Page 153 of A Debt of Darkness

“Ivy...”

“I need more, Henry.” She drops her head and keeps grinding on me. “I need more, Master.”

My dick ignores its pleas for a pause as I thrust my hips, fucking her through my orgasm and toward the next one. The feeling is like no other and Ivy's pussy contracts hard and fast around my cock, chasing a release of its own. She's alive and her arousal soars as she surrenders to the sensations sweeping through her.

Her movements fade a little as she tires, but she pushes through it, kissing me as her thighs take on more of the work. I cup her ass and take her weight, thrusting harder and deeper until we're both so damn close it hurts.

“Come with me, lea.”

I take control and my cock finds the spot that sends her wild, striking it every time I slide down her front. It throbs and jerks again as my pleasure burns too damn hot to handle and I growl, holding myself back for Ivy.

“Come for me, lea.”

She moans as her eyes glaze over, and her daze carries her away. Her pussy tightens and she shudders before she screams and shatters. My movements lose all meaning as my orgasm breaks and sends me hurtling through reality as wave after wave of heat hits my core.

Ivy collapses onto me and whimpers, lost in her ecstasy and her exhaustion. I lift her off me and lie her on my chest, pulling the covers over us. She pants and mews, purring against me as I draw circles on her back like the perfect creature she is.

“Better?” I ask.

“Much,” she says, still smiling.

She lifts her head and stares at me, wondering if she should ask the question that's bothering her. She damn well knows the answer and my jaw tightens, anticipating another pointless argument about something that doesn't need to be fought over.

“There's so much fire and smoke, Henry. Men screaming and women wailing. Buildings collapsing and so much noise. Too much noise. Then none and cacophony of pain.” She's trying to understand my memory, the one that haunted her before I dragged her out of it. “It's like you're staring down on an apocalypse. It feels like the end of time itself.”

“The fall of Rome,” I say so softly she startles. “Do you want me to tell you about it?”

She nods, then bites her lip and stops. “Is it painful? To remember?”

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her against me. “It used to be, but time heals most wounds, lea. It gets easier. You just have to keep going.”

Ivy's lips curl into a straight line. “Will you? Please. Tell me all of it.”

Her head falls as we both relax. I'll tell her anything and everything, as many times as she needs to hear it. About the fall of Rome and what came before and after it. My memories are hers, as hers are mine, and I'll do whatever I can to take the pain away. Her transition will be fraught and its agony will linger, but I won't shy away from this, as she didn't shy away from me.

“Anything you want, lea. Ask me for anything and I'll give it to you.”

43

BEING HANDLED

IVY

Henry carries me through the castle, ignoring my suggestion that I’m able to walk. He’s been territorial and even Matt and Ryan have been cautious. There’s not been a moment I’ve been left alone and few when he hasn’t been touching me, and I’ve needed almost every second of his attention to get through the hell I’ve endured.

I still catch his guilt-ridden looks, his shameful glances.

They break my heart and I doubt they’re going away anytime soon.

Henry’s caused me more suffering than Marcus and he feels guilty about my pain. He was always going to turn me, but he regrets taking the choice from me and wishes it was easier. But he isn’t sorry about what he did or the result and that’s never going to change.

He saved my life and gave me another.

It’s confusing and I need time, but we don’t have that today. Right now, we need to survive a meeting neither of us wants to have. One involving Emmanuel and the high priests he’s allowed to live.

“Deacon,” Henry says, in a tone as cold as ice.

Emmanuel rises, followed by the other priests and vampires. Even Matt and Ryan get to their feet, bowing their heads as Henry carries me past. He places me on the chair, sits and slides his arm over my shoulder as he pulls me against him.

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