by Sadie Waters
“With his powers.” Ruby rested her hand on Zach’s shoulder, and he nodded. “Then you took him to St. Paul’s?”
“Yes, but we didn’t interrogate him yet. He was not cooperative.” Ryan finally joined them, sitting in the chair Zach had previously claimed which was now empty.
“Great. Sounds like you had a successful night.” Ruby looked more pleased than just about anyone else. “I guess Lane was just mad he wasn’t more involved?”
Ember knew Ruby wouldn’t say anything bad about her Ink. so she tried not to belittle the jackass in front of two of his girls, especially not since Jess already didn’t like Ember’s attitude about him. “Probably. We also missed Lil. She was there.”
“Shut up!” Jess said. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I walked in as she was feeding off of a neighbor.” Her eyes shifted to Zach and she saw the alarm on his face. “She’s okay. I made sure of that.”
“Mrs. D.?” His face was still pale.
Ember nodded. “She really is fine. You can go see for yourself tomorrow. Anyway, we aren’t sure why Lil was there, but I’m guessing it was related to the jackass we brought in. Hopefully, we can make him talk tomorrow.”
“She got away?” Jess echoed.
Trying not to narrow her eyes too much, Ember repeated herself. “She did. But now that we have a Seer, and potentially one of her minions, we might have a better chance at getting her than we ever have before.”
“We’ve had all of that and more before and missed her.” Ruby was shaking her head. “Not that we shouldn’t try. That bitch is a powerful fucker.”
“Still surprising you can’t get her with what you allegedly have,” Jess said.
Ember narrowed her eyes at the other Xana, not wanting to go there. She knew what she was getting at, but Ember wasn’t taking the bait. She wasn’t talking about weapons with Jess. Not now, not ever.
Pretending not to know what Jess was getting at, Ember continued. “Anyway, there isn’t much more we can do tonight.” She yawned, stretching her arms up over her head and almost elbowing Carson on the way down. He dodged aside at the last second. “You two should go tell Lane we’ll contact him tomorrow if he wants to help us with the inquisition.”
Both of the other Xanas started to move at that point. “Will do,” Jess said.
“Thanks for babysitting,” Carson called as they walked toward the door. The girls told Zach goodbye as they went. Carson asked, “Do you girls need a ride home? Did someone pay them? What’s the going rate--ten dollars an hour?”
“Go to hell,” Zach muttered, glaring at him, which only made Carson laugh.
Ember threw an elbow at him, trying to get him to stop irritating their house guest, even if it was also more than a little amusing to her.
Ryan walked the girls out, and Ember thought it was as good a time as any to go to bed. While she had expected her Throwing power to be the lowest tonight, as she took an internal inventory, she realized she’d spent more time Blending than she’d thought.
Carson knew it, too. “My place or yours?” he asked, wagging his thick eyebrows at her.
She couldn’t help but smirk. “You know I always prefer my room.”
“Ah, come on. You know I always prefer mine. It’s been so long.”
“But… you’re so bossy in there.”
“I know. That’s why I like it.”
She groaned. “Fine. Your room it is.”
“What the hell?” Zach asked, and Ember only remembered he was still there at the sound of his voice. To Carson, he said, “I thought you were dating Ruby.”
“You mean the broad you were just drooling all over?” Carson asked as he pulled himself up off of the couch. “Uhm no. Dude, you really are clueless, aren’t you?”
“But… you were with Ryan last night. And I saw you kiss Jake earlier…. Are you dating all three of them?”
Ember sighed. “Zach, sweetie, do you recall what I told you about my batteries needing recharged?”
“Yeah, but….”
Carson had her by the hand, tugging her toward his room. “Goodnight, Zach,” he called.
Giggling at Zach’s expression as it morphed from confusion to understanding to some form of embarrassment, Ember said, “Goodnight, Zach,” and let her man take her to his chambers.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Inside Carson’s room, the rest of the world was shut out. Ember hadn’t even said goodnight to Ryan and Jake, but with Carson’s sultry eyes looking her up and down, she put all of her focus on him.
“We need to clean your arm first,” Carson reminded her.
Looking down at the cut, Ember sighed but went to the adjoining bathroom and washed the dried blood from her bicep. It didn’t need a bandage. She took her boots and socks off while she was in there and came out to find Carson hadn’t moved from where he’d been standing at the end of the bed, though he’d tossed his jacket aside and the top three buttons of his forest green shirt were undone. He’d also taken off his boots and untucked his shirt
He was sexy as hell, standing there with his curly hair all disheveled, that look in his eyes that let her know he was imagining all the things he wanted to do to her. Normally, Ember liked to be in charge everywhere, including the bedroom, but she had to admit there was something alluring about the prospect of being under his command.
The orders began the second he noticed her arm was all right. “Come here.” His voice was deep and husky. Instantly, Ember felt the muscles low in her abdomen begin to contract.
She did as he directed, but he didn’t want her in his arms. Instead, she stood across from him at the foot of the bed, awaiting further instructions. His eyes raked up and down her, and a hint of a smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “Take your shirt off. Slowly.”
Locking her eyes on his, Ember started with the top button and took her time with the three fasteners at the top of her blouse before she crossed her arms and took hold of the hem, easing it over the top of her head, revealing the black lace push up bra she’d put on earlier.
Carson grunted, staring at her breasts. Ember’s nipples hardened as thoughts of his tongue circling them came to mind. “Take off your jeans, but leave your panties.”
“What makes you think I’m wearing any?”
He snickered but then got serious again. “No jokes.”
“Coming from you?”
“No talking.”
A grin took over her face. He wasn’t demanding as doms went, probably because he really wasn’t one. It was more role playing than anything else. She worked the button of her jeans through the hole and slid down the zipper. Then, with as much seduction as she could muster, she worked her hips out of her pants and pushed them down her legs, bending so that her breasts were all but completely exposed. A rumble in his throat let her know he appreciated it. She stepped out of her jeans, left only in her bra and a thin black thong.
His eyes wandered up and down her body before he finally met her eyes again. He crooked his finger at her, and she knew what he wanted. Closing the gap, she waited for his instructions again. “Take off my shirt.”
Ember worked her way through his buttons, her eyes never leaving his. She bit her bottom lip in anticipation of having his mouth on hers. Once she reached the last button, her hands longed to smooth his perfect pecs, to run down his abs and lower, but she restrained herself, grabbing hold of his collar and pulling his shirt down his arms and then off.
Carson was beginning to breath heavy. “Belt.” He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple quivering.
Doing as she was told, she unhooked his belt and pulled it free, tossing it aside. Sometimes he liked to use it as a restraint, but she didn’t know if she could handle that. Her hands reached for the fly of his jeans, but she caught herself and waited for him to tell her to do so. A nod was all she got.
His cock was so hard beneath her hands as she unbuttoned his pants that she could feel herself getting wet just from thinking about it. She let her
hands roam over his muscular hips as she pushed his jeans down. His dick strained against the material of his briefs. Ember wanted to set it free.
“Take off your bra.”
That was unexpected. She’d forgotten she was still wearing it. In a hurry she reached for the clasp in the back but remembered she needed to go slow. She unhooked it and then let the straps fall before she allowing it to drop to the ground.
Carson almost came undone. She could feel his eyes tracing her mounds, lingering on her hardened nipples. His tongue touched his bottom lip, ran across it, and anticipating the feel of the rough surface on her body, she let out a soft moan.
He slid his briefs down, as if he’d forgotten she was doing all the work. They fell to the floor, and he stepped out of them, but Ember’s eyes were fixated on his thick cock. A drop of white on the tip let her know he was ready for her, and she longed to have him inside of her.
But not yet. “Suck me.”
Gladly. Ember dropped to her knees, taking his dick in both of her hands as Carson leaned back against the dresser. The moment his head split her lips, he groaned, grabbing hold of the back of her head. She teased her tongue around the edges before lapping up the precum and swallowing down the salty substance.
An inch at a time, she eased him into her mouth, licking and sucking, running one hand up and down the base while the other gently stroked his balls. He grunted and groaned, pressing into her mouth deeper and deeper, and Ember felt him in the back of her throat. Speeding up, she sucked and slurped him until his knees bent, and he finally had to say, “Stop,” or else he would cum in her mouth. While he would’ve recovered quickly enough to still send her over the edge, she knew how badly he wanted to fill her up.
She looked up at him, his dick still in one hand, and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand.
“Stand up.” He was breathless, perspiration dotting his hairline, the curls in front damp.
Again, she did as she was told, letting go of him. He immediately took hold of his engorged cock, holding it with one hand as he instructed her to take off her thong.
Ember slid the sopping wet G-string down her legs and kicked it aside with one foot. Carson’s eyes took her in, and he licked his lips. She wondered how much longer he’d be able to keep himself off of her. It wouldn’t be long.
“Sit on the edge of the bed.”
This was new and unexpected. Ember backed up and sat on the end of the mattress, the wood from the footboard under her thighs. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders, and she brushed it back, wanting to touch her own nipples since he hadn’t but fighting the urge so as not to anger him.
“Show me.”
He’d never ordered her to do that before, so she was confused at first, but then she realized what he wanted. Ember spread her legs apart, and Carson breathed in deeply, still rubbing his cock as his eyes penetrated her core. “Wider.” She spread her legs as far apart as they would go. “Are you wet?”
“Yes.” So wet, she imagined he could see it dripping down her legs.
“How do you know?”
“I can feel it.”
“Then… feel it.”
Raising an eyebrow for a second at yet another new request, Ember did as she was told and slid her fingers across her folds. She was wet all right. Her finger flicked across her clit, sending electric pulses throughout her body. Ember arched her back, rubbing it again. He didn’t tell her to stop, so she continued to trace it with her fingers and then plunged them inside of her, moaning as her legs began to shake.
“Stop,” Carson whispered.
Ember almost couldn’t, but she found a way to pull her hand out, hoping that meant he was ready to take her now.
He took a step forward. “Stand up.” She pulled herself off of the bed. “Turn around.” Knowing her anticipation was almost over, she turned to face the bed. “Bend over.”
Gladly, Ember bent down, her breasts pressed against the soft fabric of his comforter. His thighs grazed the back of hers as he moved behind her, pushing her legs further apart with his knee. The heat from his body sent another quake through her core, and Ember sighed loudly, feeling her muscles tighten and relax as she waited for him to enter her.
She knew when he thrust into her it would be all at once. It would be deep and hard and a little painful in the most pleasurable way. He didn’t press into her at first, though. She felt the tip of his dick caress her outer folds, felt another drip from his tip slide down her pussy as he continued to tease her, circling the outside of her entrance. Ember moaned again, fighting the urge to back up into him, to force him to take her.
Then, he plunged deep inside her. Ember’s breath caught in her throat as the thrill of her muscles all expanding at once to take him in sent a bolt of electricity through her.
As quickly as he was in, he was out, and Ember felt completely empty. She wanted more, wanted him inside of her again. His fingers were there instead, probing, expanding, opening her up. She whimpered, silently begging him to come back in.
Carson removed his finger and a second later, he entered her again, harder this time, pressing her into the bed. She shrieked as her body spasmed again. He pulled out completely once more, but before she could protest, he was inside of her again, Harder. Deeper. Ember gasped for air as her body lit on fire, her core a burning flame radiating to every inch of her flesh.
He didn’t pull out again this time. Instead, he fucked her hard. His hands on her hips. Carson pounded into her, shaking the entire bed. Ember’s own voice sounded foreign to her as she moaned and shrieked. His balls were slapping her clit in just the right place to keep her spasming, her muscles tightening and releasing around his thick cock that seemed to fill every crevice of her being.
Savage grunts and groans emanated from his throat. Carson wrapped her hair around his wrist, pulling her head back. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt her, but it was a new sensation, and she found herself panting and shouting his name. With his other hand, he worked her nipple between his thumb and first finger, pinching, pulling, teasing her to life. Ember’s lungs were on fire, her head spinning, and her knees were weak as her body continued to tighten and release, jerk and spasm around him.
She’d lost all track of time and space by the time she heard him begin to curse under his breath, a sign he was about to cum. Carson let go of her hair and Ember laid her head on the bed. He pulled his other hand around and placed it in the middle of her back to steady himself as he shot his seed inside of her. Ember squeezed his dick with her core muscles as he went into full spasm for several seconds and then finished.
Carson pulled out, breathing heavily, and Ember fought to regain her own lung capacity. Her pussy continued to twitch even after he was out, and her clit was still aflame. She stayed in the same position as Carson sat down beside her on the edge of the bed, brushing her hair back off of her face.
“Are you okay, babe?” he asked, his voice raspy, breathless.
“No,” she said, “but I will be.”
Carson leaned down and kissed her temple, and she realized he hadn’t kissed her once since they came into his room. She turned her face toward him, and his tongue slid into her mouth. His strong arms came around her, and before she knew what was happening, he was moving her to the top of the mattress.
They fell into bed together, his arms still around her, his mouth locked on hers. Ember’s battery was charged completely, and she was ready for sleep, but the feel of him around her was a comfort she hadn’t gotten during what was probably the hardest fuck of her life.
“I love you,” Carson whispered in her ear. “I know I have a hard time showing it sometimes, unlike those other guys. But I do love you. More than anything.”
Reaching up to caress his cheek, she smiled. “I love you, too.”
“I didn’t hurt you did I?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” He raised an eyebrow in alarm, and she giggled. “I’m fine.”
“Good. I never want to see anyone hurt you, Ember.
”
“I know.” He had seen her die more than once before, and she’d watched as he was tossed off a cliff, clawed to death by a pack of demons, and run through on the end of Lil’s spear. Watching each other get hurt and die was part of their existence. Still, it was never easy.
This version of Carson was one of her favorites though. While they were always the same soul, they were never quite the same person. She knew she had different reincarnations of herself, some bolder than others, some more timid or less coordinated. She liked exactly who she was this time around, and she loved all three of her men. She didn’t want anything to change.
But as her eyes grew heavy, Ember realized it was inevitable. Everything would change eventually. With the current state of affairs, it seemed like it wouldn’t be long before her entire world was rocked, which left her with a feeling of dread. She wasn’t any more in control in the real world than she had been in the bedroom. The idea was terrifying.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sipping coffee and staring at her phone, Ember contemplated just what to do about the video the camera she’d set up in front of Greasy Guy’s cage had caught. She’d already watched it at least two dozen times. It was obvious who was in the video--she just didn’t know why. But that was something she needed to find out sooner rather than later--because unless there was a logical explanation she had yet to come up with herself, someone was going down for this.
Zach proved to be an early riser again. She glanced up to see him coming down the stairs from his new bedroom and gave him a small smile. He would certainly have a million questions, and she wasn’t sure she had the patience to answer all of them. He said, “Good morning,” and went about making his coffee, seeming more alive today than he had the morning before.
“Good morning. Did you sleep all right?”
“Yeah, great, considering.” It was 10:30, which meant he’d probably gotten seven hours at best. “That bed’s a lot more comfortable than the one at my apartment, though.”
“That’s good.” She wanted to add that he should probably get used to it because there was no way to tell when he might be able to go home. Since she wasn’t crazy about the prospect of him staying here either, she didn’t.
