Chapter 41 #2
She expected a hard thrust, but he pushed into her slowly, and somehow it was pure torture.
His hand on her hip kept her from moving, and the slow and steady pace he set was killing her.
The slight ache as his cock slid in and out, paired with his heavy balls grazing her clit, was all she could concentrate on.
She was used to his hands all over her body, and when his strokes came faster, making their skin slap together, she needed him all over her.
Her attempts to free her wrists were futile, and she wanted to cry. “I need my hands,” she begged, not caring if she sounded desperate. She was.
“Do you want to be touched, baby?” he breathed against her ear.
“Yes, please,” she begged again.
He pulled out and released her hands. “Crawl forward and press yourself against the back of the throne.”
What? She turned around to object, but he slapped her ass hard enough to leave a mark. “Do as I say, little mate.”
He licked her from behind when she crawled forward, causing her to jerk. The throne was giant, and when she straightened against the back, Caius climbed in behind her.
His breath fanned against her cheek when his lips pressed to her ear. “Bend forward and press your chest against the marble, baby.”
The cold against her skin made her breath hitch as she leaned forward, and he chuckled darkly. Her cheek and chest were secured against the stone, but her hips bent slightly. He grabbed her wrists again, holding them behind her, and his other hand moved around the front to cover her clit.
His fingers moved in a slow circle, and she hissed. “I want to hear you,” he said before slamming into her, making her cry out.
With her body pressed against the stone and her hands behind her, she was completely at his mercy. His grunts and pants of pleasure made her feel like she was doing more than taking his cock. She felt powerful and helpless at the same time.
The slight burning as she stretched around him made her think he might actually split her open. Wanting to contribute more, she did the only thing she could think of and squeezed her pussy.
“Fuck,” he yelled and thrust harder, moving his fingers faster.
The heat started in her stomach and moved to her arms, and the muscles in her legs tried to draw up right before she screamed his name as she pulsed around him. She drenched his cock with her cum.
“Beautiful,” he said roughly as he continued to pound into her from behind.
His fingers and pace never slowed, and her sensitive skin lit up again. “Caius,” she sobbed. “I can’t.”
He leaned against her, and she felt his smile. “You will.” Releasing her arms, he moved off the throne and tugged her backward, flipping her around to lay her on her back. He entered her again, and within a few strokes, she felt him grow within her.
“Come for me,” he commanded, but she was spent.
“I can’t,” she insisted weakly.
When he pulled out, her body sagged with relief, but it was short-lived when he leaned forward and took one of her breasts into his mouth as he pushed back into her. Making his way up her neck to her mouth, he kissed her deeply as his hips continued to move.
Withdrawing his lips from hers, he grabbed both of her thighs, pulled his dick out until only the tip remained inside, and yanked her hips toward him, impaling her. Her gasp bounced off the walls as she braced her arms on the stone seat.
His thumb returned to her swollen clit, making her legs draw up, and when he pushed on her lower stomach, she clawed at his arms as she came. Her entire body convulsed, and she no longer had control of her muscles.
He came seconds later with a long moan. They were panting, and her inner muscles were still twitching. Lifting his hand, he stroked her hair, and it wasn’t lust in his eyes. It was love. “You did good, baby.” He kissed her, and the room shimmered.
“Buy a new dress for tomorrow night,” he whispered into her ear as the soulscape faded away.
Rory stretched and yanked her arms down with a hiss, rotating her shoulders. Soreness does carry over, she thought, annoyed.
Jumping out of bed, she peeked through the window to see the sun shining. She slept longer than usual this morning. At least she wouldn’t have to wait long to go shopping.
Reaching for her phone on the nightstand, she walked to the bathroom and texted Kordie and Sera to ask if they wanted to join.
After showering, cleaning her new tattoo, and throwing on a sundress that would be easy to take off for trying on clothes, she meandered downstairs and kissed her dad on the cheek.
“Good morning.” She beamed at him and addressed Sam. “I need to go shopping for a new dress today.”
He set his fork down and leaned his arms on the table. “Again? You bought a new dress recently.”
“We’re going,” she replied with a saccharine smile. He grumbled as he stood and took his dishes to the kitchen, and Rory sat next to her father. “Can you take off tomorrow? I want to spend the day together.”
His eyes lit up, and she immediately regretted not asking him sooner. “Of course, sport. I’ll ask to leave early tonight to get a few hours of shuteye before we start our day.”
“Be thinking of things to do,” she told him as she left to grab coffee.
Sam closed the washer and leaned against the counter with his arms crossed. “You are happy this morning.”
She picked up the coffeepot and lifted a brow. “I’ll try to sulk later if it makes you feel better.”
When he said nothing, she glanced at him, and he pushed off the counter. “I dislike seeing you upset.”
“I don’t like seeing you upset, either,” she replied. “You don’t have to tell me why that story upset you yesterday, but don’t shut me out. You’re as important to me as Dume or any of my other friends.”
The mug almost slipped from her hands when she saw him blink away what looked suspiciously like tears. “My reasons for being here are not ones I wish to discuss, but I am sorry for my behavior yesterday. I should not have treated you that way.”
She nodded. “It’s okay. I was upset and snapped at Lauren once. She almost killed me.” Sam’s mouth twitched, and she added, “Sometimes we take our pain out on those closest to us.”
He shocked her further by hauling her in for a bear hug. “If you tell Lauren I hugged you, I will deny it.”
“She can detect lies,” Rory reminded him when he released her.
“Not mine,” he replied as he brushed past her, leaving her to stare after him with a wide smile.
When Rory and Sam approached, Sera and Kordie were waiting outside of the boutique. Kordie wore a huge grin, and Sera clapped like a giddy schoolgirl.
“What’s the occasion?” she asked when they reached the door.
Sam held it open as they filed inside, and Kordie gave him a once-over. “Wouldn’t you rather wait outside?”
“You can sit on the bench like last time,” Rory suggested. “This will be torture for you.”
“I am staying,” he replied, allowing no argument.
“Caius told me in the soulscape last night to buy a new dress for tonight,” Rory whispered, answering Sera’s question. A few other people were in the store, and she didn’t want to be overheard.
Sera giggled. “What do you think he has planned?”
“I’m not sure.” She glanced around the store. “I need a dress similar to the one I wore at the Vincula Plenilune ball.”
Sera’s face flashed with genuine surprise. “What’s a Plenilune ball?”
Rory held up a dress and quickly put it back. “Caius throws the inmates a ball every Plenilune.”
“Like the galas the rich people have?” Kordie asked, draping a dress over her arm.
Rory tilted her head from side to side. “Eh, kind of, but more relaxed.”
“I wish someone here would throw a Plenilune ball for us lowly citizens,” Sera whined, flipping through the clothes closest to her.
The racks rattled when Sam tried to squeeze between them with a frown. “You should have stayed outside,” Rory said with a laugh, causing his frown to deepen.
“Is he always this grumpy?” Sera whispered.
“Yes,” Rory replied, shaking her head with a chuckle. Remembering Sam telling her that Sera lied about her day at work, Rory asked, “Where do you work?” Other than being a Visitant and Bruce’s daughter, she knew little about her new friend.
“I work in The Capital,” Sera answered as she picked through a rack.
Rory and Kordie both turned. “Really?” they asked in unison. That’s why she lied, Rory realized. She didn’t know what her work was like and probably didn’t want to get the third degree. Everyone was curious about The Capital.
Sera cracked a smile. “Yes.” She offered nothing else, and Rory didn’t pry, but Kordie studied her closely before shrugging and turning back to the racks.
After looking through every piece of clothing in the store, a clerk ushered them to a large changing room, and they piled inside with Sam standing as sentry near the door.
“Is he going to stay there the entire time?” Sera whispered.
Rory shot her a wry grin. “Yes.” She plucked through the dresses, debating which to try on first.
“It doesn’t matter which you pick,” Kordie informed her. “You’re trying them all on.”
With a groan, Rory grabbed the first one and wished they hadn’t chosen so many.
After what felt like hours, Rory stared at her reflection. The dress was bright red and floor-length with high slits up both legs. “This is the one.”
“We’ll put it in the yes pile,” Sera said, reaching to unzip the garment.
“No,” Rory objected as she wiggled out of the smooth fabric. “This is the one, and you won’t change my mind.”
Kordie sighed dramatically. “It’s no use trying to sway her now. She’s stubborn.”
Sera shook her head and hung the dress on a hanger, poked her head outside, and signaled for the clerk to bag it up. “Do you have shoes?” she asked Rory.
Should she wear shoes in the soulscape? Better safe than sorry. Rory grabbed as many of the unwanted dresses as she could. “No.” She stepped out and looked at Sam. “We have one more stop.”
He grunted and grabbed the dresses from the ladies, returning them to the same clerk who helped them.
Before they checked out, she asked her friends if they wanted anything, but they declined. She had endless funds and wished they’d let her treat them to something, but they were as stubborn as she was.
After spending too long in a high-end shoe store, they left, and the sight of Sam carrying her shopping bags was too good to pass up. He’d insisted on holding them for her, and she snapped a picture to show Lauren.
Did Sam date? If so, whoever he ended up with was a lucky person.
They unloaded their bags in the car and met Keith and Dume at a nearby restaurant for an early dinner. When Keith saw Kordie, he stood with a love-struck smile and kissed her on the lips.
Rory beamed, happy for them and glad she didn’t have to worry about her friends ending up with terrible people.
Dume slung his arm around Sera’s shoulders and squeezed slightly. “How was shopping?”
“Exhausting but fun,” she answered and ducked out of his embrace.
Once they were seated and placed their orders, Keith leaned forward. “How are things with your dream boyfriend?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Rory took a drink of water and sat back with a content smile. “Great, actually. I miss him, but seeing him every night helps soothe the ache.”
Dume’s demure smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I wish Cora were here to see you this way. She would be planning your wedding.”
A somber silence fell over the table. “We’d be planning them together.” She played with the corner of her napkin. “I still can’t believe Gedeon murdered his own mate.”
“Didn’t you try to kill Caius when you first met?” Keith asked, and Kordie slapped his chest. “Ow! What? She did. If the Lux King is as twisted as she says, imagine how easy it would have been for him to ignore the bond.”
Rory couldn’t refute his claim because it was true.
Even after meeting Caius, she wanted his head on a spike.
“What disgusts me most is that he trapped my sister’s soul,” she spat, her anger rising.
“The least he could do was let her ascend into the aether. Lauren said there’s no reincarnation here; he had to know that, yet he kept her soul, anyway. ”
“Did Caius know reincarnation didn’t exist?” Sera asked. “If not, the Lux King might not either.”
Rory recalled their conversation weeks ago when they figured out Cora was Gedeon’s mate. Caius suggested his brother kept her soul in fear of reincarnation, but if the Royal children knew reincarnation wasn’t possible, Caius wouldn’t have thought that.
“No,” she admitted with a long exhale.
“Maybe one of us can sneak into the palace and set her free,” Keith offered. “The king can’t always be in the palace, and Rory can pick locks.”
“No,” Sam boomed. “None of you will go to The Capital, let alone the palace. Gedeon would not hesitate to kill you on the spot, nor would his guards.”
“I have to go to The Capital for work, but you’re right,” Dume agreed. “Sneaking around the palace is suicide.” He glanced at Rory. “Especially for you.”
“I wouldn’t do it. If anyone knows how dangerous Gedeon is, it’s me,” Rory assured the table. “I’ve seen what he did to his mate, and I agree with Sam. None of you should go, either.”
Keith adjusted in his seat, playing with the straw in his glass. “I only want to help.”
Leaning across the table, she squeezed his forearm, loving the sight of his bright blue soul. “I know, and I love you for it, but I won’t risk any of you.”
Until then, she felt guilty for wanting to leave them, but now she felt guilty for staying. The people she loved would put themselves in danger time and again to help her, no matter what she said to stop them.
“I’d die before I let anything happen to you.”
Keith once said those words to her, and she knew he meant it.