Chapter Seventeen
Audrey
O nce we’re both changed, we climb onto the bed and Brenden flips on the television, stopping on a random channel before turning back to me. “I’ve let it go all day, but I can’t anymore. I know last night was about more than just a bad dream. Talk to me, Audrey. I want to help you.”
And I really don’t want to talk about this right now. Luckily, I know just the way to distract him.
Running my fingers over his bare chest, I glance up at him from underneath my eyelashes. “Are you sure talking is really what you want to do right now?”
Heat fills his eyes before he shakes his head. “Audrey, I’m serious.”
“And so am I.” I straddle him, settling my core on top of his half-hard cock. I roll my hips as I lean in, my tits pressed against his chest. “We can talk later. Right now, I want you to fuck me with your cock. We’ve waited long enough, don’t you think?”
“Fuck, firecracker. You could make a saint lose his head, and I’m far from a saint.” Brenden’s hands close on my hips as he rocks up into me. “I want nothing more than to sink my cock inside your cunt and fuck you until neither of us can remember our names. I’ve wanted it since the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“Good.” Grinning, I lean in and kiss him, murmuring against his lips. “Then fuck me, Brenden.”
In the week since we kissed, we’ve shared a bed every night, but we’ve only fooled around—hands and mouths only. After all, I’d asked him to go slow.
Now, I can’t remember why I said that. He’s been driving me crazy all week, giving me some of the best orgasms of my life. While I am using this as a way to avoid talking about remembering my death, I do want this with him.
I only feel a little guilty about distracting him with our first time having sex, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do. And I really do want to get dicked down by the man beneath me.
Our lips crash together as I drag my nails across his tattooed chest. He hisses into the kiss, his hands sliding from my hips and under my shirt. He gives me plenty of time to stop him as he slowly pushes it up my body, but I don’t want him to stop.
We break apart just long enough for him to remove my shirt. As soon as our lips meet again, he flips us so my back is on the bed and he’s hovering over me with his weight supported by one hand. Without breaking the kiss, his other hand roams over my body before coming to a stop on my tit.
I moan, arching my back as his fingers ghost over my pebbled nipple. One great thing about our nights spent together is that Brenden has learned a lot about what I like. For example, I’m not one of those women who likes their nipples pinched and twisted. No, I prefer just the ghost of a touch or a flick of a finger.
“Yes, Brenden!” Heat rises inside me, my legs falling open as he slots his legs between them. With just a few kisses and the brush of his fingers, I’m already wet and ready for him.
“Hmmm,” he hums, brushing his fingers against my nipple again. “I think I need to taste you before fucking you.”
I wrinkle my nose. I’m so not in the mood to wait. “Don’t you think we’ve had enough foreplay this week. I want your cock.”
The smirk on his lips is the cockiest I’ve seen it to date. “And you’ll get it—after I get what I want.”
A whine spills from my lips as he lifts himself off of me and moves down the bed until he’s kneeling between my legs. He runs his fingers along my damp panties.
“Already so ready for me, firecracker. I don’t think it’ll take much to make you come. There’s no reason to be so impatient, my girl. You know I’ll take care of you.”
And he’s right, I know he will take care of me. Even if it isn’t in the way I want him to. Can’t really complain about that, now can I?
Brenden slides my panties down my legs and tosses them to the side. He grins as he pushes my legs up and out. “Hold them there and don’t let go. I want you spread out before me like the feast you are.”
Closing my hands over my legs, my thighs clench beneath my touch. I love it when he says shit like that, and he knows it.
Then he’s ducking down, his tongue running the length of my cunt. He hums as his mouth closes around my clit, sucking it between his lips before immediately releasing it. “You taste so good, firecracker. I would spend all my time here between your thighs if I could.”
A shiver runs down my spine as his tongue darts out, lashing my clit over and over again while pushing two fingers inside of me. My back arches, and I almost lose my grip on my legs as he fucks me with them. Brenden lets out a warning growl, and I tighten my hold as my eyes fall shut. My stomach flutters as heat rushes through me from head to toe, my nails digging into my leg as pleasure pulses from my core as he curls his fingers, hitting my G-spot and leaving me seeing stars.
A whine escapes me when his fingers slip from me, turning into a gasp as he buries his tongue inside of my cunt instead. I grasp my legs harder, desperately wishing I could release them to bury them in his hair instead. The only reason I don’t is because I know he’ll stop as soon as I do, and I absolutely don’t want him to stop.
His nose brushes my clit as he devours me, his tongue able to work in ways that no cock can. I’ve been lucky enough to discover that not only is Brenden amazing at going down on women, but he fucking loves it—a definite win for me. My muscles tighten as my orgasm rises, so close to the edge, but just not quite there. Grinding my pussy against his face the best I can, I chase my pleasure. Brenden chuckles, sending a full-body shiver through me before he doubles down on his efforts.
When he curls his tongue just right, practically bouncing his tongue rapidly on my G-spot, that’s all she wrote. I come with a scream, completely losing my grip on my legs as my back arches, my muscles spasming as pleasure courses through me. He slows his movements but doesn’t stop, keeping my orgasm going for as long as he can before I collapse back onto the bed, completely boneless.
Only then does Brenden pull back with a knowing grin. My juices coating his face from nose to chin. I bite my lip when his tongue darts out to lick the taste of me from my lips. “Even more delicious after you come, I swear.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I tell him, reaching out to pull him toward me. He hesitates for only a moment, running his arm across his face before falling forward to hover over me once more. He kisses me, soft and sweet, and I melt even further into the bed. I taste myself on his tongue and moan, loving the mixture of it with the taste of him.
I’m the one to deepen the kiss, my legs locking around his waist. Once he’s completely lost in the kiss, I push my hips up and roll us so he’s on his back. I roll my hips, surely leaving the front of his pants damp as I rub myself along his dick. Even through his pants, I can tell just how hard and ready he is.
“My turn,” I say with a grin, lifting my hips as I reach between us to roll his pants and boxer briefs down his hips. He takes over once they hit his thighs, pushing them down and kicking them down as I take his cock in hand. He hisses as I slide along his length. As much as I’d love to take him in my mouth, I need him inside of my cunt more.
Lifting my hips, I bring him to my entrance and glide down him. We groan together as I take him all the way to the hilt. He fills me perfectly, my hips rolling of their own accord, already chasing the pleasure he can give me.
Brenden’s hands come to my hips, squeezing once as our eyes meet. I smile as I rise on my knees and begin to move, his hands helping to guide me as I ride him. I start slow, allowing myself some time to adjust to his size. He’s a little over average, but definitely not the biggest cock I’ve taken. Not that size matters as much as some people think it does. It’s more about the man knowing what to do with what he has, and I can already tell Brenden knows exactly how to use his.
As I speed up, he thrusts up into me and swivels in the perfect way that has me whimpering each time. Allowing my head to fall back, I snake a hand down my body to circle my clit as I ride him like a bucking bronco.
Snickering at the picture I’ve painted in my mind, I almost miss Brenden sitting up. My head jerks up as his lips descend on mine. My hand is trapped between our bodies, but as I move, I find it’s the perfect amount of pressure. This new angle has him hitting all the right spots as my body lights up with pleasure. Fire dances along my limbs—not real fire since that would obviously be bad—originating from my center as my nipples scrape across his chest, enhancing everything else happening to my body.
Breaking the kiss, a keening moan wrenches itself out of my lips. With the next movement of his hips, I tumble into my orgasm. My movements become jerky as I lose control of my body, pleasure bursting through.
Brenden pushes me onto my back, his cock somehow not slipping from my pussy. Pushing my knees up to my chest, he punches in and out of me rapidly, a growl tearing from his lips as my cunt pulses around him, trying to tempt him into following me over the edge. He’s a man on a mission as he fucks into me hard and fast, eyes flashing red. My eyes widen, knowing that it’s a sign of bloodlust in vampires.
I don’t know how much of that carries over after they die and become reapers, but I know how dangerous a vampire lost to bloodlust can be. I relax almost immediately at the realization I have nothing to worry about. Brenden would never hurt me. Even if he lost control, he wouldn’t hurt me.
The knowledge feels deep-seated, something I know in my soul. It doesn’t make sense how I know this and am so certain. I barely know him, but almost from the beginning, it was like his soul spoke to mine.
He ducks his head, though his pace never falters, and when he meets my eyes again, his are no longer red. He grins, a flash of his fangs showing just how hard he’s having to fight his nature, and my legs clench around him. There’s something hot about knowing he’s having to fight for control while fucking me.
“Need you to come again,” he pants, almost a growl. “Touch yourself. Come for me, firecracker. I need you to drench me with your cum. Then I’m going to fill you with mine.”
“Fuck,” I hiss, one hand dropping to my clit, while the other moves to my tit. There’s nothing hotter than a man with a dirty fucking mouth. I meet him thrust for thrust as I work myself up higher and higher. If his clenched jaw is anything to go off of, he’s having to fight his orgasm.
From one second into the next, I go from teetering on the edge to flying off of it. My cunt clenches around his cock as the orgasm rips through me. He grunts, his hips still working at their punishing speed as his name spills from my lips.
“Fuck. Yes. Your cunt is perfect,” he hisses, grinding against me as his lips fall open. His cock jerks inside of me, my pussy milking him as we collapse together, completely spent.
We lie together, still joined, as we attempt to catch our breaths. A whine falls from my lips when he pulls out, leaving me feeling empty. He smirks and presses a kiss to my lips before climbing off the bed and heading into the bathroom.
I hear the water running as I curl onto my side, completely relaxed. Three orgasms in one go has my body humming and my eyes heavy. Even though it’s still early, I know I would have no problems passing out right now.
When Brenden steps out of the bathroom, he’s holding a wet washcloth that he swipes between my legs to clean me up. He tosses it into a basket and clambers onto the bed, lying on his side facing me.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about what you were trying to distract me from.” Brenden raises his eyebrows, daring me to deny it.
Wrinkling my nose, I sigh. “I was kind of hoping it would work.”
“Oh, it did, firecracker. But only until we were done.” He shakes his head. “Just tell me what’s going on, Audrey. Don’t keep it inside—that’s just asking for trouble.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I sigh but continue to meet his gaze. He’s right. Of course, he’s right, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. “My dream last night? It wasn’t just a bad dream. I remembered my death.”
“Shit.” Brenden pulls me into his arms, holding me close. “How are you doing?”
Laying my head on his chest, I sigh. “Not great.”
I lay everything out for him, telling him not only how I died, but who killed me. I tell him about my worry for my twin and my need for vengeance. He remains silent the entire time, allowing me to get everything I’m feeling out, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been more grateful to someone than I am at this moment.
I’d been so sure in my decision to keep everything to myself but sharing the burden with someone else makes it feel more manageable. The overwhelming anxiety that had been riding me all day, all but vanishing.
Once I finish, Brenden remains silent for so long, I’d worry he’d fallen asleep if his hand wasn’t stroking up and down my back.
“I’m not sure vengeance is something we’re supposed to want as a reaper,” he begins, and I attempt to jerk out of his hold, but he tightens his arms around me. “Let me finish. That’s not what being a reaper is about, but I think that’s why so many people don’t remember how they were killed. Or at least not who killed them.
“You realize you’ll need to make it through the training and become a reaper before you have any chance of seeking vengeance or even reaching out to your sister.” He glances down to meet my eyes, waiting until I nod before continuing, “You’ll need a plan. We’ll need to start working on it now. I know Wraith keeps an eye on the new reapers, probably because of situations like this. If anyone can figure it out, though, it’ll be you, and I’ll help in any way I can.”
Frowning, I stare at him for a moment. “Why would you do that? This has nothing to do with you.”
“Sure it does, because it has something to do with you. In case you haven’t realized it yet, I care about you—a lot. Your fights are my fights.” He shrugs. “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but I’m also kind of obsessed with you. A flaw in my personality, or so I’ve been told. When I decide I want something, I put my all into it, and you’re what I want, firecracker.”
My chest tightens at his words, the room feeling like it’s closing in around me. This is too much. He’s too much. I can’t be here right now. I can’t do this. Jumping from the bed, I start grabbing my clothes and pulling them on.
“Where are you going, Audrey?”
Throwing my hands in the air, I turn back to him. “I don’t know how you expect me to respond to all of that. You don’t really know me. We’ve known each other for a couple of weeks. What you’re saying is too much, too fast. You can’t feel that for me when you don’t know me.”
“But I do know you, firecracker. I know you better than you think I do.” The smile has fallen off his face. “How long we’ve known one another doesn’t change the connection between us.”
“I’m sorry, Brenden, but I can’t deal with this right now—can’t deal with you. I need to go. I’ll see you later.”
Brenden hops off the bed, using his vamp speed to get in front of me before I can reach the door. “Audrey, don’t do this.”
I ignore the hurt in his eyes, choosing to look over his shoulder instead of meeting his gaze for too long. “Let me leave, Brenden.”
“Please don’t run away from me.”
That gets my back up. “I’m not running. I’m choosing to remove myself from a situation that I’m not equipped to deal with at the moment—if I can ever deal with it. Now, get out of my way.”
He remains blocking me for a few seconds before dropping his head with a sigh. “Fine. It’s not like you’re the first one who’s run away because I was too intense. I should be used to it by now.”
His words stab me in the chest as he steps to the side, and I find myself wavering for a moment. I don’t want to hurt Brenden, but what he just admitted to? It’s absolutely bonkers, and I wasn’t lying when I said I couldn’t deal with it. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how I died, and I don’t have the mental capacity to deal with this on top of it.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, already throwing the door open and rushing from his dorm room.
Tears fill my eyes as I hurry down the hall, having to weave and dodge around people to get to the stairs. I don’t know exactly why I’m crying, probably a combination of everything that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours, but the further I march from Brenden, the pain in my chest sharpens.
Rushing down the stairs and out of the dorm, I rush to the path that leads back to campus. I can’t head back to my suite like this. Diana and Celeste won’t let it go. They’ll expect me to talk it out, and I just can’t.
There are quite a few people heading to the dorms, but no one else seems to be heading toward campus. It makes it easier for me to walk while still trying to blink back my tears. I’m about halfway to campus when I see a halfway hidden path leading away from campus. I hesitate before turning down it.
The trees are thick on both sides of the path, making it seem even darker, but I feel myself relaxing the further I venture down it. I don’t know where it leads, but it seems to be away from people, and that’s what I need right now.
Which is why I’m surprised when I slam into someone, having stopped paying attention to where I was going when I realized there was no one else out here. Only, apparently, I’m not as alone as I thought I was.
“Audrey?”
My head jerks up at the familiar voice, and as soon as my eyes meet Donovan’s, I melt into his arms as sobs wrack my body.
“Oh, pretty girl. What happened?” he murmurs as he lifts me in his arms, sniffing for a moment before letting out a growl. He opens his mouth like he’s going to say something, but just turns around and continues marching down the path in the direction I’d been heading.
Resting my head on his chest, I let the tears fall as I cling to him. Another man I barely know but makes me feel completely at ease.
What is it about the men in this place?