Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Emilia
The whole day has me feeling pent up, my fire is still there beneath my skin, bright and resolute. Not unlike when you slam two ice coffees before noon, but maybe that’s my personal experience. It doesn’t help that Silas has been quiet since we dropped Carly Beth off at her car.
He barely said a word on the drive back home. He remained lost in thought while watching the heart of the town pass us by.
Poppy greets us when we get home, first doing an elaborate little dance for Silas before she finally recognizes that I still exist. I’m not a jealous woman by any means, but sometimes she tests me.
I lean down and scratch her ears, then right behind her little cheeks as she sways back and forth from the force of her tail as I dwell on the silence.
Don’t say it. Just don’t.
“I guess it’s over.” I say, keeping my eyes on her as I stand.
Silas turns and looks at me, his brows drawn, “What do you mean?”
“With the police report, I have enough of a case to get a protective order against Chase.” I still feel that weight on my shoulders, it hasn’t fallen away yet, but that’s probably because things are unfinished with Silas, “The soul contract is fulfilled. You protected me from him. You’re free to go do whatever demons do.”
I look up to see a muscle tick in his jaw as holds out his hand, flexing it to admire the scar on his palm, the twin to mine that solidified our deal. He laughs, deep and sardonic, then rubs his hands together, a flash of sparks spraying from the swift movement.
There’s a sharp pinch, then when I look down the mark is gone. The skin isn’t even pink. It’s as though we never made the bargain in the first place.
“What did you do?”
“I don’t do anything . That’s the problem, Emilia.” He says, letting his hands fall at his sides, “I slept there on your couch, I babysat Poppy while you were at work and I helped you install a deadbolt. That’s all.” He flails his hand at the door behind me. “I am not owed anyone’s soul. Especially not yours .”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I fold my arms across my chest, ignoring the barb settling between my breast.
Poppy ignores us both, walking into the kitchen with her toy. Sure, let mommy and daddy argue. There’s no reason for you to watch this.
“I have lived by one rule.” He holds up a finger, taking a step closer to me. “In all of my years, and all the deals that I’ve made. I broke it when I fell in love with you.”
His gaze pulls a ragged breath from my lips, I reach up and place a hand over my chest, Silas follows the movement with a tilt of his head, his eyes molten amber.
“I resented my parents for so long, but after all these years, I realize it’s because I want what they have. Now, you’re standing right in front of me and I don’t know if I deserve it. Or if I deserve a life here in this place.” He looks down, his ears laying flat against his head, “I don’t even know if you would have me after everything that you’ve been through.”
My mind is reeling, the hope building in my chest is almost painful. I forget to respond, letting silence gather between us like a storm.
“Did you mean what you said?” Silas asks, his voice even, but his ears give away his true feelings, “Back in the parking lot.”
When I told him I loved him, just a knee-jerk reaction, a momentary slip where all of my carefully restrained emotions tumbled free and left me raw. It reminded me of how numb I have been, just surviving up to this point without something to fight for, I never saw my own heart or future as enough of a reason. Until now.
“I did.”
His eyes soften as he closes the distance between us, reaching to touch my cheek.
I grab his wrist, my powers churning alongside my emotions. If I hurt him, I would never forgive myself.
“I can’t.” I look up at him, “There were a few moments where I felt like I was going to set the whole town on fire. I still have to find a way to control it.”
Silas smiles, his ears straightening.
“You don’t need control, sweetheart.” His voice deepens, sending a jolt down to my core, “You need an outlet. Someone who can withstand the flames without getting burned, figuratively speaking.”
“Maybe we could come to some sort of deal?” I tease.
“No more deals, Emilia, just you and me.”
He lifts his hand and a small light blue flame sputters to life in his palm, the same color as his markings. It’s not the size that matters, but the control, he keeps the magic contained within a perfect orb. It must be those 200 years of experience he has on me.
With a flick of his wrist, the fire engulfs the entirety of his palm, drawing me in. I take a few steps forward, placing my hand against his. The force of his magic sings through me, the exchange of power intoxicating.
There’s a softness to his magic, a vulnerability that he keeps locked away beneath his biting wit.
“Don’t be afraid.” He murmurs, moving closer and intertwining our fingers, “I can handle everything you give me. Let me take care of you.”
He’s not just talking about my magic, I can see it clear as day, this is his way of baring his soul to me. Not through words or actions, but with our raw, unbridled connection. A level of intimacy that I could never share with a mortal.
This is what he felt from me. This is what I gave him.
Silas’ magic is a balm to my senses, enough to quiet the flame licking at my skin like a cold midnight rain. His grounding force is exactly what I need, what I have craved for so long.
It was there beneath the surface, in every touch, every smile, every glint in his eye. I catalogued them without realizing how important he would become to me. How he would help me fall in love with myself, the person who can be around him, because he allows me to take up space.
I press my palm against his, carefully testing my magic, allowing our powers to coalesce into a flicker of violet. I feed just as much of my flame into him, my body burning hotter, breaths coming in fits and starts as his demon form wrestles for superiority. It does nothing to dull the ache between my thighs.
Silas growls, letting go of my hand and threading his fingers through my hair as he covers my mouth with his with a clash of tongues and teeth. Licking, nipping and exploring as he threatens to devour me.
I slip my hand under his shirt, running my fingertips along the hard planes of his stomach and across his sides to squeeze, letting my nails find purchase.
He forces me to stumble backwards, legs tangling as the world shifts, bending around us, cocooned in his magic. I know it as well as I know my own.
The backs of my thighs hit the edge of the bed and I gently push Silas away, shoving my hands up over his chest taking his long-sleeved shirt along with it, “Off,” I breathe, the need in my voice foreign as I glimpse the bright blue markings on his ribs.
Silas pulls it off, balling the fabric in his hands and throwing it onto my floor where it belongs, letting out a groan as I attack, pressing my lips over his markings, finally able to kiss them and run my tongue along his soft skin.
He grips my hair in his fist as I draw my tongue over his nipple, pulling a long hiss from his bared teeth, “Emilia.” He moans, almost chastening, as he moves to grab at my sides, lifting my shirt over my head, fingertips already picking at the closure of my bra until the straps slide down my shoulders.
I let the material fall to the floor, Silas’ warm mouth covering the peaks of my nipple, teeth scraping against the sensitive flesh before his tongue eases the sting away. His hands are already at my waistband, working my shorts down over my thighs as I blindly fumble with his belt buckle, abandoning it to tangle my fingers in his long hair, back arching against his mouth.
My body is still humming from the force of his magic, keeping time with the dull pulsing between my legs, my thoughts begging, screaming for friction. A touch, a taste, something while he lavishes my breasts with attention.
I gather his hair, gently guiding him to look at me, his eyes wild, staring at my lips as he heaves out a deep breath. Silas watches as I tug at his belt, switching places until he falls back onto my bed, his legs splayed wide, erection already tenting his pants.
He leans forward, reaching for me, but I press my hand against his shoulder.
“Are you going to be a good boy?” I tease, undoing his belt and tugging his pants down until he’s resting there in his crimson boxer briefs, the hard outline of his cock visible through the tight fabric.
“For you?” His voice is all gravel, “Always.”
As I lower myself between his legs, I watch his cock twitch, the knot at the base already beginning to swell and reminding me of how it felt, nudging at my entrance, promising a delicious stretch.
I lean forward, brushing my tongue over the spot of pre-cum seeping through the fabric, feeling him pulse against my lips. Silas lifts his hips as I peel away his boxers, his cock resting heavily against his stomach, the tip nearly touching his belly button.
“You’re going to be the death of me, Emilia.” He breathes out, his muscles tensing as I wrap my fingers around his shaft, running my tongue along the slit and tasting the slightly salty fluid gathered there.
I’ve wanted to do this since I saw him fucking his hand and it’s better than I could have ever imagined. I savor the feel of him in my mouth, soft and warm, his fingers tangling in my hair, brushing through it as he gathers it into his fist, not with a demand but in worship, curses laced between his deep breaths. His hips unsure, squirming as I take him as deep as I can, flattening my tongue along his shaft and teasing the sensitive spot under his head with every movement.
The heir to a demonic dynasty, pliable in my hands, begging and whimpering at the mercy of my mouth. A woman could get used to this.
I go slow, taking my time to learn what makes him shake, what makes him curse and what brings him close to the edge. Pressing against his fragile restraint until it threatens to snap, the knot growing, pulsing just beneath my fingers.
He chokes out my name like a prayer, his hands gently grabbing at my shoulders, and pulling me up, kissing me without reservation, groaning at the taste of himself on my lips.
“Please.” He says, kissing me again, barely able to pull himself away as he presses his forehead against mine, damp with sweat, “I want to feel you.”
I grip his shoulders, climbing onto his lap, a gasp escaping my lips as I feel his cock against my thigh, his hand reaching between us, eagerly running it along my cunt to tease me. All my thoughts go fuzzy from the sensation as his soft head circles my clit, slick with juices.
“Now who’s in charge?” He laughs, low, his arm going around my waist to secure me, notching his cock at my entrance as he buries his face against my neck, “I’ve been so good, Emilia, but now I’m gonna make you scream.”
“Gods,” I moan, barely able to think as he slides in easily, lifting his hips to sink deep, the swell of his knot sending sparks through my body with every thrust.
Silas wraps my hair around his fist, angling my neck as he breathes in my scent, a growl rumbling in his chest as he slowly fucks me, his teeth grazing the column of my throat, a warning of his retribution. His demon coming out to play.
It doesn’t take long until he has me shaking with every thrust, the gentle curve of his cock brushing against my inner walls like it was made for me. My body runs hot as pleasure coils in my stomach, so tightly it almost hurts. His iron grip doesn’t relent as he drives into me, his body shaking as his hips stutter.
I move my hips, chasing the pressure of his knot, the angle keeping it just a gentle tease.
“So fucking greedy.” He growls, nipping at my earlobe, “Practically begging to take my knot. I can’t breed you, but it won’t stop me from trying.”
Oh.
With one swift motion, I’m on my back, my head against the pillow as he lifts my leg, wrapping it around his waist, pressing into me. Each roll of his hips tears a moan from my lips, warmth spreading down my legs until I feel the satisfying stretch of his knot.
I cry out, grabbing at his shoulders, my nails digging into his flesh, leaving crescent moons in my wake. The pressure throws me over the edge, his thrusts draw out every crash of pleasure until it’s too much.
Silas bites out a curse, his head falling against my shoulder as he ruts into me, filling me with the warmth of his release.
Our breathing slows, and he eases up onto his elbows, peering down at me through a curtain of black hair, ears flat against his head with a smile, looking between us.
I brush his hair out of his face, my heart threatening to burst at the way he leans into my touch, his eyes fluttering closed. His demonic features slowly fading away.
We stay entwined, exchanging glances and soft kisses, long after the sun sets.
Ready for the next dawn. Together.