Bound in Darkness

by Nicole Edwards

  Apollo was the one to speak while the other two males faced off with death glares.

  “I’m going to monitor him for a while. And I can insist Oliver come down to have his vitals checked for the next couple of days. Provided he remains stable, that’ll buy you some time to figure this out.”

  “In the meantime,” Michael said, speaking directly to Kaj, “I suggest you keep him and your daughter apart.”

  “No,” Apollo barked. “Do not interfere. I’m warning you right now, he’s—”

  “A bonded vampire,” Obsidian snarled. “You do not come between a bonded vampire and his mate.” He squared off with Kaj. “And you … I get that you’re her father, and I can’t imagine this is easy for you. But honestly tell me you wouldn’t lose your mind if I were to keep you from Acadia.”

  The male snarled, his upper lip pulling back from his fangs.

  “Exactly my point. Just the thought of it isn’t something you can comprehend. The same’s going to be the case for the ten-thousand-year-old vampire hopping a ride in the human. We do, however, need to come up with a plan. And for that to happen, we have to explain what’s going on to the others. Including Oliver.”

  Once more, the healer spoke up. “That’s the last thing you want to do. There’s already conflict in that vessel. It’s best to keep him out of the loop for as long as you can.”

  Obsidian wasn’t in agreement, but he also wasn’t a healer. He had to trust Apollo knew what he was talking about. The end goal was to get Khari out and to keep Oliver alive. If they had to go this route, so be it.

  “This is ultimately your responsibility,” Michael told Kaj. “I’ve told you what I need and you’ve given me your terms. I’m not sure what you’re waiting for.”

  Kaj’s thick brows arched, but he kept his mouth shut. Probably not a bad thing.

  “We’ll reconvene tonight,” Obsidian told them. “But we have to come to a decision then.” He locked eyes with Apollo. “Let me know if anything changes with him.”

  As he walked away, Obsidian couldn’t help but wonder what Michael had gotten himself into this time.

  And more importantly, how they were all going to come out the other side. In one piece.

  Chapter Thirty

  After leaving Obsidian and the others, Kaj made his way through the mansion, heading up to the second floor, beelining for Acadia’s room. He had no idea whether she was there or not, but he had to find her, had to see her.

  He felt slightly out of control, a bit off-kilter. It had more to do with the fact he was losing his grip on what was going on. Nothing he could do or say would change the outcome of what was spiraling out of control. Khari, Bijou, Oliver. None of it made sense, and he knew no amount of thinking about it would help.

  With a quick rap on the door to announce his presence, Kaj barreled through, closing it quickly behind him.

  Leaning against the door, he took a deep breath in, let it out. In, out. Again and again.

  “Kaj?” Acadia stepped out from the bathroom, a white towel wrapped around her, shielding her nakedness from him, her long, thick hair hanging down to her waist.

  He stared at her, unable to form words thanks to the crazy that had kicked off in his brain. There was no reining it in. Not yet.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked as she came closer.

  Realizing he was beginning to hyperventilate, he motioned her toward him.

  She didn’t hesitate, closing the distance, her eyes wide, concerned.

  Kaj pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly and burying his face in her neck. He breathed her in, allowing that familiar scent of cherry blossoms to soothe the chaos, to settle his nerves.

  “You’re scaring me,” she whispered.

  “I need you,” he replied, not quite sure in what manner he meant.

  “I’m here, Kaj. Whatever you need.”

  Right now, this was what he needed. To hold her. For whatever reason, it was the answer. The longer he stood there, his female pulled in tight to his body, the better he began feeling. Not necessarily calmer because he wasn’t sure anything could ease the bedlam in his brain, but he felt a bit more grounded.

  Before he realized what he was doing, Kaj had begun tugging at the towel that concealed her. Acadia eased back enough to allow the plush cotton to be pulled away, leaving her naked in his arms.

  Better.

  Definitely better.

  Kaj’s hands slid over her smooth, warm skin. Her back, her ass, her hips. He consoled himself with the feel of her even as his body heated, anticipation building, his cock thickening. He wanted her. He had always wanted her. He would always want her. And he realized, he was bound to her. Heart, body, soul. She owned every piece of him despite the fact he’d yet to claim her. It didn’t necessarily matter.

  Soft lips pressed against his neck, causing him to tilt his head back, skull meeting the wooden door. Those lips began a slow glide over his skin.

  “Relax,” she whispered, her lips continuing their trek as her hands worked beneath his T-shirt, forcing the cotton higher until he pulled it over his head.

  Then those lips were moving over his collarbones, his pecs. Acadia teased his nipples with gentle licks, and he found he was actually relaxing, the stress from earlier melting away, replaced by a heat that consumed him.

  Kaj cradled her head with his hand, holding her so she continued to do that … that wicked thing with her tongue. His other hand dropped to his jeans, freeing the button, lowering the zipper. He reached for his cock, stroked it while she kissed and licked, teased and provoked. His female knew exactly what to do to rock him to his core, her smooth hands beginning to wander while her mouth inched lower, gliding down over his stomach as she started to her knees.

  “Wait,” he groaned, lifting his head and meeting her eyes.

  He could see the surprise and the confusion in those amethyst orbs, but he didn’t say a word, simply took her hand and led her into the bathroom. He willed the water on in the tub, then stripped off his remaining clothes, watching her while he did. Acadia’s body was a work of art, all rounded curves and smooth, sleek skin. Her dusky pink nipples were hardened into points, beckoning his tongue.

  As the water filled the tub, he took her hand once more, led her into it. Rather than let her sit in the water, he urged her onto the side of the tub as he went to his knees.

  “Let me taste you, balisra.”

  Her eyes heated as she spread her thighs, allowing him to position them so he had room to shoulder his way between them. As he neared her glistening sex, Kaj inhaled deeply, breathing her in. He loved the scent of her arousal. It spoke to the beast within, the animal emerging, eager to mate, desperate to claim.

  Acadia shifted, leaning back against the tiled wall as he pressed his face between her thighs, nuzzling the soft skin, his lips grazing her.

  “Kaj…”

  He answered the plea that didn’t fall from her lips, licking her gently, then more firmly, gliding through her slickness, teasing, exploring. Every time he grazed her clit, Acadia whimpered, her hips rocking forward as though she needed him right there. Using his fingers, he parted her slick flesh. As her breaths grew more labored, Kaj relented, taking and giving at the same time. He devoured her, his tongue and lips feasting on her, licking, stroking, fucking. He focused on her taste, let her sweet moans fuel him.

  Come for me, balisra. Come in my mouth.

  Acadia cried out in response as he thrust his tongue as deep as he could, plunging into her again and again. When her hands cradled his head, holding him there, he worked her more, teased her ruthlessly. And when she cried out his name, her body bucking against him, Kaj held her in place, refusing to relent. He made her come twice more before he got to his feet, gripping his cock roughly. Her eyes opened, her mouth following suit as he planted one palm on the wall and guided his erection between those sultry lips. Acadia’s eyes closed as she took him in her mouth. Her hands shifted to his thighs and Kaj nearly lost it when she began drawing
energy from him.

  Fearful he would hurt her, he let her lead, watching as she bobbed forward, taking him deep in her throat. Again and again she sucked him, the heat of her mouth an exquisite torment that he never wanted to end.

  Acadia hadn’t expected Kaj to show up at her door, but the moment she’d seen his face, she had known what he needed.

  Not necessarily sex, per se. But he had certainly needed the intimacy they shared. And this worked for her. Not once had he ever made her feel as though he was using her to sate an urge. How could she feel that way when he plied her with such overwhelming pleasure? Now it was her turn, and she wanted this to last forever.

  Beneath her palms, his thighs trembled as she sucked him deeper than she ever had before. He wasn’t guiding her, wasn’t pumping his hips. No, Kaj had handed over the reins, allowing her to be in control. It was rare for him to do so, and she knew the only reason he did was because he trusted her. The same as she did him. Together they were safe, protected and loved by the other. They were whole.

  “Acadia…”

  In my mouth, she responded in his mind.

  “Oh, fuck … balisra.”

  Spurred by his words, Acadia released his thighs and curled her fist around the thick base of his erection while she worked her mouth on him. She wanted to taste him, to drink him down. She loved the way his erection pulsed on her tongue, his breaths sawing in and out of his lungs as he fought for control while knowing it was futile.

  Suddenly, his hand was in her hair, gripping roughly, holding her in place as he thrust forward, nearly choking her. Acadia breathed through her nose and drank him down as he came.

  He all but crumpled to the floor of the tub, his arms reaching for her, pulling her in with him. Luckily, it was a large tub, big enough to hold his enormous body even if said body displaced the water, bringing it higher over them.

  “Inside you…” he rasped. “I just need to be inside you.”

  Acadia straddled his hips, allowing him to pull her against him as she seated herself on his erection. Dragging out the delicious feeling, she worked herself down slowly until he was fully inside her.

  Then she relaxed against him, her face pressed to his neck, her breasts crushed against his chest, the warm water covering them both.

  “This…” His arms banded around her. “This is all I ever need.”

  Neither of them moved, relaxing. It was strange to have him inside her without friction, but she knew that would come with time. The fact that Kaj wanted to be one with her was something she’d gotten used to long ago. She remembered the first time he’d made the request, pulling her onto him as they lay in his bed. She’d fallen asleep like that, woken some time later when she’d felt him moving, his body tending to hers, offering a pleasure unlike anything she’d ever known.

  “I need you, Acadia.”

  “I’m here,” she assured him.

  “No. I mean … I need you at my side. From now on. I don’t want to move forward without you.”

  A sigh of contentment escaped her. “I’m here,” she repeated. “Now and always. I’m yours, Kaj. For eternity.”

  “Do you mean that?”

  She didn’t answer right away, wanting to find the right words. But she’d never been good with words. Sharing her feelings didn’t come naturally, but she trusted no one more than she trusted Kaj.

  “You hurt me when you left me,” she told him, keeping her voice low, her cheek on his shoulder. “Those first few days you were gone … it nearly killed me.”

  His hand slid over her back, warm and comforting. “I hated leaving you, but I had no choice.”

  Acadia knew that now. She knew that he’d left the mansion to get back to his father. He’d been too late to save Kardobahn or the others. There were times when she felt guilty, as though she was responsible for that. Kaj had stayed a few extra days because she’d asked him to. If he had left when he’d first mentioned it, perhaps his father would still be alive.

  “It wouldn’t have mattered,” he said, as though reading her thoughts. “I wouldn’t have left, Acadia. It took everything I had to walk away.”

  “I missed you so much,” she admitted. “During the day, I couldn’t sleep because I missed the warmth of your body against mine. My heart broke, Kaj. I’ve never felt anything like that before.”

  He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I won’t leave you again. I swear on my life, balisra. I don’t want to spend another day or night without you.”

  She wanted to believe that. Truly. Every molecule in her body seemed to gravitate toward this male. She thought about him endlessly, worried about him, feared for him. He’d long ago buried himself beneath her skin, become the most important thing in her world. Acadia wasn’t sure that was appropriate because she’d always longed to be an independent female, despite the fact her entire race was at the mercy of angels. Sometimes she feared she was trading one duty for another, but then she thought about how happy she was when she was with Kaj. No, not even with him. Thinking about him, loving him, and yes, even fearing for him. He’d become a part of her at some point in their history, and she couldn’t imagine the rest of her life without him in it.

  “I have to talk to Obsidian.” She’d been putting it off and she knew it had to be done. “I’ll speak with him tonight.”

  “If you don’t, Acadia,” he whispered softly, “I will.”

  “No,” she said urgently. “I will. I promise.”

  “And then you’ll spend the rest of your days in my bed, the rest of your nights nearby.”

  It wasn’t a question, but she answered anyway. “I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

  Kaj’s hips shifted and rolled, his erection moving inside her, thickening as her muscles clenched, the friction making her skin prickle. His head turned to the side, his mouth brushing over her ear then down to her neck.

  “Stay just like that,” he whispered. “I’m going to bite you and I’m going to make love to you at the same time.”

  A shiver of warmth curled in her belly as the gruff rasp of his voice stroked her senses.

  She angled her head to give him better access to her vein, but she didn’t move otherwise.

  Acadia was aware of his fangs as they sensually scraped her skin once, twice… She inhaled sharply when he pierced her, her inner muscles tightening on his sex. The rough growl that escaped had her body tightening. And then he was feeding from her while he gently rocked his hips, pushing in deep, retreating a fraction. Deep again. Over and over, she let the euphoria overwhelm her.

  The water in the tub began lapping at the edges as Kaj’s movements became less rhythmic, the friction driving them both higher until Acadia couldn’t refrain from coming. The orgasm rolled through her, gently at first, then growing stronger as he punched upward, driving in deeper than she thought possible.

  Before she had drifted back down from that incredible high, Acadia was aware of him lifting her, their bodies still joined. Kaj wasted no time carrying her into the bedroom, moving over her, and finishing them both off as the last tether of his control snapped. Acadia let him overwhelm her, the orgasms free flowing as he slammed into her again and again. Their eyes met and held, and in those moments, as he rocked her to her very core, something shifted between them.

  Their future was on the horizon, the winds of change blowing in their direction.

  And for the first time in her life, she didn’t fear what they might bring. Above all else, she knew Kaj would take care of her. He would love her, he would protect her. And in turn, she would prove to him she was as strong as he believed her to be.

  A deep, dark growl sounded as Kaj’s lower body drove forward one final time. He pulsed deep inside her, his orgasm triggering another. And as she let it wash over her, she gave herself over to him. Completely.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Saturday, April 14, 2018

  Pressure.

  There was so much pressure on her chest, Acadia wasn’t sure how her heart would su
rvive it. Never in her existence had she ever felt this sort of tremendous pain. Though she knew rationally that there wasn’t anything doing harm to her heart, it certainly felt as though someone had taken the organ and was squeezing.

  Kaj was leaving.

  In fact, he was wandering through the mansion saying goodbye to everyone else because she’d refused to see him. She could hear his voice down below, and she wondered how he could sound so strong, so unaffected, when here she was, her chest ready to implode from the agony.

  Kaj was leaving.

  Her mind was overloaded with memories of the past six months. The day he arrived, injured, dying. Obsidian saving him. All the days that passed before he awoke so she could see those beautiful green eyes peering back at her. He’d been so vulnerable, yet he had trusted her implicitly to care for him, to nurse him back to health. And the past couple of months when he’d been fully recovered, their bodies coming together to celebrate the emotions they’d invoked in one another, the love that had developed though neither of them spoke of it.

  Kaj. Was. Leaving.

  She felt as though she was being abandoned all over again. The difference was she didn’t remember the first time because she’d been only a few weeks old when she’d been brought to the orphanage, her parents taken from this world. Part of her wished she wouldn’t remember this day, could avoid this unbearable pressure sitting firmly in the middle of her chest.

  Come morning, she would go to bed alone. She would wake up without the warmth of his body next to hers, the reassuring sound of his breaths, the brilliant light in his eyes that she’d come to cherish seeing each and every night.

  Alone.

  Although the house was full of angels, Acadia had never felt more alone than she did in that moment. And Kaj was still down there, still talking, laughing, joking. Seemingly okay with the fact he was going to walk out the door and never look back. Acadia wasn’t sure she would ever see him again.