Her hips pumped, her skin burned hot.
The climax hit her hard in a bright explosion that blinded her, robbed her of breath. Everything pulled tight then released in an instant. He never had to move his tongue fast, just that slow swirling brought a scream from her, made her hands squeeze her breasts hard. It faded slowly, leaving her feeling incredibly warm and almost numb. If he asked her to lift her arm it would take great effort to do so.
As her mind drifted back down to earth, she felt his finger thrusting inside her. She was so wet, so much more now from her orgasm, that he easily passed inside. Another finger entered and widened her in an incredibly way. Lily felt a hard pounding ache inside her and she realized the orgasm was only the tip of the iceberg. She needed his cock, needed him to appease the emptiness.
“Telal!”
“Dreenaru gina slinah.”
He slid up her body, pulling one leg onto his shoulder as he did. He looked feral, possessive, and so sexy it hurt. His strong hand ran down her thigh then slapped her bottom. He sat on his knees, his cock dark and golden, hard as steel between them. He gripped his cock in a fist, his other hand massaged the cheek he'd spanked, then he pushed it against her entrance and pushed inside on a hard thrust. All of her muscles eased around him, fitting him like a glove.
He groaned, his head tossing back and then he took her. His thrusts were hard, punishing. Her wet pussy took him easily, smoothly. She felt spread open from his thick cock, the little nerves shooting sparks of pleasure throughout her from the tips of her hair to her toes. Each thrust landed against her clitoris spiking the erotic sensation even more.
His face was drawn in a mask of sensual pleasure. His eyes swept to her breasts and then, as if watching them jiggle with each thrust was too much, he reached forward and cupped one, tugging the nipple.
“I cannot take much more,” he gritted out.
Lily couldn't either. He released her leg then came over her, crushing his mouth to hers, tongue thrusting against hers. She held him tight, her nails digging in at his shoulders. Noises left her throat, muted by his lips and her hips rocked harder, faster as his pounding thrusts built to a crescendo. Her pleasure spiked and she had to tear her mouth away to scream as her entire body jerked against him. He groaned long and hard as her pussy squeezed him trying to wring his release from him. His teeth found her neck and bit down and then he slammed inside and held himself there as a hot wash of liquid jetted inside her.
They stayed locked together for some time. When he started to doze off while still inside her, she shook him and he rolled over, pulling her on top of him. With a soft smile, she fell asleep in his arms feeling good for the first time all day.
CHAPTER 34
Arianna stroked the petal of a blood-red rose. The scents of sultry, sweet, and earthy flowers rose from the garden, teasing her senses. She cut the sharp pricks off the stem of the bloom then cut the stem.
Holding the big bloom to her nose, she pushed her nose into it and sniffed. The delicate scent always brought a smile to her face.
Celine strolled towards her holding several white and pink roses in her grasp. She hadn't smiled in days, not since the theatrics in the throne room. Since the Queen was declared a traitor and banned from the lands. But now a smile covered her face and her eyes glowed. Being around flowers always had that effect on her.
“You seem to be feeling better,” said Celine.
Arianna's brow flew up. “Me? You're the one who's been all dreary these past couple days.”
Celine laughed, shaking her head. “You've been depressed. Sure I've been shaken with all the drama going on. I mean how could I not be?” She ran a finger down the stem of her roses. In a quiet voice she asked, “Have you seen him lately?”
Arianna grimaced. She didn't want to speak of Alrik. She felt so conflicted about everything going on. The news of the Queen’s treachery had been like a blow to everyone. Even Arianna hadn't seen that coming. In a sick, demented way it made sense, though. All the dark changes in Alrik that had taken place after the rift closed made sense now.
“I haven't seen him since he banished the Queen. He hasn't called upon me.” She didn't know how to feel about that. She had wanted to go to him to see how he was. A part of her had wondered if his hair would be that beautiful reddish brown again, his eyes that vibrant violet. But she'd stayed away because what if it wasn't? What if he looked the same, was the same? She wasn't sure she could handle that.
“Do you think her spell is why he's changed so much over the years?”
Arianna shrugged. “I think so. It would explain it. I thought he had just let his anger consume him. Maybe I was wrong.” I hope I was wrong.
Celine watched her closely. Arianna shifted, discomforted under her scrutiny. “You care for the king, don't you?”
Arianna exhaled a shaky breath. “I...I might. I don't know.” She felt torn between the passion he stirred in her and the cruel streak he carried. She wanted to tell Celine about how he'd stolen her journal but kept her lips shut. For some reason, the thought of making him look bad didn't feel right with her.
A tinkling noise brought Arianna around. A servant came forward carrying a silver tray laden with a kettle and tea cups. Arianna directed him to the table and chairs besides the flowers and he set it down.
“Thank you.” The servant bowed then started back towards the house.
“It's all right if you care for him,” Celine said, taking a seat. “Perhaps you can help to change him back to how he used to be. With his mother gone, the black magic around him should fade.”
Arianna nodded
in thought. “Perhaps. I think...I think I'd like that,” she admitted. Celine set a saucer and teacup in front of them then poured the tea.
“It could benefit everyone if you did.”
“How so?”
“He might be more lenient. More...right-minded, don't you think?”
Arianna had thought about it. To have the kingdom feeling healthy and positive once again almost seemed impossible to achieve. But maybe. There was always hope. Arianna took a sip of her tea. She recoiled, the burning hot tea stinging her tongue. Hissing, she quickly set the teacup down, sloshing some of the mixture on the saucer.
Celine patted her on the back. “Are you okay?”
Suddenly a stifling energy filled the air. Arianna turned slowly to see Alrik striding for her, his expression almost violent. She flinched at the look in his eyes. Black energy swirled like twining snakes in a bowl in his irises.
“King Alrik?”
He grabbed her arm hard and jerked her to a stand. “Who hurt you?” She blanched at his voice. It was so much deeper than it normally was, almost garbled together.
“No one. No one hurt me.” Her eyes were wide with fear, her breaths coming in pants. The urge to yank her arm back and try to run, even knowing she'd never get away from him, was almost too strong to deny.
“I heard you gasp. You're in pain.”
Celine stood and even her voice trembled. “She burnt her tongue while drinking tea. It was too hot, your highness.” Arianna didn't spare her a glace; she was too caught up in the sight of his eyes. Something was wrong—very wrong. Her heart deflated as hope dried up. She'd really hoped he'd be different, like his old self again. He almost seemed...worse.
“Servant!” he roared, his nostril's flaring.
Arianna gently tugged on her arm, but his fingers tightened until the skin nearly pinched. The servant who served the tea came rushing out. He bobbed into a bow, never meeting the king's eyes.
“Yes, your highness?”
“Did you bring her tea?” He stared into her eyes with all that anger that seemed to be literally coming to the surface of his strong body. The hate and anger pulsed off of him in waves capable of tearing down anyone in its path.