Chapter 19
With the sun shining all day, the house had heated up on its own.
With the heater running all day, plus five bodies in the house, it’s become uncomfortably warm.
I turn down the thermostat and unzip my hooded sweatshirt.
Thomas and Gilbert are supposedly cleaning the kitchen, Jacques is outside keeping watch, and Hasan is somewhere in the house.
Yawning, I go to the large floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room and look into the dark yard. The back porch lights don’t illuminate much around the house, limiting what I can see.
“Ace?” Hasan’s voice rings out from the balcony upstairs.
“I’m down here.” I catch his reflection in the window. Instead of going down the stairs, he jumps over the balcony, spreading his wings and gracefully gliding down.
“Show-off,” I say with a smile.
He smiles back. “Being cursed…” He trails off and shakes his head. “Having the ability to fly almost makes up for it.”
“Almost.”
“Yes. Almost.”
“I’ll try to break it.”
“I know.” He stops behind me and brushes my hair over my shoulder. His hands go to my hips, and I step back until I’m up against him. I rest my head on his firm chest and my eyes fall shut.
“You’re staying in tonight, aren’t you?”
“Probably. I’m kind of out of plans right now.”
“That’s for the best tonight.”
I spin in his arms. “How is it for the best?”
“You’re exhausted, Ace. You can’t go after vampires on a whim again. You have no stakes and no holy water. Your head injury is one blow away from becoming serious and I can tell you’re sore when you walk.”
“But the new moon—”
“Isn’t happening tonight.” He picks me up and I know there’s no point to protesting. Hasan is double my size, if not more. With a smirk, he crouches down, holds me tight, and jumps, taking flight. In just seconds, we land on the upstairs balcony.
“Whoa.” My arms are still fastened around his neck. “That was incredible.”
“Like I said, it almost makes up for the curse.” He sets me down and takes my hand, leading me into the bedroom. “You need to rest, Ace. I’m serious.”
“Yeah,” I agree, knowing that going into the bedroom with Hasan isn’t going to be restful. And I’m okay with that.
“I don’t understand the way you dress.” Hasan runs a hand through his hair, messing it up even more in a way that looks incredibly sexy on him. “What you were wearing at the bar is very different from what you are wearing now.” He sits on the foot of the bed, eyeballing me.
“Yeah, I can see how that’d be confusing.
” I look down at the yoga pants, tank top, and zip-up hoodie I have on now.
“This is comfortable, and what I tend to wear when I’m at home alone.
Which is always, since I live alone.” I wear this when I go out, too.
Well, if I go out. “Anyone can dress however they want now. Well, here they can. Other countries still have dress codes.”
He nods, brows coming together. “And you choose to wear that?”
I cross my arms. “It’s not that bad. I might look slightly homeless, but at least I’m comfortable.”
“I liked what you had on yesterday better.”
I laugh. “At least you’re honest.” I fiddle with the zipper of my hoodie. “It did feel kind of nice to dress up a bit,” I admit. “I don’t very often.”
“You should. The tighter fit looks good on you.”
“Is that your way of saying you wish I’d put on a dress and a corset?”
He shakes his head. “Corsets take too long to take off.”
“I can imagine.”
“Come here, Ace.”
I cross the room, going right onto Hasan’s lap. He’s hardness and muscle beneath me, and I feel so small and delicate against his large frame. I wrap my arms around his neck and he places his bear-like palm on the small of my back.
“What about the vows?” I whisper, almost afraid to bring it up. I don’t want to remind him and make him have second thoughts.
“Fuck the vows,” he growls. “I want you, Ace.”
“I’ve been with Thomas,” I blurt out. “And Gilbert.” Together.
“I know.” He grips my waist tighter. “Do you only want to be with them?”
“No. I want you all.”
“And I want to please you. In every way.”
I close my eyes and lean back, pressing my pelvis into his. My legs are already spread wide just straddling him like this. I can only imagine what it will feel like to have this mountain of a man on top of me. In me. Fucking me.
Though something tells me I won’t have to imagine it.
So much has happened in the last few days. Stress. Fear. A bit of self-loathing for having to lie. Life-altering information. I’ll never be the same. But dammit, I can feel good for at least a little bit.
Hasan pushes my hoodie down my arms. It drops onto the floor behind us.
Slowly, he drags his hands up my spine, not stopping until they’re in my hair, pulling my head to the side.
He tenderly kisses my neck, then brings his head down, burying it in my breasts for a minute before grabbing the hem of my tank top and pulling it over my head.
Hasan licks his lips, looking at me as if he’s a very hungry man and I’m an all-you-can-eat buffet.
He slips his fingers inside the cups of my bra, going right for my nipples. “I don’t know what this thing is, but I think I like it.”
“It’s called a bra,” I breathe. “You’ll like it better off.
” I reach behind me and unhook the bra, smiling coyly as I slide the straps down my arms. He cups my breasts in his hands, lowering his head between them.
I grind against him, feeling his cock harden against my core.
With a lusty groan, he takes one of my breasts in his mouth, flicking my nipple with his tongue.
I continue to grind my hips against him, getting turned on from his hardness rubbing me through my pants. Moaning, I run my hands down Hasan’s sides and tug at his waistband.
“Take your pants off,” I whisper.
Hasan stands with me in his arms, spins around, and tosses me on the bed. Keeping his eyes on mine, he pulls the tie on his pants and lets them drop, fully knowing the shock value his huge cock is going to have on me. I swallow hard when I see it.
Oh. My. God.
“I don’t know how that thing is going to fit inside me.”
“I’ve made it work in the past.” He smirks as he takes his cock in his hand. “I’m reasonably certain I can figure it out again.”
I lick my lips as I watch him fist himself. I never thought anything could make his large hands look small, and the sight turns me on, making my pussy throb and my entire body quiver with anticipation.
He comes back to the bed and I grab his hand and do my best to tug him forward. He humors me and falls onto the mattress. I move down, part his legs, and cup my hand around his balls and take him in my mouth. Hasan lets out a grunt, winding me up even more knowing how hot he is from this.
Hasan’s hand lands on my head, fingers curling through my hair. I look up at him, so hot I can’t stand it. I plunge my hand inside my panties, rubbing myself. Only minutes later we’re both teetering on the edge of coming, but he doesn’t get to.
I fall to the side, reaching for Hasan’s hand.
Not needing any more guidance from me, he picks up where I left off, stroking me until the sheets dampen beneath me as I come.
Hasan sits up, large wings over me, and takes the rest of my clothes off.
He climbs between my legs, carefully positioning his cock between my legs.
I bend my legs around him, spread as wide as they can go, and cry out as he enters me. He thrusts in hard, then pulls out until only the tip of his cock remains inside me, then slowly pushes it back in.
He does it again.
And again.
And again, until my body is aching to feel him inside me, stroking my inner walls in just the right way.
“Hasan,” I pant, slitting my eyes open to look up at him.
He turns his head down, dark eyes wild. Keeping his eyes on mine, he pushes his cock inside me. My mouth falls open in a moan.
He groans and rocks his hips, hitting my G-spot in just the right way. “Say it again,” he demands.
I open my mouth, but the only thing escaping my lips right now is a moan.
He pulls back. “Say my name, Ace.” His voice is rough, filled with primal need.
“Hasan,” I gasp, and he grabs my ankle, lifting it up. He thrusts in deep again, and holy fuck, his cock is so big it fills every single inch of me. Raising my leg into the air, he speeds up his movements. Reaching around with his free hand, he rubs my clit.
My head falls to the side and I fold the pillow over my face to stifle another loud moan as I come. The muscles in my thighs tighten and I grab the sheets, pressing my fingers into the mattress. Hasan’s breathing becomes ragged and he pushes in deep as he finishes.
Heart racing, I’m vaguely aware of Hasan moving me up in the bed and tucking me under the covers. My eyes flutter shut as I surrender to some much-needed sleep.
I wake around three AM needing to use the bathroom.
I’m alone in bed, and the bedroom door is shut.
Shivering the moment I pull back the covers, I grab my PJ shirt and panties, get out of bed, and pad to the bathroom.
After I pee, I go to the top of the stairs, following the sound of Gilbert and Thomas talking.
Knowing they’re downstairs makes me feel safe, and for a brief moment I consider going down to see what they’re up to.
Then I remember I have to get up in three hours, and get my ass back in bed. I’m sinking onto the mattress when something catches my eye outside the window. Out of habit, I reach for my gun, which I stashed in the nightstand.
And then I feel him.
“Jacques?” I call softly, and go to the window. He’s sitting on the roof of the porch and the pained expression is back on his face. I twist the locks and push up the glass. “What are you doing up here?”
He turns, eyes softening when he sees me. “I’m making sure the vampires who got a taste for your blood haven’t discovered where you are yet.”
“Oh, thanks. Are you cold?”
He shakes his head, looking unsure. “No.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Want to come in and sit with me?”
“No.” He turns his head away, scanning the horizon.
“Uh, okay then. I’m going to go back to bed then.”
He nods but doesn’t say anything. I shut the window and hurry back to the warmth of the bed. I pull the blankets up to my chin, telling myself Jacques’s standoffish behavior doesn’t bother me.
I slip back into sleep and my dreams take me to Jacques.
He’s human again, and we’re back in the little cabin.
Something about this dream feels weird, like I know I’m dreaming this time.
Jacques is reading to me, smiling as he looks down at the book.
He’s speaking in a language I don’t know, yet we both find what he’s reading humorous.
I stand from the chair I was relaxing in, moving to stir whatever I’m cooking over an open fire.
The same sense of total contentment washes over me. Bright sunlight shines through the windows, and Jacques puts the book down. He takes my hand and leads me through the open door. We walk through the field to the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean.
He moves behind me, arms wrapping around my waist, and we just stand there together, watching the waves rolling in and out. Everything around us is perfect. Peaceful. Calm and quiet. I close my eyes and spin in his arms, bringing his hands to my belly.
My lips curve into a grin as I tell Jacques I’m pregnant. Jacques smiles, lifts me up, spinning me and kissing me at the same time. I smile back at him, but the moment my feet hit the ground, the ocean turns red. Black clouds stretch over the sun and the air turns cold.
Jacques is standing at the edge of the cliff, face sullen and hands bloody. I try to go to him but I can’t move. It’s like I’m not there, not in a body at least, and I’m being forced to watch a film play out in front of me. I can’t talk, can’t call out to him.
The horizon starts to fade away and my ears ring.
Blood starts to drip down Jacques’s face.
His eyes fall shut to keep the blood from getting in them.
An invisible knife slashes across his chest and red stains his white shirt.
The air around us starts to buzz, and it’s like everything is closing in on itself all at once.
Something pops, and the world goes black. Everything hurts and I can’t move my arms. I blink, trying to get the blood out of my eyes, and realize I’m tied to a chair. Across the room, someone lights a candle, and soft, yellow light flickers around us, illuminating the pretty face of a woman.
A woman holding a knife in one hand and a spell book in the other. I’m seeing the world through her eyes, reading the thoughts in her head.
She is Braeya. The woman from the dreams. The one Jacques loves.
And she’s a witch.
Horror fills me as I realize she’s been casting spells on Jacques, making him see and feel things that aren’t real. The love he felt both for her and from her…the freedom of living together at the edge of the world…the baby. None of it was real.
It was only a spell.