Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I sat in the tub hugging my knees. My arm ached a little, but the hot water felt like heaven on my muscles, warming me against the chill of the bathroom that lay in darkness, save for the couple of candles Emery had lit for me.
The shadows danced on the walls and along the ceiling, the little light flickering in the quiet, with nothing but the drip of water and the occasional sound of a car driving by. There was a narrow window to the back of the bathroom with a hairline crack down the middle of the glass, where dim light from the street filtered in. The light on the ceiling above was out, needing a new bulb. Emery said he’d fix it later, finding the candles in the kitchen as a replacement.
My eyes shifted over to the door. He’d gone down to grab new clothes and a few other things after drawing me a bath. I didn’t like the idea of being alone, but he promised to be right back, and that if he saw anyone sneaking up to the room, they’d be worse than sorry.
Thing was, it wasn’t just actual people, it was the ghost of him I feared to be alone with. I was scared when he did come back, it might not be the Emery I wanted to see.
My gaze flicked over to the mirror above the sink. Only shadows played in the reflection, not faces.
I looked down, still afraid I’d see him there. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, unfurling my body and forcing myself to lie back.
I was sore, I could feel it between my legs. But the pain wasn’t upsetting, it felt good. My body was still throbbing, still aching for more.
After taking me on the table, Emery had given me a moment to recover before he shucked off my shoes and socks and moved me onto the couch. He had pulled me onto his lap with my back against him, his hands touching every part of me, still starved for me. I’d given in without a fight, arching against him, my head on his shoulder as he cupped my breasts, squeezing them then kneading.
“You’re so perfect, Evee. So fucking perfect,” he whispered, squeezing one breast again before letting his hand slide down my rib cage. He’d taken out a pair of gloves from his jacket and put them on, liking the idea of playing with me while wearing them. He slid his hand down my stomach, my legs straddling his thighs kept wide apart. When I felt his fingers glide across my pussy, I shuddered, the aching heat already twisting again in my lower belly. He dipped one finger in me than another, pulling the heat from me along with the remnants of him from before.
He slid his finger along me while kneading me again with his other hand and it was enough to make me moan. His hand on my breast slipped up to my throat, squeezing lightly. As he lifted me and slid his pants down, I felt his cock press against my center, still just as hard as when we first started.
“I have to have you again, Evee, I can’t fucking stop,” he said in that low, grating voice.
He slid in a few inches, then pulled back out, doing so a couple of times before pushing inside me, filling me so deep I let out a cry.
As if that cry had triggered him, he shoved the hand that had been on my throat over my mouth and, like a man possessed, he pumped savagely into me, forcing me down as he lifted his hips, his hand on my leg gripping it tight, keeping it in place.
I gave in as I had the first time, letting him take me without resisting, wanting him to drive into me until my soul was ripped from my body.
Swiftly, he lifted me again and had me on my knees along the couch, his weight on top of me, his hand still on my mouth now gripping my jaw. I felt like a doll in his grasp, pulled and bent whatever way he demanded as he fucked me until I saw stars.
When he came in me again, his body shook against me, a low groan in my ear. And not even a second later, he said, “Floor next, baby?”
“You’re really hungry,” I breathed as his hand dropped from my mouth.
His laughter vibrated against my back. “For you? Yes.” His hand circled my throat again. “I’ve needed this since I lost you, it’s been too fucking long.”
I didn’t argue. He drew off me, sliding out so I could drop to the floor, then he paused.
“Oh, Eve.”
The way he sounded made me pause as well. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.”
I shifted around to look at him and my eyes turned down to see his cock in his hand. “What is it?”
He shook his head. “I got too excited and I must have…you can’t see, but there’s blood.”
I don’t know why but my heart felt like it skipped. I slipped my hand between my legs and brought it out, but could see nothing in the red light.
“You’re sure?”
“It’s not a lot.” He got off the couch and flipped on the light above which was thankfully not too overpowering, just soft yellow light. He returned, and I saw the tiny strings of blood on his shaft. I wondered how he saw them at all, then remembered he could see a lot better than a normal person.
I cursed softly, feeling embarrassed. “It’s been a while for me too, and you're a big guy. You also were…” He knew. He’d been a little rough for our first time since back at the house. Or maybe the sex had somehow triggered my period. Maybe…
I didn’t know what to say, but I wondered if Emery thought the same. Whatever he was thinking, his expression grew serious. He pulled me to him, hugging me close.
“I got greedy. And didn’t think.” He sounded angry with himself. He kissed my forehead and then led me to the bathroom.
From there, he’d brought in the candles and made my bath. When it was done, I happily sunk into the water.
“Promise, we’ll continue later,” I said, hugging my knees.
“Promise. We have all of tonight and many nights after that. I’m not worried.”
He left, and I didn’t bother to clean myself yet; I just tried to relax.
Now, lying back, eyes closed, I slid further into the water. Already, I could feel myself being lulled to sleep by the quiet and the warmth.
Don’t fall asleep, never fall asleep in the water, a little voice said. Someone had told me that once, but I couldn’t remember who.
But the water felt so good, and I just wanted to rest my eyes for a moment.
Drip.
Drip…
Water lapped against my breasts, then up to my neck. Rising. The stillness was gone, first little laps, then a full-fledged current as the water rose above my face.
I opened my eyes and could see the surface of the water rippling over me. I saw someone standing above me.
A towering man with a blurry, distorted face, smiling at me.
It feels good, doesn’t it? His words were somehow audible within the water, like a soft echo. You can drift away and join me and we’ll never be apart. He leaned toward me, and I knew it was my ghost, but I couldn’t move. He tilted his head and I could see a shadow of another person standing right behind him . But first… his words grew louder. Like the roar of the river.
Confess.
A hand grabbed hold of me and pulled me from the water.
I gasped and saw Emery crouching beside the bathtub, holding me up, looking alarmed.
“You all right? Jesus, you scared me there for a minute, sweetheart. You didn’t fall asleep, did you? You know you shouldn’t sleep in the tub.”
I blinked. Unthinking, I grabbed his arm, gripping it tight. He was real, he was here. He had to be. I just slipped again. That was all.
“Emery,” I said. “I…I must have dozed off.”
He studied me, his yellow eyes growing dark with concern. His hand at my shoulder moved to grip the back of my skull. He looked like he wanted to say something but thought against it, his jaw clenching tight. I had a feeling it was a question. A question that hung between us until it faded away.
He brushed wet hair from my face. “I got you some clothes that Andrea had brought,” he said. I could still hear the tension in his voice. “I also got you some water and a snack in case you were hungry.”
I mumbled a “Thank you” as he took a clean bar of soap and washcloth along with shampoo and conditioner out of a large bag and set it by the tub, then he took a hairbrush, a towel, and a few other things Andrea had bought me, setting them aside on the counter.
I sat up straighter as he came around to me, kneeling by the tub. He rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt, then dunked the bar of soap and cloth in the water.
My eyes never left him as he lathered the cloth with soap and then started to wash my shoulders and along my collarbone, being careful of his necklace. I didn’t complain even though we both knew I could clean myself. I could tell he liked it. And I liked the feel of his heavy hands on me.
“Did you check on Lena?” I asked as he grabbed my hair to set it aside so he could wash around my neck. I wanted to make sure she was okay and hadn’t woken up looking for me.
His eyes, which had been concentrating on where his hands moved, glanced at me before turning to focus back to my body. “She’s still asleep.” He moved on to my breasts, lathering one then the other, his thumb circling my nipples for good measure, tightening them. When he rinsed them off, I could see that hungry look again. “Stand up,” he demanded, “so I can get the rest of you, baby.”
I stared at him, biting my lip to hide the smirk growing on my face. I gripped the side of the tub and rose out of the water, then turned to stand and face him.
His gaze slid down me, taking me in. I could see the tension in him as he fought to keep his composure while dipping the cloth in the water, applying more soap, then washing my hips, my thighs…
He dropped the cloth when he got to my inner thighs. Before I could react, he gripped my legs and pulled himself closer, bringing his face between my legs. I felt his warm mouth on me, his tongue slowly sliding up to my clit, making me gasp, my hand grabbing his shoulder out of reflex.
“I can’t get enough of your sweet taste,” he whispered against me. His tongue slid along me again, slow and torturous. He moved briefly to bite down my inner thigh before returning to lick me again, coaxing me to open my legs more.
My hand on his shoulder moved up to his neck and face, and then in his hair where I grabbed hold. I rolled my hips, and he moved with me.
I would have lifted my head back, but I wanted to watch him. Watch Emery kneeling before me, worshiping me with his tongue yet again.
He went excruciatingly slow this time, pulling the heat yet again from me. My legs started to tremble, and I feared I’d collapse.
“Please, Emery, faster,” I pleaded, rolling my hips again.
His hand slid up my thighs to grip my ass. His tongue swirled around me, and I bucked my hips.
“As you wish, baby.”
He did go faster and I rolled my hips into him again. Goosebumps trailed along my skin as I watched him and felt the heat coiling tighter and tighter as he devoured me.
Little cries escaped my mouth until I felt the orgasm ripple through me, making me shudder, my knees buckling.
Emery kept me up as he continued his assault until I was crying out his name. Eventually, I couldn’t take any more and I pulled his head back.
I gazed at him breathless as our eyes met. He licked his lips before standing. He drew me in, wrapping an arm around me, and crushed his lips to mine, biting down on my bottom lip, making me taste my slick heat and blood mingled together.
When we parted, I pulled his head down to my shoulder. “My turn,” I whispered in his ear.
He didn’t hesitate, guiding me carefully back into the water. His eyes burned into mine as he unzipped his pants, shoving them down just enough for his cock to slip free. I shifted onto my knees, tilting my head up, ready to take him.
But before he let me, he pulled the cloth from the water and wiped away my blood. Only then did he guide my mouth to his cock, his hand fisting my hair to hold me in place.
I kissed along him, pressing the head of his cock between my lips and sucking, hearing him hiss and then curse. I drew him into my mouth deeper until he couldn’t go any further.
“Look at me,” he demanded as he thrusted in my mouth. I did as he ordered, watching him through my lashes as he took control. He shifted his hold. Eyes on me still, he pumped into me, thrusting his hips back. I slid my tongue along him and he groaned. “Open your mouth and take me,” he said. Again, I did as he wanted. Tongue out, I opened wide as he fisted his cock and pumped fast.
His face was cast in shadow, his eyes glowing in the dark. The way his face looked almost distorted made me shiver.
I thought I heard him laugh low. Or had that only been in my head?
“Such a good…good girl.”
He continued to pump in me without restraint.
My heart flipped in my chest, but I didn’t dare try to pull away as he kept me firmly in place.
As his cock throbbed in my mouth, it was my turn to taste him, some of him dripping down my jaw to my neck.
“Fuck…fuck, Evee,” he growled.
He slid out of my mouth, and I licked my lips, my pulse in my ears.
“God, I can’t get enough of you.” He was still gripping my hair, tilting my head back so I was forced to look at him. Then he pulled me back out of the water to stand before him. He let go of my hair to take hold of my face. “I love you, Evee. More than anything.” He pressed my forehead to his. “I’m yours.”
My eyes fluttered shut to those words, as I heard another whisper in my head.
Confess .
I drew my hand up, letting my fingers caress the side of his face, feeling the scars. Feeling him. “Yours.”