The Sun Child

Chapter 23

After spending a few more moments in the quiet of the Memory Chamber—the name Nostro had given the room—he led Lila down the elevator, past the landing floor they originally entered through, and all the way down to the tenth floor of the tower.

“Lila, love, welcome to your first true revel.” He pushed the grated door open, and Lila was smacked with sound and color and light and voices.

It truly was like nothing she had ever seen before, and standing only a few paces away, watching the elevator door open as if he sensed her coming, was Ambrose Draven. He was dressed in form-fitted black pants that hugged his waist, and a sheer black shirt—buttoned only halfway—was tucked into them. His fingers were bedecked in rings, his neck covered in golden necklaces, and a long earring with a small sun hung from one ear. His hair was smoothed back behind the ear with the earring, while his bangs loosely fell over his smoldering eyes, drinking Lila in. The sexual deviancy was oozing off of him, and it immediately made Lila’s toes curl just by looking at him.

With one hand in his pocket, he lifted a ringed finger and crooked it at her, beckoning her to him.

“I think the Crow Lord wants your attention now, love,” Nostro chuckled. “I’ll find you later, we’ll have a drink together—a cocktail I’ll make in your honor.” And just like that, Nostro literally jumped into the crowd and disappeared.

She suspected there were two sides to the Lord of Maggots. One, a sad and lonely old man, and the other, a loud and boastful immortal who loved spirits, parties, and debauchery. She spotted him only a moment more, putting those blackened glasses over his eyes, and immediately grabbing two drinks, both amber in color, and joining in the fun.

Lila walked up to the sex god before her, and his smirk was as sharp as a knife.

He leaned in, speaking into her ear as music and voices boomed all around them, “Had fun with Nostro?”

“I did,” she said, realizing her voice got lost in the noise, and then repeated it after leaning in. Ambrose wrapped a hand around her waist, and kept her close.

“Come with me.”

He took her hand, guiding her through the throng of the crowd. There were so many vampires all around her, lost in their own conversations or to the rhythm of the music. It was nothing like Sanktus Pernox. No one cared there was a human there, no one cared what they were doing, or about being judged. People danced, and ate, and drank—and Lila barely even saw any blood. It was all human food, human drinks.

She saw people of all genders grinding on each other, jumping with their hands above their heads, laughing vivaciously, and living.

As they neared the back wall of the massive room—so big, Lila was sure the room was actually two floors, with balconies lining the upper floor—she saw a wall of curtained rooms.

Scooching up to Ambrose, and pulling his hair so he’d know to lean down, she yelled in his ear, “What are those for?”

He immediately smirked, and she knew she shouldn’t have asked. “Do you want to find out?”

Something in Lila felt bold, maybe it was the thrilling environment, or the burst of life all around her, but she did want to find out, no matter how scandalous it may be.

She nodded.

Ambrose’s eyes shone like those beautiful rubies she loved, and he tightened his grip on her hand, guiding her to the closest one.

Ready? he asked through the Concord, and Lila was. She took a breath and stepped forward just as Ambrose pulled an edge of the curtain back.

And she held back a gasp with all her might.

She saw naked bodies—many naked bodies. Moans and groans, breasts and cocks, men fucking men, women eating out women, all in a chain, all making love, all enjoying each other to the fullest.

Do you want to see another?

And Lila did. All she knew was their love, what she felt inspired to do, what Ambrose guided her through. But she wanted to know more.

The next curtain was a male couple—a man tied at the wrists to the barred back wall of the room, while the other lifted his legs over his shoulders and thrust into his ass. The one tied had a gag in his mouth, and a bar stretching his ankles far enough apart to comfortably sit on the other man’s shoulders.

These are some of the toys I mentioned before, Ambrose said, watching Lila.

And—is everyone supposed to partake in these rooms here?

Not if they don’t want to. Many find freedom in dancing, others in fun, but some find freedom in sex. Nostro wants his tower to be like a sanctuary for any and all. Pleasure, fun, romance, deviancy, and—most of all—safety.

And the curtain?

The only policy is anyone can watch if they want. They can’t join unless permission is granted. But there are enough bedrooms in the tower that if they don’t want to be watched, they could occupy a room. The people in these rooms are making love here by choice.

Lila understood that a bit. She knew many found pleasure in being watched, or in being caught.

I want to try it, she decided, riding the bold energy she was feeling.

Watching? Ambrose fully turned to her, closing the curtain on the lovers.

No, I want to use a room—but only with you. Unless . . . you wanted others? Lila suddenly felt insecure. What if they were better than she was? What if Ambrose realized that?

Darling, if anyone so much as tries to touch you, I think I couldn’t help but bite their hand off. If you are okay with just us, I will happily obliged. But I want you to be sure about this. People might watch.

Ambrose, this place is like a fantasy. She grabbed his hand. Three months. Three agonizing months of a horrible, horrible life. I want you and I want this. I feel so . . . alive. I haven’t felt like this since the rooftop.

Ambrose caressed her cheek, And I will give you anything you desire, Little Crow. Anything.

He pulled her with him, slowly taking steps back, into a room with an opened curtain. It was unoccupied. Ambrose turned a small knob and a dim light illuminated the red room—just as red as his eyes. The room was mostly bed, with deep carmine sheets, but there were chains with cuffs, ropes that matched the bed, gags, and so much more Lila had no idea what they’d be used for.

Ambrose pushed Lila onto the bed, closing the curtain behind him, and spun her around so her back was flat on the mattress.

Slowly—so damned slowly—he unlaced her boots. He propped her foot on his thigh, and watched her as his fingers slid under the threads, pulled each knot until they were loose enough to slip off. He tossed the boot onto the floor, and delicately put Lila’s foot down, then he repeated the agonizingly slow process on the other.

Once done, his hands drifted up her body, untying the simple green dress, slowly pulling the straps from her shoulders before he slipped the dress down her body. It pooled at her hips for a moment as she felt his gaze warm her breasts where her stolen bra covered her. Lords, that stare was intoxicating. He pulled the dress the rest of the way off her and dropped it to the floor.

“There is so much I want to do to you, Little Crow. So much I want to try.”

Anticipation was eating Lila alive. Every touch felt electric, every breath felt explosive. She was so desperate, she felt like she needed to jump from her skin.

“Ambrose,” she whimpered.

“I need a word, love. When you say it, I will stop no matter what. I need a word that will be my limit, your limit.” His thumb stroked her ribs, toying with the underwire lining of the stolen bra.

Lila pouted. He would never be enough, she couldn’t imagine a limit.

Sensing her hesitation, he continued, “It’s for both of us. If things become too much, if you decide you want to make our moment private, if you decide you simply want to stop—I need a word. The things I want to do to you . . . they could be dangerous. And I need to know it’s pain you like, not pain you tolerate, not pain that actually hurts.”

She thought about his hand around her neck, about his teeth digging into her neck. That was good pain, pain she liked. But then her mind raced to Hektor, to the ropes he tied around her wrists, and the harsh bites on her thighs. His eyes as he fucked Drusilla underneath her.

Lila nodded. “Okay. How about sunflower?”

Ambrose grinned, his thumb dipping under her bra and grazing the bottom of her breast. “Sunflower’s our word. I love it.” He leaned over her, planting both hands next to her head, and kissed her.

In less than a breath, their kiss deepened, his tongue dipping between her lips. He dragged his hand through her hair, removing the ponytail and letting it fall free around her. At the sight, he groaned into her mouth, drinking her in, before he hiked her up the bed in a sitting position.

“Ready, love?”

Lila nodded, and in a heartbeat, Ambrose unclasped her bra, throwing it to the floor. She felt so exposed, her nipples hardening, but she sat straight, keeping her eyes on Ambrose.

He grinned, revealing those delicious fangs, and reaching into a small basket resting next to the bed.

“Ah, I hoped they’d have some of this.” Ambrose pulled out a bottle filled with clear liquid, and then he turned back to Lila with a devilish grin. “Hands on the headboard, love. Don’t let go.”

Lila reached behind her, and built into the wall of the room, were bars wrapped in a soft fuzz, comfortable to hold onto.

Ambrose straddled Lila, squirting the clear liquid into his hand first, then rubbing his palms together. “I’m going to give you a little massage first. Loosen you up a bit.”

Lila bit her lip. She knew the vampire was plotting something wicked. At least the liquid smelled good—like mint, cooling the air around them.

He groped her breasts, sending fire down Lila’s spine, and squeezed. The liquid in his hands felt warm and almost sticky but he started focusing on her nipples, plucking and twisting them between his fingers. Lila yelped when a sudden warmth spread over them, hot and tingling. But just as fast as they warmed, a sudden coolness rushed to their peaks, a stark contrast to her own rising temperature. Her nipples felt like they were buzzing in Ambrose’s hands, and she arched her back, pushing them against his calloused palms. She needed him to touch them, to grab them.

Lila whimpers at the sensation tingling all over them.

“The liquid heightens your sensitivity. It’s edible too.” He leaned down and took one of her breasts in his mouth, coiling his tongue around the hardened peak. “Mmm.” The hum vibrated on her sensitive skin, and she could feel the apex of her thighs damp with need.

As he sucked her nipple between his teeth, Lila jolted up, ready to unbutton his shirt, but he pushed her back. “No, love. Hands on the bars. Let go again and I’ll have to punish you.”

I like it when you punish me, she said through the Concord.

He smirked, but instead of acting, he just sat there, watching her almost-nude body. He’d deliberately left her underwear on, and she knew it would be more of a torture device than anything else.

“You’re mine. You know that, right?” His voice was hoarse, and his eyes were greedy, like they couldn’t focus on a singular part of her—only wanting to consume all of her.

“I’m yours.”

Ambrose fell onto her again, kissing her hard, and she instinctively let go of the bars, wrapping her arms around his neck. He kissed her, driving the kiss with his tongue, moving down her chin, her neck.

And then Lila felt rope brush against her arm.

In a distracted flash, Ambrose grabbed Lila’s wrists, gripping them in one hand, and sat back. He straddled her hips, keeping her pinned under him.

“You disobeyed me,” he grinned. “You know what that means, love.” He jerked Lila up, pressing her against his body, and yanking her wrists behind her back. “I’ll make you regret not listening to me.” He began circling her wrists with the red rope, and though the rope was incredibly soft, and Ambrose was the one tying her, her body jolted at the memory of the last time her wrists were bound. Of her being pulled across the snow, whipped, and collared.

She must’ve straightened because Ambrose pulled back. “Sunflower?”

Lila’s eyes shot to his. “No. Just . . . memories. I’m yours. I need you to make sure I know it.” I need you to reclaim me, she didn’t say, reclaim me for me.

Ambrose swallowed hard, but his eyes darkened. He pulled her wrists from behind her back and brought them to his lips.

“I will make sure you never forget it, love.”

He kept his eyes locked on hers as he kissed one slowly, continuing to tie the rope around her. She inhaled sharply, but something about the way he was looking at her only filled her with warmth and desire. As he pushed that one back, he licked the other wrist languidly, just above her pulse, and then pressed a number of soft kisses along it.

As he pulled both of her arms back and tied them together, his thumb ran between her skin and the rope, massaging her. “I’m going to tie you up and keep you all for myself,” he whispered over the boom of music on the other side of the curtain—a fact Lila had completely forgotten about. She peeked around Ambrose’s large shoulder and saw two sets of eyes. The way the room’s lighting was situated, she couldn’t make out their faces, nor any distinguishing expressions. Just eyes.

We have viewers.

I know, Ambrose said. Just ignore them. Eyes on me, love.

His words thrilled her, and the fact people were watching sent a new wave of ecstasy to the warmth between her thighs.

With her wrists bound, Ambrose continued his descent down her body. He bound her arms with a ton of little knots, then crossed the ropes between and under her breasts, squeezing them, and down her hips. When he got to the apex of her thighs, he ran his finger along the seam of her panties.

“What to do with these . . . should I leave them on?” He snapped the waistband, her sensitive skin bursting in flame. Lords, she wanted him to fuck her already. “Or should I rip them off?” Ambrose tucked his middle finger between her thighs, running it along the seam of her lips. “Fuck, baby. You’re already so wet and we haven’t even begun.”

“Ambrose,” she moaned.

“You’ve been a bad girl. Bad girls don’t get to come so fast.” He left her panties on and tied the rope between her soaked lips, the coils rubbing roughly against her pulsing clit.

Lila threw her head back, desperate for the friction, desperate to get these damned panties off. But, instead, Ambrose grabbed Lila’s leg, bending it back so the knee sat close to her chest, then he tied her calf to her thigh. He repeated the action on the other, and with her legs like this, it left her core completely exposed.

“Lords, look at you. Absolutely delicious.”

Ambrose stood from the bed, and took a step back, admiring his handy work. There were so many more people now in the curtain way, just watching. Lila felt embarrassment flooding her cheeks. But the more she fidgeted in her restraints, the more she realized how little she could actually move.

“They’re being drawn by your warmth, love,” Ambrose called over the music now that he wasn’t mere inches apart. “And the gorgeous sight of you, of course.”

Lila felt the familiar feeling of vampire gazes heat all over her body. Some eyes were staring at her dripping, cum-stained panties, others were staring at her purpling breasts and pink nipples, others stared at the ropes, at her feet, at her neck. Everything was on display for them, almost as if she were just another exhibit in the menagerie.

Eyes on me, Ambrose repeated. When she shifted her gaze, Ambrose was unbuttoning his shirt. Eyes. He dropped it to the floor. On. He kicked his boots off and pulled his pants down. Me. And finally, he pulled his hard cock from the snug black briefs he wore, and slid them off.

Lila made sure to keep her eyes on him, and a sinister smirk spread on his lips just before he slowly, torturously licked his lips.

He pulled the end of the rope, and tossed it above his head, to where a hook Lila hadn’t noticed before jutted out from the ceiling. The rope wrapped around the hook, and once secured, Ambrose pulled it down. Lila shrieked as the pull also lifted her off the bed.

The rope bit into her skin, but damn did it feel good. It pressed against her core so tight, she thought she might come from it alone. Ambrose tied the rope off to a small bar on the banister by the floor, and then stood up straight.

“You’re perfect, Lila. Fucking perfect.”

Her head started feeling light immediately, but damn did she want him. She wanted him bad.

“Get these fucking panties off of me, Ambrose, or I’ll use the safe word and get myself off right here.”

Ambrose chuckled. “So demanding.”

With her pussy exposed to the viewers, to Ambrose, he lifted one of the many knives he seemed to have hidden in his gorgeous outfit that had been sitting on the floor. Lila felt the steel slip under the panties at her crotch, the cold grazing against her hot, dripping folds. It was too much, cold and hot, as the mint on her nipples still tingled every part of her chest. It was danger and pleasure in one. The flat of the knife pressed against her, and then cut right through her panties.

“Fuck,” she moaned.

“Not yet,” Ambrose teased.

Lila’s head lolled back, and she felt all the blood rushing to it. Could the vampires feel it too, desperate to stick their teeth in her? She was already tied up like a hog for dinner.

Ambrose returned in view with a . . . thing. Lila didn’t really know what it looked like, a knob on the end of a handle maybe? It was long and purple, and when he pressed a button, the knob started to vibrate.

“H-How?” she balked, squirming in the ropes.

“Remember I told you a charmist made that ointment I used on you in the Crow Court to heal your wounds? Well there are many witches like her—some that specialize in other things besides herbs—that can do all sorts of things. One of them made this.”

He stepped forward, grabbing one of her thighs. And with that same sinister grin, he placed the vibrating head on the rope pressing into her clit.

Immediately, Lila’s world exploded.

“Fuck, fuck,” she hissed. “Lords, that feels so good.”

“Want to feel it on your clit, love?” Ambrose took another step, closing the distance between them, and pushed the rope between her folds aside. She let out a sharp exhale, which was immediately followed by a sharp inhale as the vibrating tool was pressed against her. Shock waves burst through her. She screamed and her head fell back as all the sensations rushed from her desperate clit to her curling toes and the constricting rope tying her up. It was almost too much.

Almost.

“Don’t come yet, love.”

But Lila couldn’t wait. Her entire body wound tight, and she knew she wouldn’t last much longer, not with the vibrations driving her body wild.

“Lords,” Ambrose groaned. “You’re going to heal the entire fucking Maggot Mansion at this rate.”

Lila suddenly opened her eyes, turning to the people watching. More had come, more faceless eyes, drinking her in. Was she . . . healing them? She definitely was feeling all new levels of love and pleasure from Ambrose—so much so, she hadn’t even recognized her warmth from the heat of her body’s desire.

“I said, eyes on me. If you’re gonna disobey, Little Crow, then I’ll just have to take your eyes away.” Ambrose lifted the shirt he’d been wearing, and walked around, behind Lila’s head.

“What are you doing?”

He placed the shirt over her eyes, folded enough to make it impossible to see through the sheer material. “Shh. I think you’ll like this.”

With her vision blocked, Lila felt everything one hundred times more. Each touch, each caress, each tug of rope, and each kiss Ambrose placed as he traveled back around her.

“Ah—Ambrose,” she called.

“I’m right here, Lila. You’re safe. Remember our word.” Though the room was still so loud, his voice sounded as though it was pulled from reality, pulled to be only in her ears. His voice like liquid gold, his voice that made her melt.

Lila was ready for him.

But Ambrose seemed to want to play more.

He took the vibrator again, and pressed it into her entrance, leaving it pushing the slightest bit in. Lila threw her head back, pleasure pounding through her.

And in only a moment, she realized it was nothing compared to when he surprised her and sucked her clit into his mouth.

Lila shrieked—actually shrieked—as Ambrose pressed the vibrator into her and drew his tongue in a lazy circle around her throbbing bud at the same time. He did it more and more, lapping at the juices slipping down her thighs, her ass, and he then returned to her clit.

The orgasm had been building in Lila for a long time, but it was all too much. Her entire body was shaking, the ropes were making her head spin, and she was sure if she came right now, she’d likely pass out. But, as her toes curled and her legs stiffened as far as the ropes would let her, she didn’t care. She would die for this orgasm.

“Fuck, Ambrose, can I come? Please?”

He drove his tongue all over her, scraping her with his teeth. “Please, please, please,” she moaned, lifting her hips into him. He moved to her thigh, kissing her and leaving hickeys all down his path. Kissing and sucking and biting and—drinking.

Ambrose drove his fangs into the back of her thigh and drank her blood.