Текст книги "Ties That Bind"

Автор книги: T. A. Grey

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

But he didn’t relent. He just continued to rub her as her channel tightened and squeezed, milking something that she was bereft of. As the tremors started to subside he climbed up her body still rubbing those teasing circles across her with his wicked fingers. It amazed her that now she felt even emptier inside, her inner walls demanding to clamp onto something, a finger, anything.

His mouth founds hers in a kiss that made the room spin. All tongues and lips meshing and twisting together. His choppy breaths blew across her face.

“Tell me you still want this.” His voice was deeper than she'd ever heard it, his demonic accent sliding through.

She answered him by squeezing her legs around his hips, slanting her mouth across his, and rocking against him.

That was all he needed. A deep groan left him from deep in his chest and then his hands moved under her to clasp her bottom and lift her the barest of inches. His cock found her wet core and nudged in and out, teasing as their tongues dueled.

How could he still tease at a time like this? She wanted him to impale her and ease the heavy ache inside her that only he could reach. She was just about to complain when he pushed in a few inches. The sensations sent her head careening to the side so she could moan. He stretched her, filled her. It burned but made her tremble all at the same time.

“It feels so good.” She held on to his strong shoulders for dear life as he pulled all the way back out and pushed in further. This felt even better. The tight muscles inside her finally had something to cling and latch onto, to massage and it felt heavenly.

His breathing shuddered and he buried his face against her neck as he plummeted further, hitting the barrier that no man had ever breached. She felt the muscles in his back tense and panic filled her.

Just in case he thought to back away now, she squeezed her limbs tighter around him.

His hips retreated, dragging sweetly along those tender unused muscles. An incoherent moan followed from her lips. Then he struck her again, harder, possessively. Her barrier felled in the single thrust and he buried himself all the way inside, reaching so far, spreading her so far around him. He seemed rooted deeply inside her, and he stretched her so wide that surely he was meant to fill her.

Her lips parted at the unusual, erotic sensation. Beneath her fingertips she felt the muscles tremble in his shoulders and back. A wicked smile curled her lips. She lifted her hips, rocking against him and another moan came. The initial sting from the barrier breaking faded leaving only this incredible perfect feeling inside her.

“Dreenaru finishama slinah,” he growled.

She couldn't stop rocking her hips against him. “What does that mean?” She mumbled the words, they sounded dry and hoarse from the lack of saliva in her throat. All the liquid in her body seemed to pool around his cock inside her to make his movements glide.

He didn't answer her, but pulled his hips back, dragging his hard shaft through her, then pushing back in again. That started the rhythm that would sweep her up and making her see stars.

Incredible, powerful feelings swept over her. The need in her belly grew bigger, hotter, tighter. He pushed in and she rocked her hips against him, again and again. They created a sensual rhythm. His breathing grew heavier, faster and she swore his cock grew bigger inside her, or maybe she'd tightened around him?

Cries left her that she'd never heard herself make and he was right there with her, moaning, groaning, and thrusting into her with powerful strikes that worked her inner tissues so wickedly.

Her cries grew deeper, more guttural as he hit a spot inside her that pulled everything she felt into a tight ball in her belly. He pumped faster, his sleek cock spearing through her, sending them both toward ecstasy.

His name fell from her ragged lips again and again.

“Come, come for me,” he panted in a pained voice.

And just like that she did. The hands cupping her ass squeezed tighter and his thrust landed hard, pounding against something that detonated her orgasm. She screamed a strangled, hoarse cry as waves of hot, burning pleasure raced through her, shaking her, burning her down to her curled toes.

His long cry echoed hers as he pulled up and grabbed her hips in his hands then thrust into her with a fierce determined passion. It only took a few thrusts before he landed deep, groaning, and spilled himself.

She jerked, hands twisting in the sheets at the sensation that was unlike anything she'd ever felt. She could feel him shoot inside her; it was a rhythmic sexual thing that made her breasts arch towards him and her hips rock against him to prolong it for him.

He collapsed on top of her, breathing like he'd just run up Mount Everest with a hundred pounds of gear on his back. Their flushed skin stuck together with a hint of sweat but she didn't mind. Her entire body felt like it floated ten feet off the bed. Every muscle in her body felt more limber than it'd ever felt.

Closing her eyes, she rubbed her hands up and down his back and simply enjoyed the moment, the feel of a man in her arms. Her heart felt funny at the thought, and she scolded herself. Now wasn’t the time to get sentimental. That'd scare him off faster than she could say the word “love.” Which, she corrected quickly, she did not feel. Though there were definitely some strong emotions she felt for him. Maybe that's what an orgasm did to a girl though?

With a sigh, he slid off her and rolled onto his back, his eyes trained on the ceiling.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

His lips almost pulled into a smile. “Shouldn't I be asking you that?” he countered.

“I've never felt better.” It was the truth.

She felt as though if she looked at herself in the mirror right now she'd be glowing. Her body burned with simmering warmth, her muscles felt loose but strong. A thought struck her. It almost felt like when she drank her juice. She frowned and quickly forced the thought away. She didn’t need that shit right now.

She got up and started pulling her clothes on. She had to see her sisters and tell them about everything that happened, about their mother. When she came back from the bathroom she found him still lounged on the bed, his arms behind his head like a pillow, his legs kicked out long and slightly open.

Her eyes strayed to his cock and her lips suddenly felt dry. Her tongue darted out to wet them.

Lazily he said, “I wouldn't look at my cock like that. Unless you want to taste it.”

His deep voice sent chills down her body and just like that butterflies danced around in her stomach again. Hell, she even felt a blush color her cheeks. So much for keeping her cool.

“Um, I'd love to. Another time, I promise.” Even as she said it, she really meant it. She'd never tasted a man like that, and the thought of having him slide hard between her lips sent a thrill straight to her clitoris. “I just have to meet up with my sisters. It's important.”

Without a word, he started to dress too. Only he grabbed a clean suit from the closet, which was neatly pressed and ready to wear. He seemed a little distant from her but she'd expected that. To make a connection so fast to someone, especially to her, had to be hard on him. She almost chuckled. God, a penny for his thoughts though. She really wanted to know what raced around in the clever cogs up there. Did he plan to never sleep with her again? To force her out of his building once and for all? How would he react in a few weeks when her new moon hit?

A wave of arousal floated over her and she actually wobbled on her feet. She had no doubt that if he wanted to, he'd make her new moon experience incredible. But would he be her Protector for real? Would he pleasure her nearly every day like she'd need? The thought sent her mood spiraling down so quickly she plastered on a smile and strode to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

He looked hesitant, but when she stood on her toes he came down and kissed her, his hand sliding along her jaw, his thumb caressing her chin. She thought the touch felt completely possessive but she was sure her mind made that up to improve her mood.

With a little smile she said, “I'll see you later.”

He nodded without a word and she left feeling torn in two extremely different directions. God she hoped her sisters could help.

CHAPTER 24

Alrik paced in the study. Back and forth, back and forth.

He didn't turn when the door opened. He knew who it was. The swishing of her dress against the floor gave her away. The door closed then the soft clicking of heels approached.

“Well, this has all been interesting,” his mother said.

Alrik almost snorted. That was putting it lightly. “I'm having trouble grasping it myself.”

His mother took a seat and smiled up at him with painted red lips. “Please son, take a seat and relax.”

He shook his head. “I can't relax. Too much on my mind.”

“Oh?” Her eyes widened then she opened her reticule and pulled out a slender vial plugged by a cork. “Why don't you take some of this? You know it always helps you to relax.”

He waved her off. “I don't need that.”

She didn't say anything for a moment. “How did it feel to see Telal after all these years?” Her voice was calm and inquiring but he knew her better than that. Rather she realized it or not. He knew she must be fuming at Telal's unannounced encounter the other night.

Sighing, he went to the sidebar and started to pour himself a stiff drink. Then he cursed and just took the whole bottle with him. He paced, interchanging his steps with swigs of the strong brew.

“I don't know. What the fuck do you want me to say? Bad, mother, bad.”

She made a thoughtful sound. “What do you plan to do?”

He gave her a cold stare. “I already said it. I will not open the rift. They'll have to go to war with us if they want me to open it.”

She nodded slowly. “Good work, son. Besides after all this time, he can't just come back and try to claim the throne.”

He waved her off. “He said he didn't want it.”

Her thin eyebrow shot up. “And you believed him? My dearest Alrik, why else would he want to open the rift?”

This gave him pause. She was right. In a way, at seeing his brother he'd reverted to trusting his words, at least, to a degree. He couldn't be trusted. Not after his betrayal.

“Please, sit down and let's discuss this. Your pacing makes me anxious.”

Alrik stalked to the chair opposite her and sat. The restless feeling in him grew to a boil in a second. He controlled himself, forced all the uneasy feelings deep inside, and locked it up. But he couldn’t keep from drumming his finger on his thigh in an incessant beat.

“You are so tense. Are you sure you wouldn't like my elixir? I must admit even I had to take some after that little incident with Telal.” She smiled like she'd made a small joke.

Alrik shook his head. “No, mother. I've been thinking since Telal left. I know him and he won't let this rest. He's always one to see things through. I'm going to give the order for to prepare for war.”

She folded her hands neatly in her lap. “What if I have a better idea?” Her lips pursed to try to hide a smile.

Alrik drank from the bottle, some of the alcohol spilled down his chin. “What is it?”

Her eyes snapped for a second at his bored tone and then they softened as a little smile coming across her face. “Send the dargens.”

He froze. “What?”

“That's right!” she clapped her hands together like she'd just discovered some great idea. “Send the dargens after him. They will end this before it even begins.”

His mind ran away with the idea. The dargens were the shahoulin's best trained demon assassins. Alrik had them created, trained, and bred them years ago as a precaution. The best fighters in the land were dargens. They were mostly used to kill idummi when they breached across their homeland. Their training made them dangerous killers of both magic and weapons.

“They'd have to make it past the Atal Warriors,” he said, lost in thought, a dark part of him growing giddy with glee.

“Pssht, the warriors will stand no chance against the dargen. Besides they'd love a challenge such as this. Just the thing to boost their spirits and the spirits of the people after that...awful interruption.”

“Kill Telal...”

She nodded. “And the woman. She was powerful. I'd have them both taken out. Should be fairly simple as it looked as though they were together.” She grimaced as she said the last as if she had a bad taste in her mouth.

“I'll think on it.” He leveled his gaze on hers to show him he wouldn't budge on the matter yet. He knew his mother and knew she'd expect one-hundred percent agreement right away.

Her eyes caught his, then narrowed, a look close to horror on her face. She stood in a fury. “Your eyes!”

Alrik shrugged. “What of them?”

Mother ran a hand through her hair with a shaking hand. She sat back down. “It’s nothing. Nothing. You're that upset about it? What does it matter?” He stood and returned the vial back to the bar.

When he turned back, she had the smile in place but her eyes were hard and unyielding. She held out that slender vial for him. “Take this and do not argue with me Alrik. I am your mother, and I know what's best for you. Besides, you've always said that it helps you to think.”

He barely refrained from cracking his jaw as he stalked to her and snatched the vial. She stared at him expectantly but he marched to his desk and took a seat, gently setting the vial on the desk.

“You won't take it?”

“Later, mother.”

She smiled wide and gave him a peck on his forehead. “All right, Alrik. You sleep well this night.” She reached the door and turned back. “You'll let me know what you decide.”

“Of course.”

Long after she left, Alrik sat in his chair contemplating everything. He ordered a servant to bring him a hand mirror and spent a long time staring at a pair of violet-colored eyes. They didn’t look bright or shiny; the color was still diluted, polluted. He'd never once, in all this time, questioned how his eyes changed. Or even why. He'd always accounted it to the blatant evil that had grown in his heart after the Great War. Everything about him had changed after that. He saw his father butchered by soldiers from the Atal Warriors. Saw his people murdered in a war meant to imprison them in the earth.

After becoming king, he stopped thinking such thoughts. His brother betrayed him and his people. Without a king, he'd had to step up and rule the kingdom.

Time squished events and feelings together until he couldn't really remember exactly how he'd felt and when. He remembered feeling anger worse than anything he’d ever felt at his brother.

He closed off his train of thinking with an iron fist. It didn't matter. What good was rediscovering the past when nothing could be changed? Another thought poked up its head. Arianna.

The woman had him enthralled. From her sharp wit to her incredible body, if he wasn't careful she could have him eating out of her palm. His chest tightened. He'd like that. He'd give power over to her for her loyalty and...love.

Alrik left the study and made his way to the outer barracks where the dargen resided. He'd first have a talk with them to see where they stood on the matter, and then he'd go see Arianna. He walked faster, anticipation guiding his movements. Already he couldn't wait.

CHAPTER 25

Lily used the phone in her apartment to call her sisters up. She arranged to meet them at Rosa's shop so they could all insert their much-needed advice on the situation.

She had a driver take her to Rosa's shop and made a mental note to buy another bike. She hated being chaperoned around like some teenager. She needed to get her own pair of wheels. She grinned. Maybe she'd have to buy Telal another gift. The driver pulled up to Rosa’s shop. Inside, her sisters were waiting.

She melted as she spotted the bundle in Willow's arms and she couldn't keep herself from racing over there and taking her.

“Hello, little Mary,” she cooed to the sleeping bundle. “It's your favorite Aunty, Lily.” She stopped cold. Mary. Things connected in a way they hadn't before. She'd know Willow named the baby after their long-lost mother, and Lily thought it was sweet. Until she found her mother locked up and treated worse than a mutt.

Chloe snorted and came forward to give her a one-armed hug. “How you doing, sis?”

Lily's smile faltered. “Fine.”

Willow sighed and took a seat, slouching back lazily in it. “I'm telling you this motherhood thing is hard. That baby cries more than she sleeps. But, of course, guess who can always calm her?”

Chloe grinned. “Lyonis?”

Willow made an angry face and nodded but Lily could see her eyes dancing. “How is he?” asked Lily.

“Oh, fine. He's already wanting to try for a boy and then he said he wants even more after that.”

“You don’t want to have any more?” Chloe asked, taking a cup of tea from Rosa. They all took a seat in the circle of chairs in the main room, surrounded by the smells of yummy candles, coffee, and fresh herbs.

Willow sent her an arched brow. “Why don't you try having one before you ask something like that?”

Chloe flushed deep crimson, her hand fluttered to her stomach. “Well actually...”

“Oh, you've got to be kidding me,” Lily muttered. “You too?”

Chloe nodded, her eyes wide and a little frightened. Willow smiled for real this time, the look soft and gentle. She wrapped Chloe in a hug, whispering something in her ear that calmed the fear in Chloe's eyes. Lily felt a pang of twisted jealousy in her gut. The feeling wasn't unusual but she always hated it, then hated that she felt that. Her sisters were fraternal twins, and they’d always had a different connection because of it. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, but still, it rubbed her the wrong way.

Her eye twitched and she cursed herself for not drinking her special brew before coming. She'd just been so...lost in thought. And of course, she'd felt amazing after being with Telal. Those effects apparently weren't permanent.

“Congratulations, Chloe!” Lily said, belatedly. The baby wiggled in her arms and she looked down at its soft, round face, itty-bitty nose, and curled little fists. Something squeezed tight in her stomach and she had to hand the baby back to Willow before she something stupid like tear up.

“Well it's really no wonder with the amount of sex Tyrian and I have. I mean that man is wild. Once he's unleashed, whew, he's gone.”

Lily screwed her eyes shut at the images projected into her mind. “TMI, Chloe!”

She chuckled. “Sorry.” Her voice said she so wasn't sorry.

“So, what have you brought us here for?” Willow asked, direct and to the point.

Lily's eye twitched again and her stomach knotted up in balls. She hated this. She shouldn't have called them. She'd always hated wrapping them up in her problems, which was why she'd never done it. She caught Rosa's watchful eye and at her encouraging nod, she sighed.

“A few things actually.”

“Is it a demon?” her sisters asked at once. She hid her sigh. She'd never have that kind of connection with them.

“I guess, maybe. Sort of?”

Rosa poured her a cup of tea and set it on the table in front of her. “Start with the visions.”

Lily wanted to bury her face in a pillow. You mean, the visions I've been controlling with a certain nasty potion?

“What visions?” Chloe asked, her expression pinched into a frown.

Lily sighed and told them about the visions of the dark man on the throne. She had no doubt now who it was. Telal's brother.

“And what’s so important about these dreams?” asked Willow.

Lily stared at the floor. “I die.”

After the flurry of curses, gasps, and a nearly crying Chloe, everyone calmed down enough to finally talk. Lily wanted more to just crawl back out of the room, tell everyone she was sorry, and leave. Her own eyes watered on the verge of tears but she curtailed them.

“We won't let that happen,” Willow said with an arrogance Lily didn't reciprocate. “I'll talk to Lyonis. I'll talk to everyone I know. I'm sure he knows some people. After all, Telal saved his life. He owes him.”

Lily shrugged but didn't voice that no one would find anything that'd help her. If it made her sisters feel better then let it be, she supposed.

“There's more,” Rosa said after a moment.

Her sisters glanced from Rosa to her, expectantly. “I, um, went into the rift.”

The look on her sisters’ faces flashed first with disbelief, then outrage, and then plain shock. “Why? How? When?” Chloe asked, her jaw hanging open.

“I'm sure Tyrian mentioned it, but Telal is trying to get the rift opened. Tyrian agreed to pull the Atal Warriors if he got a contract signed by the demon king. I went with him.”

Willow and Chloe shared a look. “He let you go with him?” Chloe asked slowly.

Lily flushed and ground her teeth together. She hated explaining her actions. “Not exactly. Rosa made me a porting potion, which she didn't even know she could do, and things happened then I went under the rift, was caught by some guards, and thrown in jail.”

“Oh my God, Lily what were you thinking?” Willow cried. The baby awoke at the sound of her mother's distraught voice and started crying. Instantly, Willow softened and started speaking softly, sweetly to the little baby. Quieter she hissed, “What the hell were you thinking?”

Lily's jaw hardened and she crossed her arms, not defensively but so she could squeeze herself to relieve some of the anger burning inside her.

“I was thinking of helping my Protector.”

Chloe looked confused. “But I thought he didn't want to be your Protector.”

“Yeah, and your Protector didn't want anything to do with you either, Chloe. Remember?” she countered, anger rising.

“Yeah but that was different. We're in love now and mated.”

Lily gave her a hard stare. “And that can't happen with me?” The tension in the room shot through the roof.

“No, it's just that I've met Telal and he's...abrasive to say the least.”

“Yeah, well I remember a time when Tyrian was nothing but a wife killer, bloodsucking, cold-hearted bastard.”

Chloe's jaw dropped, her eyes rounding in anger. “Don't you talk about him like that!” she hissed as loudly as she could.

Rosa stood. “Enough of this. No fighting. There is more to the story. Let her continue.”

Lily shot Rosa a look. She didn't know how much Rosa knew about anything at this point. She hadn't even told her about anything that happened in the rift.

It took her a moment to find the words. “I-I think I saw our mother.”

Another flurry of protests and questions came at her.

“Say what?” Chloe asked, her mouth hanging open in shock.

“When I was thrown in the cell, there was a woman in the one next to me.”

“Well that doesn't mean anything,” Willow said.

Lily cut her a look that told her to shut up. “She is a succubus and she doesn't know how long she's been there. She said her name was Mary.”

“Common enough name,” Chloe said but her lips pulled into a hard frown.

“I asked her what her last name was and she said Bellum.”

“Did you give her your last name first or something? I mean really this is impossible,” Willow said. “Maybe she just repeated what you said.”

“No I didn’t give her my last name.”

“Well maybe you don't think you did—”

“Willow, stop. I'm certain. When I mentioned your guys' names and dad's, she started freaking out even more. I think she recognized them.”

“Has anyone with the name Mary that we know ever gone missing or anything?” Chloe asked.

“Our mother,” Lily said flatly. “Not only that, but she has eyes just like Willow. The very same color.”

Willow looked at her baby, her jaw clenched tight.

“Okay, so what do we do about it?” asked Chloe.

“I'm going to get her out of there one way or another.”

“Well what's important now is making sure you stay safe,” Willow said. Willow always did have the hardest time dealing with the disappearance of their mother. But, Lily'd thought that since she named her child after her that maybe she'd forgiven her in some way. She wasn't surprised at Willow's outright rejection at the thought of their mother being alive. She'd her entire life removing their mother as far away from her life as possible.

“I think Telal can help me get her out.”

“How do you plan to do that?” asked Chloe.

Lily shrugged. “I don't know yet. I'll figure it out.”

Willow sighed. “Listen, the most important thing to do is to make sure you're safe. Not worrying about some woman in a demon prison, and not worrying about Telal's problem with the rift. And if this King Alrik looks like the man in your vision, you need to stay far as fuck away from him.”

Lily gave a tight-lipped smile. “I know. I got it.”

“So you won't do anything crazy?” Chloe asked, a wary look in her eyes.

“Nope. What could I do anyway? No need to worry about me.”

Lily made an excuse to go use the bathroom. Inside, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She knew her sisters meant well but it always seemed that no matter how old she grew, she'd never be anything but a child in their eyes. Turning on the cold water, she flushed it over her heated face then across the back of her neck. The freezing droplets raced down her heated back. She winced but it helped in its own way. Flushing the toilet just to make sure they didn't get any ideas about why she'd actually come in here, she dried her face and left feeling slightly more in control.

Henry and Draven were in the room when she returned. They were now officially her sisters’ transport system. Draven and Willow had formed some kind of relationship during her ordeal last year and so he was designated as her porting driver, and Henry or Rayn usually took care of Chloe.

Lily hugged and said goodbye to her sisters. At the end of the day, she still loved them more than anything. What with Papa gone they were all she had left. In a blink, they were gone, leaving her with Rosa.

“Come,” Rosa said, “I've made you something.”

Curious, Lily followed her through the beaded partition and into the workroom. Rosa squatted down and pulled a brown wooden box out from the back of a cabinet. She set the box on the table and pushed it towards her.

“Open it. It's for you.”

Lily grinned. “I already got my birthday present from you.” She lifted her pant leg to show her shiny anklet.

“I know this isn't for your birthday.”

Frowning, Lily went to the box and, for some reason, nerves slowed her down, made her apprehensive. “What is it?”

“By God, just open it Lily Bellum.”

She couldn't help it, she laughed. “All right.” She lifted the lid.

Inside the box was a foot-long silver dagger. Lily didn't have to touch it to feel the power radiating from it. Her fingers hovered over the blade feeling the glorious, wavering energy coming off it. She picked up the blade and felt the power oozing from it. Pure white magic.

“What’s this for?” She’d gotten one of these before, even helped to make one for her sisters, but she didn’t have the power that Rosa did. While Rosa was the real deal white witch, Lily was more of a wannabe weekend practicing witch.

“To protect you.” Rosa's gaze locked onto hers and her chest tightened with emotion.

Lily nodded and put the dagger back in the box. “Thank you, Rosa.”

“Are you planning on going back into the rift?”

Honestly? She didn't know. If it meant going in there to help Telal, she'd do it in a heartbeat. “I don't know. Probably not. King Alrik didn't want it open, so maybe Telal will just drop it.” She had a hard time seeing that. The demon was arrogant and determined. She smirked, almost like her.

“Promise me that you'll keep this with you at all times. It'll work wonders against dark magic.”

Lily let out a shaky breath. “Thank you, Rosa.”

Dark magic as in what the king had inside him.

They hugged and Lily got back into the car waiting for her outside.

“Take me to the nearest motorcycle dealership.”

Shopping for bikes always made her feel better.