Page 78 of Of Nightmares & Fire
“I would claim you in every life—Always, Shula.” A question shadows her eyes, but she doesn’t speak on it. Instead, tears gather along her lashes. I cup her face, hoping the truth in what I’m about to tell her is clear in my eyes. “No matter what happens next, you are mine, Shula. I will never let you go.” She nods, accepting my proclamation. “I want to hear you,” I say, as I move fully between her legs. Each of her knees rests at my hips, and I rub my hand up her bare thigh and back down again as she takes her time drinking me in. Her lips part, and her tongue juts out before she swallows and finds my eyes.
“I will accept your claim.” She says, and my brow twitches just the slightest in question, wondering what she knows about claiming with the Neer people… What it means to be claimed or to accept a claim.
We stare into each other's eyes for a long moment, both of us acknowledging what we are doing, but I am the one who breaks our stare. I drop my mouth to her throat, licking, sucking, and nipping my way along it. Reaching between us, I let my fingers slide between her legs and groan at the wetness I find. She pulls at my shoulder, digging her nails into me, wanting me to give hermore with my hand. I circle her clit with a slow, even pressure, before slowly sinking two fingers into her opening. She moans into my mouth, and I can't help the animalistic growl I release as I trap her clit with my thumb.
She rocks against my hand, helping me pump my fingers in and out, and as her breathing gets shorter and quicker, I up the rhythm. Using my thumb to keep the friction right on her clit. She tightens around my fingers, her whole body tensing. I know she is close… I remove my thumb, slowly pulling my fingers out of her, and she slumps, letting out a long breath. I grin at her, though she keeps her eyes closed.
I return to using my fingers to circle her clit when her eyes finally open and she is once again looking at me. A few slow, tight circles and she writhes. Her lips part as I continue to build the friction the way I have learned she enjoys; her chest rises and falls with heavy breaths. A moan builds low at first, then I plunge my two middle fingers into her roughly, keeping pressure on her clit with my thumb. Her eyes fly open as her moan is forced from her. I curl my fingers, pumping, using the heel of my hand now as she rides my fingers. Her fingernails dig into my skin, leaving crescent grooves with how tightly she grips me.
When she begins closing her eyes again, I slow. A wicked smile spreads across my face. I can see the frustration on hers, but when she finally opens her eyes again, I continue my torture. I want her to watch me make her come. I want her to know who controls her pleasure. When I do the same again, she catches me smirking.
“You are a monster!” She grinds out through a smile.
“You are stunning when you are flustered, Shula.” My grin spreads as her eyes narrow on me. “I want your attention on me. Watch me bring you over that edge.” I say and her hooded gaze once again glazes over with pure need. She drops her legs open, and I sit up fully, taking in her spread out and bared for me, my cock just inches from her entrance.
I sweep my fingers through her parted lips, gathering her wetness, and I stroke myself with it. The tip of my cock is already glistening with its own moisture, and I roll my thumb over it with a growl before returning my attention to her. She palms her breasts as I enter her again with my fingers. This time she meets each thrust with a roll of her hips that makes me ache.You are playing with fire, Shula.I work her clit, pumping my hand, fucking her with my fingers while she keeps constant eye contact with me. When she begins tensing and I know her orgasm is near, I up the pace. She keeps her gaze held with mine this time. Her mouth falls open, and a moan unlike the others tumbles from her lips as she squeezes me with her inner walls. I let her have her pleasure. Wringing it from her with a curl of my fingers and pumping harder and faster.
“Fuck,” I say, as she squeezes me with her thighs, and with my other hand, I grip my cock. I can't hold off any longer. Leaning over her body, I remove my fingers and line myself up with her entrance. Searching her eyes, I wait there for a moment. My loose hair is falling into my face, and she reaches up, tucking it behind my ear and running her fingertips along the stubble on my jaw.
“Claim me.” She says with finality. I clench my teeth as I press the head of my dick against her warmth. She braces herself witha deep breath, all the while keeping her eyes pinned to mine. Achingly slow, I push into her. She sucks in a sharp breath when I am about halfway, so I let her adjust, pumping in and out a few times slowly. She feels so fucking good. I feel her walls relax, inviting me in deeper, and I push in further with each thrust.
“Fuck, you’re perfect.” I say when I’m fully seated within her. She rolls her hips in response, and I pull her into my lap as I lean back onto my heels. She is now straddling my lap, and the new position makes her cry out. I devour the sound with my mouth, sinking my tongue into her mouth and wrapping my arms around her waist. She begins riding me. Rolling her hips and bouncing on my cock. I hold her, steadying for a few hard upward thrusts, and she cries out, arching her back and sending me even deeper.
“Divine! Kyros!” She calls out, and I sink my fingers into her open mouth, making her suck on her own juices while she rides my cock.
“Fuck, Shula. Tell me you’re mine. Tell me now while we're connected that you accept my claim on you.” I growl into the skin on her neck and nip at her ear.
“Claim me. I’m yours. I accept. Fuck, I’m— ARGH—YOURS!” She screams as I rock with her. Pushing myself as deep as I can get in this position. I snake my hand up her spine and dig it into her hair at the nape, wrenching her head back and exposing her throat. Her body arches again even more than before. She cries out, her body quivers, and my own release tightens my balls, sending a vibrating pleasure up my spine. We both are ripped from the edge at the same time, and I sink my teethinto her shoulder with a deep-bellied growl. Astraea screams my name, her pussy clenching and squeezing every drop of come from me as she comes for a second time. This time all over my cock as I fill her. Her body slumps as I release the hold on her with my teeth. The metallic taste of blood coats my tongue, and the red stains run down her chest from the jagged marks at the crook of her neck. I run my tongue through it before kissing her again.
We stay there for a while. I kiss her gently, and her lips are stained red with blood when we finally look at each other. She remains sitting on my cock while I am ensnared by the ocean in her eyes. I am a man possessed. Completely ravenous for the woman I just claimed.Fuck.She's mine, and when I tell her the truth, it’s going to ruin her.
Chapter fifty-four
Astraea
Thesoundofmetalscraping on metal startles me awake. The loud screech is slow and menacing, sending a chill over my overheated flesh. I lay on my back, with my heart hammering in my chest. A ray of sunshine cuts through the room from the small crack in the curtains, and Kyros’ body is plastered to mine. Both of us are covered only from the waist down with an overly thick blanket for the heat of summer trying to sneak into the manor. A sheen of sweat makes our skin stick together where we touch, and my hair is stuck to my face just the same.
I need a bath.
As Ilay there contemplating the night, I again hear the same scraping sound that woke me from my dream. The sound that pulled my attention from the night that Kyros and I shared. Our bodies still languidly in each other's embrace, but I gently push at him so I can sit up and see what that awful sound is. As soon as I do, I scream.
Kyros sits straight up within a second of my scream. He reaches for me at the same time that his shadows uncoil like a striking snake. The monster that has haunted my nightmares stands now just in the shadows. His razor-like claws are outstretched as they reach for me. Scraping together like a blade on a sharpening stone. Kyros’ shadows aim for his throat, his chest, and his feet. He dissolves in and out of vision with every attack, like smoke.
“Seeeeennnnnkaaaa,” the monster hisses, and that same shock of chills rolls over my skin.
“Leave! You’re not welcome here!” I scream out, having heard some chambermaid’s rumor that if a demon were to visit you, you could cast them out by telling them they were not wanted. It didn’t work. This demon stepped forward.
“Fuck,”Kryros grunts, still tangled in the sheet. I reach for the twin blades on the nightstand and hold them in each hand. “Good girl, be ready just in case. He was expecting my attack this time. Something’s changed.”
“What do I do?” My voice trembles; I’m barely covered by a thin sheet, Kyros too. We have no armor, no backup, and it seems like Kyros’ magick is futile against whoever or whatever this creature is now. Kyros throws out both hands, shrouding us in a thick domeof black shadows, and barks an order at me to get his pants from the end of the bed. He tugs them on quickly, leaving the strings loose in the front, and I wrap the sheet around me fully. Kyros grinds his teeth, and sweat builds on his brow. I don’t think he can hold back whatever he is keeping away from us.
“I’m going to drop the veil; get behind me. If I have to, I will portal us out of here.” Kyros demands, and I do as he says. I move behind him on the bed. My back presses into the wall, and I wait for the sunlight to return to the room. When it does, I am not prepared for what I see.
Horns jut out of the side of a huge creature that now takes up most of the room. Its skull-like head is so similar to a deer, but the gap between the viciously sharp antlers is wider than the length of my arms. It tilts its bony head; hollow sockets unseeing turn toward us, seemingly peering into our souls nonetheless. The stench of death permeates through the air and makes me choke with every breath. Torn and rotted flesh hangs loosely from its skeleton-like body and dangles like scraps of meat left in the smokehouse to dry. It’s man-like, but with long hanging claws for hands. So similar to the nightmare creature, butthis—this is more grotesque—less human and more animal. Entirely monster. A deep clicking growl echoes through the room, and the monster's chest vibrates with it.
I’ve never heard something so sinister in my life.
Kyros drops the veil, and the creature hones in on us. The nightmare is nowhere to be seen, but this thing seems to know what it is hunting for.
