Forged in Flames

by Harper Wylde

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “I'm not used to you being nervous. It's unusual. And a little…” I looked for the right word.

  “Dumb?” he asked harshly.

  “Sexy,” I declared, arching a brow at him.

  He blinked, unsure at my statement. “Huh?”

  I shrugged, threading my fingers into his. “I like that I can make you unsure and nervous. It's the way I usually get around you—any of you, really. I’m always questioning myself and my thoughts or needs. It's nice to see that it's not just a one way street.”

  He pulled me tightly against him, wrapping an arm around my hips as he slid me onto his lap to cradle me. “Well, then I'll take it.” We watched another episode of Supernatural, him nuzzling at me, running his fingers through my hair, and massaging my shoulders. I enjoyed the pampering and the scent of chocolate still heavy in the air, as we snuggled together, just enjoying the comfort of watching TV together. I slid my hand along his leg, his massage warming my blood as he rubbed at the sensitive skin of my throat.

  My body heated and I shifted on his lap, causing him to groan. “Nix…”

  “Hmm?” I hummed in response, fully aware of the new hardness I felt pressing against my thigh. I shifted again, this time purposefully.

  “I… fuck…” Ryder trailed off and canted his hips more fully into my body, adding pressure where he gripped my hip, and pulling me closer to him. “You feel amazing.” He let out a hoarse whisper.

  My heartbeat picked up and I turned to face him. “Ry…” It was the only sound that made its way between us before his lips crashed into mine in a needy kiss I returned wholeheartedly.

  The noise of the TV faded into the background as I leaned into Ryder, angling my body into his. The taste of sweet chocolate and cinnamon lingered on his tongue, and I lapped at him, teasing the recesses of his mouth. The way he groaned and tightened his grip on me was heady, and I drank in every response he gave, feeling powerful and in control as he matched me stroke for stroke.

  Nipping at his bottom lip, I pulled away only to turn my attention to kissing along the shell of his ear. His breathy response spurred me on and I moved, straddling his lap to gain better access to all the areas of his body I wanted to tease and taste. My skirt rode up my thighs from the new position.

  “Nix,” he breathed.

  I froze. “Is this alright?” It was barely a whisper over his ear. My hot breath brushed against the area I’d just wet with my tongue, causing a shiver to run through his body.

  “Fuck yes.” His hands gripped my hips, quickly sliding around my body to cup my ass. He squeezed and then thrust his hips up against my center, which was already growing slick with my desire for Ryder.

  “Do you want me to keep going?” I inquired, with a hint of a smile curving my lips.

  “Do I even need to say it?” His chest heaved with his breath, rising to brush against mine before falling away again. The friction of each caress had my nipples standing at attention as he unknowingly teased them through our layers of fabric.

  “Yes. I want to hear it, Ry.” I lightly skimmed my nose along his neck. “I need to hear it.”

  Ryder tipped his head back into the soft cushion of the couch, pulling away from me momentarily. The twinkle in his eyes sparkled brightly as he flicked his gaze between my eyes. “Seduce me, babe. I am and always will be yours. I want you, Nix. I have from the moment I met you.”

  Staring down at Ryder took my breath away. Though we’d never said the words, I could see the depth of his feelings for me reflecting in his hazel eyes, and I hoped he saw the same sentiment mirrored back in my chocolate gaze.

  My hands slid up his chest, trailed up his neck, and cupped his face. My thumbs roamed back and forth over the light stubble coating his jawline, letting the texture of it abrade my skin. For a minute, all I could do was stare and marvel at how lucky I was to have someone like Ryder in my life. Pressing closer, I let my lips graze his in a sweet kiss I could feel to my toes.

  Ryder’s hands slid under my shirt, rubbing up my lower back, and then back down again in caressing touches that made my blood simmer. I rocked my hips into his, setting a slow but steady rhythm for the both of us. I pulled my skirt out of the way and ground my panty-clad clit against the hard outline of Ryder’s cock. I could feel the rough denim of his jeans through the thin layer that separated me from him, and I moaned. My pussy clenched around nothing as I worked myself up, and my need to have Ryder inside me skyrocketed. I rested my forehead against Ryder’s as my breathing increased.

  “Nix!” Ryder exclaimed, and his hands faltered, gripping desperately at my waist to slow my movements. “If you don’t stop… I’m going to explode in my jeans and embarrass myself.” Color that I so rarely saw on Ryder’s face infused his cheeks as he threw his head back, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths. I loved knowing that this side of him was only for me. He loved to play the cocky, self-confident playboy with others, but with me he was gentle, sweet. It was nice to learn things with him, and sexy to feel as in control as he allowed me to be.

  “I thought… I thought that was the point.” I felt insecure and hesitant, and Ryder must have picked up on that in my voice.

  His eyes flew open and he tipped his head back up. “Mikró pouláki, it is. I’d just… rather do that… you know…” He struggled past the words that were lodged in his throat.

  One of my eyebrows rose in confusion, and then my face settled into a marvelous grin. “Are you saying that you… want to…” My whole face was lit with amusement at our inability to say the word ‘sex.’

  “You thought I wouldn’t?” His brows furrowed.

  “I’ve been waiting for you to be ready, but I want to do it on your time. I know you’re a virgin, Ryder.” I smiled softly at him. “There’s no rush. There are plenty of other things I can do for you… that we can do for each other… if you’d rather wait. I want you to be comfortable. I just want to be close to you right now.”

  “I’m ready, Nix. I held off my whole life because I’ve been waiting for you.” He reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers. “You make me whole.”

  I couldn’t help the tears that built behind my eyes at Ryder’s sweetness. For all his joking, playful, and mischievous tendencies, he was a complete romantic.

  Ryder sat up and scooted me off of his lap. Keeping his hand tangled with mine, he pulled me up from the couch as he stood. He raised my hand to his lips and pressed a small kiss along my knuckles. “Let me show you how much I care about you, Nix.” His voice was a husky tenor that settled low in my belly. I nodded and let him lead me upstairs.

  Hesitating outside his door, Ryder peered over his shoulder at me. “I wasn’t expecting this today, so my room isn’t the cleanest nor the most organized at the moment.” He brought his other hand up and ran it through the thick purple strands of his stylish haircut.

  “All I care about is that we’re together. It’s sweet that you want everything to be perfect, but I’m going to be happy and satisfied just being with you. I don’t need fancy. I don’t need organized. I don’t need anything but you.” I bit my lip and fought the urge to look toward the ground. Instead, I held Ryder’s gaze and let him read the truth in my eyes for himself.

  He must have seen what he needed, because he hurriedly opened the door and practically dragged me inside in his eagerness. The shy smile on his face as he led me to the bed would be something I always remembered, and I took a minute to memorize the moment.

  I stepped into Ryder’s space and pressed my body against his, letting my hands trail under his shirt. Rock-hard abs met my palms as I journeyed my hands upwards, taking the shirt with me. Ryder embodied the word ‘sexy.’ Etched lines of muscles were revealed inch by sexy inch as I slid his shirt up and over his head. He was a naturally tanned golden god and I wanted to worship his body.

  His hands mimicked mine as he peeled my shirt over my head. The way his eyes traced over my curves had me squirming. I could almost feel the caress o
f his gaze on the bronzed skin of my body. His hands went to the waistband of my skirt, and he tugged it down with a smirk, until I stood before him in nothing more than a white set of underwear.

  My hands slid behind my back and I unhooked my bra, letting it fall from my shoulders and slide down my arms, landing in a pool on the floor between us. Feeling a boldness that was new for me, I shucked off my underwear and stood proudly in front of my Ceraptor.

  His breathing was uneven as he drank me in, his chest heaving and his eyes alight. “You’re bloody perfect,” he whispered reverently, causing color to stain my cheeks in a light blush.

  “I want to see you too.” I took a small step toward him and trailed a finger along the line of his waistband, biting back a smile when he sucked air in through his teeth and his abs tensed. Next, I traced that same finger down the trail of golden hair that ran from his belly button down… down…

  Ryder groaned and I pressed my thighs together at the pure sound of his desire.

  My fingers dipped into his waistband and snapped open the button on his designer jeans. The zipper made a metallic sound as I slipped it down, grazing my knuckles over the outline of Ryder’s cock straining to break free from the tight confines of clothing. In the next second, Ryder was standing only in a pair of boxers that I quickly helped him out of. And then he was gloriously naked in front of me.

  His long cock jutted proudly toward the ceiling, and his muscles rippled under his skin as he shifted under my gaze. “Ryder,” I gasped, as I unabashedly stared at him. “You really are gorgeous.”

  “So are you, mikró pouláki. I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful.” Ryder walked toward me, closing the distance between us, and glanced down at my body as he brought his hands to my waist. He swept his fingers up, trailing over my hourglass shape, and rousing every nerve in my body to life. He stroked his palms over my skin in feather light touches and my Phoenix cooed at the tender way he handled me.

  I took hold of Ryder’s forearms, staying his motion, and moved onto the bed, coaxing him down with me.

  Bracing himself over me as I settled into the pillows, Ryder looked torn.

  “What’s wrong?” I soothed my hands up the corded muscles of his arms.

  “There’s so much I want to do to you. I almost don’t know where to start.” His eyes were wide and I couldn’t contain the mirthful sound that escaped my lips.

  “We have plenty of time in our lives to explore whatever vivid images your mind has conjured up. Just touch me, Ryder,” I begged.

  A sinful smirk settled in place as he did just that. His hands wandered over my body, testing every sensitive area I had. Each roving touch drove me higher until I was nothing more than a panting mess by the time he brought his mouth to my breast and licked.

  “You have no idea how sweet you taste,” he murmured, before drawing my nipple into his mouth and suckling it, sending sparks straight to my clit. “Fuck, you have great tits,” he mumbled into the dip between my boobs, and I could feel him smile against my skin when I giggled. He rubbed his face back and forth against the tender skin, and the stubble on his cheeks scratched in a way that only heightened the sensation as he traced his tongue under the curve of my breast.

  He looked up at me as he blazed a line of kisses down my body, his hazel eyes a darker mixture of greens and browns in the dimly lit room.

  By the time he reached the top of my pussy, I was mindless with want. “Ry… Ryder,” I panted, letting my hands delve into his hair as he took his first tentative lick up my slick folds.

  “Fuck,” Ryder breathed over my mound, and focused all his attention on what he was doing. Another long lick, followed by his thumbs prying me apart, stole my breath and I threw my head back into the pillows, biting my lower lip as he let his tongue circle my entrance. He took his time exploring me, finding out what I loved and discarding what I didn’t. And he became damn good at exploiting what I liked so he could tease the fuck out of me.

  “I’m gonna…” My hands gripped Ryder’s hair tightly as he flicked his tongue quickly over my clit before sucking it into his mouth, pushing me over the edge. I moaned long and loud, riding the waves of my crashing orgasm as Ryder refused to let up. When I was completely spent, I tugged at his hair and he lifted his face.

  His eyes were sparkling and he grinned. “I had no idea I was going to like that so much. Fuck, you may seriously be my favorite dessert, and that’s a hard feat to accomplish.” His grin turned impish as he crawled up my body, looking suddenly bashful.

  “You’re a master at that,” I murmured, heaving air into my overworked lungs.

  “And you’re magically delicious.” He waggled he eyebrows at me, making me grin widely.

  “Oh, now you’re a leprechaun as well as a unicorn?” I asked with a giggle, which stole what little breath I had. He scowled for a second, but then his warm laugh filled the room as he nuzzled against me, enjoying the buzz he had created in the both of us.

  When he settled at my side, I turned toward him, cuddled close, and peppered kisses along his neck while my hand roamed over the topography of his chest and stomach until I took him in hand. Ridges carved down the length of Ryder’s long cock, standing out in contrast to the silky smooth skin. I pumped my hand over him, relishing every grunt, groan, and clench of his body as he gave his pleasure over to me.

  “Nix, I’m too close.” He gripped my wrist, staying my motion. Tossing his head back and closing his eyes, he swallowed hard.

  “Come here.” I settled myself comfortably onto the mattress and boldly opened my thighs, letting my legs fall open to make room for where he would settle over me. He hesitated for only a moment, grabbing a condom out of his nightstand as a slight blush tinted his cheeks. His hands were sure as he rolled it down his length, his gaze coming back to meet mine.

  Ryder’s eyes blazed with a fire and a passion I hadn’t seen before, and it filled the room in a tangible way. One second he was beside me, and the next his golden skin was sliding against mine as he aligned us.

  His arms were tense as he held his body over mine, and I gripped his biceps, roving my hands up and down over the hard ridges of his muscles.

  I tipped my hips up toward Ryder and it was the only invitation he needed. His eyes locked with mine as he pressed the head of his cock inside of me, slowly inching forward. His arms shook and he hung his head as he forged inside me. “Oh fuck, that feels good,” he rasped.

  I moaned at the feelings he was inspiring inside of me, and rose up to meet him as he sheathed himself to the hilt.

  “Nix,” he called my name like a prayer and began to move, fucking me in sweet, slow motions that began to build in pace and rhythm.

  I writhed below him as he glided into me over and over again in long, smooth strokes, grinding my clit into him with every roll of his hips.

  My nails dug into his back as I held on to him, loving the way his chest brushed against mine as he leaned over me. The slight shift in position had every thrust rubbing over my g-spot, and I lost my mind. My pussy pulsed around him in endless waves.

  “Ryder!” I cried out, and was met with the sexiest groan as he sped up, losing himself to pure, scorching need.

  He rocketed into me with a wild, reckless abandon that made me shudder, ache, and throb. The pleasure that had settled over me earlier grew, spiraling higher, until I was at the peak, ready to fall over the edge with Ryder.

  His hips bucked as he surged forward one last time before release claimed him. The sight of Ryder so free, and powerful, and lost in rapture made my heart swell with love, and the thrill of watching him find pleasure in my body sent me careening into my own climax.

  We clung to each other as our breathing mingled and eventually slowed enough for us to speak again.

  “That was incredible.” Ryder watched me with an awestruck expression.

  “You were incredible.” My tone was low in the dim sanctuary that was our room. Everything felt heavier and more intimate after the experience we’d jus
t shared together.

  Ryder rolled off of me, quickly cleaned up, and pulled me into his side. “You’re stuck now, you know.”

  “What do you mean?” I scrunched up my nose while I tried to reason out what he was saying.

  Reaching up, he stroked my hair, pushing it away from my face and tucking it behind my ear. “I’m hooked on you, Nix. You’re everything.”

  I brushed his lips in a sweet kiss, putting all of my feelings into it. “I can’t imagine life without you, Ry. I’ll always be here for you. You’re mine and I’m yours.” The need to say more, to speak that four letter word, hung on my lips, but I didn’t give it the freedom it deserved. It was just one more thing I worried about. I had four other men to think about whom I cared for deeply, and I was worried that if I said it to one person first, the others would be upset that they hadn’t heard it yet for themselves. The truth was, I had those feelings for each of the guys, but I didn’t know how to go about expressing it. It was something I added to my list of things to talk to Rini about. She’d certainly been through this already… and she was mated to actual brothers.

  Instead, I cuddled into Ryder and made sure he knew how I felt with actions rather than words.

  We lounged together in weightless happiness, enjoying the languorous, sultry atmosphere as we dozed off together.

  Before sleep fully claimed me, I heard Ryder’s sleep-filled whisper float through the room. It was nothing but a breathy mumble, but I heard it anyway, and it seared itself indelibly onto my heart. “I love you, mikró pouláki.”

  Nine

  Killian

  I slapped my sketchbook closed with an irritated growl, before glancing at my cell phone again. I'd been trying to get ahold of Ciarán for the last few days, and he still wasn't responding. Out of everyone I knew, Ciar was my best chance for finding out if the dream I’d had was prophetic or merely a nightmare, and if he didn’t have the answers for me… he would at least make a good sounding board, someone to talk it through with. The air was bitterly cold as it whipped against me, making my eyes water, but I didn't bother moving yet.