BY 10 PM, I am dressed and ready to head out to Carlos’s birthday celebration at Aria. I’m literally running on fumes, having worked a full day from opening to close at Cashmere, not to mention extremely sexually frustrated. Dorian still has not put out the flame burning deep between my thighs, and I’m starting to think he’s still punishing me for our fight earlier in the week. I can’t think like that; the immense guilt may creep back in, causing me to tumble back into a state of depression. And I have so much to be thankful for right now.
Dorian shows up at my apartment, eyes alight with the same carnal craving that’s eating me alive. He looks devilishly dashing in charcoal grey designer jeans, a white dress shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows, skinny silk tie and a black vest, all tailored to accentuate his remarkable build. He is by far the best dressed man I have ever seen, looking more male model than ruthless assassin. His perfectly chaotic black locks and the bit of rugged stubble scream bad boy meets business, making my ache for him even more unbearable. I want him now, and won’t hesitate to pull up my strapless silver and black foil shirred dress for easier access.
“You look incredible, baby,” he coos in my ear, placing a soft kiss just below my earlobe. It’s enough to drive me absolutely mad.
“You too. Is it a coincidence that we match?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. Sheesh, who knew we would be one of those couples?
Dorian gives me a wink of his smoldering eye, and bites his bottom lip. Yes, he must be just as affected. The prospect of actually making it to this birthday party is looking slimmer by the second.
“Either you’re going to take me back in that bedroom and give me a proper ruining or we need to leave,” I say with a hand perched on my curvy hip. I would skip the affair altogether had I not promised Morgan I would be there before she left with Miguel.
Dorian grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers, and leads me out to his gleaming black Mercedes. As we cruise east towards Powers Boulevard, the sensual sounds of Usher radiating from the speakers, the pulsing down below becomes amplified in the confined space. I need him like I need air. Just something to ease the intense yearning for him.
“I know, baby,” he breathes.
That’s it. I can’t take this anymore. With lustful fervor, I undo my seatbelt then lean over to anxiously unfasten his belt buckle, causing Dorian to nearly yelp in surprise at my spontaneity. I hurriedly undo the fly if his jeans, feeling the heat radiating from the hardened bulge begging to be relinquished. My eyes grow wide with excitement as I unleash his rock hard erection, feeling it pulse in my hands. I’m so hungry for him, I can’t wait any longer. I take him in my mouth, hearing a grateful sigh at the feeling of my wet tongue. I pull back, sucking, swirling it with my tongue before sliding back down to the back of my throat. I wish I could savor every luscious inch of him, yet his substantial size makes it impossible. Over and over, I suckle and lick, letting my hands stroke the sensitive parts of him that my mouth can’t reach. He moans approvingly, his fingers gently massaging my scalp. They slide down to my breasts, slipping inside of my dress, flicking and tugging my aching nipples. I moan against his flesh in my mouth, vibrating his swell, adding an extra element of pleasure.
“Ah, shit, baby, you’re gonna make me…” Dorian breathes. He’s panting, struggling to keep his eyes on the road, though his driving hasn’t faltered in the least.
“No, don’t,” I command, coming up for air for just a second before resuming my relentless tongue-lashing and savoring the tiny trickles of sweet sap collecting at the tip.
“You’re gonna make… Fuck, I’m gonna come, baby,” he rasps, his breathing wild with sweet agony. His fingers continue to strum my hard nipples and I moan again, letting the vibrations shudder through him. I slow my pace, to avoid his unraveling, refusing to bring him to the brink that he so desperately needs, just like me.
Pleasing him only intensifies the burning inside me, the throb evolving into an uncontrollable quake. I squeeze my thighs together, fighting the urge to touch myself while I pleasure my impassioned lover. This is about him. This is my redemption.
Dorian swells and pulsates in my mouth, warning me that release is near. Reluctantly, I pull away, and sit up, leaving his burning hot, distended member standing upright in his lap. Dorian looks over at me incredulously, completely taken aback at what has transpired. Not only did I completely catch him off guard, which is not an easy feat by any means, I’ve left him hard as a rock and ready to explode. He’s speechless, unable to articulate a single word now that every ounce of blood has traveled south of the border.
Wow. Dorian flustered? Now there’s a first!
I casually pull the passenger side mirror down and fluff my hair, scooping it all to one side to hang over my shoulder before looking over at my disoriented lover.
“I’m sorry but you’ll just have to wait until later. Sucks, doesn’t it?” Pun definitely intended. “Here, let me help you with that.”
I gently maneuver his still stiffened manhood into his pants with the very tips of my fingers, making it painfully clear that playtime is over. Carefully tucking in his shirt and refastening his pants, I flash him a naughty smile, catching a wicked look of his own.
“Oh little girl, you’re going to regret that,” Dorian mutters, pulling into the crowded parking lot.
I finish applying my shimmery nude lipgloss before smacking my pouty lips together and gazing back at him. “Bring it on.”
Aria is a multi-level warehouse turned nightclub boasting raucous fun for the young and beautiful of all walks of life. It’s not as posh and upscale as Shade, Dorian’s restaurant and lounge in Breckenridge, but with its white couches, polished stainless steel tables, and pastel colored strobe lights, it definitely gives off a euphoric, almost angelic vibe. The DJ in the main room is spinning all the latest dance hits and the dance floor is already packed with girls showing too much skin in too high heels. Carlos has reserved a VIP section with a large white sectional and a long table packed with spirits, gifts and even a cake.
We approach the party hand in hand, a first for me in such a public place, and receive a barrage of surprised looks and smiles. How could people not react? Dorian looks even more drop dead sexy tonight, and knowing what has just transpired in the car ride just minutes before makes him that much more irresistible.
“Gabs! You guys came!” Carlos beams. He is in full diva mode with fire engine red tight leather pants, a matching leather vest adorned with small silver spikes, and heeled black boots. Even his red faux hawk seems to sparkle, going perfectly with the glittery black and silver makeup covering his eyelids. Carlos looks like some type of rock star superhero, and he is stunning.
“Of course! Happy birthday, Carlos!” I say giving him a hug and handing him a gift bag. It’s a gold bottle of champagne that I’m sure rivals my monthly salary- courtesy of Dorian, of course- and a gift certificate to Cashmere. Though it’s a women’s clothing store, Carlos could and would work those threads better than most women.
“You are one lucky bitch!” Carlos whispers in my ear as we embrace. I laugh nervously as I look over his shoulder at Dorian who rolls his eyes playfully. Of course he heard; he hears everything.
We settle in with glasses of champagne, greeting our friends and mingling with party guests. Morgan looks ravishing in a metallic champagne colored halter dress, showing off her fabulous cleavage and long, gorgeous legs. She and Miguel are dancing intimately when she spots me and strolls over.
“What took you guys so long?” she shouts over the thumping bass-lines.
“Ugh, traffic totally blew,” I say with a smile. I look over at Dorian and give him a wink. Let him hear that!
Everyone is having a great time drinking and dancing, even Aurora, who is oddly pleasant and not as annoyingly shrill. When Carlos and Jackson- who is rockin’ the hell out of a tight tank and even tighter pants- pull all the girls on the dance floor for Beyonce’s “Single Ladies,” we all giggle and dance like best friends. The combination of champagne, positive vibes, and having Dorian gazing at me in admiration has got me on cloud 9. And for a moment, I pretend that we’re just two normal people hanging out with friends and having fun. The thought brings an involuntary smile to my face. This is how life should be. I strut back over to him, eager to be back in his arms.
“Hmmm, this is fitting,” Dorian murmurs, handing me a fresh glass of champagne just as Rihanna’s “S&M” comes on, spinning a salacious tale of bad girls who like it rough.
“How so?” I ask, downing half my drink.
Dorian places his hand on the small of my back, letting his fingers slide up to meet my bare skin. I instantly feel the titillating tingles accompanied by his touch coursing through my body. “Because you like it. You like pain with your pleasure.”
He’s right, but I still play coy, hoping to prolong our little game. “And how would you know that?”
Answering my question, Dorian lets his hand travel farther north to the nape of my neck, right above the beginning of my healing tattoo. With a sudden jerk, he knots his hand in my hair, brusquely pulling me towards him so his mouth is on mine. I gasp in shock and at the sharp pain ripping through my scalp, giving his forceful tongue the leeway it needs to command my mouth. To an outsider, it looks like we are just two lovers sharing a tender kiss. However, the tight grip Dorian has on my hair, causing my head to snap back violently, actually hurts, feeling like tiny daggers attacking my strained hair follicles. His other hand flies up to my exposed throat, cradling it tightly. He gives it a firm squeeze, and I moan into his mouth.
“Careful, little girl. Your Dark is showing,” he murmurs against my lips. Then he bites my bottom one hard enough to deliver a sting before letting me go.
I’m panting, my chest heaving as if I’ve just danced through ten songs straight. My sex throbs with a vengeance, infuriated with the constant tease of release. I’m burning hot for Dorian, and his little stunt has just upped the ante.
Just as I’m beginning to collect my bearings and settle into normalcy, Xavier comes over with a tray of tequila shots for everyone. After all are distributed to the crowd of party guests, we toast to Carlos’s birthday, singing the Happy Birthday song loud and obnoxiously. He beams brightly, his brown eyes twinkling with unshed tears. It warms my heart that we were here to commemorate this day with him. I look over at Dorian, a mixture of curiosity and nostalgia playing on his features. Maybe birthday celebrations are something the Dark don’t engage in. Or maybe he is missing the friendships that he once had and lost. I put his hand in mine and give it a squeeze. If it’s up to me, there will be many more celebrations like this together.
We’re chatting it up with Carmen when Morgan pulls me away to meet some of her friends and fellow stylists from Luxe. I look over at Dorian, standing yards away, his bright blue eyes locked on mine. I vaguely hear Morgan making the introductions, unable to tear my eyes from his. I’m completely mesmerized, damn near hypnotized by his gaze as if I’ve never seen anything like them before. It feels like lava is running through my veins, warmth radiating all through my body. The heat begins to travel through my breasts, stinging each nipple. Then it’s in my belly, slithering further south combining with my slippery wetness. The sensation is so agonizingly good; I can feel it pushing me closer and closer to the edge of my downfall. Then Dorian’s delicious lips part a fraction, forming a small ‘O’ as if he is blowing out a candle, and it happens.
I come. Hard.
Right there in the middle of Morgan and three other people whose names I could not remember if you paid me, I climax, unable to contain the tragic cry of defeat and attracting a number of questioning stares.
“Excuse me, something is caught in my throat,” I cough, trying to mask my guffaw. I grab Morgan’s glass of champagne and down its contents in record time, excusing myself to the ladies room. I swear I hear Dorian’s baritone voice laughing behind me.
When I emerge from the bathroom stall, I nearly run right smack into Aurora draped in skintight gold sequins. She stares at me intently, almost fascinated with our near collision. The bathroom is empty apart from the two of us, and I instantly know something isn’t right.
“Hey Aurora, everything ok?”
“Everything is fine, Gabriella,” she purrs in her sweet soprano. “Having a good time?”
“Yeah, I am. How about you?” I maneuver around her stock still body and head for the sink, keeping my eyes fixed on her through the mirror. Awkward.
Finally Aurora saunters over next to me, so close that our arms are almost touching. I can feel the static between us, sending tiny bolts of electricity up and down my extremities. She tears her brazen, blue eyes from my reflection in the mirror and turns towards me.
“He’s happy with you. I’ve never seen him like this. He really does love you.”
Of course. This is about Dorian. “I love him too, Aurora,” I say tentatively. Where is this going?
“And Jared? Do you love him?” her expression is completely unreadable. I can’t decipher if she’s being aggressive or simply curious.
I flash her a nervous smile. Not because I’m afraid of her, but because I’m afraid of what I may do to her if she steps out of line. “I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Jared. He and I have been friends for a long time.”
Aurora nods her head slowly. “He loves you. I can see it. I didn’t quite understand it before but…,” she trails off, lost in her own thoughts. “Have you ever thought of how it would be to have both of them? At once? Pleasing you simultaneously? I know I have.”
The fuck? Where the hell did that come from? And why am I just standing here, my eyes wide with shock, unable to verbalize my disgust?
Aurora bites her pouty pink bottom lip seductively, her eyes sweeping the length of my body. I suddenly feel as if I am butt naked in the middle of rush hour traffic.
“You know, Jared is a very good lover. Very generous and attentive. Very… big. ” A wicked grin spreads across her face and her ice blue eyes meet mine. “And Dorian...oh my. He’s still the best I’ve ever had. He’s so…intense. Domineering. Just all-consuming. Don’t you agree?”
What the… Did she just say what I think she said?
“What are you getting at Aurora?” I say, finally finding my voice, though it’s shaky and weak.
She moves in close enough to bathe me with her sweet, cool breath. Close enough that I smell the scent of her perfume mixed with the tang of alcohol. And something else…Pure sex and sin.
“We should all get together, the four of us. Jared and Dorian, pleasuring you simultaneously- could you imagine? Both of them devouring you at once? We could…share.” She skims her tongue across her top teeth suggestively. “I know I wouldn’t mind having a little fun. Like I said, I’m not shy.”
Aurora lifts her perfectly petite manicured hand and lightly strokes the top of my cleavage with her fingertips. I am mortified, not only at her action but because shamefully, her soft touch is...enticing. Arousing, even. Shit.
I finally take a step backward, confused and ashamed at my body’s betrayal. “Aurora, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I stammer. What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I not knocking her on her ass?
Aurora shrugs nonchalantly. “Suit yourself.” She takes a step toward me, closing the small distance between us and leans in. Her lips brush my earlobe, igniting a sizzle in my veins. “Just remember, only a girl knows what a girl wants,” she whispers, sending an icy shiver down my spine.
Before another lust-laced word is spoken, a group of intoxicated young women burst into the bathroom, cackling and singing, causing me to take a reflexive step backwards. I fade into the commotion until I have escaped the women’s restroom, finding Dorian leaning against the wall a few feet away.
“Are you okay?” he asks gauging the flustered look on my face. “I saw Aurora follow you in.”
“I will be. Aurora…what the hell? I think she just propositioned us for a foursome with her and Jared. She even made a pass at me! It was…weird.” I shake my head as to dispel the heated encounter and try to ignore my own wayward hormones.
Dorian chuckles a bit then shakes his head solemnly. “She’s affected.”
“Affected? What the hell does that mean?”
Dorian strokes my cheek with the back of his hand. “My love, I’m not the only one who finds you irresistible. Especially the closer you are to ascension. With Aurora being an Órexis, she can manipulate your desires. Confuse you.”
You can say that again.
“So what? Should I expect her to keep trying to get me in bed?” And will I be able to resist?
Dorian shakes his head. “No. She just needs to replenish. She’s about to get what she needs.” He nods his head towards the women’s restroom, where Aurora still has not emerged even with the intrusion of rowdy girls.
Horror washes over my face and I take in a sharp breath. “Dorian! She’s not going to kill them, is she?”
Again, Dorian chuckles and shakes his head. He pulls me to him by my hips, wrapping his arms around my waist. “No, she won’t. But those girls are about to get very bi-curious.”
Sheesh. Talk about sex-crazed. Not to mention Aurora’s description of Jared’s generous sexual abilities. How the hell do I wipe that from memory? And do I even want to?
Ugh, FML.
Dorian places a gentle kiss on my forehead, causing me to abandon my worried expression. “So what do you want to do? Do you just want to leave?”
“No,” I answer thoughtfully. “Right now, I need a strong drink. Then I want you to take me on that dance floor and make me remember just how straight I am.”
We bound to the bar, where Dorian orders two glasses of the best overpriced scotch they have. I sip the poison slowly, letting its warmth slide down my throat and spread to my hips, my thighs, my moist apex...
Holy shit, chill out, Gabs. Overly sexual is just not my thing. Or is it?
Right on cue, “Moves Like Jagger” resonates from the speakers, causing a stampede to the dance floor. I set my glass down and grab Dorian’s hand.
“Phase 2, let’s dance,” I say as he looks at me quizzically.
“I don’t dance,” Dorian replies yet lets me pull him anyway.
“Is that right? Because I clearly remember someone once telling me that if you can fuck, you can dance. And you can fuck, right?” I smile, reminding him of the very words he spoke to me when he wanted me to strip for him. And anyone that can move like him in the bedroom can definitely dance.
Dorian rolls his eyes and smirks naughtily, giving me all the answer I need. I lead him to the dance floor where his graceful, fluid dance moves draw quite a crowd along with more than a few admirers, men and women alike. With liquid courage coursing through my veins, I hold my own, grinding against him seductively and rolling my hips to the beat.
After he wows the crowd, I am swept away by my friends when one of our favorite songs blares from the speakers. Being here with them, remembering simpler times where warding off hangovers rather than evil mystical beings was our biggest worry, pulls at my heartstrings. In this moment, we’re the only ones in the expansive, crowded club, singing our hearts out about youth and recklessness. Because this is what it’s all about- having fun, conquering the night, suffering the next day, and doing it all again.
We shouldn’t have to grow up. We shouldn’t have to be mature. But that’s our reality; we can’t go back to how things once were. So all we have is tonight. Tonight, we’ll be as ridiculous and juvenile as possible. Tonight, we’ll make bad choices that we may regret tomorrow. Tonight, it’s all about us. Because our nights like this are numbered. My nights are numbered.
LARGE, SOFT HANDS caress every inch of my naked body, alternating wet kisses on every erogenous zone. My neck. My shoulders. My nipples. My belly bottom. The back of my knees. The sensitive skin of my inner thighs. One hand grasps the satin sheets while my other reaches out to the source of my pleasure. My fingers weave through silken strands of hair, tugging gently. He brings his head up to mine, a sexy half-smile on his full lips. Dorian. Naked and utterly beautiful.
“Do I make you feel good, baby?” he murmurs as he nuzzles into my neck, licking and sucking a trail to my earlobe.
“Mmmm, yes, Dorian,” I coo, letting my eyes close.
“How good?” His teeth graze my skin, sending prickly heat down to the pit of my belly.
“So. Good,” I gasp.
His hands are still all over me- rolling my nipples between those magic fingers, teasing my swollen clit. I pull him down, unable to resist not feeling his lips for a second more. Dorian sucks my tongue into his mouth, nipping and tasting until I feel I could explode from his kiss alone. Another set of hands joins his yet I am too caught up in Dorian’s flavor to even be startled. The hands are large, strong yet soft. They are moving up my thighs, replacing Dorian’s fingers as he moves to cup and fondle my aching breasts. When he pulls away, our erotic intruder comes into view.
Jared. Holy shit! Jared!
He’s all hardened muscle, sun-kissed skin and a smattering of sexy, dark tattoos on his chest and biceps. Shit, he’s gorgeous and my body instantly responds to him. He grins seductively while swirling my sex with long, adept fingers. I look to Dorian, awaiting the onslaught of his wrath yet he gazes back at me with nothing but pure unadulterated desire as he continues to flick and caress. As if it were choreographed, they switch places- Dorian between my legs and Jared at my torso. He licks his lips, taking in the sight of my naked body for the very first time.
“God, Gabs, I want you so bad,” he rasps. “I’ve wanted you for so long. Too long. Do you want me?”
Do I? Hell yes!
I feel Dorian’s wet tongue on my inner thighs, his teeth nibbling the sensitive area. I moan, unable to overanalyze an appropriate response.
“Yes, Jared,” I breathe, just as Dorian slowly inserts a finger inside me, making it impossible to backpedal.
Simultaneously, their tongues are inside me- Jared in my mouth and Dorian in my dripping wet heat. My body shudders at the sensation and I moan into Jared’s mouth as his hands find my heavy mounds. I know I won’t be able to hold on. It just feels too good. So. Damn. Good.
When Jared pulls his mouth away, I see that we are not alone. On the other side of me kneels Aurora, clad in only a pair of lace panties. She smiles at me lustfully, biting her bottom lip. My traitorous breath catches in response. She is absolutely beautiful. Sexy and perfect. I hate that I don’t find her presence revolting. I find her so damn enticing.
Jared leans over me and pulls Aurora’s mouth to his, causing a slight twinge of jealousy to stiffen my body. Dorian sucks my flesh into his mouth hard, making all bitter thoughts abandon me. As Jared and Aurora continue their lip-lock, they each begin to caress my breasts. The combination of sensation is sheer torture and bliss and I come with a hoarse cry. Dorian laps up my release, refusing to show me any mercy though my flesh is almost achingly sensitive. It’s too much. I don’t know if I can take anymore.
Jared and Aurora break their kiss then look down at me. Jared grasps my hand, placing it on Aurora’s thigh. Her skin is so soft and silky, her scent involuntarily making my mouth water. I can’t help myself; I slowly let it move up her body, feeling the heat of her sex against my hand. She parts her legs, allowing me to cup it through the lace of her panties. Hearing her moan in response, along with Dorian between my thighs still strumming my own sex, only encourages me. I let my fingers stroke her wetness, the thin layer of fabric our only barrier. She leans over and places her pink lips around my hardened nipple as we both cry out our satisfaction in lustful harmony.
With hooded eyes, I look over at Jared as he grips his massive erection in his hand. I gulp, my eyes widening with shock and delight at his size. He smiles at my reaction.
Well, shit. Aurora wasn’t lying.
As if she heard her name in my salacious thoughts, Aurora licks a path up from my breasts to my mouth. Feeling her small, soft tongue in my mouth, her warm lips working against mine and smelling her scent drives me absolutely mad. My hand knots in her long hair, while the fingers of my other hook inside her panties.
When she lifts her face from mine, completely overcome with ecstasy and whimpering, I see that Jared and Dorian have switched places once more. Dorian is beside me, wearing his usual wicked grin as he watches Aurora and I touch each other. Jared’s long fingers are inside me, preparing me, while he spreads my legs wider. And just as his insanely large length begins stretch me open, Dorian grabs Aurora by the back of her head and crushes her mouth to his…
I thrash awake, gasping for air, nearly naked and disoriented. The fuck? Did I just…No. It was just a dream. A ridiculously freaky, tempting dream, but just a dream. Whew.
Where am I? I can’t remember anything past…being on the dance floor? Shit. I look around me, taking in my surroundings. Dorian’s bedroom. I’m in his bed, dressed only in boy shorts and a sheer cami, the slick satin cool against my slightly stinging back. I look up to see Dorian hovering over me sitting on his knees, his hands alight with cold, blue flames touching my bare stomach. His eyes rapidly meet mine, too quickly for any human.
“Better?” he asks. He’s shirtless, wearing only low-hung jeans around the severe cut of his hips.
I mentally assess my sudden coherency. Moments before, I didn’t even know how I had arrived here, indicating that I was too inebriated to make it here on my own. What happened back at the club? Oh crap crap crap. Did I make a fool out of myself? I obviously blacked out and Dorian took care of me. But when?
“Yes,” I respond. And I do; somehow I feel absolutely fine. A bit shaken by the dream, but fine nonetheless.
“Good” he replies solemnly. Dorian removes his hands from my abdomen, closing them to extinguish the mystical flames and sits up. I steadily do the same.
He must have felt my arousal. He must’ve sensed I was dreaming about more than just his body on mine. Shit. Oh well, might as well face the music.
“Did you feel…?” I whisper, more than a bit ashamed at my colorful imagination.
“Yes.”
Crap. “You didn’t…I mean, you didn’t plant that dream, right?”
He shakes his head. “No, little girl. I didn’t.”
I furrow my brow. “If not you, than who? Aurora?”
The corner of Dorian’s lips twitch in amusement. “No, Gabriella. That was you. That was all you.”
Me? Oh hell no! I would never even think of having an orgy, let alone participate in one. I mean, Dorian and Jared at the same time is the fantasy to top all fantasies, but Aurora… No, that’ll never happen.
“I thought you said the Dark couldn’t heal,” I say, hoping to steer the conversation onto something a little less sexually immoral.
“We can’t. I simply absorbed the alcohol in your body.”
So that’s what he did for me that night after our tequila-filled fiesta. The question had been gnawing at me for a week. A week? That’s all it’s been? Only a week since I saw him, dreamt of him. Only a week since I willingly touched myself in hopes to entice him on the beach. The Dark King. Crap. Get outta my head! I’m like a horny teenager on Red Bull and Viagra!
“Thank you. I would have been no fun.” My eyes grow wide with terror. “Please tell me I didn’t do anything embarrassing. Oh God…I didn’t get on the stage, did I?”
Dorian laughs, and the sound is music to my ears, despite my anxiety. “No, little girl. Though you did give everyone quite a show. Sure you weren’t an exotic dancer in a past life?” he chuckles.
I smack him on the arm and feign offense, eventually giggling at my own expense. Yup, that sounds like me.
“Jared and I had quite the relentless task of warding off young defenseless suitors.”
“Jared?” I respond too quickly.
“Yes. He cares for you deeply. Wouldn’t let a guy get close enough to touch you the entire time.”
The sentiment makes my heart swell. I told Aurora the truth; Jared will always have a place in my heart. “Dorian, I don’t want him to get hurt in all this.”
He gathers me into his arms, and rests my head on his chest, reclining back onto the pillows. “I know, little girl.” I am all too aware he hasn’t assured me that Jared won’t get hurt; he’s just told me he understands.
“You said my Dark is showing tonight,” I say after a few contemplative moments. “What’d you mean by that?”
I feel Dorian smile against the crown of my head. “You are drawn to Dark elements- eroticism, alcoholism, aggression, masochism. It’s who you are. It’s what sustains you. But you are unlike any of us. You want it all. And you have the power to manipulate it all. You invoke them in me often.”
What? Hell no! Dorian feels the tension building in my body and squeezes me a bit tighter to soothe me.
“But you draw from Light. The sun strengthens you. You’re compassionate, loving, nurturing. You’re a natural protector. You see the good in people even when they don’t see it in themselves. Even when there’s none to be found. You’re good. And you make me want to be good too. For you.”
I take a moment to digest Dorian’s assessment of the anomaly that is me. So many things to him, yet I don’t even know who I am. Am I good? I hurt the people closest to me, the people I love, whenever I lose control. Nurturing? Compassionate? I’ve never considered myself either of those things. I still don’t have a tight grasp on who I truly am. I’m still Unknown, still Nobody. Because even with the discovery of my paranormal heritage and the prophecy of what I was meant to be, I’m just not there. I’m just regular old Gabs. The girl who was never good enough.
“Do you want me to align with the Dark?” I say to break the deafening silence.
“Part of me does. Yes.”
“Why? If you hate what you are so much?”
“So we can be together.” Dorian rests his hands on my shoulders, looking me in my bewildered hazel eyes. “And I don’t hate what I am, Gabriella. I know what I am. I accept it. You just still have not accepted that the same darkness that lives in me also lives in you.”
He’s right. I refer to his darkness as something foreign, unlike me in every way. But I harbor the same Dark element. It’s in me. But because it has been a part of who I was for the past twenty years, I never deemed it as alien. Maybe I was built to be Dark. I didn’t fall in love with someone from the Light. I didn’t build an unbreakable bond with that side of me. It was the Dark who accepted me, while the Light chose to forsake me. Maybe my destiny is to rule the Dark with my Dark Prince.
“Now, little girl, if you are feeling better, I believe we have a score to settle,” Dorian says sitting upright.
“What are you talking about?” I turn to him, a question in my hazel eyes.
“I think you know exactly what I am talking about. I told you that you would regret that little stunt. And after tonight, you will think twice about playing games with me.” Dorian licks his lips and the pink of his tongue causes my breath to hitch.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to give you what you need. What you crave,” he responds with dark hooded eyes. He bears his teeth and my heartbeat quickens in response. “And when you think that you can’t take anymore, when your body trembles with the intense waves of pleasure, and you cry because ecstasy completely overwhelms you, I’m going to do it again. And again. Until you are blissfully ruined. Until the only thing you see when you close your eyes is me.”
And without further explanation, Dorian does just that.