Chapter 22
“There’s nothing we can do while she’s in Olympus and we’re here.” Jayden squeezes my hand.
I rub my tired eyes, still panicked about Artemis facing Typhon alone but helpless to do anything about it.
“It’s okay, B. Get some rest.” Raven pats my shoulder. “We still have another battle to fight. Whatever that may be, we’ll get through it together.”
“Yeah.” I sigh. “We will get through this for sure, but will Artemis? I don’t like this. I don’t like sitting here helpless while the gods are on Olympus fighting for our lives.”
“Seriously?” Kira scoffs. “We’re not doing nothing. We’re regrouping to fight another battle that we know is coming our way. You need to give yourself some grace, Beth.”
“Ohhh, the claws come out. I like it.” Raven grins.
“I’m just saying this is a break and we should all use it to rest and regroup for the next hurdle. It’s almost over. We’re this close to the war being over. Take every bit of rest we can get.” Kira shrugs.
“You’re right. I know you are. It’s just hard not to worry when everything rides on me. I feel responsible for all of this.” I run a hand through my hair.
“You need sleep.” Jayden scoops me up off the bed.
“Jayden, what are you doing?” I ask.
“Everyone needs to go rest. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring and we need to rest while we can.” Jayden glances pointedly at the door. “We’ll see you guys in the war room in the morning.”
“Night, guys.” Raven giggles as they all leave the room, closing the door behind them.
“That was rude.” I smack Jayden’s chest.
“I need you to relax and get all of this stuff off your mind and you can’t do that with everyone in the room rehashing what we’ve been through and speculating about what’s to come.” Jayden’s grip on my body tightens.
“And how would you do that?” I ask.
“Hmmm, I have some ideas.” He nuzzles my neck.
Jayden sets me on the bathroom vanity and turns to start the water in the tub. His muscles bunch under his shirt as he tests the temperature and puts some bath salts in the filling tub.
“I thought you wanted to go to sleep.” I cock my head to the side.
“There’s no way you’re sleeping the way your mind is racing right now.” Jayden turns to me. “You may have me blocked mostly, but every probably third thought is blasting at me. A relaxing bath will help calm your mind.”
He steps closer into my space. I reach out, gripping his shirt and pulling him closer to me. I wrap my legs around his waist.
“I’m sorry you have to deal with my crazy mind spinning out.” I rest my forehead against his shoulder. “So much happened and at the same time it was the fastest we’ve completed a task to date.”
“I prefer to have you in my head. No apologies necessary there.” Jayden runs a soothing hand down my back.
“You don’t really want all my rambling thoughts in your head at all times.” I shake my head.
“I want every part of you and that includes every rambling thought you will allow me to hear in your head.” Jayden kisses my neck.
“Mmm, you may be convincing me to bring the wall down a little.” I tilt my head to give him better access.
“Good. I don’t want anything between us.” He grips my hips where my shirt has ridden up.
“This isn’t what I thought you had in mind when you said you wanted me relaxed.” I shift on the vanity to get closer to him.
“Well, it is plan B. Get you so exhausted that you won’t be able to hold your eyes open.” Jayden nips my neck.
“Both plans are enticing,” I say. “But I think I prefer plan B.”
“Do you? I think that should be combined with the original plan, then.”.
“That is the best plan.” I shiver.
Jayden runs his hands up my sides, under my breasts, and groans deep in his throat. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”
“I know you met us in Colorado, but I missed you so much on that mission,” I whisper.
“It was complete torture being away from you and not knowing where you were or if you were safe.” Jayden kisses down my neck over my collarbone.
“The water, Jayden,” I warn. “It looks a bit high now.”
“Shit.” He pulls away and takes two huge steps to the tub, turning it off. “You distracted me, love. You’re always distracting. I can’t help but watch you. You’re everything.”
“That sounds a little stalkerish. Should I be concerned?” I grin.
“Only if you ever try to leave me again.” Jayden steps into my space, lifting me off the vanity and setting me on my feet.
“Never. I don’t ever want to be away from you again.” I grip his shirt, pulling him closer to me. “You are mine.”
“Do you have any idea what that possessiveness does to me, love?” Jayden runs his nose along my jaw.
“I may have an idea.” I grin.
Jayden lifts my shirt, yanking it over my head in one swift motion. The shirt flutters to the ground at our feet. Hands land on my hips and his fingers trace the top of the waistband, forcing a shiver to roll down my spine.
“C’mon, baby. Time for a nice relaxing bath,” Jayden whispers close to my ear.
“I don’t think this is going to be as relaxing as you’re promising.”
“No?” He pops the button on my jeans and pushes them down my legs. “I’ll make sure you’re relaxed even as I make you scream my name repeatedly.”
My bra and panties hit the floor seconds later and Jayden scoops me back up into his arms. He strides to the edge of the tub.
Lavender fills my nose as he lowers me into the water.
A groan escapes my lips as the warm water laps at my bare skin.
I have missed my bathtub. I don’t get to spend nearly enough time relaxing these days.
Hopefully that’s going to change soon, though. The war is underway and it’s all or nothing. Jayden moves, distracting me from my thoughts as he whips his shirt off and tosses it on the floor with mine.
All his toned skin is on display, and I bite my bottom lip as he kicks out of his own combat pants and underwear. “Lean forward. Let me slide in behind you.”
“If that wasn’t innuendo, I don’t know what is.” I laugh.
Jayden gently nudges me forward and slips into the tub behind me. His hands land on my shoulders, kneading the muscles, and they slump. My head falls back against his chest as a groan tumbles from my lips at the release of tension there.
“Aren’t you glad you leaned forward, love?” Jayden whispers, his tone as cocky as ever.
“You’re not going to be able to fit through the door with that ego if I answer that honestly.”
“Good to know I know how to release your tension.” Jayden kisses the back of my neck. “Let me take care of you.”
He pulls the tie from my hair, and it tumbles down my back. Jayden runs his fingers through the long blond strands. He gathers my hair in his fist and pulls my head back. Cupping water in the other hand, he lets it soak my hair. A shudder rolls through me as the water drips down my back.
“Mmm, that feels good,” I moan as he lathers my hair, massaging my scalp.
“Careful. You’re worried about my ego, love.” Jayden chuckles and rinses my hair.
“I don’t care.” I rub my thighs together, needing friction since any time Jayden touches me like this, I can’t help but be turned on.
“You okay, my love?” Jayden whispers against my neck.
“You know exactly what you’re doing to me,” I breathe. “Stop pretending.”
“Pretending what?” he asks.
“That you don’t know exactly what your touch does to me,” I huff.
“Mmm, maybe I just like seeing it for myself sometimes.” He runs his hand down my back and over my hip, trailing his fingertips across my abs.
“Oh fuck, Jayden,” I gasp, my back arching as he presses his index finger to my clit and rubs circles around it in quick motions.
“Give me everything you’ve got. I missed seeing you every day and waking up with my arms wrapped around you every morning. Making you scream until one or both of us passes out is one of my favorite things in this world. Now, come for me.”
He thrusts two thick fingers inside me and curls them, hitting that spot inside.
Stars burst across my vision and my back arches off his chest as a scream tumbles from my lips.
Jayden grins against my neck as his fingers continue a relentless pace, thrusting inside me and circling my clit in quick motions.
“Shit, Jayden,” I moan, squirming in his lap.
“What is it, love?” he whispers against my neck. “Too much?”
“No, I need you.” I wiggle my ass, pressing against his hard cock.
“Gods, Beth, you can’t do that. I’m hanging on by a thread here.” He nips my shoulder.
“Then let go. Lose that control you cling to so carefully. I want you to. I want you wild and feral for me. I need you, Jayden, not this controlled version but the real you.”
Jayden doesn’t warn me as he scoops me into his arms and stands carrying me in a bridal hold out of the bathroom into the bedroom. He drapes a towel around me and then lowers us to the bed. His lips slam against mine in a feral clash of teeth and tongues.
Jayden’s fingers trail down my collarbone in featherlight touches until he reaches my nipples, then he tugs at them. My back arches off the bed as his tongue follows the exact path of his fingers all the way down my body to the juncture of my thighs and sucks my clit.
He groans against me, the vibrations of it forcing me higher up the peak to the cliff of my orgasm. Heat sears me as his mark on my neck pulses and his tongue laps at my slit.
“Gods, Jayden.” I grip his hair, tugging the strands as he licks and sucks my clit.
He thrusts his fingers inside me as he nips my clit and lights burst behind my eyelids and the world spins on its axis. Tremors explode through my body as I scream again for him.
He prowls up my body, his lips glistening with my juices. He licks them, groaning and squeezing his eyes shut as he savors it. “You are so perfect and so fucking mine.”
His growl rumbles through me as I pant out a few harsh breaths, still jerking and twitching from my orgasm. I grip his hair hard enough to sting and tug him down on top of me, wrapping my legs around his waist.
“I need you, now,” I growl.
“Who’s the feral one now, my love?” He chuckles. “So demanding. Take what you want. What you already know is yours.”
With my legs already around him, I flip us easily so I’m on top of him.
Jayden’s grin is seductive as his eyes glow blue.
He likes the power shifting, almost begs for it.
He leans up, pressing his lips against mine, and I can taste myself on his tongue.
I press my palms into his rock-hard chest, pressing him back into the mattress, and slam onto his cock.
“Fuck,” Jayden shouts. “You’re going to kill me but what a way to go.”
His fingers tighten on my hips hard enough to bruise but I don’t care. It’s just another way he’s marking me body and soul.
“If you won’t give up your control and go feral, I will just have to make you.” I grin as I slam back down on him again.
My nails press into his chest and a small bit of my power leaks from my core into my fingers.
I circle my hips, rubbing my clit against him and sending myself higher up that cliff for a third time at a rapid pace.
Jayden growls low in his throat as my magic dances along his nerve endings.
He snaps his hips up, thrusting into me from below.
“You want to see feral?” He flips us so I’m beneath him and grips my wrists, pulling them from his chest so I can’t zap him anymore.
He thrusts inside of me hard and fast and directs his shadows to wrap around my wrists, holding them immobile.
Jayden grips my calves and brings them up to rest on his shoulders, changing the angle in the most delicious of ways.
He slams into me, going impossibly deeper, and leans forward, nipping at the mark he left on my collarbone.
“You’re going to come for me again. Right now.” His tone is a dark pool of need, and I can’t help but fall over the edge for the third time.
His index finger presses down on my swollen clit, only prolonging the orgasm that’s rocking through my bones. Convulsions rip through me as I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Look at me, baby. I want to see every expression when you come for me.”
“Jayden.” The whisper is a plea, but I don’t even know what I’m begging for.
“It’s all right. You’re going to give me one more, and then I’ll come for you. Any way you want.” His shadows explode out of him, but they aren’t gentle caresses and teasing licks as usual.
They are rough, tugging at my nipples and nipping the mark on my shoulder. One circles my clit with a wet tongue before biting down on it and I tumble over the edge for the fourth time tonight.
Fuck me, it’s so different but exactly what I hadn’t realized I needed until this moment.
It’s exquisite torture and black bleeds into Jayden’s eyes as he slams inside of me, only to pull out slowly and slam back in again and again.
He doesn’t change the rhythm even as he groans, squeezing his eyes shut with a pained expression on his face.
“I’m gonna come, my love. Come with me,” he pants.
“I can’t, Jayden. Too sensitive,” I mumble.
“Yes, you can. I can make you.” His shadows redouble their efforts, some now pressing into my ass, and I scream as black spots form at the edge of my vision.
“That’s it. I can feel you squeezing me in a vise. Fucking come,” he snarls as he presses into me a final time, coming inside me with a roar.
I tumble over the edge with him, screaming for him again, and slump back on the bed, twitching but sated. Jayden rolls to the side, pulling my back into his chest and wrapping his arms around me. His breaths are sharp pants against my neck as his breathing levels out and he sighs.
“I told you I would wear you out until you couldn’t do anything but sleep.” He chuckles, fluttering my hair.
“I don’t think I can move,” I grumble.
“That was the point, love. If you can’t move, all you can do is fall asleep in my arms. That’s the only place you ever need to be. In my arms snuggled and safe, at least for a few hours a night.” He brushes the hair out of my face and rests his chin on my shoulder.
“I love you.” I turn to rest my head against his chest.
“I love you more than anything in this life and the next. Forever and always, Beth.”
“Forever and always.”
But will that be enough when we fight the queen? Will we be able to win this war intact or will she finally destroy us all?