The Radical (Unity Vol.1) (19 page)

In the background I heard Ryken ask where the bedroom was and
Ashoka showed him the way. I just stared at our surroundings, thinking this whole journey was perhaps a mirage or a wild dream I was struggling to wake up from.

The
drawing room walls were pure white with silver cornicing and on a light-grey marble fireplace stood granite statues of a naked Greek goddess and her lover, suspended on one foot each as they pointed at the other from either end of the mantel piece. Above hung a grand mirror with a thick, gold-gilt frame. A sleek Reid-Sohn piano in dark maple sat in another corner of the room, open and beckoning, and in the background, classical music filtered through the rooms. There seemed to be something strange about the windows and I went over to find they were fake – an image of a serene, active garden on a large flat screen made to look like a window.

Ashoka
snapped me from my observations. ‘There are clean clothes in the dressing room, fresh towels, a freshly-run bath, a small buffet in the dining room, and anything else you need can be requested with a call to me. Just say my name into the wall panel over there. Enjoy, and really, nothing is too much.’

When she left
I went into the dining room next door to scope what was on offer. It was all just as breathtaking in there as the other room. I found an oval-shaped mahogany table big enough to seat at least a dozen people.

‘Wow,’
I said, my voice echoing around the room.

I ran my
hand over the crisp white cotton table linen and saw there were two places set next to what was actually a rather large buffet. There were trays and trays of food covered by silver cloche hoods. Behind the antique dining table were matching cabinets full of crystal glassware, plus a full dinner service of blue china with an intricate pink pattern. There was a cutlery case left open on a side-table and some items had already been set out for us.

There
was also a large oak fireplace with what I guessed was a simulated fire inside, set against a chimney breast covered in dainty floral wallpaper. The material on the cushioned surfaces of the dining chairs matched the wallpaper, as did the curtains hanging in front of yet another fake bay window. Underneath the dining table lay what seemed to be a Persian rug, while sat on the fireplace was a solid gold, antique wind-up clock in a glass case that looked as though it was worth as much as a house. It was old-fashioned decadence.

I
realized we would have no time to enjoy the luxury. We simply needed to get out of our clothes and ultimately get out of there. I just needed time to think but being in the Ritz made our situation seem all the more extraordinary.

I
went back through the dining room door, then to the drawing room, and through there found the bedroom next to that.

Ryken
was crashed out in the foetal position on a settee – a luxurious deep-filled, cream-colored object that was pushed up against yet another fake window. He moaned as he relaxed against the furniture and as his body fell, he slipped into an easy sleep.

Great, what am I meant to do now?

I sat on the king-size
d bed and admired the carvings around the edges of the heavy frame – scenes of a garden party from a bygone age imprinted on the mahogany wood, painted ivory. I realized I’d only ever encountered luxury like this once before – the New York Plaza. Yet this was something else. I felt the pure cotton comforter under my hands and realized it was also matching the other furnishings of the room – lemon with a fine pattern of blue daisies running through.

I wanted to wake Ryken
and start bothering him, but a bath was the only thing at the forefront of my mind. In the en suite bathroom, the sizeable porcelain corner bath was opulently brimming with bubbles and I hoped salts had been added. The room was completely tiled in Aztec patterns of sea-blue, turquoise and silver, with intricate ornamental glass lights in similar patterns and colors suspended from the ceiling to make it feel much like a cool, Mediterranean bathhouse. It seemed to be the perfect watery haven.

I
closed the door and locked it, stripping off to submerge myself. My body practically caved in on itself with the sensations of warmth, weightlessness and cleanliness. I leant back and tried to relax, but my head was full of the scenes of the past few days. I replayed everything over and over again.

I
could hardly remember the kisses I had shared with Ryken, though I knew how he made me feel. Every time he came near me, I lost all sense and impulse took over. I cringed at the feelings stirring inside me and dunked my head underwater. Emerging from the depths with my hair soaked, I felt able to think more clearly.

I went to town with the complementary toiletries and almost convinced myself I was a new woman
. Shaved, scraped and revived, I felt somewhat cleansed of the filth of the past few days, emerging from the bath with bright skin, fresh hair and a purged soul.

I donned an oversized robe and wrapped a towel around my head, but when I went back into the bedroom,
Ryken was still asleep on the settee, snoozing like a child. I needed to sate my hunger so I went to the dining room and filled a plate with triangular sandwiches, tiny cakes, savory snacks and fruit salad. I poured myself a large glass of white wine. After everything I had been through, I deserved a drink.

Having wolfed
down the food and drink, I went for more. I picked at the once-in-a-lifetime feast and surveyed the scene out the window. Instead of the perfect garden, I pictured the real one it had substituted. I got lost imagining a city covered by smog, a place once so cultural, now so burdened by making whatever it could of the few industries left in the world. It had become a crammed metropolis to merely exist in, to work in and feel lonely in.

Ryken appeared a
nd jolted me from my thoughts. I swung a bottle in his direction, with a mouthful of food still, and asked, ‘You want wine? You look like you need it.’

His
face was grey with exhaustion and a little rest seemed to have done him no good at all.

He shook his head. ‘I don’t drink. How’s the food?’

‘Good, want some?’

He nodded.

I piled a plate high for him, playing mother. I took it over and he started devouring it.

‘You slept then?’

‘Yeah, I didn’t really get any kip at all last night. But I think my gurgling stomach just woke me up.’

‘I emptied the tub. You’d have to run it again if you want a soak.’

‘I’ll have a hot shower when I’m done here.’

He devoured the food
and went up for more. After he finished, he rubbed his belly. ‘I think maybe I might have just had a bit too much.’

He looked so weary, so despondent. I reached out to him.
‘I’m sorry I treated you so badly in the car yesterday. But I have just buried my aunt.’

‘I guess I shouldn’t have pushed you so much.’

‘Yes, you really should have known better.’ I shot him a wry smile.

He lo
oked down at the plate. ‘I’m sorry, you know, for dragging you into this. I didn’t mean to rope you in or anything.’

‘
Listen, Ryken, there’s somethin’ I didn’t mention to you…’ I wanted to ease his guilt, ‘…they came after me when I was in York. So we are equal in this. They want me as much as you.’

‘Who came for you
? I mean, how did you escape?’ He looked up with concern, his eyelids peeled back.

‘A couple of
emissaries. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t know whether I could trust you.’

‘How did you escape them?’

‘You ought to know by now, I have friends,’ I grinned, ‘but that’s not important. What matters is that they’re after us both. We’re both a significant threat to them, so we need to stick together.’

He seemed troubled by my revelation and
asked, ‘Is there anything else I should know?’

‘All
in good time.’

My aunt was the networker
known as the Operator. Yeah…
I could hardly drop that one in easily, could I?

He grunted and headed off in the
direction of the bedroom. I heard the shower stream into life and found some clothes in the dressing room, a rather large antechamber to house a few rows of hangers. I took some plain white bedclothes and quickly threw them on.

I
went back into the dining room, sank a full bottle of water and double locked the hotel room door. I went into the bedroom and changed our room settings to “night”, the computer automatically dimming the fake windows and the music. Intending to have a little rest, I got under the covers, but exhaustion crashed down over my entire body and I fell into a deep, deep slumber.

I
opened my eyes to an earth-shattering realization. Laid on my front with the covers pulled up round my ears, I daren’t move. In that waking moment, I forgot Eve was dead. Perhaps her spirit hadn’t left yet, or otherwise, my subconscious was willing the truth away.

Unfortunately the more I came to
, the more I remembered. Ryken and I were still stuck in London with seemingly no way back home. I hadn’t really dreamt it all. Eve was still dead and buried and I struggled to shake off the pain and disappointment that left me so bereft.

I rubbed away the sleep caking my eyes shut and gathered myself.
The lights were still low and I didn’t know what time it was, but I still sensed it was a new day. He was right beside me. I could hear his level breathing against the back of my head, which was turned away from him.

His hand rested
underneath my pajama top, just at the small of my back. The more I woke, the hotter my skin there became, his fingertips burning a lust throughout my body. I wanted to cave in and allow him to hold me tighter, while another part of me still wanted to run from him, and from the truth: I had spent a big portion of my life chasing something worthless. A large black hole now existed in my mind where the me of before thought she knew it all and the me of now had to pretend my past ignorance had not been so stark.

I breathed a heavy sigh and his fingers twitched as though he was waking too. I remained absolutely still but I knew, or rather sensed, he was contemplating his next move.

He rubbed the small of my back in circular movements and I moaned, I couldn’t help it. His touch felt so good. His fingertips glided over my skin and he traced my spine. His hand slid over one shoulder and then the other, gripping each gently to massage my tired muscles.

I turned my head to face him and it was surreal seeing Ryken on the pillow next to mine, his hair all ruffled and his chest uncovered, the blankets bunched around his waist. He smiled and reached out to stroke some strands of hair away from my face, his eyes soft and welcoming.

I kept my eyes locked on his and moistened my lips, watching his reaction. That man – he was beautiful. I don’t mean in the physical, Adonis sense. I mean in the way he treated me, touched me, looked at me. I wanted to know how and in what way he would make love to me. There was something so desperate in his stare, just a lonely soul who might have found his way home.

I
rolled to my side and shifted across the bed until we were pressed together, chest to chest. I smoothed a hand over his shoulder and was breathing heavier with that one touch. His hands pulled on my lower back so we were so closely entwined, I could feel his arousal. I wrapped a leg over him and our noses touched; we fit so superbly in each other’s embrace. I reached out and pressed my lips to his top lip only gently and the contact made me feel hot all over.

‘I like to be in charge
,’ I moaned, tugging gently at the hair on the nape of his neck.

I knew I was falling for him, my stomach
was in knots. I was searching for an excuse why we shouldn’t be together.

‘I can help change your mind,’ he grinned, his fingertips sliding under the waistband of my pants to touch the indent of my butt. ‘Just tell me where to kiss you first.’

I shook and shivered as I stroked his shoulder and kissed him there. I pulled open the top two buttons on my pajama packet and pulled the collar back, offering my shoulder.

‘Here, Ryken,’ I whispered, ‘start here.’

He traced his lips over my shoulder and then my collarbone. His breathing was heavy and labored. He smelt clean from his shower the night before, and aroused, and slightly sweaty. It was a catalytic mix.

‘This
is
going to change us,’ I warned.

‘I am banking on it,’ he told me,
right before trailing lingering kisses along my throat.

My cheek in his hand, his eyes boring down into mine, we tipped so I was on my bac
k and he was leaning over me. I ran my foot down the back of his thighs. When he rubbed his lips over mine, I opened my mouth and massaged his tongue. He pushed back to seal our mouths and kissed me with such a power, I held him so tight in response.

‘Ryken,
take this off,’ I murmured, catching a breath.

He pulled at my top so the last few buttons popped a
nd I sat up to shake the garment from my shoulders. We fell back in a tight embrace, our chests pressed together. I held his cheek and he held mine. Our eyes were connected and I saw his fervor. I struggled to catch my breath.

A
small tear escaped the corner of my eye; he made me feel so safe and desired. He kissed that corner before whispering in my ear, ‘Seraph, I am falling for you… very hard.’

I wrapped myself
tight around him and he took that as a signal. His mouth crashed against mine, his lips no longer gentlemanly, his tongue no longer tender. I wrapped my arms around his biceps and clung on, his muscles so solid. We got so greedy, our mouths chewing and gnawing, nibbling and licking relentlessly. The rhythm of the beat between us was electrified. I felt things then I feared, things I wanted. His fidelity and love, his children. A life with him. I could live a simple life happily with Ryken. No frills. No danger. When his kisses trailed from my mouth to my breasts, there was no more thought involved.

His teeth nipped
my nipples and then his tongue soothed the ache with luxurious, hot lashes. He buried his head in my stomach, in my breasts, gasping on air and growling. He pressed his face to my crotch and breathed deep, moaning, ‘I want to taste you.’

‘Fuck,
’ was all I said. I could barely speak.

He grasped the
waistband and tore my pants away. He hauled my waist up and dragged me across the bed until I was laid diagonally. I opened my legs and placed my feet on his shoulders.

‘You make me feel alive,’ I told him, and he shifted on the floor so he could kneel before me.

He was my mate, my perfect partner, I knew that already. He stroked his hands over my knees and kissed my thighs. He leaned down and pressed his mouth to my stomach, fluttering kisses across my abdomen. He was making his way to my tender, wet flesh and my body pulsed with anticipation.

‘You are t
he first to kiss it.’

‘And the last,’
he replied, and swept his tongue through my entire centre. Pleasure buzzed through me in waves, washing over me. I wasn’t naked or exposed, vulnerable or inhibited, I was just making love with my chosen one.

I arched my body into his touch and cried out, over and over again, the sensations too brilliant to muster any other response, with or without an orgasm. How intimate and tender his strokes were through my molten tiss
ues. Our hands joined and squeezed. I watched as he moved from my entrance to my distended clit and I saw his tongue circle and flick. His lips kissed and sucked gently, the motions repeated over and over.

I felt
the leap of a climax ready to explode, but I held out. Kept hold of it until I could no longer hold back. I raised my body on one arm and used one foot on the back of his head to fix him to me, our eyes never leaving each other’s. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before, so heightened and intensified by the sheer gentleness of his touch against my most intimate part. I came so hard and for so long, it felt I might never stop the continual burst of pleasure radiating heat throughout my entire body.

‘Ryken, oh god, Ryken!’

I fell back on the bed, my legs still splayed, my centre still gently pulsating. I watched him stand and remove his pants.

I caught sight of him and drew breath.

‘Wait,’ I asked, before he climbed on top of me.

He was urgent, I knew.

Still shaking and shivery, I walked on my knees across the bed to get to him. I kissed his chest and traced the lines of his abdomen. I stroked his cock and held his balls, taking hold of what was mine, making him for me only. He stroked his hands all over me, moaning and groaning with pleasure. He joined me on the bed, him on his knees too, our bodies pressed together at our chests. He held my cheeks and I tipped my head back so he could kiss me deeply.

I
held my arms around his head, my tongue licking across his lips. His pupils dilated, his fingers pinched my shoulders and he started shaking, he was so desperate for me.

‘Make love to me,’ I asked him, the words sending shivers down my spine.

‘Seraph, as if I wouldn’t,’ he groaned.

He wrapped his arms around me and carried me up the bed, sliding me beneath him. It was the single, hottest moment of my life, waiting to have him enter me for the first time. He was the first man I had ever really wanted; I anxiously wanted him inside me and with me, in every way.

He moved between my legs and positioned himself.

‘Are you real?’
he asked, his teeth gently tugging my top lip.

I didn’t respond. I had no words. I just stroked my fingers over every inch of his face.

He kissed me gently and asked me if I was ready. I nodded and wrapped my legs around his thighs, his body on top of mine so brilliant.

‘You are so beautiful, Seraph.’

‘Wait, are you safe? I mean‒’

‘Yes. I am safe,’ he replied, a
grin playing at the corner of his mouth.

He slid into me
without a moment’s delay and I arched my body, my head thrown back in the pillow, ecstasy flooding me. I panted and broke out in a hot flush, clinging onto his wrists while I wondered if I was going to come again. He waited and I opened my eyes, looking into his. He conveyed the same emotions I felt; disbelief, need and want. He blinked rapidly.

‘Ryken,
’ I gasped, gazing into his eyes.

He looked so pained.

‘You feel so good Seraph,’ he moaned, right before kissing me so intensely my stomach did a somersault.

His hands threaded through mine and he held them at the sides of my head. I felt the strength and
purpose in his digits, his palms, though his elbows held his weight. I turned my head to kiss his knuckles and watched him gasp while he moved into me, rocking our bodies together. He brushed his mouth over mine and set a steady pace, gliding in and out of me, the fire between us raging hotter with every movement.

‘I love your eyes,’ I gasped, ou
r hands so tightly held, our bodies undulating together.

‘Your hair, Seraph. Your fucking hair
,’ he whined, his nose buried in my mane.

He licked my throat, underneath my top lip, beneath my ear. It was a pleasure I had never encountered before. More than sex or lust. I needed him close, needed him holding me.

‘Seraph,’ he murmured.

‘Call me Seraphina.
’

‘Seraphina,
shit you drive me wild,’ he growled, releasing my hands so I could run my fingers over his chest and shoulders. He reached beneath me to grasp my butt tight in his hand and against his thrusts, he banged me towards him harder.

‘
That’s so good. Fuck,’ I groaned and tightened my legs around him.

I pushed
against his thrusts and we moved so much faster I became delirious. He kissed my throat and I trembled around him, the thickness of his length making my climax almost painful.

‘Oh.
Oh. God. Ryken. I am coming!’

I climaxed
so hard I pushed him right out of me. He quickly moved back in and slid deep inside, a huge smile on his face. I was still coming. I couldn’t control my reaction, screaming and clawing at his shoulders, my feet pressing him deeper while I endured the aftershocks. I was breathing harder and heavier than him. He didn’t come and I watched his neck tense while he resisted, wanting to give me more.

He stopped moving
when I motioned it was too much but he continued to pant hoarsely in my ear, his teeth nipping my lobe. His desire for me was incredible, his restraint superhuman. I gasped when he buried his face in my throat and twitched inside my tender, sensitive depths. I ached and pained for more.

‘Seraph, please say you feel it too.’

I pushed him up and he moved quickly, taking the hint to sit on his ass. We were in the middle of the bed soon enough, me astride him, my legs wrapped around his body. I didn’t let him leave me, I couldn’t.

‘
I feel things I can’t even describe,’ I reassured him, stroking my nose along his.

His arms made me feel shrouded, protected. He was so worshipful. I kissed his eyelids and to
ld him, ‘You make me feel safer than I’ve ever felt.’

His arms tightened and he panted against my chest, his lips gently brushing by breastbone. I couldn’t have foreseen how intense and emotional our union would be. I don’t think he had predicted it either.

I tipped my head back to offer him my throat and he held my breasts while he licked my hollow before kissing all over my neck. His morning stubble was glorious, raising heat wherever he touched my skin. He was really making love to me and it made me fall harder with each moment I spent with him and I had no way to stop it. Nor did I want it to ever end. My heart was pounding and roaring inside my chest, for the very first time.