Chapter 36 Lennox
LENNOX
What a fucking disaster. I fell onto the bed, covering my face with my hands.
“Lennox.”
I grunted a sound in response to Luka. “Lennox,” he said again. His hands braced my knees, rubbing up and down slowly.
“What?” I peeked out through my fingers.
“Everything is going to be okay.”
I removed my hands. “You don’t know that.”
“Yeah, but I know you.” I finally met his gaze, blinking back the tears forming in my eyes.
He fell onto the bed next to me, and I turned and faced him.
He lay with his head resting on his hand, he had changed out of his water suit when we returned and was now dressed in a thin linen shirt and pants.
I didn’t have the energy to change. My suit was dry anyways and it was comfortable.
“And you’re not alone. You’ve got me.” He kissed my nose before shifting back. “Take a few breaths. Take tonight to rest—let your mind rest. We’ll talk strategy tomorrow.”
“But—” He slapped a hand over my mouth.
“No buts. We’ll figure this out. Together. You’re an amazing queen, Lennox, you’re doing your people well.”
“But am I though? Look at all that has happened. Your grandfather was killed—the Blood Court is now being run by your psychopath uncle and the leader of the group who wants to eliminate vampires, who’s also the female who took delight in torturing me.
Two of Lethenia’s most dangerous groups are now working together against us.
My sister was fucking kidnapped after our wedding and then I willingly became a prisoner where I discovered that my brother had not been dead for the last three years but a prisoner.
And then, and then a siren compelled me to stab you, before attempting to trade me to the Vanir.
” I gulped in air. “Are you still going to say that I’m a good queen? ”
“Yes,” he said without missing a beat. “Without a doubt. None of those things are your fault, Lennox. You couldn’t control those things even if you tried. We’ve been over this. You’re trying your best. That’s all that me or anyone asks of you, Lennox.”
He cupped my face, swiping his thumb over my cheek. “I love you, Lennox. Let that be enough, please.”
“I’m trying.” I forced the words out of my throat. “I want that to be enough, but what if it’s not? What if I still let everyone else down?”
“They love you too, Lennox. Our friends? They love you. Your people, they love and respect you. No matter what happens, I promise, it will be enough. Even if we lose this battle, it will still have been enough. Yes, people might blame you, but they will never be able to say you didn’t try your best—that you didn’t give enough.
Because, Lennox, you always give more than enough, so keep being you and that will be enough. ”
I sighed, pressing into his hand. “What did I do to deserve you?”
He smiled. “I ask myself the same question every day, Sweetheart.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine, softly at first, before moving back an inch, his eyes searching mine.
“Tell me what you need right now, Sweetheart.”
“I need a bath, but first, will you lay with me for a while?” A moment, I just needed a moment to center myself. And Luka—Luka centered me.
He nodded, falling to my side and leaning back on the mattress. I fell into his side, his arms wrapping around me as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I never felt safter than laying in Luka’s arms.
I don’t know how long we slept, not nearly enough to feel rested, but enough that exhaustion no longer bogged me down.
“That was a much needed nap,” Luka said as he stretched his arms above our heads.
“Mhmm,” I murmured in agreement. “It’s left me feeling energized.”
“Oh yeah?” Desire sparked in Luka’s eyes as I shifted, sitting on his stomach so I was straddling him. I bent down and closed the space between us, kissing him hungrily.
I reached for his shirt, breaking my mouth from his so I could remove it.
Once it was gone, I took a moment to take him all in.
Running my fingers over the ridges of his muscles.
For so long I tried to resist looking at him, now that we had moved past that I wanted to take full advantage of letting my gaze linger.
“Like what you see, Sweetheart?” he asked, smirking.
“A little.” I leaned forward and ran my tongue along the ridge of his torso as my hands continued their exploration.
“You had your fill, now it’s my turn.” He unzipped my water suit, making quick work of the garment. I had worn nothing underneath, leaving me exposed to his gaze.
“Fuck.” His eyes blazed as they roamed over my body. “You’re so fucking perfect.” He ran a thumb over my pebbled nipple. “And I bet you’re fucking soaked for me already, aren’t you.”
“I’m always wet for you.”
“Fuck, Lennox.” His mouth met mine again, his hand shifting between us, his fingers found my center, seeing exactly how eager I was for him. I squirmed against his fingers. Luka always knew exactly what my body needed, his fingers slipped inside me, lessening the ache only slightly.
His lips remained on mine as he added another finger, stretching me as he moved his fingers in and out slowly. His mouth traveled down my body as his hand moved. When he made it to my breast, his mouth closed around the sensitive peak, his fangs nipping lightly.
He nipped my breast again, chuckling against my heated skin as I whimpered.
“Please,” I breathed, my breath hitched as the tip of his fang dug into my sensitive skin. “Luka.” He was such a fucking tease. “Bite me.”
A scream tore from my throat as his fangs pierced my breast, the combination of pain and pleasure pushing me over the edge as my release barreled through me. But Luka didn’t stop there.
He drank another pull of my blood as I thrashed against him, slipping another finger inside me—his fingers thrusting rapidly now.
Blood dripped down my skin, Luka followed behind it, licking the trail it left.
The movement of his fingers slowed as his tongue circled my breast before he placed a kiss to the puncture marks left by his fangs.
“I love seeing my marks on you.” His fingers moved tauntingly slow. “Someday I’d love to make them permanent. Mark you as mine for all to see.”
I shivered, biting my lip as I looked at the two puncture marks marring my pink skin.
“I want to mark you as mine too.” I leaned forward and brushed my fingers over the rough skin of the Vanir brand over his heart. The skin had healed, but the brand would be permanent. I brushed my lips over the rough skin.
His fingers started moving again. “Then we will do it. Brand your name over my heart—it belongs to you after all.” I clung to him as his fingers picked up pace again.
“Show me that you’re mine.” The wet squelch of his fingers thrusting in and out of me echoed through the bed chamber.
“Come for me, Lennox. Show me you’re mine and come for me again.
” His thumb strummed over my clit, sending release crashing over me once more.
“That’s it, Lennox. Come all over my fingers like a good fucking girl. ”
I whimpered, a shiver wracking my spine at his words. Goddess, I loved it when he talked like that.
Finally, he removed his fingers. I leaned back on my elbows and watched as he brought his glistening digits to his mouth, his eyes not leaving mine as he licked every drop of my arousal off them.
“I never get tired of the taste of you.”
“I needed that release,” I said as I fell against the pillows.
He chuckled darkly. “Oh, we’re not done, Sweetheart.”
“You can’t be serious. I’m spent.”
He kicked off his pants, his cock springing free and pressing against his stomach. “Oh, I’m quite serious, Lennox.”
His hands circled my thighs, and he yanked me to the edge of the bed, eliciting a yelp from my lips. “You’ve got more in you.” He spread my legs wide, stepping between them.
“I don’t think I do.” It had been a long fucking day after all. I could fall asleep easily after those two orgasms, even with our early evening nap.
He dragged the tip of his cock through my soaked center. “Then I’ll prove you wrong. You underestimate my determination.”
He slammed into me in one brutal thrust, causing my back to arch off the bed. Inch by inch he slid back out until I was empty again. I whimpered at the loss.
“What was that?” he asked, stepping back. “Do you want something?”
“Always such a fucking tease.” I tried to close my legs to get some kind of friction, but Luka stopped me.
“You said you didn’t have it in you, if you want my cock, you’re going to have to ask for it.”
“I hate you.” I sat up on my elbows.
“You love me.” He held my legs open with his hands on my knees as he bent down and blew a slow, cool, stream of breath over my center.
“Please,” I panted as he blew another breath, I squirmed against his firm hold. I didn’t even try to touch myself—I knew he’d stop me. I palmed my breasts instead—needing something—anything to ease the building ache.
“Please what?” He tapped his cock against my thigh.
“Please fuck me.”
His cock tapped over my cunt this time. “Here?”
“Yes, please, Luka. Fuck me.”
“I never get tired of hearing you begging me to fuck you.”
He grabbed my leg, hooking it over his shoulder before he slammed his cock into me.
He pounded into me, the sound of our flesh slapping against each other filling the bed chamber, mixed with our moans.
With my leg over his shoulders, he hit a spot so deep inside me, causing my eyes to roll back in my head.
His pace never slackened, it only got faster as release gathered again at the base of my spine.
His fingers slid over my clit, his strumming matching the pace of his thrusts.
I came again with a scream, my body shuddering as he continued his pace.
I panted as he slid out of me. His cock was still hard against his stomach—he hadn’t come yet.
“Luka,” I warned him.