Chapter 18 Aurora #3
“Of course, it’s not just lupines. There’s yarrow, coreopsis, poppies …
I could’ve picked any flower. But lupines aren’t delicate, Aurora.
They’re resilient and proud. They take what they need to survive without apology.
But they’re also beautiful. And when the sun kisses the horizon, the air around them flickers with heat, the world warping, making room, just to let them bloom.
It makes something in my chest ache. Like the world is too beautiful to bear. ”
He kisses the side of my neck. “You’re not some delicate little poppy. Not something soft and sweet. You’re wild. Unapologetic. A survivor.”
He smiles.
“You, Aurora, are a lupine.”
Well, shit. Somehow, I’ve just been emotionally dismantled by botany.
Ezra pauses here to run a barrage of kisses down the back of my neck, making me shiver.
He places his chin on my shoulder and whispers, “I burn for you, Aurora. Every fucking second of every day since you stumbled across my shop. I’m in no hurry, little lupine.
I’ve waited billions of years for you. I’m a patient man and will wait until you’re ready, until you say the words.
But make no mistake, you will be mine in every way, just as I’m yours—body, mind, and soul.
You have me in an absolute chokehold, little goddess. ”
Ezra grazes my neck with his fingers and sighs.
“I’m sorry this happened to you. I should’ve been there. I failed you. Until you give me control, I’ll only touch you the way you want. Tell me, Aurora. Do you want to be touched? I’m so desperate for you.”
His breath scorches the back of my neck while his hips flex against my ass.
“Yes. Please, touch me.”
Turning to face him again, his hand dips between my thighs while I wrap my fingers around him.
“Ezra. Let me touch you. Please.”
With a quick nip on my jaw, he stands, then removes his pants, leaving him in nothing but black boxer briefs. Ezra’s ink-covered body is just as beautiful as I imagined. I can’t wait to explore every square inch. He fists himself through his briefs, making my mouth water.
“Underwear, too, please.”
He smirks, dragging his briefs down.
“Fuck,” I whisper, my breath catching as his cock springs free.
He’s thick and perfect. A passionflower vine curls downward, wild and intricate, blooming where ink meets skin. I want to trace it with my tongue, memorize every sinuous curve, kiss every soft petal.
Reality snaps back into place, though, when Ezra climbs into bed and wraps himself around me.
“What now, darling?” he whispers, grabbing my ass and flexing his hips. “I’m yours. Every inch of me.”
What’s the worst that could happen if I let him fuck me with that masterpiece of a cock?
He strokes through the slick mess between my legs, savoring every tremble, determined to see how many times I’ll break for him.
My hand slides down, wrapping around him, and a low, sinful moan slips from his mouth. I shiver, high on the power of making something like him lose control.
“Fuck, yes, Aurora. Christ, no one has touched my cock in over three centuries except for me. You’re playing with fire, little lupine.”
“Three hundred years?” I breathe. “But … you’re—” My fingers trail down his chest. “How could anyone not want to touch you?”
“Naturally, there were many who were interested, darling, but I wasn’t. Sex was quite boring until you came along. Your hands feel like absolute Hell wrapped around me, Aurora.”
“Hell?” I blink. “Am I doing something wrong?”
I mean, I know I’m inexperienced compared to him, but I’m pretty sure I know how to stroke a cock.
Ezra chuckles, grazing his nose lightly against mine—something that feels completely out of character for a violent, man-eating shadow monster.
“Hell isn’t what humans think,” he murmurs. “It’s the only place a creature like me would ever be welcome.”
Then he smirks, the kind that makes my stomach flip.
“Keep stroking me, little queen. I love your smart, curious little mouth, but I’m starting to crave it somewhere far more dangerous.”
Just as he works his fingers inside me and I wrap my hands around his beautiful cock, a sharp bark comes from the front of the house.
Shit. Louie. I’m a terrible pet owner. Er … hellhound owner?
Wait. Can you even own a hellhound?
Do we own pets? Is ownership inherently unethical—
Oh.
Ezra growls in my ear as his hand moves faster. “One more time, Aurora. Before we return to reality. Don’t worry about me. Focus on your pleasure, little vixen.”
He tangles a hand in my hair, pulls my head back, then looks deep into my eyes. His bottom lip sits between his teeth, his gaze darkening with the single-minded intent to ruin me.
Everything in my body clenches as I barrel toward another mind-blowing orgasm.
“I can feel it, sweet girl. You’re right there. Let go for me. I need it. I need you.”
Between his deep, commanding voice and his skillful fingers, Ezra works me into a frenzy, washing away all worries and thoughts.
His thumb works my clit while his fingers pump into me. Every muscle in my body twitches and shakes as my legs dangle over that sweet, glorious edge.
Once again, I come so hard that blackness eclipses my vision. My mind blanks like I’ve been swallowed by something ancient and still. Ezra holds me tight against him, growling into my neck and nipping at my shoulder.
The violent memories dig their nails into my skull.
Jameson’s grip.
His breath.
The fear.
I roll my hips, forcing Ezra’s fingers deeper, which sends another orgasm crashing through me so violently I briefly experience a moment of pure, blissful nirvana.
Just clear blue skies, warm wind, a field of wildflowers, and peace so profound a tear slips down my cheek.
I wrap my arms around his neck. His mouth is everywhere—my throat, my chest—devouring me in pieces, growling so deep I feel it in my bones.
“Meum. In aeternum,” he whispers. The voice isn’t just Ezra’s. It’s older and deeper, something monstrous and eternal curled beneath his skin.
I should be afraid.
But I’m Aurora Fucking Hagan—Destroyer of Rapist Cocks and Queen of Forcing Ancient Shadow Monsters to Eat Humble Pie.
What do I have to fear?
Okay, that may be the afterglow talking, but if I were in real danger, wouldn’t the Cù Fèidh protect me?
When my body goes limp, Ezra lays me down, wraps me up in his arms, then whispers, “Good girl.”
How the hell can two little words make me want to fall to my knees and give him everything?
A bark pierces through the haze of my orgasm.
Then another.
Then, “Aurora! Open the goddamn door right now! Fucking useless paws!”
Ezra growls when I wiggle out of his arms and put my robe on.
“Um, you should probably get dressed. I’m not sure how Louie will react to you being naked in my … well, our … house.”
Louie said she’d support me, but I’m not sure how far she’s willing to extend that support.
Ezra stomps around like a pissed-off cryptid, yanking on his clothes and muttering what I can only assume are ancient Gaelic curses.
He’s throwing a full-ass tantrum, which is kind of adorable coming from a six-foot-nine shadow god.
It’s honestly a little fucked up how much his grumpy mood is turning me on right now.
“Bloody hell-mutt,” Ezra grumps as he follows me to the front of the house.
When I open the door, Louie comes bounding in but immediately stops in her tracks, baring her teeth. She stalks toward Ezra, who is sipping a cup of coffee thanks to my pre-programmed machine.
“You motherfucker,” Louie growls. “I thought I told you to keep your fucking hands to yourself, you ancient twat!”
Panic claws up my spine. This isn’t a fight between two assholes at a bar. They’re supernatural beings with actual, world-ending magic. What the fuck am I going to do to stop it?
Thankfully, Ezra chuckles instead of losing his temper.
“Sweet little pup. A gentleman never kisses and tells, but I’ve been told hellhounds have incredible noses.”
Louie abruptly turns toward me and growls. I know she won’t hurt me, but she’s pissed.
“I know I promised I wouldn’t interfere with your choices, Aurora, but think about this for one second! Even he doesn’t know what he is.”
When she gnashes her teeth, the Cù Fèidh bursts from Ezra, materializing in slow, black swirls between me and Louie. The hellhound freezes, then rolls onto her back, fully submitting to the furious shadowed beast.
“See, Aurora? He’s fucking dangerous!”
Louie whines, her tail thudding against the floor. Even Ezra’s eyes are wide with surprise when I glance at him across the room.
Great. So, no one knows what to do.
Without moving a muscle, Ezra whispers, “Aurora. It belongs to you. It will listen to you.”
Right. Of course. Part of an ancient shadow monster that has the power to destroy its host will listen to the pathetic human it just met.
I don’t care what Ezra says, this thing is terrifying.
But I have to try before it hurts Louie. So, I clear my throat, intending to sound commanding and in control but fail miserably.
“Uh. Hey. Dog-deer-thing? Can you, uh, not? Louie’s my friend. She’s got my back. So, um, maybe chill?”
Jesus fucking Christ. I sound like an idiot.
Ezra chuckles from the corner while Louie snickers from her place on the floor.
At least they’re having fun.
“Real convincing, Aurora,” the hellhound says with an eye roll and a bark of laughter.
But my embarrassment quickly turns to pride when the Cù Fèidh turns around with a high-pitched echoing whine and lays at my feet.
A smug smile tugs at my lips as I glare down at the submissive hellhound.
“You were saying?”
“Whatever,” Louie snarls, rolling onto her belly, then pushing up with a soft huff.
She hesitates, every inch of her posture screaming discomfort, then walks toward me and the monstrous dog waiting at my side.
Leaning down, I run my hands over the Cù Fèidh’s soft, shadowy fur. It feels kind of like petting a cloud—chilly and damp with a charge of electricity.
Behind me, Ezra swears, but I’m too wrapped up in this amazing creature to care about whatever is making him grumpy right now.
“Who’s a good shadow puppy?” I coo in my most embarrassing dog-parent voice.
The beast rolls onto its back and thumps its tail against my bare floor, making my tiny house shake. I tangle my fingers into the soft fur on its belly because, seriously, only a monster could resist a dog asking for a belly rub.
While I’m still entranced by my additional protector, something wraps around my body, making me freeze. Whatever it is snakes around my waist, slides up my chest, then curls around the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.
Ezra’s voice follows, deep and disembodied, echoing through the air the same way it did this morning.
“I can feel your hands on my shadow, little lupine. No one has ever touched me like this before. Aue … hiahia tonu au. So much more.”
Heat blooms across my face, then slowly creeps across the rest of my body. Ezra chuckles, his shadows slipping away with palpable reluctance, just as Louie plops down beside me. She leans forward and sniffs at the shadowed dog. And even though her tail wags, every muscle in her body is tense.
“I suppose it doesn’t hurt to have one more creature protecting you. Things are about to get real fucking dangerous, real fucking fast.”
As much as I want to ask Louie what she means by that, I can’t stop staring at the beast lying at my feet.
It’s obviously still terrifying. But it listens. It obeys. And okay, fine, maybe that’s … kind of cool.
Louie huffs beside me, then slinks away to curl up in front of the fireplace. Only this time, she has her back to me.
Wait. Is the snarky, badass hellhound jealous?
If I was a total bitch, I’d tease her, but I need her more than I need Ezra and the Cù Fèidh. She has to know that.
I walk over to the grumpy hellhound and kneel beside her.
“Don’t be jealous, Lou. No one could ever take your place. I trust you more than anyone else in this world, especially with my protection.”
“I’m so sure, Aurora. You’ve got the shadow dick and the shadow mutt now. What the fuck d’ya need me for?”
Are all creatures so goddamn moody?
“Are you serious, Lou? Some shadow dog won’t replace you! You’re family. And now that we can talk, I can’t wait to get to know you better. Once you remember, that is. I trust you with my life. I’m still on the fence about the shadows.”
Ezra growls behind me while I run my hand between Louie’s peaked ears. My chest warms when her tail slowly thumps against the floor. She’s coming around.
The Cù Fèidh trots over to Louie, hesitantly leans down, then sniffs at her neck. When the hellhound growls, the beast backs up with a whine and falls to the floor.
“At least the bitch knows her place,” Louie grumbles, glaring at the shadowed dog lying on the floor next to me.
“Bitch?” Ezra asks, looking confused.
“Shit, I thought an intelligent, ancient creature could tell the gender of a beast that literally lives inside of him. It’s okay, Ezra. Not everyone gets to be the walking definition of perfection. Like me.”
Louie’s loud barking laugh makes me chuckle, which I quickly, and poorly, cover up with a cough.
“Conceited bitch,” Ezra grumbles.
He crosses his arms over his chest and glares at Louie while she continues to crack herself up.
“Ezra … how do I send her back?”
His glare falters. He exhales, rubs the back of his neck, then finally drops his arms and meets my gaze.
“I’m not sure, Aurora. As I said last night, this is new for me as well.”
I guess it doesn’t hurt to ask. But the minute I even think about opening my mouth, the Cù Fèidh looks at me, then drifts back to Ezra, rejoining the rest of his shadows.
Well, that was surprisingly easy.
And if I can use my mind to call to her, I won’t look like a complete ass every time I need her.
Louie stands, then trots over to Ezra. She plants herself at his feet and glares up at him.
“I’m watching you, ancient twat. I’ll team up with that shadow bitch in a heartbeat if you hurt her or allow her to come to harm. It’s been centuries since I’ve tasted monster flesh.”
Thankfully, Ezra just chuckles.
He stares down at the hellhound as he takes a long, unbothered sip of his coffee.
These two may never get along, but they do have a common goal—keeping me safe.
Hopefully, they can set aside their differences and focus on that because I need them both for whatever my clusterfuck of a life throws at me next.