Ties That Bind: The Bellum Sisters 3 (paranormal erotic romance) (18 page)

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.