18. Mira
18
MIRA
T he night air wraps around us as we walk down the cobbled street toward Mrs. Blackwood's bakery after taking the carriage back. Karn's massive frame towers beside me, his violet eyes catching the moonlight. The scent of fresh bread still lingers in the air despite the late hour.
Mrs. Blackwood meets us at the door, her flour-dusted apron and bright smile a welcoming sight. "Oh, they were absolute angels." She leads us inside where Nova and Luna are curled together on the settee, copper curls tangled. "They helped me decorate cookies all afternoon. Even cleaned up after themselves."
Karn's eyebrow raises, the scar there catching in the floating lights. "Are you sure these are my girls?"
"Hush." I elbow him gently. "Thank you for watching them."
"Anytime, dear. They're a joy."
Karn scoops both girls up with practiced ease, their tiny bodies fitting perfectly against his broad chest. I gather their shoes and stuffed animals, following him out into the night.
The walk home is quiet, peaceful. The twins don't stir once, even when we climb the stairs to the second floor. Their room glows softly from the magical stars on the ceiling as we lay them in their shared bed. I brush Nova's freckled nose with a gentle kiss while Karn tucks the blanket around Luna.
As we slip out, Karn's calloused hand catches mine. He pulls me down the hall, and a giggle escapes before I can stop it.
"What?" His fanged grin gleams in the darkness. "You think you were going somewhere else?"
"I should just move my things to your room." The words tumble out before I can catch them. My heart skips when his steps falter.
He turns, those violet eyes intense. "I'm not opposed to that."
My breath catches. The brand on my wrist seems to tingle as I process his words. "You're serious?"
"When am I not?" His thumb traces circles on my palm. "I want you there, Mira. Have for a while now."
The simple honesty in his voice makes my chest tight. This isn't just about convenience or passion – this is Karn, the demon who dropped everything to raise his nieces, making space for me in his life.
Maybe this is more serious than I let myself think. Maybe…Maybe I can hope. Just this once.
Karn pulls me into his room, the door clicking shut behind us. Before I can draw breath, he's on me. His hands, rough and calloused from years at the forge, grip my waist, pulling me against him. His kiss is fierce, demanding, and I melt into it, a moan escaping my lips.
"Karn," I whisper, my voice barely audible between kisses.
His mouth moves down my throat, hot and hungry. It feels so good, and I cling to him as I try to stay upright. His fingers find the laces of my dress, working them loose with an urgency that sends a thrill through me.
"This fucking dress," he growls, his lips trailing down my collarbone, following the path his hands make as they push the fabric aside. I shiver, not from cold, but from the intensity in his movements
"Karn. Can the twins—" I start, a flicker of worry cutting through the haze of need. I didn't even think about it last time.
He pauses, his breath hot on my skin. "Soundshield. Around their room." His voice is low, gravelly. "I can hear them. They can't hear us."
Relief washes over me, and I relax into his touch. His hands, confident and sure, slide the dress down my body, leaving me bare before him. But when he moves us toward the bed, I hesitate.
"Wait," I breathe, a hand on his chest. His heart beats strong and steady under my palm. He stops immediately, concern etched in the lines of his face.
"What's wrong?" His voice is soft, a stark contrast to the heat in his gaze.
I run my hands down his chest. "I want to see you."
I tug at Karn's shirt, a silent plea for him to bare himself to me. He obliges, ripping the fabric off with a swiftness that sends a thrill down my spine. His chest heaves, muscles shifting beneath my gaze. The scars from his craft crisscross his skin, a testament to his strength and dedication.
I run my hand along his torso, tracing the lines of his muscles, feeling the heat of his skin. His violet eyes watch me, intense and hungry, but there's a warmth there too, a softness he reserves only for me.
And I want more.
"Mira," he starts, voice rough with need as he moves toward me again. But still, I evade him.
Instead, I hush him, sinking to my knees. His breath hitches as I work at the laces of his pants. A groan escapes him, low and deep, resonating within his chest.
"I had a great night, Karn." My voice is steady, sure. I look up, meeting his gaze. "And I want to show you."
Worry flashes across his face, a flicker of uncertainty. "That's not why I did it, Mira. You don't have to?—"
"I know." I cut him off, my hands still moving, fingers tracing the line of his hips. "With you, I know I never have to do anything. But I want this, Karn. I want you." I want new memories, new feelings, to have everything with Karn that others have tainted. "Why do you get to know how I taste but I don't get the same luxury?"
His eyes widen, pupils dilating. A growl rumbles in his chest. "You want to taste me?"
I nod, undoing his pants, freeing him. He's hard, ready, and I wrap my hand around him, stroking gently. His breath hitches again, his hands clenching at his sides as if he's holding himself back.
"Mira," he groans, my name a plea on his lips.
I lean in, my breath warm against him. His body tenses, anticipating.
Karn's breath hitches as I take him deeper, his hands clenching at his sides like he's holding himself back. His taste is earthy, raw, and I can feel the pulse of the thick vein running along the underside of his cock against my tongue. I look up, meeting his violet eyes, and the intensity there spurs me on.
"Mira," he growls, voice low and rough.
His fingers twist in my hair, not guiding, just holding, like he needs something to anchor him. I can feel him getting closer, his breath coming in short pants, muscles tensing.
I hum softly, the vibration making him groan. His grip tightens in my hair, a delicious sting that sends heat pooling between my legs. I can feel him swelling, ready to release, and I prepare to take all of him.
But suddenly, he pulls me off, his hands gentle but firm on my shoulders. I look up at him, questioning, my breath coming in short gasps.
"Why—?" I start, but he cuts me off with a shake of his head.
"Not like this," he rasps, his chest heaving. "I'd love to feel it, but not right now. Right now I want to feel you."
He pulls me to my feet, his hands sliding down to my waist, lifting me like I weigh nothing. He sets me on the bed, his body following, caging me in with his arms.
"Karn," I whisper, his name a plea on my lips. I can feel his heart pounding in his chest, matching the rhythm of my own. His eyes, dark with desire, roam over me, taking in every inch like he's committing it to memory.
"I want to be inside you," he says, voice rough with need. "I want to feel you come around me." His words send a jolt of desire through me, and I can feel the wetness between my legs growing.
He leans down, capturing my lips in a fierce kiss. His hands roam over my body, rough and calloused, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I arch into him, my body aching with need.
"Please," I whisper against his lips, my voice barely audible. "If you want me, take me." I can feel him, hard and ready, pressing against me. His hands slide down to my hips, gripping tightly, and I know he's about to give me what I want. What we both want.
Karn's hands, rough and calloused from years at the forge, grip my thigh tightly as he pins one leg over his broad shoulder, spreading me wide open. His violet eyes, intense and hungry, never leave mine as he guides himself to my entrance. I feel him push in slowly, filling me completely. A gasp escapes my lips, and his mouth captures it, his kiss fierce and demanding.
"You feel..." he groans, his voice deep and husky against my lips. "Incredible, Mira."
His words make me melt. I've never had anyone talk to me like this, to seem so overwhelmed with the way they want me. I've always been someone to use, to abuse, to profit off of.
But now with Karn.
His body begins to move, each thrust deliberate, intense. The pace is slow, torturously so, but there's an intimacy in it that makes my breath catch. He's not just seeking his own pleasure; he's seeking mine, too.
He leans forward, his kiss deepening, his tongue dancing with mine in a rhythm that matches his thrusts. His hands trace my skin, leaving trails of fire in their wake. He breaks the kiss but doesn't move more than that, his eyes lock on mine. It only deepens the feeling in my chest.
"Never felt anything better than you, Mira," he whispers, his voice ragged with desire. "Never wanted anything more."
His words make my heart flutter. I arch into him, my body meeting his with every thrust. The sensation of being filled by him, of being wanted by him, is overwhelming. I can feel the pleasure building, a sweet tension that has me gripping his shoulders tightly, my breath coming in short gasps.
"Moan for me," he murmurs, holding my gaze. "I want nothing more than to hear you happy, Mira. In pleasure."
His words send a jolt of desire through me. I can't hold back the sounds that escape my lips, each one echoing through the room, a testament to the pleasure he's giving me.
His body responds to mine, his thrusts becoming harder, deeper. But still, he never looks away. His eyes, intense and full of emotion, remain locked on mine.
"Karn," I whisper, my voice barely audible. His name on my lips feels like a secret, a promise.
His grip on my thigh tightens, his body tensing as he drives into me with a force that makes me cry out louder. The pleasure is intense, overwhelming. I can feel the edge approaching, the tension building to a breaking point.
"That's it, Mira," he groans, his voice deep and rough. "Feel it. Feel us."
And I do. I feel everything. The pleasure, the intimacy, the emotion. It's all there, wrapped up in this moment, in this demon. And as the wave of pleasure crashes over me, I know that this, right here, is where I want to be.