Chapter Fourteen
The engine”s low purr matched the thrum of anticipation in my veins as Bast navigated the sleek car through the shadowed streets. Each streetlight that we passed under cast a brief illumination inside the vehicle, highlighting the controlled tension in his jaw and the determined set of his eyes. The town blurred by, a cascade of lights and fleeting moments, just like the emotions tumbling inside me.
“Almost there,” he said, breaking the silence that cocooned us.
I nodded, unable to form words, my heart hammering against my ribs. Tonight would be the night I”d give myself to him—fully, willingly. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, an electric mix of fear and desire.
“Paige,” he said softly, his hand finding mine, pulling me back from my thoughts. “You don”t have to do anything you”re not ready for.”
“I”m ready,” I said, quietly, but firmly. I was.
He’d given me a lifeline, offered to get me out of the Persephone contract for the second time, but I knew I couldn’t take it. My mother had got me into this position for a reason - if I broke the contract, she’d come after me, I knew that. She’d pull me from the university and although I knew Bast was rich and powerful, he didn’t really know what my mother was capable of. I did. I needed to keep playing along, keep playing the whore she wanted me to, until her endgame became clear to me. Then I could decide how to proceed. I knew I couldn’t say no to her, but at the same time, I couldn”t do anything to hurt the guys. My guys.
It might only be for a year, but I knew that as much as I was theirs, they were mine. The thought was possessive, fierce. Just the idea of someone else”s hands on them twisted my insides with a venomous rage. I felt dizzy with it, sickened by visions of nameless faces caressing what I had come to cherish so dearly. When Bast had said they would find another woman, another Persephone, to replace me, I knew then that I could never back out now. There was no way I was going to step aside and let them take another woman into their bed.
I wasn’t kidding myself. This wasn’t a relationship. They weren’t going to fall down and profess their love for me. I wasn’t good enough for any of them, and they could have their pick, but I had them for the rest of the year and I was going to keep them, whatever it took.
Suddenly, the sleek car came to a graceful halt. We were home. I swallowed hard, feeling a rush of nerves gnawing at my belly. His hand squeezed mine gently, offering comfort that was so needed.
“Ready?” He asked me, eyes searing through mine.
I nodded, and he let go of my hand, climbing out of the car and coming around to open my door. My heart raced as he led me up the marble steps towards the entrance, his hand warm and reassuring against my back. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping back for me to enter. I looked up at him, and my heart thudded hard against my ribs. His smile had butterflies erupting in my stomach, and electricity running over my skin. It was then I realised the truth that settled heavy in my heart.
I had fallen for him. Hard. And not just for him, but for Nate and Tristan too. Dark princes in a twisted fairytale that had no promise of a happy ending.
“Hey, look at me.” Bast cupped my chin, tilting my face up to his. “Don’t go thinking about anything else. Tonight is about us. No one else.”
“Just us,” I whispered.
“Us,” he confirmed, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw before he leaned down and captured my lips with his own.
I knew it was temporary, a contract-bound year that would inevitably end, leaving my heart in fractured pieces. But as his kiss deepened, as I tasted the danger and desire on his tongue, I allowed myself the illusion. I would pretend it was real, that they cared for me too—that we could be something more than just a business arrangement cloaked in seduction.
And when the time came for it all to shatter, I would cling to these moments, these memories painted in passion and darkness, like the vibrant oil colours on the canvases I loved so much. But until then, I was his. They were mine. And nothing else mattered.
He took my hand, fingers lacing with mine, pausing only briefly to lock the door and set the alarms, before he led me upstairs. I stepped into his room, looking round with interest. It was similar to Nate’s; dark and masculine, just with a little more clutter and a few more softer accents like a deep pile rug in front of the fireplace. A fire had been lit, and the flames through light and shadows across the room.
A large painting hung on the wall above the bed, and I was drawn to it. It was beautiful, a stark monochrome image of a man alone at the top of a mountain. Something about the empty streets, the solitary figure, resonated deeply with me. It looked like Bast. Alone, isolated, despite the power and control he held. He caught me staring at it and a soft smile crossed his face.
He moved behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me towards him. “Like what you see?” he whispered into my ear.
I nodded silently, feeling his chest against my back, warm through the thin fabric of my dress.
Bast turned me around to face him, our bodies inches apart.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked once more.
I nodded without hesitation. “I”m sure.”
“Tell me if you want to stop,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper as he leaned down to kiss me.
His lips were gentle against mine, coaxing rather than demanding. Soft and slow as if he had all the time in the world. My arms found their way around his neck as I melted into him. He slid his hands up my back, finding the zipper and pulling it down slowly. I felt his fingertips brush down my back and I shivered. I hadn’t worn a bra with the dress, and my underwear was still in his jacket pocket, so when he tugged the dress down my arms and let it drop to the floor, pooling around my feet, I was already naked.
Bast stepped back, his dark eyes running over my body. I blushed, but the look on his face told me that he liked what he saw. He reached out, fingers finding the clip that held my hair up off my neck, and he eased it out, stroking my curls as they fell down around my shoulders. He sucked his breath in.
“Fuck, Paige, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he stopped me with a kiss. I pushed him away.
“I want to see you,” I said.
Bast smiled. He pulled off his jacket, laying it on a chair, and I stepped forward to unbutton his shirt. I didn’t rush, loving the feeling of revealing his body a little at a time. He was toned underneath, and his skin was warm as I laid my hand over his heart. It was going slightly fast, and sped up as I leaned forward, pressing my lips against his skin.
His breath hitched, a rough gasp escaping his lips as my mouth found the throbbing pulse at the base of his neck. His hand tangled in my hair, his fingers curling into a tight fist. I could feel his heart pounding beneath my touch, matching the rhythm of my own wild heartbeat.
“Paige...” His voice was a hoarse whisper, filled with a desperation that mirrored my own. I fumbled to unbuckle his belt, my hands shaking as I unzipped his trousers and pushed them down his lean hips. He kicked them off impatiently and stood before me in just his boxers. Bast was breathtaking. Muscular and sculpted, but with the kind of raw power that made him dangerous and alluring in equal measure.
He grabbed me by the waist, pulling me flush against his hard body. Our lips met once again in an urgent kiss, raw and carnal. Bast”s hands roamed over my body with an intensity that sent sparks prickling over my skin. Every touch, every caress was heady, intoxicating. His kisses trailed down my throat, nipping gently, sending a shiver down my spine.
His mouth moved lower, his tongue tracing the line of my collarbone, before dipping into the valley between my breasts. A soft moan escaped my lips, and I clung tighter to him, my hands gripping the firm muscles of his back. Bast”s hands held me firmly as he kneeled, his lips leaving a trail of fire down my stomach.
“Spread your legs, my beautiful slut. I need to taste you,” he said.
I looked down at the dark, beautiful man on his knees in front of me and did as he commanded, spreading my legs wider. His hands cupped my ass, holding me steady as he planted kisses up the inside of my thigh. I shivered as he drew closer, placing my hands on his broad shoulders to keep my balance.
“Bast…” I moaned, my voice trembling with anticipation.
He looked up at me, his eyes smouldering under dark lashes.
“God, I love it when you beg,” he whispered before pressing his lips against me. Warmth flooded my body at the contact, a soft gasp leaving my lips. My hands tightened on his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as his tongue danced over my clit.
“Mmm…” he groaned. “I love how you taste. How sweet you are. Like nectar from the gods.”
He pulled me closer, forcing my legs further apart so he could slide his tongue inside me and I cried out.
My fingers curled into his hair, tugging at the dark locks as waves of pleasure coursed through me. His hands held me tighter, pulling me closer to his mouth. His tongue was relentless, dipping and swirling in a rhythm that left me breathless and trembling. Lifting one hand, he gently pushed one finger inside of me, adding to the burning intensity building up inside me. God, it felt so good.
He added a second finger as he started to suck on my clit, sliding them in and out as his tongue worked its magic, and my hips began to move, bucking against him, craving release.
“Bast,” I cried out, my back arching as he worked me relentlessly. I gasped at the sensations, the warmth of his mouth making me feel light-headed and dizzy. My legs could barely hold my weight as they trembled against his arms, but he didn’t stop, driving me higher until finally I exploded, a cry tearing from my throat as pleasure rocked through me in a powerful wave. My body convulsed, my back arching as Bast continued devouring me, riding out my climax until I was a panting mess in his arms.
He rose from his knees, capturing my lips in a searing kiss that tasted of me. His fingers continued to stroke me gently, prolonging the aftershocks that coursed through me.
As our lips parted, he gazed at me with an intensity that took my breath away. He made no move to touch me again, simply holding my gaze as he slipped off his boxers and kicked them aside. His cock rose hard against his stomach and I couldn”t help but blush at the sight of him.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly. The concern in his voice was soothing, a stark contrast to the primal man who had just brought me such pleasure.
I nodded and reached up to caress his cheek. “More than okay.”
A slow smile spread on his face at my words. He cupped my cheek in return before leaning down for another kiss. This one was slow and passionate, filled with a tenderness that was new yet somehow familiar.
“Lie down,” he whispered.
I dropped to my knees, but instead of lying down, I reached for him, wrapping my fingers around his cock and guiding it into my mouth. He groaned, his fingers sliding into my hair as I pulled back, then pushed him deeper, feeling him slide further into my throat. He was smaller than Nate, though definitely not small, and I had worked out how to take them deeper, angling my head and my neck so he could slide down further without making me gag.
“Fuck, Paige… how… fuck…” he stammered as I took him deeper, swallowing his cock down, enjoying the sight of him taken by surprise for once. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as I continued to take him deeper into my mouth. I could taste the salty hint of his arousal, a flavour that was uniquely Bast and one that I had grown to crave. He watched me intently, his eyes hazy with desire and disbelief as I took him deeper, teasing him with my lips and tongue.
“Paige,” he warned in a strangled voice, reaching out to still my head. “Stop… if you keep going…”
I smirked at him in response, slowly pulling away to let his erection slip out of my mouth. He was throbbing hard, wet from my spit and I smirked up at him from between his legs.
“Mmm?” I asked innocently, licking my lips.
A wicked glint flashed through his eyes, and he dropped down to his knees in front of me, crushing his lips onto mine in a rough kiss. He tasted of pure lust and need, an intoxicating blend that sent shivers down my spine. His cock pressed against my stomach, and I reached down, rubbing my hand up and down it until he pulled away, breathing heavily. He pushed me down on my back on the rug, warm from the fire and I looked up at him, my heart racing. He watched me, his eyes raking over my body with an intensity that left me feeling exposed and exhilaratingly vulnerable.
“Open your fucking legs for me, whore,” he demanded.
I did, spreading myself wide for him, anticipation sparking hot and wild in my veins as he lowered himself between them. His erection brushed against me as he leaned over me, sparks of pleasure shooting up my body at the contact. I gasped and he reached down between us, gripping his cock and rubbing the head over my clit. I moaned, arching my back and pressing my hips up towards him.
“Such a greedy little cunt,” he said, his words sparking something dark and dirty inside me. “So wet, so desperate for my cock.”
“Bast,” I whimpered, my voice barely more than a whisper. But he heard me, his eyes glinting with dark satisfaction.
“Tell me what you want,” he demanded, running a hand up my thigh and between my legs. His fingers dipped inside me once more and I gasped, clinging to him for balance. “Tell me.”
“I...I want...” I stammered, struggling to find the words amidst the haze of pleasure. But it wasn”t hard to say what I wanted; what I craved in this moment.
“I want you,” I finally whispered.
He leaned forward, one hand braced by my head, the other around his cock as he slid down to my entrance. Desire coursed through me as he pushed against me, and I gasped.
“Tell me to stop if you want me to, Paige,” he said, his voice strained.
“Don’t stop,” I whispered. “I”m yours, Bast.”
A growl of satisfaction rumbled in his chest as he pushed inside me, slowly and carefully. I gasped at the pain. The stretch was overwhelming, my body trembling as he filled me.
He paused, breathing heavily, looking down at me with dark eyes filled with concern.
“Are you okay?” He asked again.
I nodded, biting my lip as the initial shock subsided to a dull ache. I was okay. More than okay. Was it painful? Yes. But was it worth it? Definitely yes.
“My good girl,” he murmured, pressing another soft kiss to my lips. Inch by inch, he eased into me, stretching me in ways I”d never been stretched before. Each push was agonizingly slow, but deliciously pleasurable. I clung to him, my fingers digging into his back as he filled me completely. When he finally started moving again, the pleasure was exquisite. Slowly at first, as my body adjusted to his size.
Pleasure began to override the pain after a few more thrusts, and I found myself writhing beneath him, matching his rhythm. The feel of him sliding in and out of me was unlike anything I’d ever known before; a delicious kind of torture that left me moaning and gasping for air.
“Bast,” I whimpered. “Faster. More…”
Bast smiled down at me then, a wicked grin that sent shivers down my spine. He picked up the pace, his thrusts growing faster and harder. His cock filled me so completely, stretching me out deliciously with each push. I moved with him, my hips rising to meet his forceful thrusts, taking him deeper.
His fingers dug into my hips, holding me down as he claimed me. Owned me. Each thrust sent delightful shocks of pleasure through my body, each one stronger than the last. I gasped and moaned with every movement, my fingers clutching at his broad shoulders. He pulled almost all the way out before slamming back into me, causing stars to explode behind my eyes.
I cried out in pleasure, my body arching up to meet him. He reached down between us, finding my clit and rubbing it in circles while continuing to thrust into me. The dual sensation made me cry out again, my body beginning to tremble with an impending orgasm.
Bast quickened his pace even more, pounding into me relentlessly. My body responded with desperate need, matching him thrust for thrust. I could feel myself tightening around him, the telltale sign that I was close.
“Bast...I...” I stammered out, trying to prepare him for what was coming.
“I know,” he groaned back, his voice rough with arousal. “Let go for me, Paige. Come on my cock, princess.”
That was all it took. With one final thrust from Bast and a quick rub of my clit, I was spiralling into oblivion. An indescribable wave of pleasure washed over me as I came around him, my body convulsing with the force of my orgasm. I cried out as he continued to slam into me, prolonging the pleasure.
Suddenly he pulled out and flipped me over onto my stomach. He grabbed my hips, pulling me back against him and before I had a chance to react, he plunged back into me from behind. The new angle sent waves of pleasure coursing through me; it was deeper, rougher and I loved every second of it.
“Fuck,” Bast growled in my ear as he continued to pound into me. “I fucking love this pussy. So fucking wet and needy for my cock.”
I moaned as he slammed into me, his hands holding me steady as he took what he wanted, driving into me relentlessly. His hand slipped underneath us, finding my clit and circling it with his fingers.
“Come for me again, Paige,” he ordered. “I want my cock soaked in your cum, and I know you want to. My dirty little slut. I knew you’d love my cock inside you. I knew you’d love being fucked.”
The sensation was overwhelming, and his words sent me spiralling towards another climax. I was a dirty little slut in his arms, around his cock, and I fucking loved it. My body strained to keep up with his punishing pace but I loved every second of it. The feel of him buried deep inside me was all I could ever think about, all that mattered to me in that moment. Every thrust, every grunt of pleasure from him, brought me closer to the edge. I cried out as my second orgasm hit with even more force than the first, ripping through me in a wild rush of pleasure and causing me to scream out Bast”s name.
As my body came crashing down from the high, Bast”s thrusts began to falter. His breathing grew ragged and strained, and I could feel his grip on my hips tightening. With a primal growl, he gave one final powerful thrust deep inside me, his body convulsing as he let loose, spilling his warmth within me.
“Fuck, Paige!” he shouted out my name, holding my hips pinned against his as he fought for breath.
After a few moments, he pulled out, making me wince, and rolled to the side, pulling me down and into his arms. I lay there breathing hard, feeling the thud of his heartbeat against my back. His arms were warm around me, and his hand stroked over my hair. He pressed soft kisses against my shoulder; a strange mixture of tenderness and possessiveness that made my heart flutter.
“I didn”t think it would be this amazing,” I admitted quietly.
“Expectations exceeded, then?” Bast asked with a husky chuckle, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm.
“Definitely.”
“You okay?” He whispered in my ear. “I didn”t hurt you too much?”
“A tiny bit,” I admitted. “But it was worth it.”
Bast gave a soft laugh. “I’m glad it was acceptable.”
I turned in his arms, grinning up at him. “Oh you were acceptable, for sure.”
“Just acceptable?” he asked.
“Mmm, yeah, not bad for a first go,” I said, pretending to think it over.
“Oh, princess, that sounds like a challenge. You might regret that,” he told me, dark eyes burning into mine as he rolled us over so I was sitting astride him. He was hard again already, and I gasped as he lifted me up by my hips and lowered me down onto his cock.
It was light by the time he finally let me sleep, but I still didn’t regret challenging him.