Like everything else, I pushed these thoughts way down, not wanting to deal with them. I knew what was holding me back, or more like who was holding me back. Nic was next to me, yet it was the thought of Eli that flushed me with heat. This desire for Eli made me furious with myself and anger sometimes made me do stupid things.
I rolled over to face Nic, my hand reached up to bring his face to mine. He made a shocked sound. Our lips met with a softness I hadn’t expected. I suspected Nic would be a good kisser. He had to be, right? It was part of his job description.
But wow . . . I mean w-w-wow . . .
I could see how easily he'd have defenseless humans giving him everything, solely to keep him kissing them. A Demon is naturally prone to surrendering itself to all seven so-called “deadly sins,” especially desire. Demons are gluttonous when it comes to desire, and I felt my Demon side winning the battle. If he’s this good at kissing, imagine how the sex will be, a voice inside me commented.
I rolled over, straddling him as we continued to kiss, the intensity leaping bounds in a single second. His hands moved up under my shirt, making me feel like butter. If this was me being immune to him, I was in serious trouble. His hands moved under my sweats, cupping my ass, pulling me in closer. There was a logical, responsible part of me telling me to stop; he wasn’t the one I wanted to be with. Then there was my “who gives a crap part;” I was young and single. My logical side got bitch-slapped unconscious.
We were in heavy make-out mode, rolling and fumbling around. Our shirts and pants already on the floor and both of us were only in our underwear when a firm knock on my door made us freeze.
“Ember, I know you’re resting, but Lars wants you in the library in five minutes,” Koke’s voice came through my door.
Resting . . . right. Nic put his hand over my mouth as a giggle tried to escape.
“Also, I can’t find Nic. Do you know where he might be?” The serious way she said it told me she wasn’t joking and really didn’t know where he was.
“Uh—no. Have you checked the garage? You know how he likes to tinker with his little boy toys,” I replied as I stared at him, a grin on my lips. He returned a look, which told me revenge would soon be coming.
“Thanks. I will look there.”
“Tinker with my little boy toys?” Nic scoffed after Koke departed. His eyes glinted. “I’ll show you tinkering . . .” He again started kissing me deeply, his hands running all over my body. I knew I had to stop now. Someone else might be sent up here, who probably wouldn’t knock.
“Nic, I have to go.” I pulled away from him.
“Yeah, yeah, Lars is waiting.” He frowned and moved off, falling to the side of me. “But don’t think you’re getting away from me so easily. There will be a continuation of this.”
Smiling, I sat up, tugging on my shirt, not bothering to respond. I was insanely attracted to him. Any living thing in this realm, or any realm for that matter, would be. My lust was into it, but my heart wasn’t. It was easy to forget when you were with Nic, but I knew my feelings were somewhere else. Standing up, I gazed down on the olive-skinned, ripped, half-naked man in my bed. I really hated my damn, stupid heart.
I stepped into my jeans and pulled my hair into a ponytail. “Remember, Koke’s looking for you,” I said over my shoulder as I left the room.
TWENTY-TWO
The next couple of days were intense, bordering on horrendous. But I loved how strong I felt in my body and my powers. Physically, I had changed quite a bit over the last five months. I had always exercised, but this was different. I was becoming a weapon; my arms, stomach, and legs toned and cut. My powers were developing slowly, but in the last few weeks I had felt them blossoming in strength and my control of them was becoming firmer. There was still a long way to go, but fewer things had gotten blown up. Always a positive. The thought of my friends and family being held captive in the Otherworld helped me focus harder, especially with the death threat looming over. Obtaining control over my gifts was the only thing I wanted. I didn’t like the idea of annihilating any more towns, turning myself into a version of the Mad Hatter, or killing my newly found, and very dysfunctional, family.
Like a kid in a growth spurt, the escalation of my powers gave me a bad case of growing pains. Though I was exhausted and got plenty of exercise, my legs ached and itched to move. Every night I took a walk trying to ease the sore muscles.
Although the temperature had dropped into the low 30s, unusually cold for this time of year, I had to get out. Bundling up, I ignored the biting cold clawing at my face. Propelling myself farther and farther into the forest, I wound my way through the endless trees, following the creek to the property line. I no longer could see the lights from the house or the smoke from its chimney. My hand touched a large ash tree–my usual stopping point. The property line ended on the other side. A sudden rush of energy whirled within me. My eyes quickly surveyed the space around. Tense and on guard, my blood zinged through my veins. The hair on the back of my neck tingled. My respiration quickened and created vapor visible in the cold air around me.
“Why don’t you stop hiding behind a tree like a crazy stalker and come out and face me?” I declared. Instantly my anxiety vanished. Why should I be afraid of him? He should be afraid of me now. I was not the same girl he had known five months ago. I may not have perfected my abilities yet, but I was still a force. There was a reason Fae feared me. I would no longer quake in front of others. He would see I held no fear of him now.
There was rustling across from me. Eli stepped out. “I wasn’t stalking you.”
“Oh really. What do you call it?” I crossed my arms. With head held high, I crossed the ward line. Here the fences were invisible, but stronger than any walled fortress. Lars had put my blood in with the wards so they knew me, and I could cross without them going off.
“Observing.” His eyes moved slowly over my body.
Damn, he looked hot. His hair was a bit longer and his stubble a little thicker around his jaw-line since I last saw him. He wore jeans, a grey hoodie, and his motorcycle boots and jacket.
“Is it really still considered ‘observing’ if it’s been over four months now? I have felt you slinking around here since July.”
He looked at me with a frown. “I found it best to keep an eye on my adversaries and know what they are up to.” He crossed his arms staring down at me.
“You're bordering on restraining order territory,” I said. “Lars has this place spelled and guarded up the wazoo. How did you even find me?”
“My blood is like a GPS system in your veins. Even against a deterrence spell, I will always find you, Brycin.”
“Well, congrats. You found me. Now leave.”
As soon as the last word left my lips, he had me pinned against a tree, his hands holding my arms above my head. Air pushed out of my lungs in a sharp rasp. Our eyes snapped on to each other’s for several deep breaths.
“I think I’m having the strangest sense of déjà vu,” I griped.
“You’d think I’d remember to bring a rope and a muzzle with me.” His voice was full of venom. “Next time I won’t forget.”
“Believe me, Dragen, there will be no next time,” I fumed, my teeth gritted. His breath fluttered across me, slipping down my neck as he breathed in and out angrily. “Unless you like being thrown around like a ragdoll, you'd better get your hands off me,” I threatened. I could feel my powers ready to respond. I was keeping them in check but that only fueled my agitation.
“Do your worst,” he challenged me, moving in closer to me.
I didn’t move. The closeness of his body made my breath quicken. We both stayed there, staring each other down, the tension consuming us. Spikes of heat thrashed inside me, causing me to tremble under his gaze.
“Look, I came here for a reason. I know you’ve seen Jared and the others. I need to know they're okay.”
Blinking, it took me a moment for my brain to add up his words. “H-How do you know I’ve see
n Jared?” Eli let my arms go, turned away from me, and ran his hand through his hair. “How do you know I’ve seen them?” I demanded again.
“You think you stopped pulling me into your dreamscapes?”
Ice and fire moved up my chest. “What?”
“I was always there. I just didn’t show myself. Thought it would be better, for both of us. I'm not able to go into the dreamwalk with you, but when you returned to the dreamscape, I heard you guys talking.”
Speechless at this discovery, it took me time to find my voice, but finally I muttered, “He’s fine. They all are. Jared’s actually taken the lead. Well, he and Kennedy seem to take turns. They're a good team.”
“So the Queen hasn’t figured out what Kennedy is?”
I shook my head. “No, not so far.” I decided to leave out the bit about the Queen’s threat against Kennedy. He could not help me, and it would only cause him frustration and angst.
Eli sighed, his relief palpable. “Good.” His respite lasted briefly before his face turned hard and impassive. “Well, I’ll let you get back to your boyfriend.” He turned to leave. My heart hurtling itself almost through my chest. Don’t go!
“Boyfriend?”
“Well, whatever Demon you've been getting hot and heavy with.”
“You were watching me?” I shrieked out. “Through my window?”
“Observing.”
“Not funny. Call it what you want, but it’s creepy, you sick pervert,” I shot at him, fury turning into cold, controlled anger. “And he’s not my boyfriend . . . I’m merely . . . using him for sex. I bet you’ve enjoyed watching us. Seeing what true pleasure is on my face.” If he thought I was telling the truth or perceived my true meaning, it didn’t matter; he moved back and pushed me against the tree. Bark broke off into pieces as the tension around us intensified. My powers seeped to the surface, no longer suppressed.
“Believe me, it was certainly not something I wanted to watch either,” he growled, his eyebrows furrowing. “So, tell me, is he helping to remove those training wheels of yours?”
“How do you know he hasn’t already?”
“He hasn’t.” Green eyes held mine firmly. “Look, I couldn't care less who you’re pretending to screw because I think you’re waiting for someone else to take off those training wheels of yours.”
“Believe me,” I seethed. “It wouldn’t be you. You make me sick.”
“Yeah, you’ve said something like this before.”
“I meant it then, too.” I pushed him. He didn’t even budge.
“I don’t doubt you did.” He reached around my head and tugged the band from my ponytail, letting my hair fall loosely around my shoulders and down my back.
“Don’t touch me,” I spouted angrily, but I didn’t move, my body pulsating with tension.
“Stop me.” As he moved in closer, I could feel the heat resonating off his body. He paused for a moment, waiting for me to act on his words. I didn’t. Grabbing the back of my head, he tugged a handful of my hair back so I had to look up at him. Breathing in shakily, conflicting emotions of hate and desire raged inside me. Fire burned in his pupils, making him look even more feral. He suddenly pressed his body into mine, his lips coming down on mine with a savage hunger. I felt dizzy; my need for him was desperate and raw. His hand locked on the back of my head as I pulled him by his belt loops closer to me. We were both fierce and demanding as we kissed. Biting. Tugging. Wanting.
Emotions took over. Pushing his jacket off his shoulders, it fell to the ground. His arms went up as I grabbed the hem of his sweatshirt, ripping it over his head. His bare, muscular arms wrapped back around me the instant they were free of his clothes, pressing me nearer to him. My hands moved over every curve of his torso, along his sides, down his abs to his crotch. A low, animalistic growl vibrated from Eli as our lips separated for a second to catch our breaths. But even a second was too long for me. I pulled his face back to mine taking his lower lip softly between my teeth, slightly pulling at it. Eli groaned and grabbed my hips as he lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around him, my back slamming back up against the wood. He tilted my chin back grazing his teeth down my neck. Shivers of ecstasy rippled through me and I let out a low, deep moan. I slowly undid the buttons on his jeans and felt him with my hand, my brazenness surprising both of us. Eli watched my hand slide over him, before looking back up at me with flames of desire so intense, I forgot where I was for a moment. His lips met mine with such raw passion my pulse quickened. He broke away, helping me yank off layers of clothes. The fact I was braless didn’t go unnoticed by either one of us. The freezing temperatures dulled my burning skin. I barely felt the tree bark gashing into my bare skin when he brought his mouth to my neck moving down to my breasts. The heat of his kisses made me moan.
Holding me with one arm, he took us to ground, laying me on our jackets. They were the only barrier between me and the frozen ground, although I couldn't feel anything except his body on mine. As Eli unbuttoned my jeans, pulling them off in one tug, I pulled his down over his hips, taking him in my hands. He gasped; I knew my cold fingers burned into his skin making my touch even more electric. His hands ran over me, kissing and touching every inch of my body.
“Em?” He stopped to look at me. I knew what he was asking, but there was nothing I wanted more.
My fingers grabbed his hands, bringing them to me, and hooking them around the sides of my underwear. My answer was clear. He slowly started to pull them down—painfully slow. My breath heaved quickly in and out, while every nerve ending felt like a live wire. He sat back, his fervid gaze moved sensually over my body, before a sexy smile tugged at his lips, mumbling something in a language I didn’t understand. I cocked my eyebrow in question.
“It means beautiful.” His hand ran from in between my breasts to my stomach then lower.
“Same back at you.” My voice was husky as I looked him over; he was unbelievable. This sexy, hot man was looking at me with such desire in his eyes. He slid an arm underneath me, tilting my hips up towards him. I gasped out loudly when his mouth kissed my inner thigh, slowly moving up, his tongue finding its way. A tree exploded nearby, bark ripping off, flying in all directions, as my energies crashed into it. Time was irrelevant, and I had no idea if it had been minutes or hours when he finally crawled up from between my legs.
“Damn . . .” I sighed.
“And just think, I’m not even close to being done.” His crooked smile caused another rush of desire to pound through me, which I didn’t think was possible after what had just taken place. But, with him my desire knew no bounds. He pressed his forehead to mine, his warm hand cupping my face, letting out a breath. In that tiny, little moment I could feel the solid walls I had built up over the last five months crumble. All the emotions waiting on the other side flooded out. I tilted my mouth, kissing him deeply. It took a moment before our lips were ravaging each other again. He moved up farther, aligning us.
“You sure?” he asked me quietly.
“God, yes,” I replied, pushing a strand of his hair back. He leaned down, kissing me deeply as I wrapped my legs around him. He pushed up slowly and entered me. I sucked in my breath waiting for the pain I had heard about, but it never came.
He smiled down on me. “You’re not human, Em; you’re not built the same.”
“Another perk for being a Demon,” I grinned.
“Half. Though Fairies are known to be even more sex-crazed,” he mumbled into my ear, and then rocked himself forward while holding me in place. All the air left my lungs. The friction of his movement inside me made both of us grip each other harder. I couldn’t seem to get close enough to him. Gasping and clawing, I squeezed my legs tighter around him, feeling him hard inside me, adrenaline pounding in my ears, my breath coming quicker as he pushed in deeper, our pace picking up. I felt dizzy, my body shaking as I cried out. Things creaked and popped around us, our magic slamming into everything, bits of trees falling on us like rain. It continued to escalate until I f
elt like my body was going to explode. Every muscle in me began contracting, and we rocked even more fiercely, groaning, nails digging, before an explosion tore through us. At the peak moment, he pushed himself even deeper than I thought possible, crushing his hips into mine almost painfully, leaving my body twitching and trembling violently.
Holy Jesus . . . .
We laid there several moments in silence, breathing heavily, both our bodies trembling. Eli spoke once again in his language, sounding an awful lot like what I had been thinking. He pulled my face to his, kissed my forehead, and then leaned his face against mine.
I didn’t want to be the fool. His track record with women was pretty consistent. I didn’t want to think I was different, but I couldn’t help it. I felt that he loved me in the way he touched and looked at me, the unexplainable connection, which made our hearts beat simultaneously. Against all odds and realms we had found each other. I knew what I felt for him, something I had been feeling for a while.
He moved, positioning himself on his side next to me. I continued to lay there looking up at the twinkling stars filtering through tree leaves, or what was left of them. I closed my eyes taking in the sounds of nature and Eli’s breathing next to me, feeling his hand run softly over my body, tracing every curve.
“I didn’t come here with this intention,” he spoke quietly.
I turned my head, opening my eyes. “Sure you did. You’re a guy and, well, you’re you.” I smiled, watching his face scrunch up with denial and offense. My hand reached up to touch his face. “I’m kidding.”
“I can’t deny that from the moment I met you, it was always somewhere in my subconscious.” My eyebrows cocked up. My fingers traced his features. “Okay, there was nothing subconscious about it.” He laughed against my hand, the vibration tickling my fingers. Our eyes caught each other. He put his hand over mine and pressed it to his lips, making my breath hitch. It was such a small gesture, but for some reason it made me fall even more. I could feel something come over him as he continued to look at me.
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