The Darkest Day

by Britt Bury

  “I know.” This was a one-shot deal. Tomorrow everything would change; their lives would go in separate directions. She wasn’t naive enough to believe she could be his mate, but she’d be lying if the thought didn’t excite her.

  “No, lass. My kind… if we…” He glanced around the room. His obvious tension shot a knot of fear into her gut. What wasn’t he telling her?

  “I told ya how Razorbacks find their fated female? How she will be the one we return ta in the light?” she nodded, the knot tightening. “I didn’t tell you that once we find her… we are bound. Our lives. For eternity.”

  She sat silent, trying to process what he was saying. “I don’t understand.”

  He huffed. “When I say our lives are bound, I mean literally. One mate dies, so does the other. Does no’ matter how, when, or why. They go down, we go down. Our heart simply can no’ beat without theirs.”

  Wow. That was quite a commitment. There seemed to be no in-between in the land of Pookah males. They either used you once or needed you forever. So where did that leave her?

  “Do you think I’m your mate?”

  His lips pressed together and he looked at the ground.

  I see.

  Earlier, she had been prepared for this to be a one-time thing. But with his admission, everything suddenly seemed so definite. He would make love to her tonight, but come breakfast, all desire he’d had for her would be gone. The other option was that if she was his mate, he’d be bound to her, a mortal, for life?

  So when I grow old and die…

  He would, too. Could she live with that? Could she live with either scenario? Watch him look upon her with absolutely zero desire. Never see his crystal eyes ignite with blue fire as he looked at her with lust. Or inadvertently sentence him to death, giving him only a few decades of life at best?

  It was either that or nothing at all.

  “The risk is too great, Kel,” she whispered, relenting. “Unless you can tell me there’s no way I’m your mate, then perhaps you should go.”

  Pain assailed her as she looked into his eyes. Her chest felt as though it was ripping in two. The last thing she wanted was for him to go. But if it meant he’d live another thousand years, she’d give up anything.

  His face softened. “Lass, if you’ll have me, I want ta stay with you tonight.”

  “What?”

  She didn’t know if she was overjoyed or saddened to her core. Too many emotions overtook her, and she couldn’t make sense of them. She only wanted him. Now. Forever.

  His brows drew together and he cupped her face in his calloused palms. Briefly closing her eyes, she reveled in the feel of his powerful touch. Her nails dug into his chest when she gripped his shirt.

  She couldn’t release him now even if she wanted to.

  Chapter 20

  Izel watched as blackness seeped into the room. A few scattered candles glowed softly against the coming night.

  “I’m… I’m losing my will. Sure you donna want ta back out o’ this?” Kelvin’s deep voice rasped with obvious strain. “Now, now is that time… ta go… if you’re no’…”

  She looked into his glacier eyes, wild and burning into her with their blue heat. Lifting to her toes, she twined her fingers into the hair at his nape. Against his mouth she whispered, “If this is to be my one chance, Pookah”—she pressed a soft kiss against the seam of his lips—“you better make it worth my while.”

  He seized her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue past her teeth, drinking her in with intensity. With a growl, his hands landed heavily on her ass, swooping her up, and she instantly wound her legs around his hips as he carried her to the bed.

  He eased her to the mattress, following her down. His weight atop her felt not only right but necessary. “I’ve wanted this since the moment I saw you,” he said between laps at her mouth.

  Lost in his drugging kisses, she hardly noticed him removing her clothing.

  Pulling back, he ran a shaky hand over his mouth as his raked his gaze over her. When he uttered the word “mine,” she arched her back, beckoning. Never had she wanted anything more than for his claim to be true.

  My God.

  Kelvin looked down at his woman, awestruck. Dressed only in cobalt silk and lace, her olive skin glowed; the firelight reflected in her eyes. He was losing control. The truth had almost slipped from his lips. He simply couldn’t live without experiencing her. Just for one night, he needed to know what it felt like to be inside his woman’s body. He needed to know peace.

  He’d let her think him a possessive male, uttering a word like “mine.” Christ, he couldn’t help declaring it. When she had asked him, point-blank, was she his mate, a better man would have lied. But Kelvin? He couldn’t answer. Either response would have doomed them both.

  To hell with that.

  None of it mattered now. Ian, the clan, his instinct—it all fell away. All that was important lay before him, spread out like a feast, and he was eager to enjoy her.

  He ran his hand down her throat, between her breasts, snagging the center of her bra, and tearing it clean from her. She gasped. He hadn’t meant to yank it so hard, but control was slipping, the beast was rising with every pulse of the inky night blanketing his skin.

  He removed his shirt and fell over her, his mouth latching on to her hard little nipple. She cried out. There was no teasing, no soft, lingering touches as he had planned. No; he was crazed. So much ferocity boiled inside him. He needed to claim his mate. If that meant binding himself to a human, then so be it. He’d search all the realms to immortalize her. He’d keep her healthy and breathing for as long as her body would allow. And if the time came—if nature prevailed and her mortality crept over her—he would be there, until the end.

  Living in a world without her simply wasn’t an option.

  He had to have her. Keep her. Possess her. She was his.

  Sliding his tongue down her stomach, he nipped and licked a trail to the edge of her panties. He scented her arousal. That was all it took to send him over the edge. He bit down on the blue silk that covered her sex and ripped it away with his teeth.

  Breaths coming quicker, the beast within rose, screaming for its mate. His hand landed on his belt, but then he stilled, struck with horror, when looking upon her face. Her eyes were squeezed shut, brows drawn, and she bit her bottom lip while fisting the sheets.

  Awaiting the pain.

  He threw himself off her. Jesus Christ! He was about to yank off his pants and plunge into her like a wild, rutting boar!

  She lifted herself up on her elbows. “Kel, it’s okay. I understand.” Her arms reached out for him. His heart twisted in his chest. Here she was, a mortal virgin, accepting not only him, but his inner instinct. She was gifting him with her body, trusting him.

  Her green eyes gazed at him as she sat up, arms still outreached. “Come back to me.”

  She was a gift to be cherished, something so far beyond him, better than he could ever be. He stepped back and fell to his knees before her. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and clutched her to his body. Pressing the side of his face against her flat belly, he hugged her to him. Her fingers sifted through his hair, and she rained kisses over the top of his head. “It’s okay,” she whispered.

  His head shook against her. “No. It is no’. But I can, I will, make this good for you, love. I will get control.” He felt her smile against his hair. He kissed her stomach, her hips, her ribs. Sliding his palms up her smooth back, he traced his tongue up her body, circling the sensitive tips of her breasts. She gasped his name and arched her back. Although he wanted to close his lips around the pebbled peaks, he lovingly licked her, lapping at her soft skin. He forced himself to go slowly. Gently.

  She panted. His gaze lifted to her face as he slid down on the bed with her. Cradling her cheeks in his palms, he took her bottom lip between his. Christ, she had the sweetest lips. He could chew on them, bite down and thrust his tongue inside.

  He took a deep breath
. Slow.

  It was the hardest thing he’d ever done. His whole body shook from the effort of keeping his inner beast at bay. Still brushing kisses over her mouth, he gripped her knees, urging her thighs apart. She clung to his shoulders and obeyed.

  Fingers dipping, he found her sleek folds. “More,” she groaned against his mouth at the wispy grazes of his fingertips. Her nails dug into his back and she lifted her hips into his touch. He gritted his teeth. His shaft throbbed and his whole body burned to bury himself inside her wet quim.

  “Kelvin.” She reached down between them and clasped his hand. “I need you… Please, I feel it, too. You won’t break me.” She guided two of his fingers inside her. “Please,” she pleaded as she began rocking on his hand, fucking herself with his fingers.

  “Izel, I’m, I’m holdin’ on by a thread.” Her scent, the feel of her sleek flesh, her moans in his ears… these were triggers he couldn’t deny.

  “Then let go. I want all you have to give.” When she unbuckled his belt and shoved down his pants, he kicked them off and thrust his tongue in time with his fingers. Her body tensed and she screamed out as her climax overtook her. He drank in her cries as she flooded his hand with her orgasm.

  “Can no’ wait any longer.” He removed his fingers and cupped her wet sex. Taking his damp palm, he rubbed her honey all over his cock before positioning it at her entrance, the crown prodding at her heat.

  “Izel,” he whispered, looking into her eyes. “This night, it is you I want, above all else.”

  He thrust inside her, plunging to the hilt.

  She let out a strangled cry of pain. “So tight,” his voice broke from the effort it took to remain still, letting her body grow accustomed to his size. Transferring his weight to one arm, he dipped his head, suckling her nipple while reaching down to glide his finger over her clitoris. When she began rocking her hips he asked, “More?”

  “Yes.”

  Carefully withdrawing, he slowly sank back into her again. She arched her back and gasped. He looked down at her, praying that God granted him the strength to cease hurting her.

  “No, Kel, it’s good. Keep going!” He eased out and eased inside her again, flexing his hips to hit her even deeper. “Yes, yes. Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop!”

  “Never.”

  She felt so good. Her hot sheath gloved his cock so tightly he was already struggling not to come. When he stirred himself inside her, she thrashed her head against the pillow. She clawed his hips and Kelvin knew she was on the brink. Felt her tight little sheath tense.

  He needed more. Needed to fuck her deeper, harder. Sitting back, he clutched her ass and raised her hips up, holding her flush against his. With a quick pump, he surged home. Biting out a curse as she screamed for more.

  He moved in and out of her faster, harder. Eyes riveted to her round breasts bouncing with each searing thrust. Her pink nipples were so hard, begging to be sucked. The sound of skin slapping and hips knocking maddened him. A sheen misted her skin as her lush lips parted, panting, as she looked up from underneath long lashes.

  Mine.

  “Come for your male.” He yanked her body into his as he surged forward, hitting the end of her sex.

  “Ah, yes!” He felt her spasm around his aching shaft, demanding what he had yet to give. It was too much. Helplessly, he followed her. Throwing his head back, he roared to the ceiling as he came hotly inside her.

  Still joined, he collapsed atop her and she wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck. Clinging to him, she showered kisses over his brow, ears, and neck. He found her eyes, with an apology on his lips. He’d tried to go slow, hadn’t meant to take her so roughly, but her gaze was one of hunger. She nipped at his lip and scratched her nails down his back. He groaned, loving the feel. He was still hard within her, though their recent pleasure was already a memory.

  “Is that all you’ve got, Pookah?” she pulled on his hair, tasting his lips.

  “You, you can handle this? Me… like this?”

  She kissed him again. “It’s taking me over, too. I need you… fiercely… more.”

  Could this be real? Could the night really be affecting her, too? Her eyes were shining like green fire and her lips were swollen from his kisses. So beautiful. So passionate. So mine.

  “I hope you’re no’ tired, little human.” He rocked his hips inside her. “I am nowhere near finished with you.”

  She smiled against his lips. “Good.”

  Chapter 21

  Kelvin had exhausted his woman. Hour after hour he’d commanded her body to come over and over again. Although he was certain he may never truly get enough of her, finally he allowed her to rest. With sunrise a half hour off, he looked at the lovely female sprawled across his stomach, her dark hair fanning over his chest like chocolate syrup.

  Absently sifting fingers through her locks, he took a deep breath. Peace.

  Such a feeling was quickly replaced with soul-crushing guilt.

  Do no’ ruin this, he told himself. He was confident that when the sun rose, the last bit of denial would fade and he could finally have his fated female. These past hours had by far been the best of his long life. Suddenly the weight he’d been carrying didn’t feel so heavy. Choices didn’t seem so hard. There was no way he could ever let anything harm this woman. She was his first and foremost; everything else was secondary.

  He would find a way to be with her, for a lot longer than a few measly decades. There had to be some magic that could change her. Kelvin wouldn’t give up until his human was immortal.

  But will she want me when she finds out we’re enemies? Finds out what I’ve done…

  Her wee shoulders lifted with a sigh and her exhaling breath tickled his abs as she nestled her soft cheek against his navel. She was so small, so fragile. Her green gaze looked up his body and met his eyes. A sad smile stretched across her face.

  Kelvin clenched his jaw.

  Come sunrise, he’d explain everything, and she would forgive him. She had to. Whatever struggles they faced, he knew that with her at his side, nothing could overcome them. Surely she’d understand. Yes, he hadn’t been honest. His initial intentions had not been noble, and he’d attempted to push her away on more than one occasion. But she was his. And although he may have handled this situation poorly, it was the only way he’d known how.

  He could fix this. Come clean, tell her everything, and move on… together. Yes, she would forgive him. Letting her go was simply not an option.

  Izel stretched, loving the feel of the Pookah’s hard body beneath hers. She was sore, starving, and utterly spent.

  But it hurts so good.

  Kelvin’s big hands twined through her hair as he stared down at her. Never in her life had she been looked at like this, like she was treasured. A tinge of sadness pierced her heart. The night had gone too quickly. She was running out of darkness, and soon she’d have to relinquish her Pookah and never again would he look at her like this. Or worse, he would be bound to her and her frailness forever, sentencing him to an early death.

  As if reading her thoughts, he palmed her jaw. “Do no’ fret, lass. I am no’ going anywhere.”

  She adjusted her position and rested her chin on the ridges of his abs. His eyes were like looking into the daytime sky as she searched his face for answers.

  “It’s still dark,” she whispered.

  A sly grin spread over his gorgeous face. “Aye. Which means I am no’ done with my human yet.” Lifting her, he pulled her mouth to his and she smiled against his kiss.

  “Well, your human needs food.” God, she loved the sound of that. Of course she didn’t want to leave his side, but her hunger bordered on becoming painful. If she wanted to make these last few moments count, she needed a quick burst of energy.

  She kissed him once more and scurried off the bed, yanking his shirt over her head and hopping into her jeans. “I’m going to run down, grab an apple, and be back in thirty seconds.” She had just fastened
the button on her pants when he grasped her wrist and pulled her back to bed.

  “Just need one more taste,” he said, teasing her lips open with his tongue. She loved his hot mouth working hers and soon got lost in his firm kiss. Hands splayed over her backside, he lay on his back and anchored her over his hips. She moaned with pleasure even as her stomach growled loudly.

  A playful groan escaped his throat and vibrated against her lips. “Hurry,” he said, kissing down her neck while gently coaxing her away. “Get your apple and get that ass back ta me.” She smiled, biting her lip, nodding frantically. Just as she ran out the bedroom door, he called after her. “You have sixty seconds, else I’ll come after you and take ya where ya stand.”

  Her smile widened when she thought, Promise?

  Once Izel stepped outside, the cool breeze rushed over her and she already missed Kelvin’s warm skin. Adrenaline surged through her veins and she skipped to one of the smaller trees. Up on her tippy-toes, she reached and grabbed a few pieces of fruit while her mind replayed the last several hours.

  The way he looked at me… the intensity.

  Please God, let him want her. Last night was too good for her to not be his.

  Or maybe I’m grasping at straws.

  It was possible, wasn’t it? She could be his mate, right? Even if she was, would she really want such a thing? Could she be that selfish?

  He brought all her emotions out. When he was near her, inside she felt alive. Complete. Wrapped in his arms, she was safe. He had already protected her, fought for her. Now, she just needed to find her grandfather, and everything would be okay.

  Euan had to see that this was how she was meant to live—happy, alongside Kelvin. All this talk of power and whatnot was just silly. And even if she did for some reason “come into magic” or whatever, it didn’t matter. For once, a future seemed possible. Everything would work itself out. She had to be Kelvin’s mate; she just had to be.