Page 53 of Of Nightmares & Fire
“Mostly?” I ask in a whisper. She swallows hard, her blue eyes once again filling with tears and then darkening by the shadows of her past.
“Pravin too.” Her chin wobbles before she continues, and my nostrils flare with the building tempest of my fury. “Sometimes my father would instruct him to punish me too. He—” She sobs, and I pull her into my chest, holding onto her tight, as she spills her anguish into my own soul. It's something I never knew I would willingly want to share the burden of, but for her I feel like I want to take it all. “I didn't want you to see this.” Her voice cracks.
“They willnevertouch you again. I will make sure of it. No one will ever hurt you like that again.” I push her out so she can see the promise in my eyes. “I promise,” I say, hoping that she sees the truth. “I don’t give empty promises either, Shula.” Her eyes flick between mine for a long moment as she thinks, and I wish I could see into that beautiful mind to see what she is thinking of. “What can I do to prove to you I am a man of my word?” Her lip rolls into her mouth and becomes trapped by her teeth as she considers my words.
“You once said that no one could save me from you. That if you were the one pressed to my body, not even the divine could save me. You said that I would be begging for your touch.” Her hands slowly fall away from her chest, exposing her breasts to me. I don’t look at them, though. I keep my eyes locked with hers, even as I notice the way her chest heaves with her heavier breathing. My own more languid and tangling with hers. “I’m begging you. Make me forget.” We both stand there silently, breathing the words she just spoke, letting my own wrap around us and pull us together.
“Every foul touch. Every painful memory. Each scar on your soul… It’s mine. I will take the burden of them from you.” I gently cup her chin, and I let the pain pull me toward her; just before our lips touch, I make her another promise. “Their deaths are the exception. I will spill every ounce of their blood in your name, but that blood will only stain my hands, and I will wear it proudly in your honor.” I seal the promise with a deep kiss, allowing my tongue to explore her mouth.
Her arms wrap around my neck, chest pressing against mine, and I silently curse myself for not taking off any clothing. My cock stains under the wet material as her legs wrap around my hips and she seats herself over the ridge, moaning into my mouth. It takes every ounce of restraint I have not to release myself and bury it between her legs.
Instead I brace her with my hands, each one cupping her bare ass, fingers squeezing as she rolls her hips over me. I can't suppress the groan that builds with the friction of our bodies. She reaches over my shoulders, pulling my tunic up my back and allowing me to shrug out of the constraining fabric. Our bare chests touch just the slightest, and it's the first time I look down at her breasts as I break the kiss. I look between the two hardened peaks, licking my lips, and slowly make my descent to entrap one with my teeth.
She gasps, arching her back beautifully. She pushes her chest further into my mouth as I walk forward and set her on the ledge of the bath. There is a natural underwater seat that she rests her feet on as I release her nipple and give the same attention to the other breast. Growling as something primal seems to take over me, feeling her hand rake through my hair. Her eyes widen at the sound as I pull back and make eye contact with her. I throw oneleg over my shoulder. Trailing my hands over her slick legs, I press my thumb over her clit and circle slowly, rhythmically, in time with her breathing. Just as I feel her tensing, I change the motion. I toy with her entrance, her release almost tangible, but not quite there. No, that I want to taste.
“What did I tell you, Shula?” I ask, trailing my tongue between her breasts and dropping to my knees on the step between her legs. When she answers breathlessly, I am hovering my lips above hers.
“I—” My eyes narrow as I drink her in as she lies beneath me. Panting, confused, and needy for my touch. Perfect. “Every touch is yours.” I smile into her mouth before claiming it. Between kisses I praise her.
“Good, what else, beautiful?” I ask, moving to her ear and taking the lobe into my mouth. She sucks in a breath as I also dip one finger into her at the same time.
“Every painful memory.” She confirms, and I nod, sucking along the skin of the column of her neck.
“Every one of them will be replaced. Pain will now be pleasure.” My tongue flicks over her nipple as I make my way lower, loving the way she starts to squeeze her thighs together, needing the friction that I am denying her. “What else?” I ask as I give her some of the movement she wants, pressing another finger into wetness, grinding the heel of my hand over her clit.
“Each scar— Oh divine!” She calls out as I continue the slow torture, and I growl.
“Each what, Shula?”
“Each scar on my soul.” She moans, and I drop between her legs, scoring a line between her lips, taking a taste before diving in like the parched man I am. She yells more for the divine, pulling my hair at the root, and I gasp as I come up for air only to dive back between her delicious thighs.
“I’m afraid I won’t be sated with just the scars, Shula.” I breathe between feasting and fucking her with my fingers. “I’ll have you give me everything.” I flick my tongue over her clit and curl my fingers as she tightens around them. “Will you give me everything?” My rumbling growl vibrates my lips as I keep them planted, ready to drink down her release.
“Yes! Take it all, Kyros, please! It's all yours!” She exclaims, and I suck her clit into my mouth as she pulses and writhes, pulls and grinds, pants and moans. Her confession, my proclamation—they swirl around like magick, and as she trembles, she drowns me in her come. She melts in the glow of pleasure. I kiss the inside of each thigh where they vibrate with aftershocks.
Letting my hands trail her legs, then her waist, I raise up to meet her eyes, press a gentle kiss to her lips, and then pull her back into the water. I help wash her, silently brushing my fingers over her back. Rinsing away the previous pain and caressing it with a new memory. I pull her into my lap, and she rests her head on my shoulder, not much different than when we were riding. My cheek presses to the top of her head as she lays her back on my chest. I wrap my arm around her middle, and she holds onto it as though it is anchoring her to this realm entirely. And with my other handI trail my fingers over her skin in small circles and long lines, each brush saying more than one word could.
Neither of us says anything as we sit there in each other's embrace, but in my chest I know she wasn’t the only one giving just now. I know now what he meant, Karnnen…it’s just a flicker, but it burns.
She gave me her soul, just as I have given mine, and together our twin flames nowburn.
Chapter thirty-seven
Astraea
Timeseemstohavepaused between the bathhouse and now. Everything melding together in a chaotic prism of color. Warmth still surges beneath my skin, painting me with a blush I feel will never end. Kyros’ eyes were heavy as he helped me bathe, taking care of me with the most tender touch. A touch I never imagined he could possess. He watched as I exited the bath. I could feel the way his eyes took every inch of me in, the way every rivulet of water rolled down my skin. He watched as though he would later trace the same lines with his wicked tongue.
Once I was wrapped in the towel offered by that cranky old woman, he finally removed his clothes, quicklywashing himself too. By the time I was dressed in the scrap of fabric from Mortala, he was out of the water. The same threadbare gray towel I just used was slung low on his hips, and his clothes bunched in one hand at his side. The already wet gray material is doingabsolutely nothingto hide what is so evidently still rock hard beneath. I have to force myself to swallow, my mouth suddenly flooded with moisture from my overly needy core.
Heat crawls up my neck now just thinking about the look in his eyes when my own finally reaches his. The amusement of watching me basically drool over him standing before me. His black eyes are lit from within, showing the deep gold highlights within, like volcanic veins of fire hidden underneath charred stone.
Now, he breathes heavily as he sleeps. One arm slung up and tucked under his head, the other hand resting on his bare chest. His shadowy tattoos move just the slightest across his bronzed skin, and I watch the magick in fascination. I wouldn’t have even noticed had I not been studying him so thoroughly. As much as he tried to insist that he didn’t need sleep, it finally won out about an hour ago.
I, however, am not the slightest bit tired. My body feels charged, nearly buzzing with energy. I am more awake than I have felt in averylong time. I can’t seem to drag my eyes away from him. My heart flips as I recall so many of the words he has said to me. The fluttering feel of wings in my stomach as I replay the way his hands touched me.His tongue.I never thought I would ever feel this: A longing for someone still in the same room. The face I see when I close my eyes during the day and the darkness of his eyes I want toget lost in at night. The brutish suitor willing to risk war for me. My brows gather in the center of my forehead.Why is he willing to risk so much?A question I will surely be asking him when he is awake.
Judging by the placement of the shadows in the room, I would guess it's almost midday. I slept nearly all night during our ride to the oasis. I still don’t know how I managed to do it, and for the first time, also, in averylong time, it had been nightmare-free. As though the magick that Kyros threw at it scared it off from returning.
I watch the rise and fall of his chest for a moment longer before deciding that when he wakes, he will need food. I’ll go down and speak with that horrible innkeeper Mortala and make sure she has food waiting for him when he wakes up.
