Chapter 22 Jasmine #2
And when my coils reach out, surrounding him, pulling him to me, I feel when he finally submits.
His chains clink against the ground as he reaches for my hand. I expect him to be rough, after all, he’s a starving beast, held captive for days, injured, in pain, desperate for release. I tense, readying myself for the sharp pain.
What I don’t expect is how tenderly his large hand cups mine, how his gentle touch eases my aching muscles as he holds the weight of my arm.
Then he lowers himself once more, resting on the back of his heels, lowering even further until I can look down upon him.
The apprehension, the tension, has my breaths quickening—the thudding of my heart, the tightening of my chest, it all increases as I await the pain that’s soon to come.
When I feel his hot breath against the heel of my palm, I wince, awaiting the inevitable.
But there’s no slice of pain.
Just soft, tender touches of warm lips as they trail over my skin. His eyes stare at the offering—my hand—with utter reverence, before he looks up at me again, his mouth never leaving my skin.
Even now, he’s proving himself to me, proving that his hunger meant nothing, that he would starve himself forever if that was my wish—stay like this for eternity if I desire it.
Proving that he will always submit to me.
Worship me.
So enthralled, I barely feel the tip of his fangs piercing my skin.
But then I hear him. A prayer, a groan, an utterance of worship? I couldn’t say, but the noise knocks my composure.
I gasp, stumble, lose all sensation in my legs, but he’s there.
He has me.
One arm wraps around my waist, and he gathers me onto his thigh, cradling me against his chest. All the while, he never stops those low, guttural sounds of reverence.
And I am on fire.
Alive.
Burning under his touch.
Doused by liquid flames, but without an inch of pain. Pleasant heat engulfs my body, rushing through my bloodstream in a frenzy, sinks into my muscles, licks my skin in tantalising brushes.
Soft French phrases brush against my mind, and it all adds to the heat, to the heavenly inferno building inside my body.
Fuck. If he doesn’t stop soon, I’ll—
“Don’t fight it,” he murmurs. “Se détendre, let it happen.”
Every inch of me is burning, but one spot burns hotter than all the others. Every time he pulls blood from my hand; the tugging creates a deep pulse between my thighs.
The hold around my waist tightens, he draws me even closer, and my thighs rub together.
We moan at the same time. Aloud and in our minds.
My face rolls into the crook of his neck, lips against his throat as I whimper.
“That’s it.” His fingers brush the edge of my breast. “You taste divine and you listen so well.”
The pull of my blood leaving me, the image of it filling his mouth, feeding his body… it’s all too much.
My mouth is against his throat and my teeth follow—I bite him.
He shudders, the tug inside me quickening. I bite harder.
“Merde—mon… I…”
“Fuck,” I gasp against his throat as I come, and keep coming.
The world tilts, colours blur, there’s only the thrum of our connection now. I moan, whimper, until I can’t produce a single sound as hot euphoria keeps rushing through me.
At some point, Julien stops feeding, but I’m delirious.
His tongue laps at my palm, his lips trace over the skin, the reverent brush of his mouth placing kisses.
But I can’t move. I can’t speak.
All I know is…
Ours.
“Oh, Red.”
Oh shit.
I keep my eyes shut, try to force myself out of the delicious bliss caused by Julien’s bite. Because I know, right now, I need to prepare myself for the consequences of my actions.
I’d planned for this moment, knew it would happen. I’d even imagined each of them walking in, finding me here, and the fury they’d unleash. I’d considered how I’d combat it, with sweet manipulation and avoidance.
But now…
I felt so good, and all of those carefully prepared plans simply melt away.
When I feel Sai beside me, the warmth of his markings humming against my arm, I turn my face away from Julien’s neck to peer up at him.
Above me stands a ridiculously beautiful, smirking fae. “Baby, you are in so much trouble.”
“But I helped,” I whisper-blurt.
I’m still trying to catch my breath while Julien nuzzles my palm.
“Oh, I can see that, Red.” His smirk pulls up, one dimple appearing as he glances at Julien. “But I really doubt Daddy Darkness and Lord-Loses-His-Shit will.”
Then he drops onto the back of his heels, making his face almost level with mine, which ensures he has my full attention.
“So pretty,” I whisper, eyes hazing over as I track all the markings along Sai’s bare arms, his throat, back to his face—“What’s that?”
I lean towards him with urgency, so much so that I almost fall out of Julien’s arms.
Sai slips onto his knees, helping to hold me up on Julien’s thigh with his hands. Julien’s hold turns into steel and I become smothered between the two.
Which feels fantastic.
But I can’t focus on that for long, I don’t even care that I nearly fell flat on my face, not when all I can see is the dried blood and bruises on Sai’s cheek.
“You fell,” I say in a gasp, touching the edge of the dark purple bruise with my fingertips. “I did that—I hurt you.”
Why do I want to cry? I already feel my eyes welling up as I search the injury I caused.
“Hey, shh. Baby, it’s fine. It’s nothing. I’m fine.” His fingers reach out to brush my cheek, mimicking my movements, and like a needy cat I lean into his palm. “Wow, she is really high.”
“She’s never been bitten.” I don’t miss the possessive pride in Julien’s voice as he says it. “It will take… a while for her to fully wake.”
I frown at Sai while ignoring Julien’s confusing, pointless words.
“You’re not mad?” I had to think hard to find that word, especially with Julien’s mouth now caressing my wrist.
“Mad?” Sai scowls like my suggestion is absurd.
“No, baby. I’m not mad. I’m fucking impressed.
” His thumb keeps brushing my cheek. “You tricked us, the three of us, seduced me with some damn whipped cream, for fuck’s sake.
” He shakes his head, smirk intact. “And how the hell did you get to Kane?” His smile widens, tongue darting over his teeth.
“The only thing that would make this better is if you had your wicked way with us while we were passed out.”
My mouth pops open, then I slowly shake my head.
“No? Damn, wishful thinking…” he murmurs, completely serious, then quirks a brow. “Maybe next time?”
I stare at him, mouth still open, slowly blinking.
“Next time, bite harder,” Julien blurts, staring down at me in his arms. “Sink into me. Split my skin. Make me bleed.”
Oh wow. Okay. Erm.
I think I need to lighten the mood before dark Julien returns.
I swallow. “And how do you know they’ll be a next time?” I tease with a low voice.
Immediate panic flits over his features, confusion and worry piercing the air. Okay, forget being mean.
“But if there ever was…” I slowly press my finger against the tip of one fang. “You too.”
The tension drains from him, reigniting with a new hunger.
“Fucking hell, Red,” Sai groans beside us.
“We will never cause you pain,” Julien decrees, his lips brushing over the already healed marks. “Unless you ask for it.” The red of his irises flash vibrantly, hungrily.
“I caused you pain,” I whisper, my voice quivering, eyes darting between Julien and Sai. “Both of you.”
“We deserved it,” Julien says. “And more.”
“Good thing we like it, huh?” Sai smirks, both dimples on display, and the bliss somehow intensifies. “I think you like it too, though. Don’t you, Red?”
Julien trails his lips along my forearm, and Sai’s fingers trace down my throat.
“You let Julien sink those fangs of his into you, didn’t you? I bet he felt so good, I bet he was so good to you. Was he, baby? Did he make you feel good?” His fingers run along my jaw, reaching my lips in a tentative stroke. I don’t say a word, I can’t. “Did he make you come?”
I manage to nod, wet my lips, licking the tip of Sai’s thumb with the action.
“Fuuuck,” he moans, eyes never leaving mine. He leans closer. “I wanna make you feel good too, baby. Please let me—”
Blinding light floods the cave, we all wince. I lean defensively into Julien’s chest, and he somehow holds me tighter.
When the burning white fades, new hands cup my cheeks—warm, gentle. I blink, and I’m greeted by an insanely beautiful man with moonlight for eyes.
“Are you okay? What happened? How did you get here?” His questions rush out, his head snapping between Julien and Sai.
“Don’t freak her out, Zeek.” Sai’s tone, for once, is serious. That almost makes me giggle. “Look at her, she’s fine. More than fine.”
That blinding gaze returns to me, so bright, so pretty.
I sigh. “You’re so pretty too.”
The intense silver of his eyes immediately dims as he glares over me at Julien. “You fed from her.”
I reach up, stretching to grip Ezekial’s tense jaw between my fingers. “Hey, no,” I chide, giving him a little shake until his gaze drops back to me. “I let him. Actually, I commanded him.”
A giggle escapes. It’s all just too funny.
But Ezekial still feels furious, and it’s clearly directed at the vampire whose mouth is no longer touching me, and that isn’t fair.
I flash the memory into everyone’s mind: Julien, chained but hesitant. How I had to force him, how he fought himself every step of the way.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ezekial asks again, titling my neck one way, then the other. But there’s no marks there… maybe next time.
I just nod.
“I can’t believe you managed this.” He huffs out a little laugh, and it ignites a deep heat in my belly. “So clever, so strategic.” His fingers brush my cheeks.
I beam up at him, soaking in his compliments, the warmth of his touch, the hum of Sai’s markings against my arm, Julien’s firm hold.
Cold darkness engulfs the room.
Uh oh.
I shrink back into Julien’s chest, turning my face into it.
“Brother, she’s fine.”
“Mate, take it easy.”
“My friend, all is well.”
They say simultaneously—only to one another, unaware I can hear.
Silly boys.
But the darkness persists, cool slivers reaching out in desperate touches, curving around my jaw, gently coaxing me to turn.
I keep my eyes shut, even when I feel Ezekial and Sai part to make room.
Kane’s fury is so thick, it’s practically tangible. Only once have I felt him this intensely, at the meeting, when he shared his crushing sensation of loss.
But then the cool touch of his fingers finds my face, and I tense, ready for—
“Why?”
I didn’t expect… that.
I expected fury. Accusations. Criticism. Reminders that I bring disaster everywhere I go.
Not this soft, broken, painful tone.
I open my eyes, and find his. They’re filled with flickers of grey that carve a deeper pit of guilt into my stomach.
“I wanted to help,” I say slowly, cautiously. “You wouldn’t let me come to him, but I knew I could help.”
“We couldn’t risk it.”
I frown. “Risk what?”
No one speaks, but all their auras flare outward, surrounding us.
“Losing you.” Kane’s voice is so… raw. His gaze darkens, shadows swallowing the last traces of grey. “Again.”
Why do I have more faith in them than they do?
I knew the risk, that Julien might not be able to contain himself. That he’d become overwhelmed with hunger, try to forcefully feed from me. I’d seen lesser vampires succumb to their hunger in the club.
In a life that felt so far away, Julien once told me how he’d almost drained me in my sleep, how he had to be chained here to stop himself.
But why didn’t I believe him?
Why did I know he wouldn’t? Couldn’t. That the very thought of hurting me would only hurt him. Them. That I knew he’d have found a way to stop.
That hurting me would destroy him.
I turn to Julien. “You wouldn’t have hurt me,” I say, voice steady, certain.
His lips brush my palm. “But I will never take that risk.” Another kiss. “It was my choice to be chained here, my choice to have you kept away. I will never risk your safety. Ever.”
“But not one of you considered my choice.” Even in my blissful haze, my voice sharpens as I glance at them all. “I told you I wanted to help. You didn’t trust me.”
“It wasn’t about trust, Red.” Sai’s bright gaze locks with mine. “We were selfish. When it comes to you, we’re always selfish.”
“We should have listened,” Ezekial adds, eyes a soft glow. “We just didn’t want to see you… hurt.”
“Didn’t want to see me hurt?” I echo, emboldened by their words, and Kane’s silence.
I summon every ounce of brain power, all my scattered strength.
“For days, I’ve watched the darkness eat away at you all, drain you.
You were half-alive. You were so afraid of risking me, but did you ever stop to think that I wasn’t willing to risk you? ”
They don’t say a word.
Kane exhales slowly, and I lock onto him. There’s a slight crease in his brow, his jaw tense. Almost like he wants to argue, but knows better, knows he can’t.
“I’m your bond.” I look at them all. “You should have listened to me.”
They’re still silent, and I turn back to Kane for an answer.
He studies me, every piece—my body, my face, my eyes—as if seeing me clearer than he ever had.
“You’re right.”
I blink. I… I wasn’t expecting that.
“We should have listened,” he repeats.
Oh. My mind freezes, fuzzy with disbelief—it’s so hard to think.
“Well.” I wet my lips, fighting through the fuzz clouding my mind. “Moving forwards.” I sweep my gaze over each of my bonds. “You don’t get to make choices for me. I don’t care if you think you’re protecting me, if you think there’s a risk. We’re equals, so we decide together.”
They all look away, a little embarrassed, a tad ashamed, except Kane. He holds my gaze.
Dark and serious, analytical, but filled with sparks of grey that make my coils tighten.
I groan. “For Goddesses’ sake, Kane. Don’t look at me like that.”
He frowns, concerned and confused. His eyes dart to the others, searching for help. When none comes, he looks back at me.
“Those soft eyes,” I mumble, slapping a hand over my face to block him from view. “You’re all so pretty, it’s cruel.”
Another groan escapes me—partially dramatic, mostly genuine, while Julien’s rumbling chuckle vibrates against my palm.