22. Amon
22
AMON
E lora’s words come out as a whisper, and I stand, gathering her into my arms. “Hold onto me.” I say. She wraps her arms around my neck, and then we are being pulled through space and time.
She gasps, tightening her grip around my neck as space tilts around us.
A second later we are back in my brother’s library. I move to set her down, steadying her as she wobbles slightly.
She grasps my arm tightly, and I hold onto her until I’m sure she’s ok.
Elora nods when she’s sure she’s steady on her feet, and I let her go warily.
“Are you ok?” I ask her, my eyes roving over her, looking for any signs of harm. She nods, sniffling as she looks up at me.
“I think so.”
Other than a few gashes in the skirts of her nightgown, she seems to be fine, if not a little shaky from what I’m sure is an adrenaline dump.
She looks around her, taking in her surroundings.
Frowning, her eyes land on Allocer, and they widen in recognition.
Allocer bows deeply, his eyes concerned. “Elora, I’m so glad you’re here and safe.”
Elora blushes deeply as Allocer regards her with his unsettling eyes, and I have to hold back a growl.
She looks down at her disheveled state, looking over at me pleadingly. Allocer notices and takes the cue.
“I’m sure you will both be wanting to rest.” He says. “You are both more than welcome to stay here tonight.”
I walk to stand next to my mate, wrapping an arm around her protectively.
“Thank you, brother.” I say as I guide her from the library.
I grasp Elora to me tightly, looking down at her, concern etched in my features. She says nothing, her eyes cast downward.
“Thank you.” She finally says softly.
I stop, turning her to face me. Her eyes are swollen from crying, and her hair is a disheveled mess, but she’s never looked more beautiful to me.
She lowers her head further, and I chuck a finger under chin. “Don’t hide.” I say softly.
When Elora looks back up at me, her lavender eyes full of unshed tears, I lean down, brushing my lips across hers softly.
“I will always protect you.” I whisper against her mouth.
A sob wracks her body, and she wraps her arms around my neck.
I reach down, gathering her small frame into my arms. She lays her head against me, sniffling. My strides are long and purposeful as I make my way to the guest chamber.
It’s not but a few moments before her breathing evens out and she grows lax in my arms.
I pause at the door of our chamber, looking down at her.
My heart swells, and the sensation sends an ache through me.
I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would burn heaven and hell for her.
I wave my hand in front of the door, and it creaks open slowly. I move to the bed, laying Elora on it gently.
She stirs, turning to her side. Pulling off my shirt, I crawl into bed next to her, gathering her in my arms once more.
I hold her until she lets out a shaky exhale, and her body completely relaxes against me.
A few moments pass before sleep beckons to me as well.
Elora
I awaken with a start, my eyes flying open. I look around me, quickly realizing where I was. Relaxing, I adjust, stilling when I feel the heaviness of an arm draped over me.
Dread fills me as I look over my shoulder. Amon lays next to me, one arm curled under his head, the other draped over my waist.
I let out a slow exhale, taking him in. His features are relaxed in sleep. His dark lashes are longer than I thought they were, resting against high cheekbones.
My heart skips a beat as I realize he’s shirtless, and I let my eyes rove over the contours of his muscles. My fingers itch to reach out and touch him.
Amon had gone through hell and back for me, and I had no idea how I’d ever repay him.
Turning over gently to face him, I curl my hands under my cheek, watching him sleep. I drink in everything about him, from the small black mole next to one dark eyebrow, to the black horns protruding from the top of his head.
Reaching out a hand, I run a finger over one hesitantly.
There were as solid as they looked. I wrap my hand gently around one, startling when Amon lets out a groan.
I snatch my hand away with a gasp.
“Female if you do that again we are going to be starting this morning a very different way.”
His voice is thick with sleep, but the statement sends a wave of heat straight to my core.
I pull my lower lip between my teeth, deciding I was going to see if he’d make good on his threat. I reach up, running the tip of a finger along the curve of a horn.
“Do they have any feeling?” I ask as I follow the curve to the tip.
“As much as any other part of my body.” Amon growls, spanning a hand across the small of my back. He pulls me to him, melding my body against his.
I hold my breath as he runs clawed fingers up my back to fist a gentle hand in my tangled hair. I let out a shaky breath as he pulls my head back, leaning over me to kiss me gently.
He pauses to look down at me, concern etched on his features. “Elora...”
I shake my head at him, hushing him as I pull him back down to press my lips against his.
I need this right now.
I need him.
He growls before angling his mouth over mine.
I close my eyes, giving into the kiss. His lips are so soft against mine, and I cling to him, digging my blunt nails into his arm.
I breath in deeply, his scent enveloping me.
My body responds instantly, causing goosebumps to pebble along my skin, and my nipples to harden painfully against the fabric of my nightgown.
Amon senses it, because he grasps my waist before reaching up to brush the pad of a thumb across a nipple.
I gasp, the sensation sending a shockwave of pleasure directly to my core.
Moisture pools between my thighs, and I squeeze them together, attempting to alleviate the pressure accumulating there.
I open my eyes to look at Amon, and my heart skips a beat as I see that he is staring at me. His eyes are black as night, his lips parted, and he is devouring me with his gaze.
I blush, dipping my head in shame.
He reaches up, running his thumb over my lips as I pull my bottom lip between my teeth.
“Don’t hide from me, my dove.”
His voice is husky, and he leans down, brushing his lips against mine again.
My heart hammers behind my ribcage, and I clench my fist against his chest.
“Elora...” He whispers against my mouth, and I cave. I run my hand up his arm to pull him closer to me. He obliges, angling his mouth over mine to deepen the kiss.
I open to him willingly, moaning against his mouth as he invades mine with his tongue. I mimic his movements, and the sensation sends fresh heat pooling at my center.
I arch against him as he runs a hand down my front, pausing to cup a breast gently. I let out a breath as the pad of his thumb finds my nipple again, brushing over the taught nub.
My body comes to life beneath his touch.
“Amon…” I breathe as he runs small circles over my nipple. I arch into his touch, willing him to continue.
He does, placing a clawed finger under the shoulder of my nightgown. His lips move to my jaw as he makes his way to plant hot kisses against the flesh of my shoulder.
He pulls the fabric down further, running his lips over every inch of exposed flesh. I hold him to me, my fingers digging into his upper arms.
Amon pulls the neckline of my gown down further, releasing a breast. Blushing, I watch as he dips his head, planting a whispering kiss against the swell of it.
I reach up to thread fingers into his hair, and he lets out a groan before pulling my nipple into his mouth.
I gasp, arching off the bed and into his touch.
The sensation sends a wave of moisture pooling at my thighs, and I toss my head back, closing my eyes as stars dot my vision.
My breath comes in ragged pants, my mind fuzzy with the sensations he’s causing.
His tongue flicks out against my flesh, and I moan.
I want more, and I try to let him know with my body as I arch into his touch again. My core throbs in time with his tongue strokes, and I shift on the bed, clenching my thighs together. Goosebumps pebble my skin when I feel Amon’s claws at the hem of my nightgown.
I don’t stop him, and when he slips a claw beneath it to trail up my thigh, I arch against his hand subtly.
I need him to touch me.
Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I reach up to grasp one of his horns as takes my nipple back into his mouth.
He growls, his claw brushing against my flesh as he reaches the apex of my thighs. I stiffen, fear lancing through me briefly, but when his finger dips beneath the hem of my undergarment to brush the sensitive flesh there, I shiver.
Amon releases my nipple with a pop, rearing back to look down at me as he runs his fingers over the moisture at the juncture of my thighs.
My mouth falls open on a silent plea as pleasure courses through me, and I arch against his hand, begging him to continue.
He runs his fingers up and down my slick folds, and when he finds my tender nub, I gasp. He growls in return, lowering himself to take my nipple back into his mouth.
His fingers match the rhythm of his mouth as he runs languid circles over my center. I tremble beneath him, letting out a breathy moan as the pressure starts to build.
I can’t help but move against his hand, and he groans his appreciation, releasing my nipple to run his lips up my sensitive flesh. When his fangs scrape the spot between my shoulder and neck, I shudder beneath him.
“Please…” I breathe, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth.
Amon looks at me before crashing his lips against mine. I wrap my arms around his neck, holding him to me as he runs long, languid circles over my clit.
I was no stranger to pleasure brought on by my own hand, but this was something else entirely. Every stroke of his finger awakened something within me, and I rode the waves higher, releasing soft, panting breaths against his lips.
“Come for me, my dove.”
Amon’s growled command is all it takes, and I’m tumbling over the edge. He crashes his lips against mine, absorbing my cries as I come undone in his arms.
My eyes meet his, and the dark veining around his eye sockets only enhances my pleasure. I buck against him, running my hands over his shoulders to scrape across his back.
I come down slowly, trembling against him.
I’m so ready for him.
Amon pulls away, lifting my gown back into place, planting soft kisses along my collarbone.
I feel bereft when he removes himself from my embrace, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Was that it?
“Amon…” I start reaching out to run my fingers over his back. I move to sit up against the headboard, and when Amon stands to look at me, I gasp.
He is hard and erect against his pants. What I expected I wasn’t sure, but a club literally wasn’t it.
My cheeks heat, and I raise my eyes to meet his. He watches my reaction, his eyes still black as night. The dark veining is gone.
“What about-.” I start, but he shakes his head, cutting me off.
“Don’t worry about me, my dove.”
Guilt lances through me.
I watch as he disappears through a small door, and there’s a brief moment of silence before the sound of running water fills the room.
Running water!
I jump up from the bed, walking into the attached bathroom to see a brass tub fitted with copper piping.
Amon is bent over the side, his hand beneath the tap, testing the temperature.
“You’ll want a bath, I’m sure.” His eyes rove over my body, frowning at my ripped nightgown.
“I’m sure Allocer will have something you can wear.” He steps away from the tub.
“I have plenty to wear at home.” I say and pause. Amon does too, standing upright at my declaration. Neither of us speak for a moment, but Amon finally moves towards the door.
“We aren’t going home right now. Not until I can get to the bottom of this.” He reaches out, brushing a clawed finger over my cheek.
“You’re safer here.”
I nod, leaning into his touch.
He leans in, pressing his lips against mine.
I breathe him in, reaching up to wrap an arm around his neck.
He releases me, planting a kiss against the tip of my nose.
“Come find me when you’re done.”
I nod, watching as he stalks from the room. I listen for the door before stripping off my tattered nightgown.
Groaning, I step into the hot water, sinking into it slowly. The heat seeps into my muscles, and I sigh, laying back against the tub. Thoughts of what just transpired between us flood my mind.
He could have easily taken me today. I wouldn’t have stopped him if he wanted to go further.
I frown.
Didn’t he want me? Everything I saw today told me that, yes, he did.
So why did he stop?
Groaning, I dip under the water completely.