Chapter 23
Acheron
"You remembered."
Alice opened her eyes, her generous mouth curving in a soft smile.
"You came."
I stalked toward her, my hand cuffing her neck. Her head fell back, and glorious midnight hair shimmered behind her. Green eyes widened as they stared into mine, hypnotized. There was not a lick of fear in her gaze. Instead, it darkened with arousal and anticipation.
I wondered whether our lovemaking in her dream world was rough and obscene. I couldn't wait to find out.
"I will always come for you, my Queen."
My nostrils flared as I breathed in her addictive and unique scent. But as I drifted closer, another scent assaulted me. Him. Her former husband. The scent was faint, but unmistakable. My mouth twisted in distaste.
"He isn't here. Where is he?" I demanded.
Her eyes darted away, and she stepped out of my touch, breaking our spell.
I could sense the guilt radiating from her, and my fists clenched in anger.
She should not give him a moment of consideration.
But, unfortunately, Alice had a soft heart.
It was how she ended up married to that weakling in the first place.
"He went to a hotel for the night. I told him I'd be gone by tomorrow."
I nodded. Excellent. "Let's go." I lifted her into my arms. I didn't want to be here a moment longer.
"Wait!" She reached down, fingers wiggling. "My bag."
"You do not need it. You will have your pick of the finest dresses and jewelry. More than your heart desires."
Her mouth popped open, and for a moment, her eyes drifted away.
My brow knitted at her faraway expression. "Where did you go?"
She shook her head, her vision clearing. "Sorry. I was remembering the first night I met you. I was wearing the most gorgeous midnight-blue silk dress. In fact, all my clothes were gorgeous, not that I wore any that much." Her eyes widened, and she slapped a hand across her mouth.
"Why, Alice. You blush." I bent and rubbed my nose against hers. “Am I to assume that we barely wore any clothes in these memories of yours?"
Her mouth rolled in, but the growing pink on her cheeks gave her away.
"We have to take the bag anyway. David called the cops when he saw the damage to the lounge and kitchen.” Her little brow furrowed. "Did you fix some of it?"
"I had my men do what they could before David came home."
"Well, the cops thought David had hurt me. If I disappear again with a packed bag left behind, he'll worry again."
"Fine," I agreed. I was tired of being in a room that still lingered of him. I clutched her bag, and within a few minutes, we were back in our bedroom in Eiriau.
Before she could get her bearings, I threw her onto the bed, and she squeaked as she bounced. I cast her bag aside before I climbed on top of her.
"We're already here." Her voice was filled with wonder as her expressive eyes bounced around the room.
"For the first time in my life, I was scared," I gruffly confessed.
That drew her attention. She lifted herself onto her elbows. "Scared?"
"I didn't want to let you go. I was afraid that you'd choose him." My face darkened in anger. "Not that I'd let that happen. You are mine. I'll rip apart anyone who tries to take you away from me." I felt my teeth lengthen and had to force them to retract.
"Yeah, well, I saw that literally happen. What happened to Vladimir's—" she stopped and shook her head. "You know what? I don't want to know."
I bent my head and inhaled her scent. My fangs lengthened again, and I knew she could feel a sharpness against her neck.
Her breath sucked in before quickening. "Can I-can I see it?"
"It?" Amusement licked my spine, and my teeth scraped her neck, harder this time. I smiled wickedly when I heard her whimper. She wasn't scared. She wanted this. It turned her on.
"Do you remember what it felt like to have them sink into your flesh?
Tell me, where did you like to feel them the most?
Here?" I licked at her neck, and her head fell back.
"It is a favorite spot of many. Modern cinema sure likes to show it the most. Feeling their pulse against your tongue as you give them pleasure, there is nothing like it. "
"Or how about here?" Her breath sucked in as my mouth moved down her body to her breast. "A personal favorite of mine. Sinking my teeth into this soft flesh, watching your nipples pucker."
I glanced up at her, and her eyes widened when she spied a glimmer of my fangs.
"But my favorite?" I continued to tease. "It is this." I went down and nudged her pussy, running my nose up her crotch through her shorts. Saliva filled my mouth. "You smell incredible. Whenever you were near me, it took everything in me not to grab you, lift you up, and sink my tongue here."
I buried my face in her pussy, and she cried out.
"Wait!" Her hand pushed me aside, and she scrambled back on the bed.
I growled, frustration bleeding through me. "Alice. As much as I enjoy bedroom games, I do not have the patience."
"Acheron, we can't have sex," she blurted out.
My mouth dropped, my fangs instantly disappearing. "What are you talking about? Get over here."
She shook her head, although I could taste her indecision. "I can't have sex with you until I'm divorced from David."
I flinched. "Do not mention his name in our bedroom."
Her expression softened, and she shifted onto her knees. "I'm sorry, but…even though I wasn't in love with Da—with him, I did love him. He was my best friend for years, and I hurt him a lot. Out of respect for him, I would prefer not to do anything…sexual…until it's finalized."
"Your bonding laws do not apply to us."
"But they apply to me. They're important to me.
My vows to him meant something at the time.
You don't understand the guilt and confusion I felt when I kept dreaming of you, missing someone I didn't know was real.
I betrayed David a lot sooner than our kiss.
Emotionally, I was in love with someone else. "
I reared up and clasped her chin, forcing her eyes to me. "Again." My voice was rough, gravelly. Otherworldly. "Say it again."
Her eyes bloomed when she realized what she'd said. Still, her mouth trembled slightly. "I love you," she said on an exhale.
A satisfied grunt rumbled out of me. I did not think I needed the words; I knew Alice loved me.
But hearing those three simple words coming out of my mate's mouth—it made me feel ten feet tall.
I could take on a horde of BloodKin on my own and tear them limb from limb. Well, I could do that regardless.
"And who are you to me?" I demanded.
"Your Queen." Her eyes were glazed as she stared into my blackened gaze.
"I worship and adore you, my Queen." My forehead pressed against hers. "Leave your divorce with me. I will sort it within your human laws."
"Oh, but—"
"I will sort it."
She rolled her lips and nodded. "Okay." She knew better than to argue. Not about this.
"Now. I am off to rip a few heads off the captured BloodKin. I need to blow off some steam."