Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
S asha
As Eirik’s lips claim mine, the world around us dissolves. The kiss deepens, and I feel myself melting into him. His tall, hard body presses against me, every inch of him radiating heat. I’m acutely aware of his cock, rigid and insistent, pushing against my stomach. My fingers twitch with the need to close around it, to feel its thickness in my palm.
Before I can act on the impulse, Eirik breaks the kiss, his chest heaving with exertion. In one swift motion, he lifts me in his arms, my legs instinctively straddling his slim waist. I wrap my arms around his neck, my face buried in the crook of his shoulder.
Fire spreads between us, a living, breathing entity that threatens to consume us whole. I pull back, my eyes locking onto Eirik’s. Emotions well in my body in an unstoppable surge.
“I was so scared I’d lose you.” The words come out before I can stop them. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
Eirik’s expression softens, his eyes burning with an inner fire.
“You’ll never lose me, Sasha,” he whispers, his voice low and husky. “In fact, you can never get rid of me, even if you wanted to. You are my mate. My world, the light in my endless dark. There is no turning back for me and even though I wish I could say there is for you, there is none. I would tear this universe apart just to keep you by my side.”
A shiver runs down my spine as his words send a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Fear, excitement, and a dash of trepidation all vie for dominance. It scares me, the finality of his statement, but I’m powerless against the lust that overtakes me. My body seems to have a mind of its own, pressing closer to Eirik’s, seeking more of the heat that radiates from him.
As Eirik guides me deeper into the guest house, I’m struck by the cozy intimacy of the small room we enter. My gaze falls upon a stunning, circular tub carved from gleaming obsidian, its centerpiece commanding attention. Water flows in through one tube and out another, the gentle gurgle a soothing serenade.
“I’ve never seen so much water in one place,” I whisper, like speaking any louder could dissipate the wonder.
Like it’s a dream I don’t want to wake up from.
“My kind thrived on this planet before humans took to the skies and created the Empire.” Eirik’s gaze moves to my body. “There are many secrets on Valcan that we kept. Life on this planet can be harsh and merciless on the surface, but down here, it’s full of pleasures.”
Like him. Harsh and terrifying on the outside and full of untold pleasures on the inside.
Before I can respond, Eirik’s hands are on me, carefully peeling away my clothing. He touches me with reverence, slowly, as if committing every curve and contour to memory. It’s not long before I stand, naked and exposed. My entire body is quivering with anticipation as Eirik runs his fingertips up and down my arms, my back, my stomach. Around the curve of my hips and my breasts, just brushing the tip of an erect nipple.
He’s barely touching me, and yet it feels like my entire body is on fire. My skin puckers with goosebumps and my breath comes in fast little gasps every time his touch lingers just a bit more.
Eirik’s eyes gleam in the low light and his face takes a tense, almost cautious look. He steps closer, his movements fluid, predatory. My heart is beating so hard, I’m afraid it will jump out of my ribcage and run away.
With a few swift movements, Eirik sheds his own clothing, his body unfolding before me like a work of art. My breath catches in my throat as I take in the sight of him, stark naked, his cock jutting out, long and large, pointed directly at me. My face grows hot, and I feel a flush spread across my skin. I try to look away, but my eyes seem rooted to the spot, drinking in the sheer magnitude of him.
The water envelops my body as Eirik guides me into the tub, his strong hands steady on my waist. I sink into the liquid embrace, a soft gasp escaping my lips at the perfect temperature. Not cold like I expected, but pleasantly warm against my skin.
“How is it so perfect?” I trail my fingers through the crystal-clear water, watching ripples dance across the surface.
Eirik slides in behind me, his massive frame displacing water that laps at the tub’s edges. His chest presses against my back, and his arms cage me in, hands gripping the obsidian rim on either side of my shoulders.
“The Soul Stones give us the power to harness two sources,” he murmurs, his breath tickling my ear. “Cold water from our underground rivers mixes with volcanic springs that bubble up from the planet’s core.” His lips brush my neck as he speaks. “All that is left is to adjust the proportions.”
The way he says it, it’s like it’s nothing special. He has no idea what this means to a girl like me. I lean back against him, marveling at the feeling of the warm water on my skin. Water is so expensive on Valcan, no one but the richest people can afford to bathe. Most people use cleansing foam and rags. The poorest even have to scrub their bodies with sand, when they can clean themselves at all. To think that here, in this hidden sanctuary, it flows freely and perfectly tempered, so abundant that all can use it to soak and clean their bodies. It’s mind boggling.
“This is more luxury than anyone in Tartarus ever imagines.” My voice comes out breathier than I intended as Eirik’s hands slide down my arms under the water. “Not even the governor of Villea lives like this.”
I can’t be sure of this, of course, but I bet he doesn’t. I bet even he has to keep track of how much water he uses for his baths and that he can’t afford this endless pool of running water.
“That is because the governor does not belong on Valcan,” he says as his fingers close around my ankle and he brings my foot up and out of the water. “This planet is not kind to outsiders, but to those who know where to find its softness, it offers endless pleasure.”
Eirik’s lips brush against my ankle, sending shivers up my leg. He begins to kiss his way upward, his mouth leaving trails of fire on my skin. My breath catches as he reaches the back of my knee, his tongue darting out to tease the sensitive spot.
My heart pounds in anticipation, my skin thrumming with every touch. Eirik’s hands wrap around my thighs, holding me in place as he explores the landscape of my body, one kiss at a time.
“Eirik.” His name escapes my lips, unbidden, as his mouth continues its ascent. He leans toward me in the water now, his large form looming above me in the deep tub. The black surface swallows his body in a reflection-less depth, and a primal shiver shakes my entire body.
With his blue on blue eyes reflecting the low light and his body hidden under the ripples of the water, he looks more like a predator than he ever did.
His hands run along my leg underneath the water as he hooks both knees over his shoulders. The water is deep and I’m afraid I’ll end up under the surface, but Eirik holds me up. My breasts break the surface, my nipples like little beads above the water. The soft mounds make ripples across the surface, moving softly as my body floats.
Eirik’s hands find my ass cheeks and he pushes my hips up until they break the surface of the water. My soft cover of curls glistens in the diffused light and as my hands grip the stone sides of the tub, Eirik leans in. His mouth closes on my wet pussy, his tongue darting between my lips, halfway under the surface. I gasp and tilt my head back, then quickly back up when water invades my mouth and nose.
He keeps his pace slow like torture. This is not the passionate, adrenaline-fueled sex from last night. No, this time, it’s more than just sex. I’ve been so afraid to lose him, I can feel the despair on my tongue like a bitter aftertaste. I want to hold him, to feel his beating heart alongside mine. I want his strong body to fill mine.
I want to belong to him. I want him to own every inch of my body. I want this mixture of pleasure and pain that comes along with his touch.
And he doesn’t make me wait for it. Eirik licks up and down my slit, his tongue impossibly hotter than the water. Sensations build fast and soon, my clit pulses with need and my core clenches with emptiness.
Eirik’s tongue flicks my clit, sending sparks of pleasure up my spine. I cry out, my body tensing as he sucks the little nub into his mouth. His hands grip my hips, holding me firmly in place as he feasts on me.
“Oh, Eirik!” I cry out, my voice echoing off the stone walls. I feel myself falling, pleasure consuming me as my core clenches and spasms. My cry turns into a scream as my orgasm rips through me, my body convulsing with the force of it.
Eirik doesn’t stop, his tongue continuing its relentless assault on my sensitive flesh until I let go of the sides of the tub and my upper body sinks in the water, depleted of forces.
Eirik’s strong arms rescue me, lifting me up and sitting me on his lap, with my knees parted on each side of his waist. My body drips with water and Eirik bends, his mouth licking my shoulder, my collarbone, and up my neck in a way that makes my toes curl. One hand goes up to my nape and he holds me gently as he bends me, my body curving to give him more access. His mouth closes on one breast, his tongue flicking and circling the taut nipple, then sucking it. He doesn’t stop until I wriggle and moan, then brings his attention to my other breast.
By the time he’s done, my pussy is pulsing with need again. Like he knows exactly how I feel, his hands wrap around my hips and he pulls me closer until the tip of his cock rests just at my entrance.
His eyes burn into mine, blue flames in the dim light. There is so much in that gaze, things words can’t convey. Things that can only be breathed in during moments like this, when a naked soul meets another.
I moan as he pulls me down his hard, thick length. He fills me, inch by glorious inch, stretching me deliciously.
I tilt my head back, closing my eyes as I savor the feeling of him deep inside me. His hands slide up my body, cupping my breasts, thumbs brushing my sensitive nipples. My breath catches as he teases them, rolling and tugging gently.
I rock my hips, the sensation of being impaled on his cock sending pleasure spiraling through me. Eirik’s hands tighten on my breasts, his thumbs rubbing my nipples in perfect tandem with the movement of his hips.
This is not the raw domination from before. This is a dance we share, a struggle for power made with weapons of moans and flesh on flesh.
His cock is long and thick and as I lean back for a better angle, he grips my hips with more force, the thrust of his hips more vigorous, unleashing the beast we both know resides just under the surface of his skin.
Water splashes all over the stone floor in rhythm with our writhing bodies. It’s like we rock in a storm of our own making, the force of the liquid moving us as well.
He angles my body back and his cock hits the spot inside my cunt that makes me see stars. I cry out, my body on the brink once more. Eirik’s cock pulses inside me, and I know he’s close, too. I want to feel him come, to feel his hot release spurting inside me.
“Come with me,” he growls, his voice hoarse. “Now, Sasha.”
I cry out, my body arching as I come apart in Eirik’s arms. My cunt clenches around his cock, milking his release as he roars from his own pleasure. His hands grip my hips tightly, holding me in place as he seats himself deep within me. I can feel his cock pulsing, his hot cum spilling inside me.
“My mate.”
The word echoes in my mind, whispered by Eirik as he holds me close, his arms a protective cocoon. I know I should be afraid, I should be running for the hills. But in this moment, all I feel is contentment. Safe in the circle of his arms, my mind is free to wander, to imagine a life where I don’t have to run anymore.
I don’t know what the future holds, but in this moment, I’m not afraid of it. Let tomorrow bring what it may. For now, I’m exactly where I want to be.
Eirik’s fingers trail up and down my spine, his touch gentle and soothing. His breathing has slowed, his body relaxed against mine. I can feel his heart beating steadily, a comforting rhythm that lulls me into a sense of peace.
His lips press a soft kiss to my shoulder, his breath warm on my skin. “Mine,” he whispers again, his voice thick with emotion.
I don’t respond, instead choosing to savor this moment of serenity. Tomorrow, I may worry about our enemies, about war and freedom.
But tonight, I’m only a woman in a man’s arms and that’s enough.