19. Nineteen
19
NINETEEN
ARCHER
E very fiber of my being, from the depths of my soul, yearned to charge down there and unleash vengeance for her. If only she had looked up at me. If only she had asked.
I would have forsaken every rule, overturned The Brotherhood until it lay in ashes, all for her.
But her eyes never sought mine.
Not even when a look of acceptance flickered across her face.
Not even when death's shadow loomed over her.
She held her head high in defiance, as if not even death could bring her to her knees.
And in that moment, I felt an intense stirring within me, more powerful than any physical attraction.
As I watched her transform before my very eyes, I sensed a shift in the air. The devil inside her finally made its presence known, and I reveled in seeing her embrace it with pride.
If I were one to pray, I would thank God for the divine gift he bestowed upon me—the privilege of witnessing such unbridled strength and power. My gaze remained fixated on her, even as my men cheered and whooped at my choice. One of the fiercest warriors was my Chosen .
It was only when she released a battle cry, unleashing all the pain from her soul, that I finally went to her.
As I drew closer, I couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and trepidation. Pride in witnessing the raw power that lay dormant within her for so long, and trepidation for what her newfound strength could unleash upon the world. But deep down, I knew she was not to be feared; she was to be honored.
As I reached her side, she turned to face me, her eyes ablaze with an intensity I had never witnessed before. Gone was the innocence that once lingered there, replaced by a raw determination fueled by unyielding resolve. The weight of her newfound power was palpable, radiating from her like an ethereal aura.
I pulled her to me, clutching her blood-stained face between my hands. "My little rabbit. My Chosen. My queen. You are more than I ever could have imagined."
At that moment, I saw a flicker of vulnerability pass through her eyes like the dying embers of a fire. She leaned into my touch, her body trembling ever so slightly. The weight of her transformation was heavy upon her shoulders, and I knew it would take more than mere words to ease the burdens she now carried.
With tender care, I lifted her and wrapped an arm around her waist, supporting her injured leg as we made our way toward the four-wheelers and dirt bikes that waited to chariot us home. But she resisted, stubbornly refusing to leave The Sanctuary.
"Mila, you're bleeding," I pleaded with her, trying to reason with her. "Let's get home so Gage can stitch you up."
"I need you." Her words were barely a whisper, but struck me like a physical blow.
"You have me. I'm right here." I reached out to touch her cheek, desperate to soothe the turmoil within her.
"No, inside me." Her dark eyes met mine, blazing with an intense desire that mirrored my own.
The realization of what she wanted hit me like a lightning bolt, igniting a fire in my veins and sending my pants tightening in response. But I couldn't resist her plea. She needed me, and I would give myself to her entirely.
Right then.
I shouted for my men to leave a four-wheeler for us to get home, and I lifted her into my arms, walking into the woods, far enough away to be out of sight of my men. I finally stopped at a secluded spot surrounded by towering trees and thick underbrush. A soft bed of moss cushioned our footsteps as we approached a large tree with gnarled roots protruding from its base. Without hesitation, I pushed her against it, my gold devil's mask falling to the ground with a clatter. We were enveloped in the earthy scent of moss and the gentle rustling of leaves above, creating a sense of safety and intimacy amidst the chaos surrounding us.
Her warm, delicate hands were on me, unzipping my pants with a sense of urgency and desire. As the material slid down past my hips and over my backside, a shiver of anticipation ran through me. The air was thick with the scent of her perfume and blood, and mingled with the musky aroma of arousal. My heart raced as I waited for what would come next, my body aching for her touch. She ripped my shirt open, ran her hands across my chest, and kissed me. Our lips collided in a frenzy of hunger and need, our tongues dancing together. The taste of her, the warmth of her mouth against mine, and the metallic tang of blood mixed with her sweetness sent shockwaves of pleasure coursing through my veins. There was an untamed fierceness to her kiss, as if she channeled all her pent-up emotions into this moment.
She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I lifted her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around my waist. Our bodies molded together as if they were made to fit perfectly in that moment of raw intensity. Her lips were like fire against mine, igniting a flame that burned through every fiber of my being. My hands roamed over her body, rough and calloused against the softness of her skin.
She moaned into my mouth, her fingers tangling in my hair as she pulled me closer, urging me to take her. The urgency in her touch matched the wild hunger coursing through my veins, and I pressed her harder against the tree, my body molding to hers as if we were two halves of a whole.
Our embrace had no gentleness, only a raw power fueled by a shared need for release.
"What do you need?" I asked her, my words whispered across her lips.
"Everything." She kissed me again, pressing her entrance against my tip.
Then, with a primal growl, I claimed her. I buried myself deep within her, feeling her walls squeeze me tightly in response. The sensation was beyond anything I had ever experienced. It was as if the walls of the forest were echoing the intensity of our union. Her eyes, now shining with a fierce determination, locked with mine as we moved in sync. It was like time had ceased to exist, and all that mattered was our connection.
As I pumped into her, I couldn't help but feel a deep emotional connection forming. It wasn't just sex, it was something more. It was us, becoming one in the most intimate way possible. I gripped her hips, pulling her closer, my lips finding her neck, tasting the sweat and blood that mingled there. I wanted to consume her, to take her completely and fully, to make her mine.
As we continued, her body trembled beneath me, matching the rhythm of our movements. She moaned softly, her voice a siren's call that echoed through the trees, urging me on. I felt her release begin to take hold, and it was all I could do to hold back my own as I thrust into her, wanting to be as close to her as possible.
Our bodies collided, sweat mingling as we continued to move in a frenzied dance. Her fingers clawed at my back, her nails digging into my skin, ripping into my flesh. With a cry, she arched her back, meeting me deeper with every thrust as her orgasm overtook her. The sensation of her spasming around me pushed me over the edge as well, and I let out a primal roar, my release joining hers as I filled her with my seed.
We collapsed onto the moss, our breaths coming in ragged gasps as we lay there, caught in the aftermath of our passion .
For a moment, we remained still, our bodies entwined, our hearts beating in sync like two parts of a single entity. As I pulled away and looked into her eyes, I saw the same raw emotion reflected back at me.
"I thought I knew every twisted corner of your mind, Mila. I believed that nothing could surprise me, but I was wrong. You're capable of things I never imagined. You're not just a wild rabbit—you're a vicious predator that craves the darkness as much as I do. That makes us perfect for each other."
She smiled up at me, her eyes soft and vulnerable. "But now that I've shown you the depths of my darkness, will you still want me?"
"More than ever," I whispered, brushing a lock of hair from her sweat-dampened forehead. "Do you know what I want, Mila?" I whispered into her ear, my breath warm against her skin.
She shook her head, her eyes locked on mine as I continued, "I want you to take me deeper. I want you to understand the darkness within me and embrace it. I want you to be everything to me and nothing to anyone else."
Her lips parted as she made a silent vow. "I am yours in this life and the next," she swore, her words echoing through the darkness around us. "There is no one but you."
And I believed her.