A Dance Of Twilight: (A Fae Dark Fantasy Romance Stand-Alone )

Chapter 37

Iwasn’t sure what came over me as we tangled our limbs around each other, how it felt to make him moan against my touch. It felt powerful, I had all the control, and I was relishing in it.

Sitting between his legs, he played with my fingers in the warm water as I thought the feel of his enormous cock in my hand. My back was pressed against his chest. I could feel as each beat of his heart fell into sync with mine. I rested my head on his shoulder and took a deep breath in.

I could get used to this feeling.

This feeling of relaxation and being wanted. Of feeling safe.

Did he want me? Or was it just because we were partially naked, and the feeling of lust and passion hung over our heads?

I’d read what to do to him in one of my mother’s ghastly romance books. She had no idea I’d stolen it off her bookshelf one day while she was out hunting with Father. I’d just happen to stumble into her room when the castle was quiet one day and the book cover caught my eye.

“Do you still wish to claim me?” I asked, wondering if he said those words out of desire, or if he truly did crave me.

“Only if you allow me to.”

He truly was a gentleman deep down, under the hard shell of a king who punished those who disobeyed or angered him. But it seemed, with me—at least for the most part—he tried his best to be considerate, thinking of my needs and feelings.

Another one of his masks to add to my list.

“Do you…,” he trailed off before asking, “Will you allow me?”

I wondered if what I said was true earlier. We would be married by the end of tomorrow and then we’d need to consummate—letting the entire kingdom know then, their king had claimed his wife.

But, did I really want them all to know? As far as anyone was concerned, I was a virgin after all. Only Nicholas and Kathlyn knew what had happened to me. I knew without a doubt they’d take it to their graves.

“I want to say yes,” I began to say, biting my lip. He interlocked his fingers with mine. “I am just worried.”

“About what?”

His warm breath tickled on my neck as he leaned forward and brought his lips against the skin beneath my ear. He kissed it gently, sending shivers down my spine.

“I am—” the word caught in my throat. I didn’t want to admit it to him, the confession causing myself more shame.

“I…eh, um.”

“Spit it out, Annwyl. There will never be any judgement from me,” he murmured as he kissed my neck again. His lips were not helping as I tried to concentrate on keeping my composure from breaking before him.

“I am unclean—defiled. No good man would really, truly want me,” my voice cracked with my confession.

“Then I am the most wicked man you will ever know,” he jested and I held back a small laugh, intrigued by how easily he threw my words away. “You will, and always have been wonderful. You are perfect, especially in my eyes, Ornella Light. And tomorrow, I will show everyone why I had to make you mine.”

He turned my face towards him and kissed my cheek then wrapped his free arm around my waist, pulling me in closer.

“You are and never will be unclean. You could do horrible, unspeakable things and I would still see you as flawless.”

Butterflies flung themselves around my stomach as I shifted . Turning around completely to face him, I straddled his waist, making sure not to tease him too much. Our noses touched, our lips a breath away from touching and I had to keep myself from losing complete control. There was no space where we didn’t touch, his arms wrapped around my waist as he watched me closely.

At first, it seemed as if we’d only known each other a few short months, but it had never felt that way. After finding out I spent most of my younger days with him—roaming the forest with him, hiding out in the stables as we played cards late into the night or when we danced amongst the flowers, me dreadfully trying to learn the steps to something ready for another ball—it made sense why I felt that way.

I was finding it difficult not to fall for him. With his way of words, the gentleness in his tone and how he kept hold of me. He really was what all those romantic books were about.

“We need to finish our rites before the sun rises,” I spoke quietly, as he used one hand to brush his fingers through my wet hair.

Without question, he let go of me and turned to grab hold of a bottle of what looked to be shampoo and poured the liquid onto his hands. He rubbed them together to create a lather and then started to wash my hair.

“We will finish the rites and then I am taking you to bed,” he growled as he massaged his fingers into my scalp, delicately and firmly. It felt wonderful.

Once he was finished and my hair rinsed it free of any soap, I did the same to him. He closed his eyes, clearly enjoying the moment. His hair felt even softer than I first imagined, which made me laugh under my breath. He gave me a strange, confused look while I rinsed out the soap.

“I will never tire of your laugh,” he murmured and closed his eyes once again.

“We didn’t finish telling each other personal things. But I think you already know more about me that I do myself, Nic,” I confessed.

I had the strangest feeling that since he was able to take away my memories, he may also have the gift—or maybe it was a curse—to look into other people’s minds. He’d already spoken to me via our thoughts. It would make sense if he wandered into my mind sometimes to learn things.

“I only know the things you wish for me to know. I never intend or try to look inside your mind, Ornella.”

He lifted one hand up and wrapped his fingers around my wrist firmly, making me look at him. His eyes changed into the colour of waves, greys and dark blues mixed together.

“You are in control. I like being in charge, but it’s refreshing to have someone around me who isn’t afraid of upsetting me,” he confessed as he brushed the knuckles of his other hand against my cheek.

“I am still afraid of you—sometimes,” I admitted, “I don’t mean to be, but I know deep down there is a dark side of you. I hope to embrace it rather than run away from it.”

“Embrace all you wish. After tomorrow, I will be yours completely to do with as you please. Just so long as in exchange, I am allowed to devour you, claim you and make you mine.” His last word came out more a growl than speech.

I now knew things about Nicholas that I never thought possible. Back when we were children, I would run away from him, like a mouse from a cat. He made me feel things even back then, things I never fully understood. Now being wrapped up in his arms, I could feel more intense feelings bubbling away under my skin. Under his gaze and touch. He made me feel beautiful, wanted and desired. But most importantly—needed.

I wanted to be his back then, I wanted to run away with the kind stable boy that would bring me sweet pastries hidden in a cloth. The boy who made lilac flowers appear out of his open hand. The one who helped keep the nightmares away.

“Now, shall we eat something before we head to bed, or would you like to stay in here for a while longer?”

He caressed my cheek with one hand as his other lightly tapped at the skin between my thigh and hip bone, sending shivers through me. What was stopping me from letting him do the things we so desperately wanted to do? Maybe it was that he would pull away from me one minute and then the next be sprouting sonnets at my bedroom window.

Fear.

That was it. I was fearful he’d use me today and then discard me the next. Surely I couldn’t live like this for the rest of my life? If one wants adventure, they must first take that leap forward into the unknown. At this moment, my leap was Nicholas and to give all of myself to him.

“What’s going on behind those eyes?” He asked, his face looking concerned as he continued to caress my cheek.

Nic could have instantly wandered through the plains of my mind to figure out everything, but instead he asked. He respected me enough to ask and wait for me to answer on my own. It made my mind calm slightly.

“I am worried. If I give myself to you—completely—what if you tire of me or become bored? Will you throw me away?”

“No, silly. I will lock you in a house where you won’t bother me,” he jested. A sudden rage filled my stomach, until he laughed and cupped my face with both his hands.

Nic gave me a serious look and insisted,“I will never tire of you or become bored. Even when we are old and grey.”

“But we hardly know the people we are now. You said it yourself, we were just children back then.”

I was backtracking, I could feel myself begin to pull away emotionally. Scared and worried he would eventually find me a burden—just as everyone else in my life has done.

“Ornella, if this is about sharing a bed together and everything else in between, please do not worry. I will not do anything to you unless you ask me to. I cannot think of the things you went through with your”—he stopped the moment my eyes began to fill with tears—“I will not say their name. But please understand, I am patient enough to wait. I may have stupidly tricked you into marrying me. From time to time I may act like a brute, most certainly in front of my court as I must give them the idea of fear and control. But with you…” he trailed off, trying to collect himself as he squeezed his eyes shut.

I tried to look away, lowering my eyes as tears escaped them so freely. Never in my life did I know such words, even with all the books I have read, not once did the male speak with such devotion, with honesty. And here Nicholas was baring his all to me.

“With you I am just Nicholas. The boy you met in the stables, the one who showered you with flowers, and ran miles with you through a muddy forest. That is who I am to you. Not the other masks I have to wear.”

A small smile pulled at my lips as I leaned forward, bringing my lips to his. I didn’t push, did not move until he finally started to kiss me back.

With his arms tangled around my waist pulling me closer into his lap, I moaned softly against his mouth. His hands ran up my back and entwined themselves into my hair. Breaking the kiss for a few seconds, I breathed deeply and moved both my hands to my back, to the knot that kept the fabric covering my breasts upright and pulled at the bow.

Allowing the fabric to fall into the water between us, I watched as his eyes trailed down towards my skin and then back up to meet my eye line. My cheeks burnt with heat. I’d never exposed myself by choice. Maids were different. The way he looked at me sent shivers down my spine.

“You are so beautiful,” his voice came out breathless and filled with wanting. Nic wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and pulled me closer to meet his lips once again. This time his kiss was harder, filled with hunger and desire. His other hand ran up my side, his thumb brushing against my ribcage and underneath my breast.

My breath caught in the back of my throat as a tingling feeling made its way down, between my legs. His length grew once again between my thighs, and I could swear I was getting excited by his touch as he cupped my breast and tugged at my lower lip with his teeth.

His tongue danced with mine as I pulled him forward more, my fingers wrapping into his hair. For a second we broke away from each other, our eyes meeting, both unable to speak, only to breathe. Then, he kissed me again.

And again.

And again.

The feeling of being high in the clouds filled my mind as his lips left mine and made their way across my jawline, my neck and towards my collarbone. I could feel my body begin to move slightly, grinding towards him. If it weren’t for the fabric that concealed my core, he’d have already taken me.

It was the only thing stopping us from going further and I didn’t like that. The need for him was overwhelming. I wanted him.

All of him.

I didn’t think or question myself when my hands left his hair and dived into the water, to untie the fabric.As I lifted up to pull it away, his eyes were back on my face.

“Are you sure?” “Yes, I’m sure.” I nodded and a snarl came from his mouth.

Moving onto my knees, both of them either side of him, I hesitated. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew whatever happened, he would try his best to be gentle. Swiping some hair off my shoulder, he bent down to kiss the skin there and then moved his lips up towards my earlobe, nipping at it while he waited.

“I’m—I don’t know what to do next,” I admitted, confused and embarrassed.

He just kissed my lips softly, bringing his hands to hold my thighs. “It’s okay. I will show you. Just relax and keep your eyes on me.”

It took maybe a few seconds before I felt him lift me then move me to that final place. There, we waited. Looking at each other deeply, until finally I lowered myself onto him. A deep moan rumbled in his chest as it took a few tries to get him to fit completely. Nerves no doubt, on my part.

Until finally he filled me completely and fireworks exploded in my mind. There was a sense of euphoria as our bodies gilded together, becoming one. I became filled with yearning, possessiveness, and a feverish need as I looked into his eyes.

His ocean pools were ravenous as he looked at me. I moaned intensely as he began lifting me up and down, pumping deep inside me. I didn’t know where to put my hands, other than his shoulders, steading myself as each thrust brought me to my knees..

Water splashed around us. Some fell to the marble floor as he held on tightly to me. One arm wrapping itself around my body and the other hand cupping my breast, playing with my nipple. Pinching then lightly flicking at it.

I couldn’t think coherent thoughts.

Logic had left the building.

I was his.

He became voracious, as if he needed to pour himself into me. I leaned back, my hand running through the front of my hair. Sweat dripped down my back as I came to a climax. Feeling an eruption of mesmerising bliss. I had never felt so amazing. More euphoria followed in waves, one right after the other. It drove me to an all time high.

I could feel everything, hear everything. His grunts, the splashes of water between us, his heartbeat fast in his chest as his shadows began to emit from his back and arms while his head fell back.

Nic took his moment as his thrusts became quick bursts then slowed down to a gentle pace once again. He let out a deep groan, and a shake ran through his body until he slowly came to a stop.

We both couldn’t say anything for a minute or two, our breaths hard and ragged. He lifted me off him and wrapped me into a tight embrace, kissing my neck then tenderly on the lips.

“Are you alright?” he asked when he brought my eyes up to meet his.

I could only nod, exhausted as I placed my head against his shoulder. My body felt raw, unlike any feeling I had experienced before as we sat peacefully in the water.