Page 64 of Vows Forged in Blood

“FUCK,” he hisses out as I slide back, sucking on the tip before taking him deep again. Over and over, bopping my head and gripping his hip with one hand, splaying my other hand over his stomach and dragging my nails over the muscles. I moan around his cock and he tunnels his hand in my hair, brushing the strands back from my face. I pull back, running my fist up and down his slick shaft as I meet his gaze. He licks his lips, his eyes dark and burning.

I hold his gaze and lean forward again, licking the bottom of his shaft from hilt to tip, and his entire body shudders. I pull the head between my lips again, never taking my eyes from his. He groans and wraps my hair around his fist, keeping it from obstructing his view.

“Fuck, Keeva. That’s it, keep your eyes on me, beauty. Watch me while I watch you take my cock between those beautiful lips.” I moan, and obey, keeping my eyes locked with his while I take him deep into my mouth again, sending his length down my throat. I love it when he talks, the dirty things he saysand commands. I dig my fingers into his hip as I keep going, watching him watch me while I suck his cock anddear godsit's too much. I reach down between my legs, delving my own fingers between my thighs. I whimper at the touch and he moans loudly. “Gods…”

I pump my fingers as I take his shaft over and over, twirling my tongue and sucking hard and I can feel it the moment his body shifts and I know he’s close.

“You’re going to make me…come…Keeva…you must stop…”

I don’t.

Instead, I release his hip and use that hand to stroke his length in time with the movement of my mouth. Up and down, up and down. So hard. So slick. I move down and palm his sac, sucking hard, and he roars my name as he comes in my mouth, hot spend lashes down my throat as his hips buck forward with every pump. I moan at the taste of him, of how I’ve somehow made this strong, centuries old vampire prince come undone. I pump my fingers harder, plummeting over the edge and crying out around his cock.

Suddenly, he’s gone from my mouth and his hands are around my upper arms and he’s lifting me to the table once more. He brings my fingers to his mouth, sucking hard and gods it’s so erotic I can barely stand it. His eyes slide closed as he licks them clean, pushing his own fingers inside me in one quick thrust. I cry out in sudden pleasure. He releases my fingers and holds my gaze before bending his head to my neck and sinking his fangs into my throat. I scream as an orgasm rips through me out of nowhere. His fingers pumping, his fangs in my flesh, the pull as he sucks my blood—it’s indescribable. Stars explode behind my eyes and I have no idea how long it is before the tremors subside and Alaric is holding me tight against him, both of us breathing as if we’ve just run across the entire continent.

“Fucking hells, Dahlia,” he says against my hair. I bury my face in his chest, trying to breathe normally.

"Is it always like this for you?" I ask before rising my head to meet his eyes. He cradles my face, brushing his thumbs along my cheeks and I rest my hands on his hips. "Because it isn't for me, this is…this is something else entirely. I can't explain it, Alaric. It's like…Icraveyou. Not just physically, but on every level, like every bit of me needs every bit of you." I shake my head in frustration. "I can't think straight to explain this right. You've addled my brain with orgasms." He huffs out a quiet laugh.

"I understand," he says softly. "And no, it isn’t like this. It's never been like this." He stares deeply into my eyes, trying to look to the very heart of me it feels like. My chest heats. He seems to steel himself, like he's about to deliver important news. His throat bobs as he swallows hard and then he exhales roughly. "It's because?—"

A knock on the door interrupts whatever he's about to say and he curses under his breath as we spring apart.

"One moment," he calls. I scramble to try to put things to rights—which is impossible since my top won't close without buttons, and if the person at the door is a vampire, they'll be able to smell…Oh gods. My cheeks heat and I freeze, meeting Alaric's eyes. He seems to know exactly what I'm thinking because he laughs, his shoulders shaking as he finishes lacing his pants.

"It isn't funny," I hiss, snatching a figurine from the table and throwing it at him. He catches it easily and strides across the room, grabbing a sweater from a hook beside the fireplace. He holds it up in front of me, giving me a commanding look and I sigh, holding up my arms obediently. He slides the soft fabric over my head, and I inhale deeply, sighing. It smells like him. He tugs the hem down and kisses me softly.

"This looks ridiculous," I pout, but it's only half-hearted. He smiles playfully and taps the tip of my nose with his finger. It's…adorable. I can’t deny that this side of him, this gentle, playful, adorable side, makes me love him even more.

"Come in," he calls and I blanch. Elias opens the door and waltzes inside, a huge grin on his face and not looking at all surprised to see me in this…predicament.

"Lady Dahlia, looking lovely as ever," he says breezily, and I see Alaric roll his eyes, though he's smiling.

"Hello," I respond, because I don't know what the hells else I could possibly say. He looks between me and Alaric, his smile hiking up a notch.

"Have I interrupted something?" Elias asks, all feigned innocence. He glances around and puts a hand to his mouth in mock-surprise. "Oh dear, are thosebuttonson the floor? Has someone's garment malfunctioned? Goodness me…"

"Enough, Elias," Alaric says and I pull in my lips to hide my smile. For some reason, the fact that Elias knows and doesn't seem to be fazed at all, or at the very least, isn't judging Alaric for what's happening between us, makes me ridiculously happy. I know that Elias and Alaric are as close as brothers and that his approval means more than Alaric would ever admit. Elias winks at me and then turns to Alaric.

"I really am sorry to interrupt, but I have…" he cuts a quick glance my way before turning back to Alaric, "news of a somewhat concerning nature."

Alaric's entire posture changes, his muscles tensing and pulling himself to his full height. His smile fades and the playful, flirty Alaric is gone. He's all High General now and a knot forms in the pit of my stomach.

"What's going on?"

"Scouting reports say that the Revenant army is marching towards the Obsidian Plain with the largest contingent we've seen in months—even Kilgren is rumored to be with them."

Alaric had explained that Kilgren was the leader of the Revenants, hellbent on the destruction of Braxhelm, but even more so, of Alaric. But henevercomes to battle with his men. I personally think that cowardly, but when memories of the Revenant attack flash behind my eyes, memories of me frozen in fear and hiding while others fought and died around me…well, who am I to judge cowardice?

"How long?" Alaric asks and I can see the calculations running through his mind, the strategies and plans and back-up plans, the entire war a giant chess board and Alaric anticipating moves and countermoves. Something about this feels wrong, an uneasy feeling skittering up my spine, but I think it's just the idea of Alaric leaving to go into an apparently huge battle, which I know without a doubt he's about to do.

"Three days."

Alaric nods. "Gather the men. Three battalions, plus archers, and call back the groups on patrol and the ones doing training exercises and have them join us." My stomach twists: that’s the group that Wesley and Nova are with. So they’ll be joining the fight as well.

"Already done. They're preparing now and Braddock and Singh are packing the weapons cache."

"Good. I'll meet you at the gates in twenty minutes."

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