Chapter 3 #2
Before I can blink, he shifts from the bed and pins me against the far wall. Both hands slam against the wall on either side of my head as he leans in close, nipping at my bottom lip.
“You will regret teasing me in the best fucking way.”
“Is that a threat?” I bite his bottom lip.
“You should know by now that I don’t make empty threats.”
He lifts me against the wall, fingers digging into my sides, his cock already poised at my entrance. A devilish smirk spreads across his face.
“Only promises.”
Silas’s lips crash against mine as he slams into me with a hard thrust.
A moan leaves my mouth, and my nails dig into his back as he pumps in and out of me. From the show I put on moments ago, I’m already close to exploding, and from his feral movements, I know he will torture me until the end.
“Harder,” I moan against the nape of his neck.
Silas slams his hips against mine, and the wooden wall digs into my back, but he doesn’t slow. “You are so wet and fucking perfect.”
His deep thrusts become more rapid, and I squeeze my legs around his waist as tightly as I can.
My entire body shakes, and I bite his neck, which is my undoing.
A white, dazzling heat spreads across my whole body, and I’m blinded for a moment.
Silas pulls his gaze down to watch where we’re connected as a new hunger drives his expression wild.
He continues to pump into me, like tonight is all we have.
“You are mine,” he groans into the nape of my neck. “You are fucking mine.”
With what we will experience tomorrow, I’m thankful for the ferocity.
I continue to ride the incredible high, unable to stop myself from unraveling against his strong body.
I moan his name as he covers my mouth with his hand.
Another orgasm slams into my chest as he continues to thrust his hips against mine so hard my thighs tremble.
A blast of pleasure sends tingles through my entire body, and I dig my nails into his shoulders as my head tips back against the wall.
The sensation forces a pleasured sob from my throat, and Silas leans forward.
“Quiet.” His hand wraps around my throat, tightening. “Unless you want the entire ship to hear all the fun we are having.”
Silas travels his hand from my throat to my jaw as he presses his thumb into my mouth.
“But, go ahead if you’d like.” His gaze bores into mine. “Let them know who you belong to.”
My moan becomes a muffled desperation of pleasure as I bite down, hard.
The pleasure swirls in my throbbing body, like the rising waves against the ship, and my chest heaves. Silas keeps a firm hold on my legs wrapped around his waist as he continues to thrust in and out of me.
He watches me, his eyes filled with lust.
“Look at you.”
Thrust.
“How undone you become.”
Thrust.
“Just for me.”
Seconds later, Silas releases a rough moan as he slows, emptying himself deep inside me.
I melt against his strong body, leaning away from the wall, and he catches me, propping one arm on the wall behind me while he catches his breath.
His chest heaves against mine, but his hold doesn’t waver.
My legs stay wrapped around him as he carries me back to our small bed.
Silas sets me down gently and falls to the bed beside me, still breathing heavily.
We breathe silently in unison for another moment before he props up on his elbows, gazing at my naked body once more.
“You can do this, Briar,” he says.
“Do what?” I question.
“Win.”
I blink and don’t respond.
“You don’t realize how strong you are, but I do.”
I trace my fingers over his scarred chest. Silas tips his head back, but continues speaking.
“I see it every single day. You have a way of commanding the room without even trying. Just look at what you did to me.” He winks. “You’re the only person I’d let nearly bring me to my knees.”
I huff a near-quiet laugh.
“You can do this. But tomorrow is going to be challenging,” he sighs.
I meet his gaze. “I’m nervous.”
“And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t as well.”
I look into his piercing green eyes. “No matter what you say, I’m worried I can’t do this. If I fail…” I trail off.
“You won’t fail.” Silas’s strong hand clasps around my jaw. “You are tough, yet kind. You care deeply about doing what’s right and creating peace in our lands. Your passion will keep you going. We will find a way to separate you from Kalix. And Rohhit from Carobon.”
Rohhit’s name sounds sour on his lips, and I flinch.
“Even his name bothers you?” Silas’s eyes turn to stone.
“Everything about what happened to him bothers me.”
“I see,” he says, and I know it troubles him.
My deep feelings for Rohhit—even though they aren’t romantic—bother him.
Silas nods, returning from his thoughts. “We will save him, but you have to keep going. Keep trying.”
“I will do whatever needs to be done to stop this.”
“I know you will. And to be honest, that terrifies me,” he says, his lips pressing against mine. “But, I’m not going to let you do this alone.” He leans back, lowering his head onto the bed. “You have to let us help you.”
I nod.
“Silas, I still don’t know what connects us, but you make me feel safe, and I hope that never fades.” I rest my head against his chest as he holds me.
“I’m not going to let that fade.”
“You promise?” I ask in a whisper, feeling sleep heavy in my words.
“Promise, my love,” he replies.
His breaths deepen before I can speak again, and I know he’s drifted off to sleep. I study his face for a moment, memorizing his profile—just in case. I move a strand of hair from his peaceful face before rolling over and allowing sleep to grace me just the same.
The rumble of thunder wakes me after what seems like just moments after drifting to sleep.
I sneak out of bed and head toward the small cabin window, making sure to be quiet so I can let Silas rest. Sleep has never come easily to me, and even though the nightmares aren’t haunting me, the habit remains like a persistent headache.
Glancing over the waves, I see a wall of darkness.
My heart races, and sweat begins to dampen my palms as I remember Silas on the pier defending us against Rohhit—Carobon.
The wall builds before my eyes, and lightning crackles through the black clouds.
My breath hitches, and I feel like I’m back in Daramveer, so close to death.
Another rumble of thunder crashes, rattling the window, as Silas stirs in the bed next to my empty spot.
My entire body freezes, and the panic within me starts to bubble.
One.
Two.
Three.
The panic doesn’t subside. I move against the far wall, pressing my back into the wood which scratches my skin, and drop to the floor, covering my ears.
It’s not real. It’s not happening again.
The boat rocks back and forth, and the waves crashing against the wooden boards echo throughout the room, and no matter how hard I try to steady myself, I can’t. The lightning continues to clap outside, casting bright flashes all around like bombs going off.
He’s here.
Carobon has found us.
A scream leaves my mouth as I wrap my arms around myself tighter.
Silas springs from bed, startled awake by my scream. “Hey,” he says soothingly, rushing to my side. “It’s just a storm. Look at me.”
The tears continue to stream down my face. I can’t calm down.
“Briar, look at me.” He cups my jaw. “Breathe. I’m here.” Silas wraps his arms around my trembling body. “You are okay. I’m okay. We’re safe.”
Another crackle of lightning illuminates the cabin as Silas observes the severity of the storm.
The shadowy water swirls around the boat in a chaotic dance, as if the surrounding darkness is trying to capsize us.
The black clouds overhead resemble a giant beast attempting to drag us to the depths of the darkest realms, and fear overrides my system.
“We need to get dressed right now. I will head to the deck to see what’s going on.”
I remain frozen, the fear controlling me.
“Briar,” Silas calls again.
Tears fall like the rain outside.
“Briar,” he snaps. “I need you to listen.”
Just like always, his voice brings me back. I jolt back into my right mind and begin to grab my clothes as the boat rocks from side to side, causing us both to fall off balance.
“As soon as you finish dressing, meet me on the deck. Okay?”
I nod and continue shuffling around the room, grabbing what clothes I can.
He moves toward me and kisses my forehead.
I holster my two axes; the gold weapons shimmer in the dimly lit cabin, helping me see.
Thunder claps around the room, and we can now hear the shuffling of many feet—likely the ship’s crew—springing into action.
Silas rushes out of the room, glancing over his shoulder one last time, before disappearing. I grab a bag and begin stuffing a few things inside, including my mother’s crown.
A wave hits the boat, causing me to lose my footing as I crash to the ground.
Maines bounds through the threshold in a panic.
“Gods, are you alright? We need to get to the deck.” Terror floods her expression. “Oak just rushed up there to help the crew. He’s half drunk.” She glances around the room. “Where’s Silas?”
“He’s up there as well. The storm, Maines. It… It’s so similar.”
She nods. “I know. I thought so, too. It’s not, though—we are far from Rohhit right now. It’s just a storm, but it’s a bad one.”
I shudder.
“We heard people saying the storm had pushed us off course and toward a cliff. We’re close to Andorwood, but not close enough.”
Panic rises once more in my core, “Rose and Myah. We have to get Myah off the ship if we must abandon it. We can’t leave her. She’ll drown.”
Maines nods in agreement. “Okay, first we need to see what’s going on. I promise we won’t leave her. Silas won’t let that happen, either.”