Cruel Devotion (Monsters of Darkness #1)

Beautiful

Light peeked through one of the cracks in the drapes, I couldn’t help but wonder what time it was. My first night in their bed and I could confirm that they did snore. Surprisingly enough, it didn’t keep me up. It reminded me of the one time I tried meditating. Resting my eyes, I’d practiced my breathing, and hummed. It relaxed my body and mind so much that I fell asleep. My body was sore and stiff from the last couple days. I barely had the strength to open my eyes. I’d do anything for a cup of coffee.

As warmth surrounded me, a heavy arm draped over my waist. Peeking out of one eye, I made out blurred ink. Even unconscious, Ryder maintained his glamour. Resting on Darius’ shoulder, his features soft with sleep. Reaching out, I touched Ryder’s neck and slid my fingers through fur. He continued snoring as I went up, up, up until I felt his ear. Not the one I could see, but his actual ear. It was flipped back, and I fought the urge to laugh.

I want to see how cute you look.

That’s when I realized only Darius was snoring. Ryder was awake.

“Good morning,” I rasped as I pulled back. He gripped my wrist as our eyes locked. His eyes were hooded.

I was caught.

“Keep touching me,” he murmured gruffly. His voice was deeper first thing in the morning.

“Okay,” I whispered as he continued staring at me.

“Did you have fun? Fondling me while I slept?” His eyes flashed as his claws gently drew circles into my back.

“Yes. You took liberties, so I did the same. Besides, you’re mine. I can touch you whenever I damn well please.” Ignoring the weight of his gaze, I pretended to focus on his ear, and scratched behind it. His lips parted and his eyes crossed.

“What’re you up to?” His tone was amused.

“Nothing,” I hummed. Darius smacked his lips and rumbled beneath me.

“Bunny?” There was something in his tone that made me pause and look at him.

“You’re… perfect.” Approval. That’s what it was. His words felt like a slap. We’d gone from playful to heavy in a second. Years of knowing I wasn’t perfect, that I never could be, but having no choice but to strive for it anyway was the burden I carried.

“I am not,” I laughed bitterly. Withdrawing, I pulled my arm away.

Low growls filled the room and I tensed at the sound. It was too early to deal with the whiplash I got from these two. Ryder’s hands were on me and seconds later, I was flipped on my belly. My breasts squished against Darius’ chest as his cocks twitched against my rib cage. Ryder crawled between my legs, his knot hard against my cheeks. My abused pussy had the audacity to clench at the thought of morning sex on top of Darius.

“Good morning to you. I don’t speak horny wolf monster, can you explain what’s happening?” My fingers curled into fur as I stared into glowing eyes.

“Feisty,” Darius growled beneath me.

“Between the two of you, I think you’ve man-handled me enough. This isn’t how I want to start the day,” I huffed. I think the beast smiled as Ryder’s hands roamed down my back, over my cheek, and grazed over my pussy. Peering over my shoulder, I couldn’t help but want to see what he was doing. But a wet tongue dragged up my cheek, yanking my attention forward.

“Darius!” I squealed.

“You are perfect,” Ryder growled.

“Ryder,” I said, warning.

“Eloise,” he mocked as he nuzzled the side of my face that was wet with drool. Then a smack sounded and I moaned as pain hit my burned skin and jolted straight up to my clit.

He hit me.

Ryder really hit me.

And I want him to do it again.

“I didn’t hear you,” he rumbled behind me.

“I don’t remember you asking a question,” I sassed. The sound of another slap resounded, and I bit my lower lip. The sting against the burned flesh brought tears to my eyes and had my toes curling at the same time. He knew exactly what he was doing, and I couldn’t figure out if I wanted him to stop or keep going.

“Wasn’t a question, was it brother?” Ryder chuckled. A wet hard tip pressed against my sex. Dipping in and out. Dear gods. Arching my back, I lifted my ass, presenting myself, begging for more. Darius’ wet tongue lapped at my neck, and I needed him lower. Lifting up, my breasts bounced just above his face, and eyes locked on mine as he licked one.

“Good boy,” I rasped as Ryder continued teasing me with his tip. As he sped up, I clenched and oh-so-willingly gyrated against him. Needing more, more, more. It wasn’t enough. I chased that sweet bliss I knew he could give me. If I could just get a few more inches…

“No,” I whimpered as he withdrew, denying me what we both knew I needed.

“‘I am perfect.’ Say it,” Ryder whispered. His lips against my ear as a shiver ran through me.

“I am p-perfect.” Stumbling over the word that felt so wrong on my tongue.

As Darius switched to the other breast, he took his time licking it. Then stopped, burying his head between my breasts, he rumbled. Beneath my fingers I felt the vibration, and gasped as I realized Darius was purring for me. It was calming, and I felt like putty. Ryder groaned, his cock spearing in and out of me. My hips moved instantly, ready for him, ready for pleasure.

“Not good enough. Again.” Ryder’s voice wasn’t as firm as before. Liquid dropped on my back entrance, and my body shook as he rubbed it into my asshole before pushing it in with his thumb.

“I’m. Perfect.” I moaned between each thrust of his hips.

“You are. You’re perfect. And you like the idea of Darius tearing through his flesh, don’t you? You want to watch when he ends him.”

“I—ah,” I groaned as he pushed his thumb deeper as he worked his cock in and out of me.

“Are you going to cum for me?” Ryder taunted as he finally gave me every inch of his cock. Darius kept purring as I pushed back on Ryder.

“Yes, yes, yes,” I panted. Ryder rutted me, slamming into me as he lost himself. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as I came. He cursed, fucking me through it. Filling me in the way they’d already trained me to crave. He thrust and I felt his hand behind me as he emptied himself.

He’s squeezing his knot.

He’d remembered that I was sore, and didn’t make me take it. He held himself off of me, and when he pulled out of me, I turned on my back to face him, when my jaw dropped.

“Oh,” I gasped.

There was a beautiful white wolf above me. Where Darius was a midnight black, Ryder was white as snow. I was crying and I didn’t even know when it started. He was ethereal. His hair thick and unruly, with strands so long I wondered how I didn’t feel it when I wrapped my arms around him. His broad, muscular shoulders spoke of raw power, and his eyes were even more beautiful than in his glamoured form. They’d been beautiful, but muted. And the charcoal gray nose connected to his powerful maw was adorable.

Behind me, Darius had stopped purring. His body frozen beneath mine as if he were afraid the glamour would snap back in place. Ryder’s ears were pointed upward as if on edge about what I’d think. He was baring himself to me, and it was probably the first time he’d dropped the illusion since their escape.

There were no words. Slowly, I reached up, and touched his chest. He tensed, his chest expanding with each breath. Sliding up, I felt the raised cuts his fur hid, and my jaw trembled as I caressed his neck. His eyes closed briefly before the brilliant light refocused on me.

“You’re beautiful, Ryder,” I murmured in awe. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and pulled him down. He sighed against me, accepting my embrace.

“You’re late, but thank you,” I whispered. He growled and I looked up to see Darius licking his maw. The giant rolled over onto his side, taking me and Ryder with him so I was sandwiched between my mates. Everything felt right. All worries melted from my mind.

“Which face do you prefer?” Ryder asked with his head still buried in my neck.

“The real one.”

“Will you stay?” Darius growled.

“I’ve been here, Darebear,” Ryder whispered.

“Didn’t see.” My heart broke for my mates.

It isn’t the same, but it’s like when you have to take a sabbatical for a month, and have to explain to your dog that you’ll be gone, but he’ll be able to hear you over the camera?

“At least in this room?” I pleaded before he could turn Darius down.

“Okay. In this room only,” Ryder promised.

I laughed as Darius’ tail slapped excitedly against the bed. Looking behind me, I met glowing eyes. Stretching toward him, I kissed his furry chin before returning to Ryder. I held both of his ears, scratching as I kissed the top of his furry head.

“A girl could get used to this,” I hummed.

“What? Snuggling? Darius is a big cuddler,” he teased, as if he wasn’t doing it right now. His brother growled in response, as if to warn him from spilling his secrets.

“No, to feeling safe,” I whispered. The room was silent before Ryder took a breath and exhaled. Peering up at me with eerie puppy dog eyes, I swooned. Claws gently caressed my arm.

“I’m sorry you’re so perfect for us. I can’t promise a happily ever after, but I can swear you’ll always be safe with us,” he whispered back like we were sharing secrets in the protection of this room.

“Even though your brother wants to eat me?” I asked lightly.

“He doesn’t want to eat you…” Ryder trailed off as Darius coughed. I snorted. “Well, okay, he does, but he won’t. We’re keeping you.”

How fucked was I that I found his words reassuring?

Those three words should scare me. Hell, they should make me want to run for the hills. Instead, it felt like I’d finally found a place where I belonged. Where I could be myself and trash the mask I’d been forced to wear. I wanted this, I wanted them too.