33. Entwined
ENTWINED
Alex
Something was truly wrong with me because I’d been watching Rothbart in his iron cell in the dungeon for almost half an hour and found the view utterly entertaining.
He wasn’t doing anything, merely lying unconscious on his cot, surrounded by poisonous iron, and wasn’t that perfect?
Knowing that the man, who had terrified me, killed or cursed my sister, and attacked Irene, was trapped in a cell that made him weak calmed me. Finally, Rothbart was under my control.
“You’re still here.” Irene slid her hand into mine. Since she’d killed a few of Rothbart’s minions, her radiance had grown and her strength had flourished.
Not even a light shiver went through me when I touched her. Quite the opposite. I savoured her warm and silky skin.
“I think he told us the truth.” She cast a disinterested glance at the villain. “He’s cruel enough to have truly kept Odette imprisoned for years.”
“He’ll pay for that as well.”
“Why don’t we go upstairs?” She led me out of the wing, flashing a coquettish smile. “I believe the last time we were together, we were interrupted.”
And just like that, my blood boiled with desire. “Aren’t you tired?”
“No.” She caressed my cheek, and perhaps I was exaggerating, but the urge to be with her overwhelmed every other sensation.
“What do you have in mind?” I asked.
“Come to my bedroom and I’ll show you.” She started to go up the stairs.
“Wait. I want to do something.”
She tilted her head. “What?”
I wrapped my arms around her waist and lifted her. “I took Darius up the stairs, but I thought you should have been the first one in my arms.”
I carried her upstairs, stealing kisses from her. The light from the globes cast a golden glow on the walls and on her skin, making her look like a sun goddess.
Without the servants coming and going along the corridor, the mansion was eerily quiet, but at that moment, I liked it. It was just Irene and me.
The sound of the door to her bedroom shutting behind us was the sweetest thing.
Before kissing her hard, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. It was sharp and neat, and, entwined with Irene’s reflection, heaven.
Then it was a battle of us against our clothes.
We tugged, pulled, and shoved fabric and layers out of our way until we were skin against skin, lying on the bed in a frenzy of heat and kisses.
I sucked her bottom lip into my mouth. She bit my lips, and I laughed and kissed her.
And touched her. Touched her everywhere.
Our hands crossed paths while exploring our bodies. Our lips clashed. Our breaths mingled.
Her softness and perfect curves amazed me. She was light and beauty and kindness, and I wanted to get drunk on her laughter.
I propped myself up on my elbows not to crush her as she lay underneath me.
The smoothness and softness of her body shouldn’t be a surprise, but they were.
I marvelled at our differences, her perfect breasts and velvety skin, her delicate jaw and full lips, and her silky hair.
Everywhere I looked, there was something of her I’d never noticed.
A tiny mole on her shoulder, the way her collarbone curved gracefully, or the pretty half-moons on her fingernails.
The tips of her golden eyelashes overlapped, so long they were. Each kiss was sweet, warm, and trembling, only to turn hard and deep. Her hands on my chest plunged to my abdomen and lower, exploring and teasing.
She wrapped her legs around my hips and urged me closer, interrupting my worship of her. “Bite me while you’re inside me.”
I hesitated. “I’ve never done that. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“If I feel pain, you’ll feel it, too.”
Yes, but I didn’t want her to feel any pain.
“Please.” Her legs tightened around me before widening in a warm welcome.
She rocked her hips, rubbing me with a delicious friction. Then her mouth was on my throat, her fingers stroked a sensitive spot close to my ears, and her foot caressed my leg.
I loved how she shivered when I slid a hand between her thighs and brushed her. The tiny sting of her fingernails on my back danced on my skin as love flooded the bond.
I sucked in a breath and slid onwards slowly. The sensation of her around me was as good as tasting her blood. Or even better. Being so close to her was burning and familiar too. Strong and sweet. Desperate and all-consuming.
She let out a small gasp, and I stopped as a sting of her pain pricked me through our bond.
“It’s nothing.” She urged me closer, arching against me.
The hell it wasn’t. I ought to be more careful.
I used her sensations to guide me and to be as gentle as possible. It was a study in sweetness and trust. We both held our breath when I was fully inside her, surrounded by velvet and warmth.
Moving back and forth carefully, I dipped my head to bite her. I didn’t want to lose control and suck too much blood or move with too much energy.
When I broke the skin of her neck and her blood flowed into my mouth, a groan eased out of me. I was tasting the very essence of happiness and love.
She arched her back, gripping me hard with her hands and legs, whispering and caressing my hair. It felt so good to have her blood in my mouth and her warmth around me.
The connection between us amplified every little sensation. The pleasure was multiplied, the sensations were stronger, and we didn’t last long.
Our releases were welded together by heat, pleasure, and love. So much love, I didn’t think it was possible to experience it without bursting. The wave of ecstasy seemed to go on for hours until we were both spent, holding each other desperately.
I hadn’t realised her gold cross rested between her breasts and touched my skin, and I was so bloody glad it didn’t bother me in the least.
“How can I live a normal life after this?” she whispered. “How can I go through my day and talk to other people without thinking of you?”
“You’re asking the wrong person. I have no idea. I was thinking the same about you.” I caressed her flushed face, wishing I could take her away and just be with her, without worrying about anything else.
We held each other, shutting out the world and conquering our own small paradise, even if it would be only for a moment.
An air of mourning lingered when I covered her naked body with the blanket.
“How are we going to find Odette?” A hint of fear crept into her voice.
“I count on Darius. Maybe he’s right when he says we rely too much on his magic.”
She put a hand on my chest. “I hope she’s alive, but breaking her curse will be difficult.”
“Darius will do his research and come up with a plan. We’ll discuss other options if he doesn’t find anything.” I was impressed with myself. Darius’s endless optimism had infected me.
She ran her hand over my chest. “So you want to spend more time with me.”
“Do you have doubts? Haven’t I been clear enough?” I held her by the waist and pulled her up gently until she straddled me.
She laughed, and I was mesmerised by the sound, her gleaming sapphire eyes, and her golden hair falling over her naked breasts.
“I want to be with you forever,” I said as she lowered herself onto me. I groaned with pleasure.
She moaned, placing her hands on my shoulders. “So do I.”
She moved like a wave, and I helped her by holding her hips.
We found a rhythm immediately, staring at one another.
Her long hair tickled my skin, and her breasts bounced as she moved in sensual rolls.
She delivered my name in a breathy whisper when the release caught us and made us shake with pleasure.
When we were both satiated, she slept in my arms, her head on my chest, as I’d always wanted her to be. And I watched over her.
I would always watch over her.