Faded Realms

by C. R. Jane

  We’re both quiet when we wake in the morning. Damon doesn’t seem to be in the mood to talk about what happened last night. After making omelets together, we pick up the house, lock it up, and set flight again.

  “We’ll have to land right outside the city,” Damon says as we fly. “I don’t want to risk anyone seeing you. Shelton will meet us with the car.”

  I nod, and we continue to fly silently. Looking at him out of the corner of my eye, I can see that Damon is draped in misery. I decide right then and there that I don’t care about whatever he’s punishing himself for, it’s time for us to take the next step.

  I start my seduction once we land, making sure to touch as much as possible. He looks at me, unsure of what I’m after but quickly follows my lead. A quick make out session has us both breathing heavily as we park in front of our building. We try for propriety as we walk through the lobby, but I’m desperate for him.

  As soon as the doors close, I’m instantly assailed with his large strong body backing me towards the rear of the elevator. Looking into his simmering eyes, I hold my breath in utter joy that I somehow found the strength to give in, praying that I’m not dreaming this.

  “Tell me…tell me you want me as much as I want you,” he says.

  My breath hitches at his sensual request. I’m stunned silent, staring into his probing mesmerizing gaze. I can feel his racing heartbeat through the thin material of his shirt, mimicking the rhythmic pulse of my own. It’s thrilling.

  “Please answer me,” he pleads, his voice needy, yet commanding.

  “Y-yes. I want you.” I’ve admitted it to myself a thousand times since the first time I saw his face in my college brochure. No matter how mad we’ve been at each other, we will always find a way back to each other.

  With shocking abandon, I fist my hands tightly in his shirt, easily falling into the role I’ve been longing to play, a husky groan leaving his lips.

  With my acquiescence, he reaches for my nape, weaving his fingers in to my hair, his tantalizing touch pulling a moan from deep within me. Tugging gently, he tilts my head back, leaning down to devour me with his kiss. This is no soft kiss, but an assault of the senses, his lips crashing onto mine with virility. Overtaken with desire, I allow him access, his tongue plunging in to duel with mine.

  On a released whimper, I return his kiss with fervor. He tastes incredible-some sort of chocolate coating his tongue. My need to devour him is echoed in my hands, pulling and tugging on his shirt, grabbing fistfuls. I feel possessed, running my palms over his muscular pecs and thick arms, relishing in the strength of his corded muscles. I want to swallow him whole. Will this latent yearning I have for all three men ever go away?

  Too quickly, we come to a stop on the penthouse floor. In a display of carnal desire, he pulls me out into the hallway, never releasing his tight grip on my body. In the corner of my mind I realize that there is a chance that Mason is here and that it’s way too soon to have displays like this in front of the other guys, but when Damon’s lips drift, and he begins to kiss and nibble down my cheek, along my jaw, and onto my neck, my mind is wiped clear.

  There’s no question in my mind that I’m going to have Damon right now. No question that I’m going to willingly go with him to his room so that I can strip him bare and make him mine once and for all.

  Pulling his lips away, he grabs my hand, leading me, quite ardently, down the hallway to his bedroom. The absence of his lips on my skin, and strong arms around my body, leaves me feeling slightly bereft.

  Pushing the door open, he pulls me inside, pressing me against the wall, his unnatural angelic strength present in his hold. Kissing me passionately, he groans slightly with each thrust of my tongue.

  I feel his hands everywhere. Gliding along my ribs. Sliding up under my breasts, brushing his thumbs along my sensitive skin. I moan at his touch, feeling lightheaded, my body clenching in anticipation.

  Trailing down my back, his fingers leave a delicious thrill of goosebumps. He grabs my butt, wrenching me against him with a firm, determined jerk that’s mirrored in the deepening of his kiss, before exploring his way back up.

  He’s playing my body like a fiddle and I can’t help myself-I can’t hold back my moan, causing his grip to tighten around my ribcage as though I’ve just heated things up a notch.

  With masculine finesse, he reaches for the hem of my sweater, tugging it up and off me.

  My body is on fire for him. I need him to simply take over. In a moment of lustful abandon, I grip the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up his body. He steps back to assist, grabbing it from behind his neck, pulling it off his body. I’m not sure what makes that move so sexy, but I give a long sigh as I watch him uncover inch by inch of his perfect body.

  His bare chest takes my breath away as it always does. He’s perfect, more so than is comprehendible really. I’m in awe of his hard, lean frame as he stands before me. I try to tear my gaze away from the stark outline of his magnificent form, but it’s no use. I’m practically drooling; biting my lip to be sure.

  “Like what you see?” he asks, his devilishly handsome features shifting to that knowing grin that never ceases to drive me wild.

  I nod unwittingly, reaching out to slide my hands up his well-formed muscles. My touch draws a guttural groan from his sensual, perfectly ripe lips. It makes me feel confident, like I can handle having this magnificent creature love me. Looking up to him, I can sense he can see my confidence in my eyes as I witness a flash of desire in his.

  He reaches for me, pulling the strap of my bra down my shoulder, leaving earth-shattering kisses in its wake. His slow, succulent kisses continue along the swell of my chest, my collarbone, and up the side of my neck; the clasp of my bra released with a quick slip of his fingers.

  I run my hands over the smooth expanse of his skin, along his strong shoulders and biceps, squeezing and scratching along his muscled form. I can’t get enough of him, of any of them. It’s as though my thoughts, dreams, and regrets have conjured them all up. It’s mind blowing and feels completely irrational.

  His eyes slide down my body, inspecting the package that he’s just unwrapped. “You’re stunning,” he whispers, effectively obliterating any self-doubt I could have. He has a way of looking at me that makes me feel like I’m everything he needs. Everything that he wants.

  He drops to his knees before me. Leaning forward he gently kisses my stomach, splaying his hands around my waist. The sheer span of his fingers feels as though he’s engulfing me.

  With labored breath, I look down, watching his sexy nips and licks along my stomach continuing towards my chest. My body wracks with exhilarated shivers.

  Gliding his hands upwards, he cups me. His intense hot gaze draws mine and my breath hitches as his tongue peeks out to taste me. I’m unable to look away. His sinful stare intoxicates me. I’m enraptured by the movement of his mouth. The passionate, sensual overload to my body feels like too much to take.

  Wildly, I slide my fingers into his thick, black hair. I can’t control myself from pulling his head closer.

  “I have to have you,” he whispers shakily.

  “Take me,” I say just as shakily back.

  14

  Damon

  And have her I do.

  “Mine,” I’ve said it a million times in my mind, and now it’s true. The sharp intake of her breath stilts my own.

  “I’m ready to belong to you.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut against the onslaught of emotion. It’s more than love and possessive pride or intense physical need. My faith is restored. It’s hope that our separately troubled histories will not affect our future and if it does, we’ll make it through. My life is now so much fuller than it was.

  Every move is intensified: her widened eyes, the dilated pupils, the spiked breathing and parted lips when I stroke her body. My name falls from her lips in a prayer, her gaze frantic as it flicks from my hand to my face and back again. I’m stretched in multiple directions. I want to bur
y myself inside of her, yet kiss and bite my way over her entire body at the same time—worship every inch of skin that now belongs to me. Slide into her slow and easy, yet possess her hard and fast.

  “I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you that day on the green. Your voice. Your face. Every part of you spoke to me on a level I didn’t understand. Now I hear it during my easiest moments, and it calls to me at my darkest hour. You’re the beginning of my end, Eva. I’ll spend the rest of my life ensuring each day brings you a happier tomorrow.”

  Her chin trembles when she whispers, “Damon, please...”

  I kiss a path from her ankle to her hipbone, her skin feeling like silk beneath my lips. I catch my growl and then let it loose when I catch her scent and the gasp that fills the silence. Teasing her with my tongue, I draw out a cry and then kiss her before sliding to the mattress. Taking my time, I admire her. Her perfect skin glows beneath me. It’s as if she’s a beacon to straighten my course. I need this woman to breathe.

  “Beautiful,” I whisper to her, and her eyes widen shyly at my pronouncement.

  Soft, perfect curves, full breasts, and legs that go on forever that I want wrapped around my waist. Her thighs easily part for me and we come together. Hovering over her mouth, our eyes lock, and I breathe her in. This is living. I rock into her soft heat until she’s squirming beneath me.

  She kneads and pulls my hair as I torture her with my slow movements.

  “Damon,” she calls.

  Each time she calls my name it spurs my need to drown in her softness and bring about the insistent pleas that follow. I murmur into her neck, “I love you.” I take her groan as reciprocation and continue vibrating words into her flushed skin. I love your laugh. I love your smile and what it does to me. I love everything about you.

  Everything speeds up—my pulse, my hand as it skims down her stomach and thighs. I muffle her cry with my mouth when I touch her. She’s hungry. Stroking deep lashes with her tongue, she claws my back and lifts into me. I can’t help but pull away to watch and feel her tremble around my fingers.

  “Come on, baby,” I hiss into the crook of her shoulder, looking at where we’re joined. I love that I can make her let loose like this. I love that I can make her feel so much.

  Her skin is slightly flushed, her head thrown back as she arches into me. She opens her eyes to find mine and whisper my name. Every time I hear it, I fall harder than the moment before. And there she is. Her gaze pulls me in and we both whisper “yes” when her body finally releases.

  “Eva . . . baby.” I’m panting. Her legs round my ass for leverage. I groan as she claws up my back and then down my arms, only to grip the sheets.

  “Please move,” she moans softly.

  I smile at her and then laugh when she bucks up beneath me. Giving in, I pull out and then bury myself until our hips meet. “You feel too good.” So good, I almost can’t go slow and love her as I should.

  To distract myself, I take advantage of her neck when she throws her head back into the mattress and I feast on her flesh, licking, biting and kissing a path to her mouth to claim that too. When I do, we both moan and feed on each other for long moments. Finding a rhythm, we rock, easing back and forth. She breaks free to gulp in a breath and I say, “This is me loving you. Do you feel it?”

  Her eyes widen. Biting her bottom lip, she sucks on it until a gasp pulls it free. “Yes, I feel you. Damon . . .” She groans again. “Please.”

  It’s so intense, as I start to move, I fear I won’t last long. Not like this, with her wrapped around me in every possible way.

  “I want to savor every minute with you.”

  She shakes her head. “Next time.”

  I nudge her nose with mine and then kiss her long and hard. “Every time,” I ground out while pushing and pulling into her again and again.

  And she drags everything from inside of me. All of the feelings I’d hidden for so long. The exhaustion of an eternity of loneliness and the fear I never admitted that it would always be that way. Most of all, the love I couldn’t feel for anyone. I give it all to Eva.

  “I want to come with you. Take me there.” I jerk against the words and her. Letting go of her leg, I sink down, chest to chest, and rest my elbows on either side of her head. I’m so far gone, so desperate to feel every inch of her. Taking in her cry, I start moving, long, deep thrusts that push her up the mattress each time.

  My name falls from her lips in a rapid-fire pant. All of it is too much—Eva, her voice, the breath rushing along my neck and the reality that she really belongs to me. I will never let her go.

  Holding tight, I focus on her and the low mewls now bleating in her throat. In return I tell her how good she feels, how much I need her, and that I will work hard every day of my life to protect her, to be what she deserves.

  “Baby, I’m so close.” I can feel she’s there again too. Trembling beneath me, she starts crying out, “Damon . . . So good I . . . yes... please . . . please…”

  I groan at her first spasm and it starts the burning sensation in my lower spine. Clamping my teeth on the soft skin that connects her neck to her shoulder, I spiral into oblivion. The best kind, the only kind I ever give in to. “Eva.”

  Groaning out her name, I spiral down, pressing deeper, harder, faster and when I fall over the edge, the only thing I care about is her coming apart around me and my certainty that wherever life’s journey tries to take her, I will always follow her. She will never be parted from me. I’ll make sure of it.

  15

  Eva

  “Do you want to know the truth about your beloved fallen angel?” Aiden says with a smirk as I open my eyes to find myself in another dream. This time he’s taken me back to the Louvre, and he takes his time walking along the perimeter of the room as if he’s admiring the paintings rather than stalking me.

  I ignore him, pretending that I’m especially enthralled with the Van Gogh I’m standing in front of rather than plotting my escape by trying to find something to nick myself on. He seems to have taken care of any sharp edges in the room this time however. Even the frames have rounded corners.

  “Eva,” he says, startling me because he’s right behind me, so close that I can feel his breath against my neck. I whirl around, not wanting him to touch me, but then he’s gone again.

  “Don’t you want to know?” comes his voice, echoing around the room as if there’s a million of him all talking at once.

  “Know what?” I finally say, curiosity winning out at what other secret he could know about me that could give him so much glee.

  “Why he left you all alone and never showed that day of course…”

  Prologue

  “It will take all of it to save Fairie, My Queen. Every last drop,” she tells me softly and mournfully. My stomach clinches, but I feel no surprise. Isn’t this what I thought would happen? Wasn’t there a part of me that knew that a sacrifice would be needed in order to counter a curse so strong? Losing everyone I loved wasn’t enough, I had to lose myself as well. Although I feel a deep sadness within my very soul, I feel no hesitation.

  “I’ll do it,” I tell her steadfastly, holding out my hand for the knife.

  To Be Continued….

  Author’s Note

  Well. That was a wild ride. This book was all about relationship building while setting the stage for the future. The path to the end is laid out clearly before us...I just haven’t decided when it’s going to happen. Eva’s story is so much fun to write. There’s so much more going on than at first meets the eye. I’m going to love showing you all the layers that come with Eva’s story. I’ve got some crazy surprises waiting for you as we continue. Thank you so much for continuing along this journey with me. I have so much planned for us.

  Please leave a review on Amazon to give me further motivation to keep the story going. As I’ve said before, I read all of my reviews and I’m grateful for anyone that takes the time to tell me what they think of Eva’s little story.

&nbs
p; Visit my Facebook page to get updates.

  Visit my Amazon Author page.

  Visit my Website.

  Sign up for my newsletter to stay updated on new releases, find out random facts about me, and get access to different points of view from Eva and her men.

  Join C.R.’s Fated Realm

  Other Books by C.R. Jane

  The Fated Wings Series

  First Impressions

  Forgotten Specters

  The Fallen One (a Fated Wings Novella)

  Forbidden Queens

  Frightful Beginnings (a Fated Wings Short Story)

  Faded Realms

  The Rock God (a Fated Wings Novella, 2019)

  The Timeless Affection Series

  Lamented Pasts

  Lost Passions (2019)

  The Pack Queen Series

  Queen of the Thieves (December 2019)

  Queen of the Alphas (2019)

  The Rise Again Series

  The Day After Nothing (May 2019)

  The Sound of Us Contemporary Series

  Always Remember Us This Way (2019)

  Lamented Pasts Preview

  Here’s a preview of the first book of my new series, Lamented Pasts. Available here on Amazon and KU.

  Loneliness. That’s all Juliet Caris has ever known. Cursed to pass through time, changing centuries without warning, Juliet has lost everything. A piece of her heart has been lost to the men she has left behind at every stop she has made, and finding herself once again alone, she believes she has no parts of herself left to give. Can a handsome stranger bring her back to life and help her get back what she has lost? Or will Juliet disappear again, this time for good?