Chapter Twenty-Six
F or the first hour or so, I’m a little jumpy.
We all are.
The Creatori managed to get into our heads in a way we didn’t know was possible, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I was afraid this was all going to ‘reset’ again.
We are tired and hungry, but none of us want to stop anywhere even remotely close to that clearing.
“I think I know this area.” Lucians voice makes me jump.
This jumping thing is really starting to get on my fucking nerves. Even so, I don’t mean to snap at him.
“Oh yeah? Maybe because we have been walking through this same forest for days now in one direction just to do it all again in the other direction?”
“Actually… we aren’t walking through the same section of the forest as before. We are heading west this time. So this is all new forest for us.”
I whirl around and glare at Blake. Ignoring the small twitchy dance that my right eye is performing. No doubt that it’s the physical manifestation of my stress and irritation.
Lucian lays a hand on my shoulder and I melt a little.
I’m just so fucking exhausted.
“I only meant that I have been in this area before. I stayed near here when I crossed from the fae realm. We may be able to find a place to rest for a while here.”
I nod at Lucian’s words, afraid to answer him vocally since I can’t seem to shut off my snark.
I’d love to find a bed that we could just pile into and sleep for the next three days, but resting sooner rather than later may be best.
My stomach growls loudly and I groan.
We made sure to snack before we trekked too far from the clearing, needing to replenish our strength. But the hunger in my stomach just keeps growing. Becoming increasingly painful as we go.
Lucian leads the way and I gladly let him. Ready to find a place where I can just… I don’t know. Collapse?
My stomach groans again.
Ok, eat first, then collapse.
As we walk my left boot squishes and I gag instantly.
Right, so bathe, then food, then sleep.
We trudge on for another fifteen minutes, and I’m so close to getting ready to start bitching again, when Lucian’s voice cuts through my inner irritations.
“It’s still here. It does not have the best features, and is obviously abandoned, but it will provide enough shelter for resting.”
Well that sounds… promising?
Lucian leads us up to a small log cabin. At least, that’s probably what it was at one point.
Now the two windows are full of holes and the front corner of the roof is a bit droopy. Honestly the whole thing screams ‘horror movie setting’ but after the shit I’ve dealt with today, bring it on.
Blake sighs a little and when I glance in the direction he is pointing, I see a decently sized creek. Not the hot shower of my dreams, but I will take what I can get right now.
When my stomach growls yet again, Blake laughs and pulls his pack off. He hands it over to Lucian.
“Hey big guy, would you mind getting the ah… room situated. I’m going to see if I can snag us some food and I think our mate wants to get cleaned up.”
“Yes. I will join you in a minute. I would also like to clean up.” Lucian says, reaching out and gently pulling the bag off of my back.
Blake sticks out his hand and I smile a little as I place mine in his and he drags me a little excitedly to the water.
I let go of Blake’s hand as we reached the side of the creek and jumped straight in, boots and all.
Two things become immediately clear.
First of all, it’s incredibly shallow. My jump turns into an awkward hop and I’m left standing in water that comes up just past my boots.
Secondly… it’s fucking cold !
I gasp and run as best as my water-logged footwear will allow.
I reach the edge and am about to step out, when I notice that Blake is hunched over at the waist. Laughing.
Nope. Not today, asshole.
As quick as I can, I wrap my hands around his calves and drag him down into the creek with me.
He screams and this time I hear Lucian’s laughter drifting down to us.
Now unlike me, Blake wasn’t prepared to jump into the water. He was also operating under this false sense of security that his mate was a sweet person.
So when I pull him in, he goes straight down on his ass. Water splashing everywhere.
“I guess I deserved that.” His eyes are molten as they take their fill of me. “Tell me little nymph, how fast do you think you are in the water?”
My core becomes instantly drenched, and the wetness has absolutely nothing to do with the creek water. Millions of delicious thoughts start to flood my brain.
I gesture around me at the shallow water. “Seriously? It’s like two feet deep. That’s not deep enough for you to shift, so I’m pretty sure we are evenly matched.”
An evil grin crosses his face as he pulls off his boots. His eyes never leave mine.
Sensing the challenge, I do the same.
“One lesson that you need to learn is that I don’t actually need to be immersed to shift.”
Before I can contemplate Blake’s words, a silky rope wraps around my leg and pulls me down.
Blake’s tail strokes up my thigh and his arms wrap around me. His lips smash against mine in a fervent hungry kiss.
I gasp into his mouth when his hand slides into my pants and a finger dips right into my core.
He pulls away, panting and shaking. “I need you, Forsythia.”
I place my hand on his chest, right over his heart. “I’m here Blake. Have me.”
He scoops me up and walks to the grass along the creek edge, his tail holding onto my leg firmly.
When he sets me down, his hands move quickly down my body and peel my pants away. He sheds his just as quickly. And then…
Stars burst behind my eyes as he plunges into me.
For a moment, neither of us move. We pant, and shudder, and simply take in the sensations of being joined together in the most intimate of ways.
“You feel like home.”
Tears build in my eyes.
When did I become so sappy?
I open my mouth to respond, but instead of words, I moan his name as he thrusts into me.
He becomes like a beast unleashed and I’m forced to hang on for the ride. His movements are wild and bruising. His hands are possessive as they roam my flesh. And his mouth punishes me with hard kisses and bites.
Far too soon, I fall over the edge into bliss. Blake quickly follows me and I’m filled with the warmth of his release. He leans forward, bracing his weight on his arms to each side of me and peppers my skin with soft sweet kisses.
The sensation is so contradictory to what I experienced from him only moments ago, that it turns me on even more. Heat curls in my belly and my walls clench around Blake’s softened cock.
He growls at me and leans close to my ear. “As much as I would love to have you again, little nymph, your stomach keeps growling at me, and unfortunately, my cock doesn’t seem to be able to sate its hunger. Besides, your voyeuristic mate needs tending to.”
He pulls out of me and I suppress the whimper at the loss of connection to him. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed the connection.
Blake walks down to the water and Lucian steps toward me from the direction of the cabin. He is utterly and completely naked.
I look him up and down, licking my lips at the sight before me.
If I had a dick I would totally be sporting a lady boner.
He smirks at me and I swear that sight alone makes me come.