Chapter 12
Unhealthy Addictions
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
In that instant, my fiery aura is doused with arctic water as my mouth dries into a desert. Drackus seems pleased with his icy extinguishing. Then Amari walks around to join us.
"Gage, honey, there you are. I think you forgot the suit I laid out for you."
He turns his gaze from me to Cruella... I mean... Amari.
"I'd rather be comfortable, Mother."
I swallow hard, remembering how very cold and callous he is at the very mention of his mother. She frowns, and then her eyes blaze with a bit of venom when she sees my arm has returned to Drackus's hold.
"Drackus, perhaps we should enter together, darling."
He looks from Gage to me, and with heavy reluctance, he allows her to drag him away. Dray lets out a small chuckle as he walks off, leaving me alone with the dark user full of exposed secrets.
"What are you doing here?" he whispers.
"Me?" I squeak, and then I walk up the stairs and grab his hand to jerk him toward the top.
I guide him into a room off to the side, and then I slam the door as I scream at him in a whisper.
"What the hell? You're about to be my stepbrother and you knew this? This is... this is sick! We almost... Oh no. No!"
I almost implode at the horrible situation in front of me.
"First of all, we haven't done anything... much. Secondly, we are not related in any way. Third of all, if - and I do mean if - they get married, we still won't be related by blood. They'll never get married though. Drackus is just telling her what she wants to hear because she's crazy. Now what are you doing here?"
This is too much. I've made out with my father's fiancée's son. He's... oh crap. His tongue.
"I came to thank him and to find out why he really helped me out of there. It's not like Drackus comes to help and then doesn't stick around to flaunt his power. He disappeared without so much as flashing around a dazzling, condescending smile. I kept waiting on him to show up and reveal his motives, but he hasn't. Call this a preemptive strike. Now, why the fuck didn't you tell me you were about to be my brother?"
He laughs, as if there's some amusement in all this.
"Again, I'm not going to be your brother. Stop with the dramatics. As for Drackus saving you, did you ever consider he did it because you're his daughter? Believe it or not, he happens to care about you. I know. I've heard him rave about you before."
I scowl, feeling all the more icky.
"Why is it he told you but not your mother?"
"Because she's crazy. How many times do I have to tell you that? Anyway, we should get down there. Your dad will flip the hell out if he learns we're missing."
"My dad doesn't have anything to worry about anymore," I gripe while heading to the door.
He materializes in front of me, one hand on the back of my head, the other on my waist, as his lips find mine against my protests. The metal in his lip and the heat in his breath intoxicates my already screwed up head.
He pulls back, a small smirk in play as he nips at my lips playfully once more.
"Don't say things you know you don't mean. If you could be done with me, you'd have already walked away. This thing with our parents is nothing. I'll prove it... eventually."
I scowl at him, though it's almost painful not to grin. I really hate sexy immortals.
"I'm serious. This officially just got... We're off limits."
I walk out before he can argue. He's suddenly behind me, his breath against my ear as he wraps his arms around my waist and draws me to him. My back pushes against his front as he whispers in his dangerously seductive tone.
"We're not off limits. Don't make me remind you why."
His lips run down my neck to my shoulder, and he slides back up to my jaw before pulling back. A devilish grin plays on his lips as he walks on by, leaving me shivering in his wake.
"By the way," he calls with his back turned, "that dress looks incredible on you."
He disappears into the massive hallway that leads to the dining area, if memory serves me correctly. This is going to be a long, long dinner.
Apart from Cruella looking at me like I'm a Dalmatian who just got my spots, the dinner has been fairly nice, comfortable even. Dray took the seat next to me to keep up appearances. Drackus intentionally sat Gage next to Amari and far away from me.
Those incredible blue eyes have taunted me every second my father looked away. Gage is definitely good at playing with fire, and I wish I didn't love getting burned.
"Should we move on to the dancing?" Amari chirps, her eyes happily feasting on my father.
Ew.
"Of course," he cordially offers, taking her hand in his as he leads her from the room.
Dray offers me his arm, and he waits until the music is loud before he pulls me to him, forcing me into a graceful twirl.
"Your dark user seems a little jealous," he speculates, making my eyes go rogue and find the cosmic blues peeking over the glass of whiskey he's sipping.
Several girls - light and dark - flock to him, and he seems to enjoy the pang of jealousy my aura betrays me with.
"So he knew you this whole time? He lied to me."
Dray laughs, seeming completely amused. "First of all, he's a dark user. Don't forget that. All of us darklings say and do whatever we must to get the girl, while keeping our secrets intact. We're not so different from the light in that sense. We just tend to admit it. Secondly, he really didn't know me. This is the first time I've come to an event where he too was in attendance."
"I didn't know dark angels were actually dark. I thought you were unaligned... like my f... I mean... Drackus."
He smiles at my slip, but he goes on without acknowledging it. "You're quite the little sensation. It's true. I'm the gray area between light and dark just like Drackus, but most light creatures refuse to believe there's anything but black and white when it comes to power. I suppose you're one of the few that isn't so self-righteous to be blind to the truth of the world.
"Being of dark descent or dark power doesn't make you dark. Just as being of light descent or light power doesn't make you light. These labels have only fueled wars. Personally, I'd be happy if we abolished the sides all together. Judging one based on heritage alone is no different than humans judging each other for the color of their skin."
He's right about the gray area, but he's wrong about me. Until recently, I've always been the first to cast judgment.
I stifle a laugh when I see Cruella pulling Gage from the flocks of ogling women who are all unable to tear their eyes away from the sizzling dark user. I can only imagine the words he'd like to expel as he dutifully takes his place with his mother on the dance floor.
"Care if I cut in?" Drackus asks while taking my hand in his and pulling me away from the dark angel.
"Of course, Drackus. My guest is your guest."
They both chuckle at the obvious joke. I hate their shared sense of humor.
Dray steps away, leaving with the man who I barely remember as a father. The light, who have been unaware of my connection to the man they fear, haven't spared their horror stories of his merciless past actions. The daunting reality of where I come from has left me with more scars than night stalkers have.
"You look so much like your mother," he says softly, his eyes looking too much like mine.
"Have you talked to her since her return?" I ask curiously, clearing my throat from the unexpected dose of emotion I feel.
"No, but I'm sure she's been too busy to take my calls. There's no doubt it was traumatic. I'll make someone regret having ever touched her as soon as Thad fills me in on who it is. He claims you're helping him track down leads. Is that something you want to do?"
Is he really trying to get to know me, or is he just prying? I hate this. It's hard to tell when he's playing mind games.
"Is that rhetorical? My mother raised me by herself from the time I was ten. Of course I want to find her captors."
"I'm sorry if I upset you, Air-" He stops in the middle of the wrong name before taking a deep and calming breath. "Alyssa, I didn't intend to bring out any anger. I just didn't want you to feel as though my hired hand was making you try to keep up with him."
"Thad is actually letting me tag along for the most part. He knows this is important. He's not forcing me to do anything. So... when's the wedding?"
He lets his laughter roar free, and in that instant, I feel Cruella's eyes on me, daring me to give her a reason to strike. I don't even look in her direction. I'm sure Drackus has noticed it though. Our conversation stays quiet, not reaching the strained ears of anyone else.
"No date as of yet. If I marry her, it'll be many, many years from now."
"If? This is your engagement party."
He smiles at me with condescension following his gaze.
"I had to appease her. She's incredibly annoying when she doesn't get her way. She's paid her dues to me, staying here in my magical prison. It'd be rather cruel of me to deny her at least an engagement."
He speaks as though he's doing her some monumental favor by simply letting her wear his ring. His ego is far more expansive than I even thought.
"Do you love her?"
A shade of pain glazes his eyes, but he shakes free of it quickly. My unexpected presence tonight didn't surprise him, but that question seemed to.
"I've only ever loved one woman, and for reasons beyond our control, I couldn't keep her."
"Who?" I ask curiously, not really knowing much at all about him as far as his personal life goes.
His lips thin, a deep emotion stirs in his eyes, and then the moment of vulnerability is broken as Cruella sweeps in.
"Darling, I believe it's time I dance with my future husband. I'm sure my son can entertain the young girl you keep straying to."
Her chilled comment almost leaves me with a shiver, but warmth fills me as Gage's eyes find mine, a small smirk playing on his lips. Drackus shifts uncomfortably, his eyes silently warning Gage, and then reluctantly releases me into the wonderful folds of the dark user.
Gage stifles a grin when Drackus whispers something in his ear, doing well to escape my ears. Amari seems unaware of what's being said as well. I'm almost worried she's going to have an aneurism from the strain she's exerting in an effort to eavesdrop.
Drackus finally pulls back and shakes his head before joining his bride in a dance.
Trying to remind myself my dad is on the verge of marrying his mom, I offer Gage a respectable gap between us as he takes my hand in his and pulls me at the waist.
"You seem a little stiff," he teases, pulling me closer against my efforts to stay away.
"What did Drackus say to you?"
He lets a snicker escape, and then he shrugs. "He told me to keep my hands where he can see them. I'm also not supposed to be alone with you at any time during your stay here."
"My stay here? I'm leaving soon. Very, very soon."
"It's dark, Alyssa. He's not going to let you leave so late unless he carries you home himself. You really want to risk heading back to the hotel to find Kane and Zee still waiting on your return when Drackus drops you off at the front?"
Crap.
"How did you know-"
"Zee called me to tell me you ran away from them. I was pissed at first, but they said you were with your dad. I thought they were full of shit until I saw you."
"He can't stop me from leaving," I murmur, avoiding his soft eyes.
"No, but he'll find a way to make you stay. Trust me. In the meantime, I'm supposed to keep my hands and other body parts to myself."
He laughs a little, drawing Drackus's attention, but he turns away when he feels satisfied nothing is going on. He's acting... like a protective dad. The question is why?
"Great. As if this night wasn't weird enough." He laughs at my disgruntled release, and then I continue. "Drackus really doesn't have to worry about that. I now know better."
Gage laughs again, and his grip on me tightens as our bodies meet, no air dividing us any longer.
"You keep saying that, but you know as well as I do what's eventually going to happen. Next time I won't let anyone interrupt us no matter what I have to do."
I smirk, feeling a plan form. "Then kiss me here and now."
A wry grin pops up, and he jerks me to him a little more forcefully, letting me feel his length from his aroused excitement.
"Fine," he starts to break all the rules, but I quickly push him back.
He snickers as he gently pulls me back to him. "Didn't think I'd call your bluff, did you?"
Reflexively, I smile, wishing I could stop as I roll my eyes. How long is this song? I swear it's outdone November Rain.
"I'm starting to see why Drackus is so determined to keep you away. You're ballsy."
He winks while brushing my hair from my face, softly tilting my chin up so that my eyes are forced to meet his.
"If he wanted to keep me away, he shouldn't have let you in here with that dress."
Before I can finish, the dreadfully long song comes to an end, and I'm freed from his spell. I rush away before he tries to dance with me again.
As I near the end of the hall, a memory from my past flashes through my mind. I see the old library full of books that have only withstood time because of the spells cast on them.
My father's own personal collection isn't as grand as the library of the light council, but it's definitely impressive. And then the pang of misery strikes. It's almost as though I can feel Kane in my head.
I have to distract myself, and there are plenty of leather bound pages in here to do just that.
After an hour of reading, I realize I at least need to hear his voice. The pain of missing him only grows with every second. Without any real forethought or planning, I dial his number and sit down by the fire in the library.
"Alyssa? Are you still with Dray?" Kane asks, seeming worried.
"Sort of. Are you still at my hotel room?"
"No. I'm in a room next door. Zee and I decided we'd get a few rooms - camp out until we knew for sure Castine wasn't coming."
Great. There's no way I can be around him with all of this going on with me.
"Can I take an opportunity and capitalize on this moment of civility you're offering?"
He sighs, and I can almost hear his body going through the withdrawals and need for my blood. I shouldn't have offered it so freely. My blood is so much stronger than the typical samples he could get from other witches. I know how to help him though, and I will.
"Yeah," he finally says after a long pause.
"Was any of it true?"
He sits there silently, making me wonder if the phone has lost signal back here in these deep woods casting little reception.
"I suppose I could ask you the same thing. I think it's best if we simply focus on Castine and forget about whatever the other was doing."
I don't know why I keep thinking he's not going to take the opportunity to crush me every chance he gets. I wipe the stray tear from my eye, and then I nod as if he can see me.
"You're right. We should. I'm sorry I called."
He sits there quietly again, and my chest almost aches to accommodate the heart I didn't think could break any more. There's nothing left to do but sever the bond... by any means necessary. Only then will I be able to leave him alone. Then I'll cure him of his own addiction to me, cutting the last of our ties - other than Castine.
"I asked you to call, so don't apologize for that. When are you coming back from Dray's?"
A small smile graces my lips despite the tears that dampen them. I wipe the salty flavor from my mouth as I draw out the pause before the answer.
"I'll be leaving soon, but I'm not at Dray's. I'm sure you've already gone by his house by now, so don't try fishing for more information than that."
He almost grumbles under his breath. "Dray can't be your father. He's a dark angel, therefore he can't bear a witch... at least I don't think he can. I just don't know what else you'd be doing with him."
"Maybe he's here to sever the bond so you don't have to deal with me calling you late at night while wiping away my tears."
I can't help it. He's taken so many stabs at me; it's only fair I take one back. Night stalkers are possessive by nature, not out of love. It'll piss him off to know Dray - his friend - is about to walk around in his territory, though that will never happen.
"You can't be serious," he almost growls, making me feel justified in my ploy.
"What does it matter, Kane? You just said we didn't need to focus on us, but on Castine. I can't do that if I'm bound to you. My mind is screwed-up enough as it is."
"Alyssa, not Dray. Please not Dray. He's like a father to me, and it would just be so... wrong."
His real plea makes my false promise feel too cruel to continue.
"Chill. Dray is friends with my father. That's how he knows me, and believe me when I say I was fucking with you."
I hear him relaxing on the other side of the phone as a held breath escapes through his lips.
"That's pretty cruel. You don't have any friends for me to taunt you with."
"You'll be taunting me no matter who you're with until I get this fixed. Just hold off on fucking Amy until I'm at least free of this... whatever it is."
He quiets again, and I hear his bed shift as he stands. I really wish the visual of him in a bed at my hotel hadn't just flashed through my mind.
"Amy is still nothing to me, so no worries. Maybe... maybe I could help you until you're ready to-"
"I wouldn't want you to have to subject yourself to that anymore. Besides, it's getting worse. It's starting to make me draw up in knots; make my body ache, and my magic keeps seeping out through my aura. That shit can get me killed if an aura reader catches sight of my uncontained secrets. And don't even get me started on my eyes. I'll deal with this sooner than later. It's not your problem."
The door creaks open, prompting me to turn away from the fire to face Gage as he walks in. Kane speaks softly, as the dark user shuts the door behind him, a wolfish grin in place.
"Alyssa, I really don't want you to rush into anything. I'd hate-"
"Like I said, it's not your problem. I need to go. Let me know if any info on Castine comes about."
He sighs out hard, not liking my quick dismissal, but Gage is doing his best to distract me as he walks over to the old piano that is resting in the corner. His fingers scrape over the keys, no real music at first, but then a ginger, soulful melody erupts.
"Are you playing piano?" Kane muses, our previous conversation forgotten.
"No. Gage is here. He just walked in. I'll talk to you later."
Before he can respond, I end the call and make my way over to acquire the seat next to the dark user I can't be with even though I desperately want to.
"The bond is hurting you right now," he says softly as my body nestles up against his.
"You're not supposed to be alone with me."
He lets a touch of laughter escape his lips, but it's brief. He works the keys as though he's a concert pianist in the middle of the stage for all to admire.
"You're good," I murmur dreamily, suddenly realizing the allure of being a groupie.
"You have no idea," he scandalously replies, no subtly in his true meaning.
"Too bad you're about to be my brother," I say while standing up, letting the shattered pieces of the accidental moment fall to the ground.
He keeps playing, his eyes never leaving the keys of the piano.
"Step. I'll never be your brother, Alyssa. Stop making excuses. You've wanted me just as much as I've wanted you, and it's not just to break the bond either."
My stomach flip-flops, and makes me almost ill at how real he just made us sound. Until now, I've been able to blame so much on my stupid bond with the man who wants to be done with me.
He stops playing when I don't speak, and he turns to meet my eyes, his blues so much softer than normal. Just as I'm thinking about doing something really stupid, the door to the library swings open.
Drackus's eyes meet the dark user who leans back comfortably on the piano, not seeming to cower beneath the seething, protective, fatherly gaze.
"Why are you two in here... alone?"
I bite back a grin as Gage stands to his feet, motioning to the piano.
"I was playing. Alyssa was reading." He motions to the mounds of books I've lazily tossed to the couch in my quest of finding something worth occupying my mind. At least I found a way to cure Kane.
Drackus cracks his neck to the side, and then he steps to the right to motion for Gage's departure.
"I believe that's my cue. Alyssa, it was lovely seeing you tonight. I'm assuming I'll see you at breakfast in the morning before you go?" Gage asks, his devious grin in plain sight.
I don't know how, but he knew I was planning on slipping out without Drackus knowing.
"I'm leaving tonight, so no."
Drackus tightens his lips, his hands sliding around to take a hands-on-hips stance.
"Absolutely not!" my estranged father answers, surprising me with his authoritative tone.
"I'm afraid that's not your choice, Drackus," I bitterly counter, and his eyes soften instead of growing angrier as I anticipated.
"I was really hoping you'd at least stay until morning. Castine is strongest under the moon, just as any night stalker. Not to mention, I have a present for you."
Gage smirks before walking out and leaving us alone. I watch his back, my desire for him mounting, but it's quickly overshadowed by the tense air I have to share with my father.
"A present?" I ask, trying not to laugh. "What's the price?"
He seems a little offended, but he brushes it off in his usual stoic manner.
"This is the first time you've been home in years, and I can't very well let you leave empty-handed. There's no price whatsoever. Let's call it a birthday gift. You have one coming up soon, do you not? I realize it's been a while, but I think this one should make up for all the material things you might have lacked."
Just not the emotional things, eh? Typical.
"You've missed a few birthdays, but who's counting?" I say with a shrug. "I don't need a present. I do need to get back. Thad's supposed to be back tomorrow, and I'm going to get him to buckle down and focus on Mom's case."
And possibly free me from the bond with Kane since Gage is out of the question now, thanks to Drackus and his choice in bride.
"This is a gift you will love, and as far as Thad goes, I'll have him meet you first thing in the morning. I know I have no right to ask, but please stay. Just for tonight. If you refuse, then I'll have no choice but to drive you home myself. Is that what you want?"
His smug smile makes me feel like a child again. Gage knows him well. He perfectly predicted this.
"Okay. Any chance you can whip me up some pajamas? My magic isn't quite clothing creation savvy, so I'd rather not look like Jane of the jungle."
He chuckles lightly, a delightful sparkle in his eyes.
"Actually, you'll find your old room is fully stocked with everything you could possibly need. No magic necessary."
My mouth would fall open if it wasn't glued shut right now. Why would he have my room stocked?
"Why-"
"Because regardless of your justifiable resentment toward me, you're still my daughter. Every year I change the styles of the clothes, keeping things up to date and keeping the clothing in your size. Amari simply believes that room is a shrine to the daughter she believes died years ago. I've never told her any differently."
His voice wavers, forcing him to clear his throat, but he decides not to proceed with his explanation.
"Okay. Thanks," I murmur with clear confusion.
He motions for me to walk out first, and he follows behind me as the music plays on for the dancing immortals. As we near the stairs, I decide to call it an early night.
"If it's all the same to you, I'm really, really tired. I still have to call Thad to let him know I'm okay, and then I'd like to get some sleep."
He nods softly, and then he shifts from side to side as though he doesn't know how to handle a goodnight-departure.
"I'll see you in the morning, Drackus."
He smiles, his eyes sparking with excitement, and then I see the faintest hint of a watering effect. I almost forget all of our past drama in that instant, feeling for the first time in so long that he really is my father.
"Goodnight, Airis," he says in a near whisper, not correcting himself this time.
He walks away, smiling as he heads back toward the dancing craziness just down the hall. I head up the stairs, touching the banister that is engraved with memories of me sliding down it, laughing as my father held me to keep me from falling off the steep edge.
It seems like a lifetime ago when I was a happy, naive child with no real understanding of the world. I see the hallway leading to my childhood bedroom, but I'm deterred from my path when I hear Gage's laughter coming from a nearby room.
The door is open, so I don't pass up the chance to peek inside. I instantly regret that decision when I see him standing in front of the window with his shirt stripped off. He talks on the phone with his back turned, giving me a guilt-free view of all the perfect contours he has to offer from behind.
The dark denim, frayed jeans look even sexier with his perfectly golden toned skin in sight.
"Yeah," he says to whoever he's talking to. With my hunger for touch growing stronger, I can't even manage to listen in on the other end. "She's doing fine here. Drackus has talked her into spending the night by now. I'll follow her back in the morning... Yeah, just meet us there. And get your own room."
Obviously he's talking to Thad, but I can't stand here and keep staring at his perfect body. I wasn't planning on anyone else already being up here. I guess that's why he essentially bid me goodnight in the library.
With quick, silent steps, I scurry past his room before he can see me. It would be bad... so bad for me to step in there right now.
Kane's lips press against mine as he owns my body. His expert motions remind me why I gave myself to him the first time. He pulls me close, not giving me much room to breathe.
Just as I'm about to fall over the edge, his fangs sink into my soft flesh, offering me the excruciating pain of dragon's breath venom... deadly venom.
I scream out, leaping from my bed to feel my heartbeat en route to explode. I fell asleep in this house full of dark creatures, and it has offered me dark dreams in return.
I glance around the modernized room that leaves no trace of a small girl's refuge. It's so sleek, clean, and me. It doesn't bring me comfort though, not right now. The dream only reminded me of how dangerous this bond is getting.
Everyday I'm losing it a little more, and it's time to end the misery before it ends me. Despite all my better judgment, there's only one guy I'm willing to do this with. After a long process of listing pros and cons, there's no way I'm doing this with Thad.
With a shaky breath, I make my way out of the room and creep down the silent, dark hallway. My red satin gown is trimmed in black lace and has a split up the leg. Normally, I would mock such attire, but tonight it'll serve me well.
I expect him to jump up, ready to fight an intruder when I open the door, but he doesn't move. The dark user sleeps peacefully, one arm stretched over his head, the other resting wide at his side.
The black sheet has slid down, and the moonlight shines through the window to cast a mouthwatering glow over his sleek abs. From the sexy body to the tattoos to the piercings, the dark boy is definitely not one I can overlook anymore.
I slide in bed beside him, still expecting him to wake before I start my seductive dance, but he stays still, his breaths remaining even.
Before I chicken out, I slip my leg over his waist and push my lips to his, startling him awake. He pulls back, shocked and flabbergasted, but the second he realizes it's me, his lips envelope mine in a crushing, needy force.
He flips me to my back as he slides on top of me, letting his hand roam freely up the split of my gown and finding I skipped out on the underwear.
"Oh damn," he murmurs against my lips. "Hold on."
He throws my legs around his waist and we start rolling off the bed in a swift motion. I want to squeal, but suddenly we're vaporizing and slipping through the planes of life and death. Everything around me blurs and becomes laid out in grayscale.
I giggle lightly when we land on something soft yet prickly, only to learn we've just landed on top of the loft inside the stable. The hay under us only makes me roll my eyes.
First, Drackus plays fairy godmother; then I get a wicked stepmother; and now I'm taking a roll in the hay. Sheesh. A night of clichés.
"What?" he asks while smiling against my lips before trailing his lips down my neck.
"Nothing. Why are we in the loft? Didn't want to get your bed dirty?"
He laughs as I frown a little, and then below me the straw bed turns into an actual bed - a soft, luscious bed. I bite back a grin as I see the scandalous blue eyes staring back at me.
"We always get interrupted. I sure as hell don't want Drackus to be the one interrupting us, and this is the most private place on the estate."
Before I can further spoil the mood, his lips crush mine with a bruising force as he slides my gown up farther. The heated passion in his breath banishes all my foreign thoughts, forcing me to only focus on the moment at hand - the delicious moment at hand.
My hands tangle in his hair as his pants slip free, leaving him bare between my legs. I almost gasp when he doesn't take the chance of anything going wrong and surges in, burying himself deep inside me with his glorious firmness and ending this tormenting game of built up frustration.
"Fuck," he breathes out almost breathlessly. "That's even better than I thought it would be."
I moan involuntarily as he starts his intoxicating rhythm, his magic rattling over the surface of my body as it seeps free from his clutches and electrifies our bodies in the most surreal, erotic way.
His lips claim mine again as he grips my hips to angle them, making his strokes deeper and more intense. His tongue explores my mouth, giving me time to play with his latest piercing, and I almost get lost in his explosively amazing touch.
He slides my gown up more, pushing it to be just below my breasts as he slips his thumb over the most sensitive spot on my body. I'm forced to arch my body as the sensations flood me without mercy and he only goes deeper, making my mouth fall unhinged as my panted breaths creep out.
His lips stroll up my neck as the sounds of the forest pick up to mask our carnal melodies. Each low, sexy grunt in the back of his throat churns my insides, making me feel the all the hotter.
Something inside me shatters; a freeing release as the bond is broken, and suddenly the ecstasy I'm already feeling takes on a whole new life.
I push him over, forcing him to his back as I take over. My gown falls and puddles around our colliding centers as he guides my hips, still controlling the rhythm. My head falls back in unbridled ecstasy as he starts jerking me to him faster, rushing my moment of release.
I'm suddenly crying out, his name rushing through my lips like a thankful prayer, and then I feel him stiffening as he finds his release, holding me still as he relishes every second of it.
At last, I finally get to collapse to his chest, and he pulls me close, kissing my head over and over with his exquisitely soft lips as his breathlessness rings out.
"It's about damn time," he says, exhausted, making me laugh.
I feel so... free. I taste the misery of heartbreak still, but it doesn't own me the way it did. I had hoped it would take away all my feelings for Kane, but no such luck followed my divine entanglement.
"Yeah," I hum out, sounding like a starry-eyed, drunken fool.
"You didn't get dizzy when I vaporized you that time. You're getting closer to immortality."
I stretch out, basking in the glorious feel of the untainted air around me. "Yeah," I giggle out, though there's no reason for humor.
"It worked, didn't it?" he asks, his smile uncontainable as it becomes the light in the dark loft.
"Yeah."
He laughs at my redundant answer that seems to apply to everything as I revel in our delicious afterglow.
"You want to sleep out here, with me?" He draws me closer, draping my leg over him, and kisses the hollow of my neck.
"Yeah."