Chapter 29 #2
I look out the window, gazing at the vast ocean stretching endlessly before us, the water as black as the previous night, but somewhat reflective in the morning light.
The waves crashing against the cliff wall have quickly become one of my favorite sounds.
It’s peaceful, yet forever churning. I feel I resemble the ocean, always restless and moving.
I lie here in this moment, wishing that the days ahead wouldn’t come and I could stay here forever, warm and calm next to Silas.
Rose’s words replay over and over in my mind, and she’s right.
I’m going to stop fearing what’s coming and get prepared.
Silas begins to wake, and I hear a soft groan leave his throat.
He rustles in the dark sheets, and I feel a hand move closer to my body under the covers.
He pushes his arm under the small of my back and pulls me toward his body.
His shirtless chest pushes against my back, and Silas buries his head into the crook of my neck.
As quickly as he stirs, he falls back asleep, his breath steadying once more with the knowledge I’m there.
I look down at his arms locked around me.
Small, aged scars from fighting line them, and I trace each one with my fingers, thinking about what he has endured in this life.
I roll onto my back, still held in his embrace, and stare at the ceiling.
The room quickly fills with a bright glow from the rising sun, and my surroundings come into sharper focus.
I continue to caress his arms, trying to remain this relaxed for as long as possible.
Thoughts of what’s coming start to intrude, and I close my eyes.
Stop, Briar. Relax.
I can’t stop moving restlessly.
Silas stirs again, inching closer to the nape of my neck, and I shift my hand from his arm to the side of his face. He leans into my touch but keeps his eyes closed.
“Do you ever sleep?” he mumbles.
“Not like you,” I respond. “You sleep like a bear…or a corpse.”
He chuckles and cuddles closer, kissing the back of my neck. “And I thought I was the grumpy morning person.”
I turn to face him fully, and he opens his eyes.
His familiar green eyes gaze into mine, and I relax.
His face is handsome, and his eyes are drowsy, still filled with sleep.
Silas smiles softly and moves his hand to my cheek.
He doesn’t speak, only stares, and I think he’s memorizing my face, studying me so he never forgets this simple moment between us.
“I’m not grumpy, by the way.” I grin.
“Oh, sure,” he teases, and tickles my side. “And I’m the resident funny guy.”
I squirm and yelp from his touch, but quickly snuggle back into him.
“More like the resident chronic worrier.”
He laughs at that.
Silas leans in and kisses me, slow and gentle.
His hand wraps around and cups my ass, pulling me even closer to his hot body.
His chest presses against mine, and I change the pace.
I move my hips against his and deepen our kiss.
My hand moves to the back of his neck, and his tongue moves around my mouth, tasting how perfect we are together.
A low groan leaves his throat as I continue to push my hips even closer to his.
Silas’s hand squeezes my ass while his other becomes tangled in my messy hair.
I move my hand from his neck and slowly trace my fingers down his chest, his abs, and his hips, grabbing exactly what I want at this moment.
My core quickly becomes molten at the feel of his hard length in my hand, and an exciting tingle moves through my system.
He jerks against my hold, and I smile against his mouth.
“Good morning to you, too,” he laughs.
Silas returns the favor and slowly guides his hands down my torso, but not before cupping my breast for a second. His large hands trace each curve of my body and slide into the waistband of my pants.
Before I have time to react, two fingers plunge inside of me, and a moan escapes my throat.
Silas presses his mouth against mine once more, muffling the sound, and he begins to pump his soaked fingers in and out of me.
I hold tight to his hardened cock and slowly move my hand up and down.
His lips break from mine, and he kisses the side of my mouth and jaw before he moves to my neck, slowly kissing and licking as his hand continues to work.
I grind my hips against his touch, allowing his fingers to move deeper inside of me.
I close my eyes and allow the pleasure to build.
Silas moves from my side and positions his body over mine.
His fingers leave me, and I immediately feel empty and huff in protest. His eyes pierce into mine, and there’s nothing of the earlier softness in his gaze.
A hunger lies behind them, and my mouth waters.
Silas slowly removes my pants and orders me to remove my shirt, leaving me completely bare before him.
With his knee, he spreads my legs further, allowing space for his body to lie on top of me. I feel him lower his pants, and a thrill runs through me, already intensifying the heat in my core.
He pauses and looks at me.
“I’ve been dying to fuck you.”
His fingers tease around my clit, sending a jolt through me.
“Just looking at you drives me mad,” Silas groans, glancing up and down my body. “I’ve been dying to shove my cock deep inside of you, Briar.
I feel him remove his dick from his pants.
“Ever since our night in the woods. You left me craving you, and I’ve been desperate to worship you ever since.”
My mouth parts slightly, and I swear I’m seconds away from losing it from just those words.
“Then worship me, Silas.”
I grab his dick and move him toward the middle of my thighs.
“Show me how well you can fuck me.”
He hums.
“Remind me how perfect we are together,” I encourage.
A grin spreads across his face as shadows pulse around him. A wall of dark shadows swiftly surrounds us, providing all the privacy we need in this house. Silas winks at me, assuring me that his shadows will hold, and I respond with a dazed smile.
Silas thrusts his hips against mine, and I feel his hardened length slam into my core. A cry leaves my lips, and I arch my back against the warm sheets. Silas moves his arm under my lower back, propping my hips higher, allowing him to thrust deeper.
“Scream my name, Briar. No one can hear you except the Gods. Let them know who fucks you right now, who you belong to.”
I grasp his back and claw into his skin, letting myself completely give in to him. I slowly move my hands lower and cup his ass, encouraging him to slam into me harder.
“Silas,” I moan.
He buries his head into the nape of my neck and bites, sending a wave of pain to mix with pleasure. His breathing is rapid and hard, and I forget everything around me. He thrusts in and out of me, making my eyes roll back in utter bliss.
I lift my knee and push with everything I have to flip on top of him.
The abrupt movement causes a look of shock and excitement to shoot across his face as we land with me straddling him. I position myself back over him and lower onto his length once more, taking my time to feel every inch.
A deep guttural moan leaves his throat as he slowly slides into my core.
My legs work to lift me up and down over him, and I watch his eyes change from hungry to absolutely drunk with lust. His hands dig into my sides, helping me rock back and forth, and I tip my head back, allowing him a great view of my undulating body.
I lean forward to grab his hands and pin them over his head.
I gaze into his eyes and smile.
“Eyes on me, Silas,” I say. “I want you to watch only me.”
Silas Nastronde, the King of Andorwood, is completely helpless under my weight. I kiss him slowly, biting his lower lip as I pull away. Shadows and light dance around my body, and I feel myself seconds away from losing control.
His piercing green eyes bore into mine as I ride his cock, feeling every delicious inch of him moving inside me. I lower my gaze, slowly sliding up to his tip, and hover there for a moment.
“Turns out, I want you to scream my name, Silas. The Gods can’t hear you, because I am your only God. You belong to me.”
His eyes widen with excitement, and I slam my hips down, going as deep as I can handle.
“And don’t ever fucking forget that.”
Pleasure explodes through us both, and my body tingles with lightning from the inside out.
I arch my back, and Silas rips his hands from my hold, grasping onto my hips once more.
His strong fingers dig into my skin. Silas groans deep and wild, throwing his head back and slamming his hips upward.
The world pauses, my worries don’t exist, and I allow pleasure to slam through me.
I collapse forward, our chests resting together. He heaves under me and moves his hands into my dark hair that pools around us. We remain this way for a moment, lost in pleasure and one another.
Silas moves, flipping me back onto the bed, and props his elbow near my head. His hands trace alongside my profile as I work to catch my breath, before he drops his head onto my chest.
“Fuck, Briar.”
I smile proudly.
The dark shadows around us start to fade, and the sounds of the outside world fill the space once more. The crashing waves hit the cliff wall, the morning sun shines through the open windows, and the sound of movement echoes down the long hallway.
I close my eyes, and my body relaxes into the warm bed. I want to stay this way forever, in peace—in the stillness of a new day—and near Silas.
As much as I try to ignore our reality, the weight of the day slowly begins to press against my chest, and I look at Silas, turning to face him.
“I wish we could stay this way forever,” I say, as I cup his face.
He presses a kiss to my lips and smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“You always ask me, but I never ask you. Are you okay?” I sigh. “Last night was…a lot."
I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth. I should have allowed more time for us to remain in peace and together, uncaring of the troubles that constantly surround us.
Silas stares at me for a moment, his eyes hardening. “I’m fine.”
“Now who is lying?” I cut my eyes toward him.
“That man was never a father to me. He won’t be missed.”
The room is filled with a morning glow, and a burst of white light brightens the dark space.
Silas squints against the glare, and I glance out the window once more.
I wrap the sheets around me and prop on my elbows.
The cherry hues of the sunrise remind me, and I sit straight up.
Silas throws both hands behind his head, stretching his chest, and yawns.
“Tonight is the crimson moon,” I state, matter-of-factly.
“It is,” Silas responds, casually.
“The Archives will be the easiest to enter tonight.” I turn back to look at him, still lying shirtless on the bed. “We have to find a way to get in there.”
He rubs his eyes and sits up next to me, propping his elbow on his knee. “My mother is going to meet us mid-afternoon in her wing of the castle. We have a lot to discuss with her.”
I raise my brows at him.
“No,” he laughs.
“You should…”
“I’m not asking about my father. As far as she knows, we have no clue Malachi disclosed this to us.”
“Fine,” I sigh.
He moves off the side of the bed, and the sheets wrap around his hips, exposing his strong back. Silas walks to the window, pushing open the curtains and then the shutters. He turns to me, clearly considering holding something back from me.
“Today is going to be interesting,” Silas admits, throwing a shirt over his head.
“That’s an understatement.”
He chuckles. “Every day has been interesting since I met you.”
“That doesn’t sound like a good thing.”
He smiles and narrows his eyes. “It’s a good thing. I know I’ll never be bored.”
“Were you concerned about growing bored with me?”
“Not even for a second.”
The memories of last night flood my mind.
Malachi, the Travelers, the book, and Yara.
A flash of her lifeless body covered in blood hits my mind, and I flinch.
Silas moves closer to me, noticing that I'm lost in thought.
I look into his eyes, unable to stop the tears from forming.
He cups my face and brings his forehead to mine.
“When all this has settled, I will take you to meet Yara’s family if you would like. They would appreciate hearing about her bravery,” he says. “And, I think it may help you.”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I could face them, and I doubt they would want to meet me,” I respond.
Silas smiles gently. “I think you would be surprised, Briar. Just think about it. Promise me?”
“I promise.”
He walks toward the door, running his hands through his messy hair. “Get dressed; we have a big day ahead.”
“Can’t we just stay in bed and hide?” I ask, refusing to put my feet on the floor.
He glances over his shoulder. “There is nothing I’d rather do than stay in bed with you all day.”
I pat the bed next to me, and before I look back up at him, Silas races toward me with a smile spread across his whole face.
His large body crashes against mine, and he falls on top of me, pressing my back against the silk sheets.
I let out a startled giggle as his hands move to both sides of my head, and he leans forward, pressing his lips against mine.
“Don’t tempt me, Briar.”
I kiss him again. “What’s on the agenda, Your Majesty? Since we can’t stay like this all day.”
He rolls his eyes at my snark before saying, “I’m heading to the castle shortly with Fenmore to ensure everything is in order. I’ll see you shortly before we meet my mother.”
“Wait.” I angle my head. “What am I going to do until then?”
“Someone wants to see you near the cliff’s edge in thirty minutes.”