Chapter 22
Oryx
Initially, I couldn't understand the advantage of me cleaning the estate. My Lord instructed me to clear the branches that Benedict had begun, preferring to keep him indoors for other duties. Though I was built for tough work, being separated from my pet left me uneasy.
I could barely hear her heartbeat, let alone her thoughts. In my haste to complete my tasks, I became careless and ended up having to redo them.
Unfortunately, Benedict was my charge, which only meant more work for me.
I hated him.
The thought of ripping him apart came to mind but my pet spent so much time putting him together, I knew I couldn’t ruin her work. She is thoughtful, and she would only put him back together again and that is time spent away from me.
Benedict mentioned that after we clear away the dead leaves, we will plant foliage again. He envisions restoring the estate to its former splendor, just like the picture hanging in the hallway.
The painting was filled with many flowers, their hues dark and lush.
They were unlike the flowers in my pet's memories.
It's always the same memory replaying, featuring a walk from a large, white house.
In her arms, she carried many colorful flowers and always found herself in the same place—the edge of the forest, beside a small stone, where she would speak to it.
I tapped the side of my skull. I don’t know why she liked to talk to a rock, but I found one that looked similar to the one in her dream. Once we get enough flowers, I will find a nice spot for her to talk to it.
As soon as Benedict declared my work complete, I bolted into the house with a burst of excitement. My hearts pounded in my chest as I dropped to all fours, my paws thudded against the floor. The hallway stretched out before me, and with every leap, the carpets bunched up beneath my claws.
It’s only been two days of working with my Lord, but they have been the longest days. I ached to be near her. I sat outside his lab for nearly an hour before he let her go.
I’d wait all day there if I could.
This time, as I reached the bottom of the stone spiral staircase, my Lord stood there, his silhouette framed by the flickering torchlight.
His brows were knitted together, casting a shadow over his intense gaze.
The moment he noticed me approaching, his eyebrows shot up in surprise, creating deep creases on his forehead.
"Oryx, what in the Shadows are you doing?
" he demanded, his voice echoing off the cold, damp walls.
I stopped in front of him and raised to my full height. “Here to see if you both were finished for the day.”
He rolled his eyes and waved his hand in the air. As he did so, I could smell his scent, it was stronger than I had ever smelled it before. Cool, crispness of fresh mint leaves, like a breeze through a frosted forest, mingling with the warm, creamy sweetness of vanilla.
My tongue fell from my maw, my saliva threatening to drip from my mouth, but my Lord passed by me as I watched him ascend the stairs. As he did, the wind caught my nose holes and that was when I smelled something else… lavender and honeysuckle.
My ears pricked up and the hair on my arms rose. Did he get close enough to my pet to touch her to have her scent on him? Why? Why would he get that close? Did he hurt her?
A low growl rumbled in my throat as my limbs hit the ground, propelling me forward on all fours toward the lab. The flame of each candle I passed danced wildly in the draft I created. I skidded to a halt in front of the large double doors, my hearts pounding.
Inside, my pet was carefully shaking out a white sheet, its edges fluttering like ghostly wings before she draped it over one of the still, lifeless bodies.
As the sheet settled softly over the form, she lifted her gaze, her eyes catching the light with an almost mischievous glint.
Her mouth curled into a gentle, knowing smile as she acknowledged my presence.
“Orie, you’re here!”
Yes, she wanted me.
I bounded forward and grabbed her to take in her scent, but also to check for my Lord's.
She giggled as I picked her up and sniffed her neck, her chest, and then into her hair. “What are you doing?” Her hands ran through my mane.
Then I found it. The minty vanilla in her hair. I huffed in anger.
“He touched you,” I growled. “He touched what is mine.”
Her body stiffened.
“He did, didn’t he? His scent is all over you. What did he do?” I could smell his scent on her clothes.
I pulled her away from me and set her down on her feet. Her mouth opened and closed. “He did, but he didn’t hurt me. Veylor was angry that I looked at his door.”
That stupid door. No one was allowed to even look at it. A stupid rule.
I let out a feral snarl, spinning on my heel to hunt him down. He won't lay a finger on her; he won't dare approach her. She belongs to me, and I'll shred him into nothing. She's everything I have, the only thing I've ever desired, and nothing will stand in my way.
Vesper pulled at my hand. “No, Oryx, it was my fault. I pissed him off. Come back here. He was just in a mood.” Like he always is.
I shook my head, my hair flying over my skull. “NO! He cannot hurt you!”
“He didn’t! No oath was broken, otherwise his heart would be in my hand!”
I flexed my hands, the tendons tightening beneath my skin, and turned to face her.
The air was thick with a scent that was unmistakably his, yet it wove seamlessly with hers, creating a fragrance that was both mouthwatering and unnerving in its complexity.
I found myself irresistibly drawn to it, despite knowing I shouldn't be.
I needed to cover her in my scent, get rid of it.
I trailed my fingers down her back, feeling the warmth of her body and gently cupped her curves.
A low groan escaped my lips as I pulled her closer, my arousal pressing against her hips.
She gasped, her fingers tracing down my chest, leaving a tingling trail in their wake, while her nose nestled into the crook of my neck, breathing in the mixed scent.
“You missed me that much?” She whispered. “I missed you too.”
My body was on fire, I needed to be with her, rub my scent all over her. Drown him out.
Or put his scent on me too.
I sighed deeply as I lifted her, feeling the warmth from between her legs against my stomach.
As I pressed her gently against the wall, her dress rode up her thighs, and my tongue traced a path down her neck.
The minty aroma filled my senses, and I couldn't help but breathe in more, caught between wanting to savor the moment and questioning if this was truly right.
I was so hard.
“Oryx,” she breathed. Her hands snaked around my back and she rubbed against me. “We shouldn’t do this in here…”
“I know, but I don’t think I can wait.” There were limbs, half-created vessels left on tables. She deserved to be treated with care, on a bed of blankets in my den. But it was so far away and took too much time to get there.
She placed a kiss on my chest. “I’m so wet right now.”
All my resolve broke, and I laid her down on the empty desk next to us. I spread her thighs and found the cloth covering her lower lips drenched. “You are. Is this for me?”
A flash of Veylor’s face came to her mind, but it was gone in an instant. Was it just me because I was smelling him on her? Would it be so bad if he watched me take her?
My cock dripped with come at the thought of it. If we were in a different place of trust, if he didn’t try to kill her, maybe I would let him see the way she pleased me. Let him see how beautiful she was to me, how she lets me do what I want with her.
I groaned as I watched the wet patch of her undergarments dampen more. “I can’t wait to taste you with my tongue and cock.”
Vesper whimpered, and I huffed hot breath on her thighs as I gently lowered her undergarments. She hated it when I pulled them so slowly, she was impatient, but if I was going to be the master of her body, she must learn that I will give when I am ready.
“Please…” her hand grabbed my horn, and her thumb rubbed across the base.
A tingle of desire ran down my spine and my tongue, without warning I rubbed across her clit.
As good as it tasted on my tongue, my cock tasted her even better.
It was so close to her entrance, the thought of slipping inside her accidentally was the greatest temptation.
“My cock weeps for you.” I climbed on top of her, getting drunk on the lavender and mint scent .
What would she think if I thought of my Lord being here with us? What would she think if I allowed him to touch me as I touched her? What if she allowed him to touch her?
I shook my head. He tried to hurt her.
He would never.
I huffed in annoyance and both her hands cupped my skull.
“Where did you go, big guy?”
I tugged at my trousers, letting my cock spring free.
She gasped as the wetness rubbed against her.
She tugged at the corset-like dress, her breast springing free.
My tongue ran down her nipples, tugging at the hardened points while the suckers on the base of my cock sucked at her clit as I rubbed against her.
I want you inside me so bad.
I groaned and placed my nose next to her neck. She can’t say things like that to me, I would slip it inside her.
“Please, Oryx, I can’t take it anymore. Please fuck me.”
She deserved a soft, pretty nest, sweet words into her tiny ears, but her pleas were my undoing.
I thrust into her, a low growl escaping my lips as her warmth enveloped me. Her back arched, pressing her breasts against my chest, her body begging for more. I could feel her heart racing, her breath hot on my neck as I began to move, each thrust deliberate and deep.
“Gods, you’re thick, Orie!”