Chapter 44 #2
He didn’t let up, his hands gripping my ass as he pulled me closer.
His tongue was everywhere, licking, sucking, fucking, and I couldn’t hold back the screams that tore from my throat.
My legs trembled, my body coiled tight with the promise of release, and still he didn’t stop.
He worked flawlessly, moving with a steady rhythm until I was crying out his name.
And then finally, I broke. My orgasm crashed over me like a tidal wave, my body convulsing as I came undone against his mouth. Still, he didn’t stop. He kept going as I shuddered and moaned above him, using the wall at my back to keep from melting to the floor.
I brought my leg down slowly. His fingers dug into my hips, possessive and demanding, as he pulled me closer. Standing. Kissing me. Sliding those lips down my neck, his teeth grazing my skin in a way that made me throb with anticipation.
“Enough teasing,” he growled, lifting me with ease, his arms flexing, the muscles taut and unforgiving. With no effort, he tossed me over his shoulder, smacking my ass, and I couldn’t help but gasp at the sudden shift in control. The control he demanded always.
He carried me to the bed, his dominance undeniable. My back hit the mattress, and before I could even think to protest, he was on top of me, pinning me down with his weight. His cock pressed against my thigh, hot and heavy.
“Spread your legs.” His voice dripped with authority. I obeyed instantly, my thighs parting shamelessly. He smirked, sliding his fingers inside me, just enough to tease. “Good witch.”
“Please,” I whimpered, my hands clutching the sheets, my hips bucking against his palm.
“Not yet.” He pulled his hand away, leaving me aching and empty. He positioned himself between my legs, his hands gripping my thighs, spreading me wider. “Look at me,” he ordered, and I did as I was told, my eyes meeting his as he pushed inside in one rough thrust.
I gasped, my walls stretching to accommodate him, the fullness overwhelming. He didn’t give me a moment to adjust, pulling out almost completely before slamming back in. His rhythm was brutal, each thrust hitting that sweet spot inside me, driving me closer to the edge.
“You take me so fucking well,” he growled, his hands moving to grip my hips, holding me in place as he fucked me harder, faster, eyes never leaving mine.
He leaned down, his lips capturing mine in a bruising kiss, his tongue tangling with mine as he continued to pound into me.
I could feel the coil tightening in my belly, the pleasure building with every thrust, my body screaming how much I wanted him.
Needed him. That look in his eyes told me he knew just how much control he had.
That devilish smirk growing as he slid his hand between us, building the ache as he worked my clit again.
“Come for me,” he demanded.
I didn’t have a choice. My orgasm ripped through me, my body trembling as waves of pleasure crashed over me.
He didn’t stop, fucking me through it, his pace relentless as he chased his own release.
With a final, brutal thrust, he came, filling me, his groans muffled against my neck.
He collapsed on top of me, his body heavy and warm, his breathing ragged.
“You’re perfect,” he murmured, his voice softer now, but still laced with that fucking dominance that made my pussy clench around him.
And just like that, I knew I was his, completely and utterly.
After laying there sated for only minutes, he turned to face me, sliding his hand down the curve of my waist, resting it on my hip. “Did you cast a protection?” His thumb traced lazy circles against my skin. “Or do I need to find moonseed tea?”
I breathed out a quiet spell, feeling the familiar tingle of magic settle low in my belly. “Taken care of.”
“Get some sleep while you can. I don’t trust whatever’s coming from this nightmare of a city.”
“Are you sure we should wait for a summons instead of looking for Vitoria?” I propped myself up on one elbow, frowning. “That’s not very hunter-like of you.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
“It’s strategic. If we go barging through this city demanding answers, we’ll get thrown out, or worse.
Better to let them make the first move. See what they want from us.
We can’t do anything without the Phoenix’s blood.
Can’t break the oath, can’t end the hunt, nothing. We’re stuck until we find Vitoria.”
“And she’s here. She has to be.” I sat up fully, pulling the sheet with me because modesty felt important when discussing hunting my best friend. “The sprite gave us Dyssara’s initials, not a person’s name. DeC. Crimson was telling us where to go, not who summoned Vitoria at night.”
“And the Erelith is obviously prevalent here.” Wickett sat up too, his tactical mind clearly moving again. “Floating in chalices, burning openly. Only the Phoenix can touch it without dying. Why would they have that unless...”
“They feel differently about her here than the rest of the world does,” I finished, the realization settling like lead in my stomach. “She’s not a criminal here. She’s protected.”
“Makes the whole thing significantly harder. Even if we break the blood oath somehow, there must be a reason we were granted access instead of being forced to break it and move on. They want us here for something.”
“You think it’s a trap,” I said.
“I think there’s more to this puzzle than we understand. And I can feel the jaws closing. We just don’t know what we’re caught in yet.”
Wickett stood, dressing as he spoke. “I should go back to my room. Before someone notices and adds it to whatever intelligence they’re gathering on us.”
“You think they’re watching?”
“I think this city knows everything.” He leaned down, kissing me once more, soft and lingering and full of unspoken promises. “Get some sleep. You’ll need it.”
Then he was gone, slipping away like we hadn’t just torn down every last wall between us.
I lay back, staring at the ceiling, trying to quiet my mind and my swelling heart.
We were so close. Vitoria was somewhere here. And I just had sex with the hunter who’d marked my life as his to take. I lifted my palm, studying the raised marks for the millionth time. I was either the world’s biggest idiot or the world’s most optimistic fool. Possibly both.
Sleep came eventually, dragging me under despite my spinning thoughts.
A knock woke me.
Not soft. Not polite. Insistent and loud enough that I jolted upright, disoriented and reaching for water that wasn’t there.
The door opened before I could answer. Wickett hadn’t locked it.
Calder stood in the hallway for a second before letting himself in and closing the door, with Silas at his side looking thoroughly disgruntled. “Your familiar was growling at my door. Figured he wanted back in here.”
Silas pushed past him immediately, checking every corner of the room with suspicious intensity before settling near the bed with a huff that said more than enough.
“Thanks.” I tried to sound like I’d actually been sleeping alone and not thoroughly debauched an hour ago.
Calder’s expression said he wasn’t buying it. “We need to talk. About—”
Another knock. Different. More hesitant.
We both froze.
“Expecting someone?” Calder asked quietly.
“No.” I moved toward the door, expecting Pip when I swung it open.
And then she was there. Black hair. Green eyes. Familiar features we’d been searching for across countries and through the Ash.
Vitoria stood in my doorway.
For one heartbeat, we just stared at each other.
Then she threw herself into my arms, nearly knocking me backward. “You’re here. You’re actually here.”
I could hardly think beyond the shock. Beyond the buzzing in my ears. But despite everything, despite the hunt and the oath and all the reasons I should be demanding answers, I hugged her back just as tightly.
Because whatever else she was, whatever she’d done or been accused of doing—she was still my friend.