chapter thirty-nine
THE POISONER
“ P lease! Just try it. You said that it wouldn’t work. I just want you to tell me how it feels, maybe how it tastes?” I whined.
“I didn’t think you would want to use them on me. I thought we were past this,” he groaned.
Several metal spoons lined the tea table as we sat on the floor.
Cushions and old fur blankets were piled under us as we lingered near the steadily warming fireplace.
We’d come to my family’s cottage. It was not small, but still about ten rooms. It was a bit of a backtrack, but the closest place we could go.
Most of the furnishings and mirrors were still covered in sheets.
It brought back old feelings from worse times, though any ghost of the past had disappeared now that I had company.
I held a spoon up to him. “You said that it won’t kill you, so why the hesitation?”
“You know, I am starting to take this personally.” He rolled his eyes.
“Don’t be a child. Try it!” I frowned, pressing the tip of the spoon to his mouth.
He reluctantly opened, and I shoved it in.
With my pen in hand, I awaited any insights.
His face twisted at the taste, and he smacked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “It tastes like…nails.”
“Nails? Do you mean the pain or the taste of metal?”
“Both.” He grimaced. “Remind me never to let you cook for me.” He took a sip of my scotch to wash it down.
“I can cook just fine. Just don’t vex me, and I will exclude the cyanide.” I finished jotting down my note before picking up the next spoon. “Now this one.”
“We have tried four already,” he protested.
“Be a good sport.” I glared. “You agreed to be my subject,” I said pointedly. I leaned in and whispered seductively in his ear, “Now open up.”
He sighed and leaned forward, closing his mouth around the spoon and swallowing again. He clenched his eyes shut and winced in disgust.
“If there is a God, I don’t want to know why he would create that.” He choked, downing the rest of my scotch to clear the taste.
“That was mine!” I grumbled. “Now tell me how it tastes.”
“Like rotting flesh left outside on a summer afternoon.”
“Do you think I could…” I trailed off momentarily, thinking about how to phrase my request.
“Could what?” He propped his elbows on his knees so his head could rest in his hands. His eyes followed my pen strokes.
“I want more samples,” I said plainly.
“You can drain me like a leech. It won’t matter to me.”
“No, not blood,” I suggested. “Other samples.”
“Oh, please go on.” He smirked. “I could think of a few to give you now.” A light clicking sound came from him. He literally purred.
I shot him a warning glare. “Not like that,” I mumbled. “But I will need samples from your…other fangs.”
“Ah yes, and you gave me a generous reward for letting you observe that, if I remember correctly.” He played with the sleeve of my chemise.
“Maybe I could do it again if I trusted your commitment.” I put my pen down. “Maybe we could strike another deal.”
“You have my attention.”
“You said before that you want not just my blood but everything,” I started, turning toward him so I could gauge his reactions. “I don’t want to give you any of that without the same in return.”
That only made his cocky grin get wider. “What are you proposing?”
“Access to my body in exchange for yours,” I stated. “I can have any sample I want. Flesh, blood, and any organic matter that I request. No exceptions. That way, we don’t have to keep bartering.”
He leaned in close as I spoke. “And when do you suggest that this deal begin?”
My words caught in my throat, reluctant to manifest. “Now,” I breathed.
I searched for a reaction, but the blood that filled the whites of his eyes indicated that he was keen on accepting.
He yanked my legs out from under me, and I fell back into the assortment of fur and cushions piled beneath us.
The only thing he wore was his trousers, his lean body exposing every line of his physique in the warm glow of the flames. He was built like any apex predator should be. The sheer power he held, but never used fully on me. I wondered sometimes how much he was holding back.
He spread my legs before him and pushed the fabric up my thighs, then over my stomach, my chest, and finally, my head. “Are you sure you want this?” His eyes flicked up to my own.
I nodded.
“No.” He hooked his thumb in the waistband of his trousers, unbuttoning and slipping them down. His thick cock was gripped in his hand as he pulled it out, smoothing over its intimidating form as he looked at me as if he was waiting for me to protest. “I want to hear you say it. Do you want me?”
“Yes.” I swallowed, not knowing where to focus.
He leaned down between my legs, and I propped myself up on my elbows to watch him, his tongue flattening between my thighs, and I shuddered. He lapped and sucked at me as he moved his hand along his length, seeming to savor this as long as he could.
“I thought you were going to feed.” I flinched.
“I will,” he mumbled between my legs, looking up at me. “But you said I could have it all, and that is exactly what I will be taking.”
My chest tightened at his words. He moved up to kiss along my abdomen, between my breasts, then to my neck, sucking at my skin before moving his mouth to mine. His hands touched everywhere he could, leaving nothing unexplored like he’d promised so many times before.
I put my hands on his torso, feeling the warmth emanating from his body, then another kind of warmth between my legs.
He slipped a single finger inside of me, gently pushing in and testing the waters.
The kiss was so tender, so careful that I could only return it with the same softness. Playfully nipping at his lip, I ran my tongue along his. I let it tease the roof of his mouth every now and then, running it over the hidden fangs there. I was already slick between my legs from his avid touch.
He groaned as he added a second finger, curling it inside me and making my back arch against him. Slowly, he moved them inside me before building up his pace and intensity. He looked at me through lowered eyes as he deepened our kiss, using his other hand to stroke himself.
Slowly, he prompted a third finger, spreading them gently to ensure I could handle something a little thicker. I flinched at the addition but wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him close. When he removed his fingers suddenly, I could not help a disappointed whine.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” He kissed my shoulder. “Unless you want me to break you.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I whispered, though I was almost hoping for him to try.
He pressed the tip of his cock against me, lining it up with my vulva.
I glanced down to look, but he grabbed my face and made me look at him. “Don’t. It’ll hurt more if you do that.” He quickly locked our lips as he pushed slowly inside.
My yelp was muffled by his mouth. I squirmed beneath him, and his hands gripped my waist, digging his fingers into my skin.
“ Silas— ” No other words would come. Not one coherent thought crossed my mind.
He pushed until he hit the back. I could feel it with a sharp sting.
Tears welled in my vision, and I tilted my head back.
I had never felt something so full inside me.
The heat was doing little to relax my tension.
My body was struggling to adjust, and I was afraid to move.
Against his advice, I looked down. He was not even fully inside yet.
Dear God, how is this sustainable?
I was unsure I could take any more, even if I wanted to. It relieved me when I remembered the dangerous spines on the underside of his base. It made sense now how he was not able to use them on anyone. I did not think it could reach if he tried.
After a long pause to allow me to adjust, he pulled out, then pushed back in steadily.
My breath hitched in a whimper as I hid my face in his neck.
“Relax.” His voice strained as he rolled his hips, pulling out slowly before burying it back inside.
“ It hurts ,” I cried softly, my legs shaking.
“I know, I know,” he soothed me. “Let it out, cry for me.” He picked up his pace. The wetness slicked down his cock and allowed his movements more ease.
As he thrusted, I could feel myself slowly getting used to the girth, allowing him to bury deeper with every movement, though the pain did not go away. I would not complain. I found that the pain was part of what made it feel so intense.
I fell back and gripped the fur blanket beneath me as he lowered his hips between my legs. He kissed and sucked at my neck, leaving sweet nips at my skin. Once again asking for permission, his eyes looking up at me expectantly.
“Please…” I begged.
Upon hearing my pleas, he let his fangs flick forward, hovering over that hot spot on my neck. He either hesitated or had trouble doing both at once.
“ Please , Silas.” I craved him. “Bite me.”
The sensation of needles piercing my skin was quick and sharp. I cried out.
The pain was worse than I thought. My veins were on fire, accompanied by the feeling of long puncturing teeth buried deep in my flesh.
A low growl escaped him as he fed. My blood was rushing from inside, escaping me in a draining sense. My body shuddered, in shock at the pain that was gripping my neck. His jaw tightened. My mouth fell open, unsure if a moan or a cry would come out if I allowed it.
A wave of something washed over me when he clamped down harder.
It was not unlike the numbness after alcohol against a fresh wound, followed by the fervor of drunken delirium.
Opium, absinthe, cocaine, nothing compared to whatever high came from the bite.
The pain slowly faded from my neck, but I could feel everything else more intensely than ever.
His thrusts became harder, sending an electric pang up my spine every time he penetrated me.
Tears streamed down my face from pure ecstasy. It was like morphine was replacing the blood I was undoubtedly losing. My entire body was overwhelmed with quakes.