Page 76 of A Touch of Darkness

My God. His mouth. I have never heard him speak like this. Not even close.

“Ask me to come inside of you,” he commands, his face reddening, his arms corded and straining.

“Come inside of me, Lucian,” I tell him. “I want you to fill me.” He presses his forehead to mine as he let’s go, and I immediately feel his impossible warmth as he does exactly that. His cock jerks inside of my tender, throbbing pussy, and he grunts, letting out a feral groan, his eyes rolling back in his head as I continue to buck my hips, milking every last drop of cum from his cock. It forces me over the edge for a third time, coming in time with him.

It's dreamlike. It’s not just physical—it’s something deeper, something that feels like a promise etched into my soul. The bond between us hums, alive and undeniable, threading through every touch, every kiss, every whispered word. Something surges through me, something I’ve never felt before. A rare feeling of immense power that I can’t control—as if fate is solidifying our bond.

We slowly start to come down from a high I have never experienced in my life, our sweat-soaked skin sticky and slippery as he shifts us both until he’s next to me and I’m wrapped in his arms.

I feel him everywhere, his presence overwhelming, consuming, but instead of fear, I feel whole.

Complete.

The fire dwindles in the hearth, casting its golden glow over her face. Her lashes flutter against her reddened cheeks, and for a moment, I allow myself to get lost in the quiet serenity of her presence. But I know better than to believe in serenity. Not now. Not with the looming shadow of the Solstice Society threatening to dismantle what little peace we’ve found.

Sylvie shifts slightly, her hand still pressed to my chest where she feels the steady rhythm of a heart I’ve long thought cursed. Though, being cursed is a privilege, as long as I’m by her side. Her eyes meet mine, and in their dark depths, I see something stronger than fear—a determination that both inspires and terrifies me.

Sheboth inspires and terrifies me.

“I can’t keep pretending like this moment isn’t temporary,” she says softly. Her voice is steady, but there’s a weight beneath her words, an urgency that matches the one pulsing in my veins.

“What are you thinking?” I ask, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

She exhales slowly, as though bracing herself. “I think we need to take control. Waiting for them to make the next move is only going to waste time or give them an advantage. They still have Lara bent to their will. We need to force their hand.”

I tense instinctively at the mention of them, my grip on her tightening. “What are you suggesting?”

She moves closer, as though her proximity can soften the blow of her next words. “I think I need to contact them. Tell them I’m ready to give them what they want—my blood—but only on my terms. We can arrange a meeting, somewhere safe, where we can exchange my blood for Lara.” She smiles at me, and it makes every single cell in my body light on fire. “Although, we know the blood will be useless now.”

I grin at her, my unyielding desire already creeping back in.

“They’ll keep coming, keep trying to break the curse and eliminate us. But at least you will be safe, here, with me. And you will have Lara back,” I tell her, stroking her skin.

“We’ll set the terms,” she says. “We decide the location. Somewhere they can’t touch us. They give us Lara before I spill any blood.”

“The Solstice Society doesn’t deal in honor, Sylvie. They deal in manipulation and blood,” I tell her in warning.

“Then we make it impossible for them to double-cross us,” she insists. “Your house—couldn’t we use the wards and protections here? You said they’re centuries old, strong enough to keep out anyone who means harm. They’d have to stay outside, beyond the shield. If they try anything, we’ll have the advantage.”

Her logic is sound, but the thought of her facing them—even with protections in place—makes something cold and primaltwist in my chest. “And what about reinforcements? We can’t rely on wards alone if they bring more than we’re prepared for.”

“We can plan for that too,” she says, her determination unwavering. “Nicole, Rebecca—they’ll help, and they have magic on their side as well. And you have allies, don’t you? People you trust? Dorian?”

“Trust is a dangerous word in my world,” I say bitterly.

“But you trust me,” she counters, her voice softening.

The conviction in her gaze threatens to undo me. I reach for her hand, threading my fingers through hers as I let out a long, slow breath. “I do,” I admit. “But it doesn’t mean I’m willing to gamble with your life.”

“It’s not a gamble,” she insists. “It’s a calculated risk, and it’s our best chance of getting Lara back. They want my blood. If they think I will give it to them willingly, they’ll come. And as long as they’re outside the wards, they won’t be able to touch me.”

Her bravery should be infuriating, but it’s intoxicating instead. How can someone so new to this world, so unbroken by its cruelty, stand before me and demand the impossible?

She is the sun, and I am simply rotating around her, completely at her mercy, at her will.

I let her words marinate, thinking of some of my oldest colleagues and friends who I know would be willing to step up. I will do anything if it means protecting the woman in front of me.

“I’ll go along with it, for you,” I say at last, my voice low and resolute. “We’ll make the arrangements. Here, with the wards, and with as many reinforcements as we can muster. But you need to promise me something, Sylvie.”

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