Chapter 24
Alina
Concubines?
I desperately wanted to see what was going on, but when I squirmed against Voss, trying to take a look, he hissed and pressed me closer.
“I’m not sure it’s safe yet, love,” he murmured. Then, raising his voice, he answered the well-spoken harrsh’ak, “Please, don’t be offended, but I’d rather not. I’m sure your daughters are lovely. I, however, need only one female, and it’s my wife.”
Warmth spread inside me, extinguishing some of the jitters that still coursed through my limbs after the entire ordeal. I stopped squirming and pressed my cheek into Voss’s chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It soothed me, and I closed my eyes, wishing for it to be over.
But even if it wasn’t, I felt completely safe. Because he was here, dealing with everything, and I trusted him completely.
Gods, I trusted him. I just saw him slaughtering scores of other creatures, and all I felt was gratitude that he reacted so fast and with such viciousness. He protected me, he came through, and now I knew with complete certainty he always would.
Voss’s large, scaly hands caressed my back and head as he shifted from foot to foot, his massive thigh bracketing my hip. I relaxed with a sigh while the harrsh’ak leader spoke.
“I am not offended. But that leaves the matter of the guarantee you want. I am ready to vow none of my people will ever attack you again, but will my word be enough?”
Voss’s chest expanded under my cheek as he sighed, pressing me close. “Why don’t you visit me in a few days? I’ll allow you onto my land if you come openly and in peace. And then we can talk.”
“Very well. Will you allow us to take our dead from your land?”
“Yes.”
With that, the negotiations seemed to be over. The jungle rustled behind me, and, after a moment, Voss relaxed with a deep sigh. “They are gone.”
I didn’t try to squirm out of his hold now, and he didn’t let go, either. We just stood there, breathing each other in. The terror I felt when the beasts carried me through the jungle echoed inside me, cold and slimy. I shuddered.
“I won’t let them in the house,” he murmured, stroking me slowly. “When they come to talk. You don’t ever have to see any of them again. Gods, Alina. I’m so sorry. I should have protected you better.”
I shook my head, burrowing deeper into his embrace. Then I wrinkled my nose. Something definitely smelled bad.
“It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have left the house. Um, can we go now? It’s getting a bit…” I trailed off, not sure how to even describe the stench. It was horrible and getting worse with every breath.
“It’s all those guts that spilled out.” Voss nodded, shuddering. “I know. I’m sorry. Should have killed them in a less gory manner.”
I shook my head, stepping away from him. “Stop being sorry. Take me home. Please.”
We walked back slowly. Voss tried not to wince, but I saw that he was in pain. And yet, he did his best to clear the way for me, keeping the branches out of my face and steering me clear of treacherous roots.
When we got home, I refused all help until he was taken care of. I was still shaken, but the danger was over. Frankly, being terrified for half an hour when monsters kidnapped me had nothing on the months-long terror I endured thanks to Liam. I’d take a momentary fright and a prompt rescue anytime.
So I took over and ordered Voss to take off his shredded bloody clothes while I ran him a bath in the large bathtub that stood in the middle of the room, a polished pipe connecting it to the water system.
The water from the tank that stood outside and heated in the sun was still hot even though it was already dark when we got home, and so the bath was warm. Voss rinsed off in the shower and lowered himself into the tub with a hiss of pain, then lay back with a groan.
I did my best not to look at the slit between his legs, slightly parted to reveal the barest hint of red flesh. I felt dirty, my skin sticky with old sweat, and I should really take a shower.
Yet I hovered in his bathroom. I felt safe as long as I was with him.
Voss blinked his heavy eyelids open in time to notice my hesitation.
“Will it be crude if I invite you to join me?” he asked, his voice low and relaxed.
I thought about it, the idea surprisingly enticing. “I’m your wife. I think you can ask me for many things and none of them will be crude.”
He sat up, his irises expanding in a rush of gold. “Then come in, wife.”
I took off my clothes, blushing when I noticed how he tracked my every movement. The water splashed when his tail swung from side to side. When I was naked, I clambered awkwardly inside and Voss pulled me gently so I settled on top of him. His cocks slid out, settling between our bodies, hot and hard.
“Oh.” I squirmed, uncertain. “I don’t think this is a good time. I mean, you’re hurt.”
“I can’t help it,” he confessed, stroking my back gently with the tips of his claws. “But don’t worry, ssalamiya. I won’t try to fuck you tonight. A lot has happened, hm? Let’s just rest and be together. That’s all I need, to have you by my side.”
So we lay together in the warm water, his erections pulsing between us. I sighed and tried to relax, settling more comfortably on top of him. It worked up to a point, but there was still that buzzing inside me, all the experiences from today seeking a way out. I needed a relief, and cuddling in warm water didn’t quite do it.
“I have to tell you something,” Voss blurted out, his body jerking under me. “I didn’t before because… Well, you were already frightened. But you should know.”
I settled my chin on my folded arms so I could watch his face. Voss kept his eyes uncharacteristically closed, which let me know this was serious. He usually sought eye contact with me. That he didn’t could only mean he was truly ashamed.
“I destroyed the house,” he said, wincing. “When… Ah. It was a few years ago. When the last female of my kind died and I was truly alone. I… couldn’t control myself. I raged, shattering windows, breaking furniture, tearing out doors. I… might have lied to you when you came here first.”
I frowned, unable to remember if we discussed the ruined wing at all. “Did you? How?”
His lips twisted in chagrin, his eyes still tightly closed. “Well, you asked about that wing and I said the jungle encroaches. I implied that it happened naturally.”
I snorted with laughter, and Voss opened his eyes enough to peek at me. “That wasn’t a lie,” I said, shaking my head fondly. “So you suffered and took it out on the house. No one was here. You just… You just hurt yourself. I’m sorry you went through that. I can’t even imagine how painful it was.”
He blinked at me a few times, his face finally smoothing out. “I thought you’d be angry. Scared of me again. After all… I can be violent, Alina. I am—violent. You saw it last night and today.”
I pulled myself closer, so my mouth hovered above his. “I know, “ I whispered, looking down into his golden, troubled eyes. “And I trust you completely.”
More gold poured into his wide eyes, his jaw slackening with awe. Taking advantage of his speechless moment, I took a big breath, trepidation rising in my belly among the wild fluttering of moth wings.
Still, it didn’t matter that I was nervous. After all, I regretted not telling him so much when I thought I was going to die.
It was time to say the words.
“I love you, Voss. And I’m sorry. You were… You were there for me from the start. It took me a long time to get to the same place.”
He closed his mouth, then opened it again, then swallowed, the pads of his fingers digging into my hips. I laughed nervously, slightly unsure. “Voss? Are you okay?”
He swallowed again, cleared his throat, and then made a hoarse sound as if trying to speak. I was just starting to worry when he gripped the back of my head and tugged me down for a kiss.
We kissed slowly, his forked tongue lunging deep into my mouth and retreating. His lips were warm, his body hard below me, scales rubbing my skin with every movement until it broke out in gooseflesh. I straddled him to get more control, and he moaned into my mouth, the water splashing where his tail stirred it up.
I pulled back, breathing fast. When I saw the mesmerized, hyper-focused look on his face, I smiled. “What happened to just resting?”
Voss thrust his hips, jolting me. Some water splashed out over the lip of the tub. “All my aches just went away when you said you loved me. Will you say it again? Please.”
I smiled, raising myself so I looked directly into his eyes. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
Voss groaned and pulled me in for another kiss. Tingles raced down my back and legs, my belly fluttering with warm curiosity. I realized this was what I needed. The release that would chase away the horrible events of that day was right here, in my husband’s arms.
Or rather, between his legs.
I gave him one last kiss on the lips and slithered down his body, sitting directly on his double erection. Voss breathed out with force, his hips rising in an instinctive thrust. His hot, hard cocks rubbed my clit, which exploded with a surprising jolt of pleasure. Judging by the low rumble in Voss’s chest, he liked this, too.
I slid lower, curious how his spikes would feel on me. His top shaft passed between my lower lips, rubbing me all over, and Voss hissed from pleasure.
“Oh, ssalamiya. I’m afraid it won’t take much. I’m ready to come all over myself just from you sitting on top of me.”
I rocked gently back and forth, the water splashing as his spikes pressed into me. My pussy spasmed and tightened with bliss.
“This feels so good.”
Voss looked up, eyes golden and alert. “It does? Do it, then. Use me like you want.” I grinded on him, finding the best angle, and he groaned. “Oh, fuck. Gods. You’ll make me come.”
“Really?” I watched him curiously as I rocked, fascinated by the intensity on his face. It felt powerful to make him feel like this. Would he lose control?
My body heated with the thought, but there was no trace of mistrust of trepidation, only need and the rush of power. I wanted to set him off, see him undone. Because I was sure he wouldn’t hurt me, and I wanted all this masculine control and force unleashed—by me.
I had all these urges to provoke him and I finally felt brave enough to do it. To see his truth. To uncover all.
His eyes were glued to mine, scrunched in a pleading expression. I grinded harder, his cocks shifting and bucking under me, and he threw his head back, his fingers spasming on my hips.
“Let go,” I whispered, rocking faster and harder, my own pleasure tightening my muscles with bright, glittering tension. “You can do anything you want. Do it now. Do it!”
His eyes widened and brightened even more, teeth baring in a snarl. I grew reckless, chasing my own pleasure, and Voss hissed, gripping my hips, and thrust up a few times, pressing us even closer. His spikes dug into me, and I cried out when they hit all the right spots, enveloping everything around my clit in blissful tingles.
He tensed, his back arching, and his cocks kicked, shooting shimmering, greenish release onto his stomach and chest. I couldn’t hold back a whimper of disappointment. Was he done already? And I was so close…
But he shook his head emphatically. “Keep going. Please. Use me. Use my body to come.”
I was still for a moment and then grinded into him hard, releasing a hot breath. Voss moaned, and when I looked down, the heads of his cocks were both swollen and so dark, they almost seemed black. The skin covering them glistened, pulled taut. I watched in fascination as I rocked, chasing my own release.
Voss’s moans turned into gasps and curses. He let go of my hips and clutched the edges of the bathtub instead, his face etched in something between ecstasy and pain. I slowed down, worried I was hurting him, but he shook his head frantically.
“P-please. Oh, fuck. I’m almost… You have to…”
He thrust up, groaning, and I realized that even though he was hurting, the pleasure was greater.
And yet, my own strength was flagging. There was something missing, and a moment later, I gave up, slumping on top of him and breathing hard. He blinked, his face tightening into an expression that would be terrifying if not for the circumstances.
As it was, with him naked and wet underneath me, I couldn’t be afraid.
But then he sat up and pressed me roughly closer, releasing a low, menacing hiss.
“My wife is going to come all over my cock. Right now.”