19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Benji
D amyr was going to be alright and I was okay with that. More than okay considering I was kissing him and fuck, it wasn’t enough. I needed more. I wanted him to pick me up, because to him I probably weighed nothing and there was something thrilling about that, and throw me beneath him, pinning me to the sofa before ploughing into my asshole like it was some kind of punishment.
He threaded his fingers through my hair, fisting the strands tightly and controlling the angle of my head. I was crazy. I must be. Crazy enough to need him and want him despite the fact that my view of the world has just been shattered. Crazy enough to let him own me, body and soul, because I think being part of his world with him, might just be the closest to sane I’ve ever been.
I kissed him back greedily, thrusting my fingers into his hair and clinging on with everything I could muster. I couldn’t put a single thought together. My mind was focused on Damyr and only Damyr. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t think, all that mattered was me and him. This moment. Damyr was a hurricane, and I didn’t fight him. I let him sweep me up and destroy me completely.
I turned in his lap, barely breaking the kiss. I couldn’t stop, even for a moment. I wasn’t willing to break this connection. Now that I knew what this was, I wanted to surrender to it. To surrender to Damyr.
I settled my thighs on either side of his, locking our hips together. The feel of his cock against mine had me groaning deep into his mouth. He swallowed that sound like it belonged to him. Like he’d commanded it from my body on a fucking whim.
I broke the kiss, but only to create a bit of space so I could reach between us and free us both from the constraints of our pants. The moment my cock touched his, it was fucking electric . My head rolled backwards as I submitted to the sensation and when I finally brought my eyes back to Damyr’s, I saw in them a spark of obsession.
And it thrilled me.
I wrapped my hand around both of us, torturing us with the slow glide of my hand up and down our lengths.
“Benjamin,” he groaned, as he rolled his hips up to meet my thrusts. I wanted to make him fall apart, and to see him writhing beneath me, gave me a power that felt completely addictive. Damyr’s mouth latched on to my throat and I felt the sharp points of his fangs scrape across my skin.
“Do it,” I whispered. “Please.”
Damyr paused, his tongue swirling against my throat. I knew what he was doing. He was giving me a moment to rethink, but I didn’t need to. I wanted everything and however much it scared me, or however many questions I had yet to be answered, I knew I was meant to be right here.
I carded my free hand through his dark locks, and held him firmly against my neck, giving him permission to take what he needed.
There was a momentary sharp sting and then the most blissful sensation flooded my system. It was euphoric and intense, nothing like the bite he’d given me before. It was the most vivid, powerful feeling I’d ever felt, and I was pretty sure I died for a split-second. I sure as hell came the moment he took his first pull of blood from my veins. My cock erupted, causing my body to tremble and quiver. A strangled whimper escaped me and I shuddered almost violently in Damyr’s arms.
It was a few moments before the room came back into focus and I had a front row seat to watching Damyr come undone. I took over pumping his cock -- I must have zoned enough that I’d stopped -- and I used my own cum as lube. There was something hot about watching it coat his skin.
“More,” he rasped, his voice raw. “Faster.”
I did as he asked, tightening my hand and moving quicker up the length of him. He was bigger than me and I couldn’t wait to feel his cock stretching my hole.
His hips bucked wildly beneath me as he grew closer to the edger. His eyes were full of heat, blazing as they trailed the contours of my face.
“Fuck, Benjamin—” A growl left his lips as he came, cum spilling from his cock and hitting his chest with the force of his orgasm. God, he was gorgeous. Even covered in dried blood and cum.
I traced a finger up his heaving chest, scooping up some of his release. He watched me with curiosity as I brought my finger to my mouth and then I licked it clean.
He breathed in sharply, and his fingers pressed harder into my hips. “Benjamin.”
Fuck, my name sounded good in his mouth, like he was whispering it with reverence.
I thrust my hands into his hair and crushed my mouth to his. Any doubts as to what this was between us evaporated in that moment. I could feel it click into place, a partnership, a connection, a link between us. It my blood sing and my heart fucking soar. He was my addiction and a vice I didn’t have the strength to resist.
Even if, in the back of my mind, I knew he might be the death of me.
**
“It smells like sex and death in here. Kinky.”
I jolted at the sound of Acheron’s voice. How did he even get in here? I didn’t hear the door open.
I lifted my head from Damyr’s chest and saw Acheron standing next to the sofa with a wicked grin on his face. His hair was a dark midnight blue, and he looked like some hot shot out of a Japanese comic. Dressed all in black with combat boots and harnesses all over his chest. Jeez, how long did it take for him to get in that thing? There were so many buckles. Looked hot though. Maybe I could borrow it?
“Acheron, stop portalling in my house,” Damyr grumbled.
“Portalling?” I asked. I’d heard Damyr say that before, but I’d ignored it in favour of looking at the dead body.
“I’m a type of wizard so I can go where I want by portalling.” Which he proceeded to do by disappearing before my eyes without even a sound.
Holy fuck!
A couple of seconds later he reappeared just as silently, a buttercream covered cupcake in his hand. He handed it to me. “Here you go, doll. Freshly made from the kitchen.”
Ooh, cake. I loved cake. I swiped my finger through the chocolate frosting and was just about to pop my finger in my mouth when Damyr captured my wrist and licked the frosting clean off.
“Hey!”
He smiled wolfishly at me and my insides turned to goo. “Doesn’t taste as good as you.”
“Urgh, you guys are too cute,” Acheron grumbled as he folded his arms across his lean chest.
“What else can you do?” I asked with a mouth full of cake – which was delicious by the way – and waited for Acheron’s answer with boyish wonder.
“Sorry, Benji, but we don’t have time for that.” His expression turned serious. “You’ve had another delivery.”
My stomach dropped and with it, my appetite. I put the cake down and turned to Damyr. His lip twitched in agitation, and he got quickly to his feet, all traces of softness disappearing until the harsh edges of the Mob Boss remained.
“Might want to shower first, boss,” Acheron said as Damyr made to leave the room. “It’s just a small box so I doubt it’s a dead body this time. It can wait.”
I chuckled. Damyr definitely looked dishevelled. He threw a scowl at me like it was my fault he forgot that he was still covered in blood and cum. I mean it was, but I liked it. Put together Damyr was hot. Dishevelled and post-orgasm Damyr was sex on fucking legs. “Maybe you should take that shower.”
He quirked an eyebrow, calling me out. I shrugged, trying to be nonchalant, but the thought of anyone else seeing Damyr like that turned my insides green with envy.
“I’ll shower,” he finally said, and I breathed a sigh of relief. “Benjamin. Do the same.”
Guess the feeling was mutual.
***
I met the others in Damyr’s study about thirty minutes later. Byron and Aleksey were exchanging knowing looks, and I was going to ignore them. The unknown face staring at Byron from across the other side of the room though, he caught my attention. He was eye catching in a rugged sort of way. Broad shouldered, but lean, like a swimmer. He was in a band tee and loose fitting jeans that hung low on his hips. Soft brown waves were tucked behind his ears and there was an innocent look to his smile. But his eyes… those violet orbs screamed 100% mischief. Like he knew he could commit murder and get away with it.
Vlad came to stand beside me. I was learning that he was the sort of guy that was entirely capable of breaking a man in two with his bare hands, but he was also a giant teddy bear at heart. “Are you alright?”
“Yes. I think so.” And I was. There was no doubt I still had a lot to learn and figure out, but I felt more like myself now, than I had in a long time. “Who’s the guy in the corner?”
Vlad sighed heavily. “Wilder Rowan. One of the witch clan and part of the Three Families. Very powerful and very temperamental.”
Noted. Leave the mischievous looking witch alone. “Thank you, by the way.”
“For what?” he asked, his head cocked slightly to one side.
“For staying with me. You know. With Damyr.”
His face softened and a small smile let up his face. “Benji, what you two have isn’t just special, it’s rare .”
“What do you mean?”
Vlad pulled me deeper into the corner of the room, away from listening ears. “Vampire mates are the rarest in supernatural breeds. We usually form alliances or mutual connections that will benefit us in power or money, preferably both.”
“Sounds archaic.”
He snorted. “And then some, but we’ve evolved believing that kind of marriage or partnership is normal. Vampires like power and money, why wouldn’t we marry someone with those?”
“Is that why Damyr married Lucia?”
“No,” he hissed. “That woman was manipulative and wanted to climb to social ladder. When she had approached Damyr, he was lost. Heartbroken. She sunk her claws into him and made him think he loved her. I’d kill that bitch if I could.”
Wow. There was some serious vehemence in those words. “Why do you say Damyr was heartbroken?”
Vlad looked at the floor, his lips pursed.
“Tell me,” I said softly. “Please.”
He ran his hand down his face and cast a quick glance over at Damyr. He was deep in an animated conversation with Acheron. Probably something to do with the extra witch. Maybe he saw it as invading his territory having a witch here. But what did I know about hierarchy in the supernatural world, I’d only just learnt about vampires.
“Back when Damyr was newly turned, he met someone. Edwin Thomas Morley. They were inseparable, the best of friends.”
“They became lovers?”
Vlad nodded. “They kept it secret, meeting in the dead of night, but Damyr fell in love.”
I could tell by the way Vlad’s expression soured, this tale didn’t have a happy ending. “What happened to them?”
“Damyr told him what he was.”
“And he freaked?”
“No. Even worse. He agreed to be turned.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The fool bragged about it to his family, and he caught the attention of a clan of Hunters.”
My heart clenched. “Poor Damyr.”
“They strung Edwin’s body up as a warning for everyone else. Damyr was forced to go on the run, and he ran for over half a century. Losing himself, becoming more violent and chasing down Hunters as revenge. He was angry and volatile when Lucia met him and, at the time, she spoke to the darkness in him. They agreed to marry, and the rest is history.”
I looked at Damyr and almost cried for him. All that pain and anger he must have felt. All that suffering he went through.
“Sorry,” Vlad mumbled. “It’s because of your connection that you feel things about him a bit more viscerally than you would normally.”
“Is it the same for him?” It would be pretty rubbish if this thing was all one sided.
Vlad chuckled. “Not as intensely as you, the guy is as old as dirt, but he can definitely feel it.”
Interesting. Now I had even more questions, but they were probably best kept for a private moment with Damyr.
“Enough,” Damyr shouted and everyone in the room froze. “He’s staying and that’s that.”
Acheron threw a dirty look at Wilder, who just returned one of absolute mirth. He was definitely enjoying how uncomfortable Acheron was, but I found it odd that he kept glancing at Byron. Almost like he was checking the maniac was still there.
“What’s the deal between Byron and Wilder?” I asked Vlad.
He snorted and followed it up with a groan. “Those two are like gasoline and fire. A dangerous and explosive combination that always ends up in destruction.”
“So why is he here?”
Vlad gave me a flat look. “Because it’s Dara’s idea of fun. And annoyingly, he’s a really good witch so he will actually be helpful.”
Damyr sat at his computer and pulled a USB out of a sleek little black box. A mini version of the one that delivered the dead body. Whoever this guy was, he certainly had a flair for the theatrical.
Vlad moved to stand by Damyr’s shoulder. I went to sit down in one of the armchairs opposite the desk, but Byron grabbed my arm as I walked past him, and dragged me onto the sofa with him.
“Sit with me, little bird,” he crooned in what I could only describe as the filthiest, huskiest tone I’d ever heard.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I gasped.
“A long list of things, pretty boy.” Byron propped his arm along the back of the sofa and wriggled closer, casting a sidelong look at Wilder.
I leant in, my head angled to one side as if I were contemplating kissing him. I could feel Damyr’s hard gaze burning a hole in the side of my face, but I remained calm, hoping he could feel it through our connection. Considering he hadn’t jumped over his desk to manhandle me like a caveman, I was taking that as a yes.
“Byron,” I groaned as I wrapped my hand around his waist. I left it a moment before I squeezed hard against the wound on his hip. He winced and pulled back, a sneer on his face. “Don’t play games with me. I’m not a toy for your amusement.”
I dug my thumb into his hip bone again but the guy just grinned. “That’s a shame. You’ve got more backbone than I’d given you credit for, little bird.”
“It wasn’t you I was trying to distract.”
I laughed as I leant back against the sofa, I knew the only way to really get Byron to piss off was to play him at his own game. Byron looked at Wilder and found the guy grinning at him with an unsettling smile. The people around here were fucking weird.
“If you’ve all quite finished,” Damyr said, his words clipped. But there was a warmth in his eyes when they met mine, and I almost preened a little.
Damyr clicked his mouse and sound started to play from his monitor. It was like a hum, the buzz from a microphone picking up faint background noise.
“Well, Damyr, we aren’t off to a great start, are we?”
The voice was like a low rumble with a harsh edge to it, his words laced with anger.
“I hear there was a little explosion down at the docks yesterday. Oops. My bad. But can I let you into a little secret? I’ll do much worse before the week is through. I’m going to take everything from you. Just like you took everything from me. You were warned, Damyr. Time to pay the price. Oh, and Byron? Say hello to your brother for me.”
“What did he just say?” Byron said as he shot to his feet and strode behind the desk to look at the screen. “Motherfucker!”
He turned on his feet and headed out of the room.
“Byron, wait,” Damyr called.
“No, Damyr. He’s got my brother.”
“No, he hasn’t,” Damyr said sternly, his hand halting the door. “Look at the picture. It’s a grainy snapshot of some CCTV footage. I’m sure your brother is fine.”
The look on Byron’s face was murderous. “No one stalks my brother but me.”
Excuse me, what? Did I just hear that right?
I glanced around the room but the only one who seemed remotely perturbed by Byron’s comment, was Wilder. Guess this was normal for the psychopath then.
“I need to go. I need to check. It should be impossible to find Bishop, and somehow this guy’s managed to get a shot of CCTV from across the fucking street. I don’t like it, Damyr.” Byron looked at the floor and I realised this was the first time I’d seen a hint of real emotion from him. The guy looked panicked. Seems like he did have a heart where his brother was concerned.
Although I’m pretty sure stalking was probably Byron’s love language.
“Okay, go.” Damyr opened the door for him. “Be careful.”
Byron nodded on the way out and then he was gone.
Silence descended and Damyr’s eyes met mine across the room.
Worry churned deep in my gut, and it made me feel a bit nauseous. Had I got in too deep? Was I in over my head? It was moments like this I really wanted to speak to Maya. She always had good advice and always knew how to make me feel better about any situation. She fought in my corner and was on my side. I needed someone like that right now. Someone who wasn’t a part of all this criminal underworld bullshit.
“What now?” Aleksey asked.
“Acheron, Wilder. Check all the wards. Every property, every location we own.”
The blue haired wizard looked pissed, but he grabbed Wilder and vanished without another word.
“Vlad, reach out to the other Families. Let them know what’s going on.”
He nodded his agreement and left the room, phone already by his ear as he made a call.
“And me, Boss?” Aleksey asked, his face hard and eyes cold.
“Gather the men. We’re going hunting.”
The grin on Aleksey’s handsome face made a shiver run up my spine. His stony-faced expression was intense at the best of times, but that smile… fuck. It made me want to run.