Chapter 16
Sebastian blinked a few times, those four words ringing in his ears. Silence hung between them as they stared at each other.
“What did you just say?” he whispered.
“I love you,” she repeated. “All of you. I love your tender heart, your gentle mind, and that you look at me like I’m not a monster. You treat me as if I’m whole and not broken. You’re willing to lay down your life for me, an immortal. An immortal that you haven’t even kissed,” she laughed quietly. “Perhaps I am just a fool in love, but?—”
Sebastian leaned forward, cutting her off with a kiss.
Leona made a small noise of surprise and pleasure, her arms snaking tighter around his neck. She weaved her hands in his hair and returned his kiss, a few tears pricking her eyes. When they broke apart, his lips were red and puffy, and his cheeks were flushed. She rested her forehead against his again and gently massaged his scalp where she held it. “That’s one way to do it.”
“Now we’ve kissed, so everything else has to make sense,” Sebastian whispered against her lips, his arms still holding her close to him. “Nobody has ever said that to me before.”
“What? ‘I love you?’” She asked. At his nod, she smiled sympathetically. “You are easy to love, Sebastian.”
He snorted and shook his head, pulling back from her. “You’d be the first to make that assessment.”
“What?” she repeated, turning to sit fully on the bed. She watched him get up to pace and felt her heart break for him. What had this man been through? How dare anyone make him feel anything less than beautiful? “I have seen every type of man in the world, both sinister and pure. They pale in comparison to you. I have loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you. There is a reason I was drawn to you. This was it. I was meant for you. I have waited three centuries to find you. I just didn’t know where to look. Or when.”
Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, his stomach turning with butterflies. More like an entire zoo. “Is that was this is, then? Love?” he asked, turning to face her. “Is that why I’m so afraid of losing you? Why I can’t bear the thought of another man breathing in your direction? Of possessing you?”
Leona stood and approached him, closing the space between them. “Is that how you feel?”
“Yes,” he whispered, their lips a hair’s breadth apart.
“Then that’s what this is,” she said, her eyes hooded. “Does that frighten you?”
“Yes,” he repeated. “Say it again.”
She hesitated, then understood. A small smile crept through her. “I love you.”
“Again.”
“I love you, Sebastian Beliveau.”
“Again.”
“I love you,” she said, kissing one cheek. “I love you.” The other cheek. “I love you.” His nose. “I love you.” His chin. “I love you.” His forehead. “I love you,” she whispered, finally kissing his mouth. Sebastian crouched slightly to meet her height, his hands trailing her hips. Their kiss grew hot and heavy, their tongues dancing together. His breathing hitched as she pressed the length of her body against his, their forms meshing perfectly together. They became one.
“Leona,” he murmured, breaking their kiss for a painstaking moment. “Leona,” he said again, interrupting her distracted and insistent kisses.
She looked up at him, fear flickering in her green eyes. She resigned herself to disappointment, knowing he would end this before it even began.
“I love you, too,” he said, his fingers curling into her back.
It was Leona’s turn to blink in shock. She tilted her head, her eyes wide with curiosity. “What?”
“I—”
“You do?”
Sebastian smiled and rolled his eyes. “As if I had any other choice, you temptress. You set your sights on me and that was that. Why do you think I ran away so much?”
“Because you didn’t want me to drain the blood from your body.”
“Mmm…” he hummed in amusement. “Other than that.”
“You’re just saying that to sound suave and romantic,” she giggled, nudging his chest.
He caught her hand and brought it up for a gentle kiss. “I never just say things, honey. There is meaning behind every word. Every syllable. I. Love. You.”
“Again,” she teased, her gaze turning from bewildered to smoldering.
“I love you,” he repeated, his kisses starting to trail from the top of her head down her face.
“Again,” she breathed, arching her back.
“I love you,” he whispered, kissing down her neck. Suddenly, he regretted giving her more clothes to put on. “I love you,” he repeated, smiling as she parroted him back and fully gave into his touch. His hands slipped under the baggy shirt hanging off her body, his fingertips ghosting along her icy skin. She whimpered softly, feeling as if he were melting a path straight to her core.
“Show me how much you love me, Sebastian,” she breathed, her fingers knotted in his hair.
“Happily.”
And then there was no more talking. For a little while, at least.
Though Leona could easily take the reins and lift Sebastian with one hand, she allowed him to be in charge. She wanted him to be in charge. Despite being oppressed nearly all her life, this was different. He wasn’t doing this to exert power over her. He was doing this for her.
Sebastian slid his hands under the backs of her thighs and hoisted her up, her ankles locking around behind his hips. Their kiss resumed, and Sebastian’s growing excitement was becoming evident. He walked them over to the bed and set her down gently. Though he would love nothing more than to split her in half, they had time for that later. This time — the first time — was reserved for making love.
“I’m not going to break, Seb. I promise.”
“Oh, I know. That’s for later. Just… try not to break me,” he laughed, kneeling on the bed with her.
“You seem like the type of man that wouldn’t mind it a little rough,” she giggled.
“You’d be correct. But our definitions of rough might be different,” he murmured. He grabbed the ends of her shirt and pulled it over her head, abandoning it on the floor. This time, he did not look away. He drank in the sight of her body, which was, like the rest of her, completely flawless. Resting back on his heels, he merely admired her.
Leona practically wilted under his stare. She was confident in her body and had never had a problem with it, but for the first time, she wasn’t being leered at. She felt truly seen and appreciated.
“You are radiant,” he said softly, passion in his eyes glinting with both love and lust. “The sun has planted roots within you.”
If she could have blushed, she would have. She wasn’t used to such positive attention. “Your words are so sweet. So genuine.”
“You deserve it,” he said. He hooked his fingers into the sides of the boxers she’d put on earlier. Pulling them down, he revealed her lingerie again. He intended to take his time. There was no rush.
“Allow me to pleasure you,” Leona said, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Not anything to do with him, but she was not used to receiving pleasure solely for the sake of her own enjoyment. Her pleasure derived from her partner and his pleasure. She was not used to generous lovers.
“My turn will come,” he reassured. “This is your time right now,” he said. Sebastian crawled over her and pressed a few toe-curling kisses against her lips. “Lie back for me.”
Leona did as he asked, settling against the soft pillows. It had been a long time since she’d properly laid in a bed. Certainly longer since she’d had sex in one. She peered down at him, watching as he began a hot path of kisses from her collarbones, down to each of her breasts, her nipples, then to her stomach, her hips, her legs. She had never felt so warm before, not since she was a human.
Sebastian peppered kisses along her supple skin, before catching the waist of her lace panties between his teeth. Slowly, he tugged them down, crawling backward to get them off her legs. Taking them out of his mouth, he dropped them to the floor to join her other clothes. Once she was completely on show for him, he really took her in. His eyes roamed over her, to her center, and he suddenly felt parched. He had never wanted another person so badly before.
Before Leona could protest his actions, Sebastian’s head was buried between her legs. Her jaw fell open and her eyes widened in both shock and some of the most intense pleasure she’d ever experienced. Instinctively, her hands found their way into his hair, keeping him in place. The feeling of his tongue against her was expert, and something she suddenly wished she had been doing for the last few centuries. It also proved to her what lousy lovers she had endured throughout her life. They expected this of her, but never returned the favor. He was doing it like he enjoyed it. He was licking her as if it were the last time he’d ever get to do anything. She tightened her grip on his hair, fully giving in to how wonderful his mouth was.
Sebastian made a slight noise of discomfort and eventually winced. He stopped and cut his eyes to her. “Leona, can you — loosen your grip just a bit,” he managed to say, his eyes squeezed shut in pain.
“Oh! I’m so sorry,” Leona gasped, immediately letting go. “Are you okay? I got a little carried away.”
“No, I’m glad you got carried away. That was my intention. I’m fine, I promise,” he said. “I just didn’t want you to have a bald boyfriend.”
Leona laughed heartily and rubbed his scalp for good measure. “I’d love you in any form. But your hair is really nice.”
“Mhmm…” he hummed with a slight smirk. He lowered his head and his tongue flicked out again, killing anything else she was going to say.
Leona closed her eyes and opted to curl her fingers into the sheets. Her nails pierced the mattress and she felt her body building to a crescendo. She moaned his name, begging him for more, more, more. Then, her vision exploded into a galaxy of bright stars. Warmth flooded over her in waves, and she felt as if she’d just been reborn into nirvana. When he lifted his head, she couldn’t look at him. She was afraid she was going to pass out.
Sebastian wiped the moisture from his lips, savoring the taste of her. He knelt between her legs, settling his hands on his thighs. “You are delicious.”
Leona laughed and finally opened her eyes. Her fangs were fully extended after her climax. Pleasure was overtaking her like a ton of bricks. “That was… You’re…”
“Wow, speechless. I am flattered,” he teased. His hair was disheveled from her grip earlier. He looked down between her legs and smirked. “Shall I go again?—”
“No, Christ,” she said, putting her hand up to stop him. Her other hand fell over her face in embarrassment as she gave some smug giggles. “Nobody has ever done that before.”
“What? Made you come?”
“No. Well… yes, but—” she stammered, shaking her head. “With their mouth.”
“You’ve been alive for three hundred-something years and nobody has ever eaten your pussy?” he asked incredulously. As she shook her head, he frowned. “Well, no wonder you were such a bitch when we met.”
Leona cackled and pushed herself to sit up. “You are so romantic in bed, do you know that, asshole?”
“I return that compliment to you,” he grinned. “I’m still fascinated by how your body works.”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t spend too much time dwelling on the mechanics of everything. I’ve yet to figure it all out,” she said. Her eyes roamed down his body and settled on the bulge between his legs. “Is it your turn now?”
Sebastian shrugged, trying not to sound too eager. “If you want to.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Leona laughed. She grabbed him quickly and turned them around, shoving him down into the mattress. Crawling to straddle him, she took hold of his shirt and ripped it in half. He might have wanted to take things slow, but she was in no such mood. She pulled the tatters off his shoulders and shoved them aside. Gently, she ran her hands up and down his chest, finally getting a good look at him. He was lean, his shoulders broad, and completely mouthwatering. Thin, dark hairs were scattered along his chest, and a thin patch trailed from below his navel and disappeared in the waistband of his pants. She could feel herself salivating, her teeth bared. She would love nothing more than to devour him?—
“Leona,” he said, catching her attention. “I’m going to be really upset if you drink me before fucking me. You can at least do me that courtesy.”
She smiled and shook her head, her hair bouncing prettily on her shoulders and down her back. “Silly man,” she whispered, before continuing her quest of undressing him. She untied the strings of his trousers, then pulled them down his legs once they loosened up. His boxers tented underneath, and she felt like she was going to explode with desire. Gently, she ran her hand over his length, teasing him through the material of his underwear. He groaned in delight and she felt like fireworks lit within her. She didn’t have anything up her sleeve as unique as pulling his boxers down with her teeth, so she treated them the same as his shirt. Ripping them in half, he hissed under his breath as the waist pulled harshly against his skin before snapping. His cock sprung forward and Leona wasted no time in caressing it.
Sebastian jolted slightly and brought his hand down to cover hers. “I admit I am worried about your fangs near my dick.”
Leona looked at him and opened her mouth, willing her fangs to recede. “It happens when I’m overly excited. I’ll make a conscious effort to keep them hidden.”
“You don’t have to keep them hidden. They’re a part of you. I just don’t want you ripping me apart. I can’t fuck you anymore if you do that. It’s a lose-lose situation.”
She laughed under her breath and nodded. “Noted. But I’ve done this a few times, Sebastian. I won’t hurt you.”
“Talking about other men during our sexy time. Nice.”
“Asshole,” she sighed, shutting up his next sarcastic retort by taking him in her mouth. She bobbed her head up and down, and now it was Sebastian’s turn to hold onto her head. She appreciated that he didn’t guide her in any particular way, or force her head down. He trusted her, and she was going to ensure he was rewarded for that. She flicked her eyes up to look at him, which was nearly his undoing. Sebastian held her eye contact and knew he would never get the sight of her between his legs, looking up at him like he was the only man in the world, out of his head.
After a few minutes, Sebastian slowly forced Leona’s mouth off him. His chest was heaving and splotchy with how much blood was pumping through him.
“Was I not any good?” she asked in concern. Usually she had no issues making men finish.
“You were too good,” he panted. “I’m afraid that this would end before it even begins. I also didn’t know how you felt about where I should finish. I didn’t want to assault the back of your throat.”
Leona smiled and crawled back up to straddle him, her core teasingly rubbing against his length. “How very thoughtful of you. For future reference, I’ll happily swallow every drop if it’s from you.”
Sebastian let out a shaky breath and nodded. “Noted,” he quietly said.
Leona pulled him up by his arms until their chests were pressed together. She draped her arms over his shoulders and kissed him hard, tasting herself on his tongue. She rocked her hips against his, moaning into his mouth. His hands and nails raked down her back, trying to alleviate some of the pressure budding within him.
“I know I asked you to show me how much you love me, but I also feel like you deserve to be fucked after how brave you were tonight. What do you think?” she whispered into his ear, her lips trailing the outer shell.
Sebastian had died and gone to heaven. He buried his head into her neck, inhaling her. “I think that sounds very fair,” he breathed.
“Good boy,” she cooed, nipping his earlobe. She lifted up on her knees slightly and with his help, sunk back down onto him. They both hissed in pleasure as she seated herself on his lap, then began to move. She rolled her hips against his, their kiss never-ending. Her breasts pressed against his chest, their hands wandering over every inch of each other. Sebastian’s legs bent slightly and he met each of her movements. Her hair curtained around them and it was taking everything in his soul not to explode.
“I love you,” she whispered into their kiss, her voice heightened with pleasure. “I’m yours.”
Sebastian felt tears burn behind his eyes. This was everything he never knew he needed. “I am yours,” he repeated. “I love you in every world. In every century. In every way. I love you in eternity.”
Leona let out an emotional cry, feeling overwhelmed. Her orgasm ripped through her, her body feeling like beams of light were piercing every part of her. She shuddered against him, which triggered him to go plummeting off the edge of ecstasy. Sebastian gripped her tightly, his roar of pleasure muffled as he bit her shoulder hard.
They stayed together as one for some time, neither of them moving.
As he held her, her body wrapped in his, Sebastian knew that loving her in perpetuity and his life could never coexist. He knew he couldn’t have both.
He chose love.