by Franca Storm
“Cora--” he tried to protest.
She smiled with amusement. “Tell me what you want,” she commanded.
So that’s how it is, is it? Fine, we’ll play. “I want that talented mouth of yours wrapped around my fucking cock,” he said, his words escaping in a breathless, desperate moan.
Her eyes flashed with a sense of victory, knowing that she had him at her complete mercy. She hooked her fingers into the waistband of his boxers and tugged hard, drawing them down just enough to free his throbbing cock, but not enough to free his legs; just the way she wanted it.
Her tongue swirled around his head. Once. Twice. And then she stopped and looked at him. “Is this what you want?”
He nodded.
“I didn’t hear you,” she pressed.
“Yes. I want your mouth,” he panted.
She still didn’t move. Instead she continued to stare at him expectantly.
It took him a moment to realize what she wanted; to hear him beg. “I need your mouth. Please. Take my cock, darlin’.”
“Hmm…that’s better,” she said, stroking his shaft up and down.
And then her mouth was on him, her moist lips gripping his cock as she took him all the way down her throat, the entire length of him.
“Oh fuck!” he cried out. “Yes, darlin’.”
She found her rhythm quickly, massaging his balls as she sucked him off. He was so turned on by the sight of her mouth sliding up and down his cock, at being unable to do anything but lie there and take it that he felt his imminent release building already. Fucking hell. She didn’t stop until he couldn’t take it anymore and thrust his hips up, driving his cock deep. He was so close, so fucking close. And then she pulled back. He growled in protest.
“You’re gonna kill me, darlin’,” he gasped.
She responded with a little chuckle and then straddled him. He watched her push the scrap of material passing for panties aside. And then she lowered herself onto his cock and took him in one sudden motion, driving him deep within her; quite a feat given his size. They both grunted at the sensation. He expected her to still for a while to adjust to his invasion. But she didn’t. She started to ride him hard and fast, lifting her pussy almost all the way off his cock and slamming back down again. It was exquisite torture and he growled with her every brutal thrust.
“Fucking hell,” he rasped, throwing his head back.
She dug her nails into his chest and he relished the sweet burn against the incredible pleasure of her slick walls milking his cock.
Leaning forward, she flipped open the latches on both his cuffs, freeing his hands. He lowered them to his sides and eyed her expectantly, knowing better by now than to touch her without her permission. It was her way. And he was enjoying this game of hers immensely. Fuck, she was so damn good at this.
“Touch me,” she commanded. “Make me come.”
With pleasure. He snaked one arm around her waist, steadying her on his cock as she continued to fuck him like an animal. His free hand slid down to her clit. She cried out as his expert fingers tended to her. He teased her breasts with his tongue and teeth, driving her into a frenzy. She ground down harder on his cock and it took everything he had to hold back his release. He wanted her to come first. He stepped up his torture on her clit.
It wasn’t long before he felt her clench around him. She screamed wildly as a powerful orgasm ripped through her. The pressure of her intense grip was such that he couldn’t hold back any longer. He roared as he came with her, pumping his release deep inside her.
She lifted herself off his cock and collapsed on top of him.
“Fuck, Cora. I didn’t know you had that in you,” he choked out as he wrapped his arms around her.
She looked up at him and grinned. “You like me taking control,” she accused.
“Anytime you want. Any fucking time.”
Her expression changed, becoming serious as she said, “You know how much I love you, right?”
“Yes, of course.” What’s this about? “What’s wrong, my love?”
“Nothing, I--”
“I know you haven’t forgiven me for Jada.”
“What?” she asked, taken aback.
“It’s okay. I get it. It will take time.”
She climbed off him and pulled the covers up to her chest protectively. “It’s not…you. It’s her. Oriana. She did this. It’s her who I can’t forgive.”
He sat up with her and pulled her into his embrace. “I know. I feel the same way. I’m sorry, Cora. I wish more than anything that none of that had ever happened. But it did and we can’t take it back.”
She nodded sadly. “I know. You’re right. I’m sorry too. About Luca.”
“It wasn’t you. It was the effect of the betrothal bond. He told me the other day.”
Her gaze snapped to his. “He did?”
“Yeah. His attempt at a peace offering.”
“I see. Well I’m still sorry.”
He tightened his hold around her. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t care about any of it, Cora. I just care about you, Orion and this little one…” he said, rubbing her belly gently. “I have something for you. Something you asked me for a long time ago. With everything that happened, I never got to give it to you.”
Cora watched, intrigued, as Ryan leaned over her and opened the drawer of his bedside table. He withdrew something in his closed palm and returned to her. He smiled excitedly and opened his hand. She gasped as she saw the two rings there. They were a bright, glowing gold with little flecks of brown running through the metal.
“Shaye picked these up for me. Wedding bands. They are made from the earth itself. They are eternal. Once we put them on they can never be removed. Only in death,” Ryan told her.
“They’re gorgeous.”
He took the lead and slid his on his wedding finger, demonstrating his commitment to her. Before she could reach for hers, he took her left hand gently in his. “Let me,” he said. He slid it slowly onto her finger, wanting to savor this poignant moment between them. “You are mine,” he said. “I love you. Always and forever, Cora.”
She smiled and relaxed into him. “I love you. Always and forever,” she seconded.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Marella watched Nathanial sitting at their dining room table, pushing his food around his plate with his fork and staring into space. He’d been that way since they’d made dinner together. And it wasn’t because he was a vampire and didn’t eat. He did eat every now and then, especially with her. They always had dinner together. They always made dinner together, just like they had done tonight. No, she knew something was wrong. He’d been distracted all night. Normally he told her what was on his mind, but tonight that hadn’t been the case and it concerned her greatly. It meant that whatever was bothering him was extremely serious.
She couldn’t take it anymore and so she finally asked, “Nathanial, what is it?”
He looked up, startled by her sudden question cutting through the long silence between them. “I’m trying to determine my best course of action regarding a sensitive issue.”
“Would you care to elaborate on that guarded response?” she pressed with amusement.
He stared at her for several moments, trying to decide whether he should let her in on it or not. And then he smiled. “Well, you are my wife. So I suppose I should.”
She grinned. “Yes, you should.”
He set his fork down and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “Cora is going to kill Oriana,” he revealed.
Marella almost shot out of her seat. “What?” she exclaimed. “When?”
“Tonight.”
“How do you know this?”
“She revealed it to me today after the Royal Court meeting when I confronted her about her recent activities.”
Marella took his words in and pondered the situation for a moment. “I can sense your desire to act. But you should do nothing, Nathanial. Let Cora do this.�
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He shook his head. “I can’t.”
Marella leaned across the table and took his hands in hers. “You need to let it go.”
“Marella--”
“Nathanial, I know you always envisioned that you would be there to witness her demise. But Oriana is your past. Everything she did; all of that. This…” she said, gesturing between them, “…is your future. This is what matters.” She gestured to her pregnant belly. “And our daughter.”
“Angel, I have let it go. I don’t have any emotion towards her—no anger, no need for vengeance.”
“Then what is this about?” Marella asked, confused.
“I am concerned about Ryan.”
“Ryan? I don’t follow.”
Nathanial gazed at her intensely as he revealed, “Cora is with child.”
Marella gasped in surprise. “You are sure? She didn’t look as though--”
“She is concealing the pregnancy.”
“Does Ryan know?”
“I’m not sure. But I am certain that he doesn’t know about her plan to take on his mother tonight.”
“She is strong, Nathanial.”
“Yes, but the child is wolf, just like Orion. She is already using a tremendous amount of power just to sustain it.”
Marella nodded her understanding. “She won’t be at full power when she confronts Oriana. Oh my God, Nathanial.”
He rose from the table and ran his fingers through his hair anxiously. “I know. It is why I must go to her. But she is currently blocking me. I can’t reach her. I have no idea where she is.”
“Who did she meet with about Oriana?”
“Kristoff, Michael and Davidas.”
“Davidas?” she muttered with distaste.
“I believe he gave her something of faerie magick to assist her with Oriana. She must have used Kristoff and Michael’s black magick to locate her.”
“They’re both in the castle. Let’s ask them.”
Nathanial shook his head. “They will not tell us anything. And I don’t have enough time to force it from them through torture.”
Marella cringed at his mention of such torture.
“I am sorry, angel. I know you disapprove of such methods. Sometimes it is necessary, but as I said, it will be of no use in this case. Both Kristoff and Michael are too experienced for me to be able to break them in time. It would take days. They will protect Cora’s secret, because they both want Oriana dead, especially Kristoff. Oriana murdered his wife after all. As Cora is blocking my dark magick, there is only one person who can track her right now. Ryan. I am hesitant, however.”
“Because of his temper,” Marella realized.
“Which is at its most uncontrollable when Cora is in any sort of danger.”
“You wish to go along with him?”
“Yes. Cora will need my assistance if she is not at full power. But not just me. Kristoff. There is no one more powerful with regards to black magick.”
A knock at the door startled them both.
“It’s open!” Nathanial called out.
A moment later, Kristoff walked in.
“You heard us?” Nathanial asked.
“Yes,” Kristoff said, closing the door behind him and walking into the room. “Marella,” he greeted politely before addressing Nathanial. “Oriana is at the one place where she knew Cora would never dare to go to look for her. Marlowe Grove.”
Nathanial searched his memory. The place rang a bell. It had been so long since he’d heard it mentioned that it took him a moment to remember. “The village that Vazra leveled with his burning fire of white light in a fit of rage a few decades ago?”
“Yes, but it has more significance than that. I didn’t expect him to have told you,” Kristoff said.
“Told me what?” Nathanial snapped.
“That village was collateral damage. Cora’s mother lived there. The home that she resided in is the only thing left standing actually. Cora was visiting her that afternoon. Her mother left the house when she sensed Vazra’s power. She didn’t fight him. She sacrificed herself, allowing him to cut her down with his magick in a bid to protect her daughter inside the house.”
“You’re saying that Vazra killed his wife—Cora’s mother?” Marella asked, shocked.
“Yes.”
“How do you know this when the rest of us are clueless?” Nathanial demanded.
“Because none of you were sleeping with her,” Kristoff answered.
“For goodness sake, Kristoff!” Nathanial exclaimed. “Cora’s mother?”
Kristoff held up his hands. “Look, she came to me. It was a brief affair. That is all. She was lonely. I was…between women. She contacted me when she sensed Vazra’s magick. She wanted my help. But Vazra attacked in the afternoon and being vampire, I couldn’t go to her until the sun went down. By the time I got there all I found were scorch marks on the ground.”
“And Cora?” Marella asked.
“Gone.”
“She doesn’t know that Vazra was responsible for her mother’s death,” Nathanial said.
“She probably assumed it was a revenge attack brought on by her mother’s job as a Seeker at the time,” Kristoff said.
“Let’s leave it that way. She doesn’t need to know. She’s already been through too much,” Marella said.
“I agree,” Nathanial responded.
“Oriana will tell her anyway. She knew all of Vazra’s secrets and I am sure that this is no exception,” Kristoff pointed out.
He and Nathanial proceeded to argue for the next several minutes, each of them clinging firmly to their own point of view.
Suddenly, Marella let out a cry of pain.
Nathanial ceased his argument with Kristoff and rushed to her side. “What is it, angel?”
Her eyes were wide as she placed her hand on her belly. “Our child,” she rasped through gritted teeth as another painful contraction assaulted her.
Nathanial gathered her in his arms and carried her in a burst of vampire speed to their bed at the back of the room. He laid her down gently and pressed his hand to her belly.
“Yes, the baby is coming,” he told her.
Her hand shot out and gripped his arm tightly. “Don’t leave me, Nathanial.”
“Of course not, angel,” he said, smiling down at her. “I will not move from your side.”
“Nathanial,” Kristoff said. “There isn’t time. I must go now. Are you coming or not?”
Nathanial glared at him. He knew that with Cora not at full strength because of her pregnancy, she would need powerful dark magick on her side, not just Kristoff’s black magick. But he also knew that he wasn’t going to leave his wife when she was about to give birth. He needed to help her through it. She was his priority over all else.
“Luca!” he called out.
A moment later, as he expected, Luca stood before him. His shirt was open as well as his pants. He took in his surroundings quickly and noticed both Kristoff and Marella. “Father, I expected you to be alone,” he muttered with agitation as he hurried to zip up his fly and button his shirt.
Nathanial noticed Kristoff’s less than pleased expression. It was obvious that Luca had been in the middle of romancing Aerona—Kristoff’s daughter. “I apologize. This is urgent.”
Luca’s eyes fell to Marella lying on the bed and writhing in pain. “Uh…I’m not exactly qualified to help with this,” Luca said, nervously.
“Relax. That is not why I called you here. I need you to go with Kristoff in my place. I cannot leave my wife. She is about to give birth.”
“Sure. Where am I going?”
“To help Cora to defeat Oriana. Outside of me, you are the only being that possesses enough dark power.”
Luca blinked hard, shocked by what his father was telling him. “What? Cora is going to kill Oriana?”
“Yes.”
“Well, let her.”
“It’s not that simple,” Nathanial said.
“She has more power
than all of us combined. It seems pretty simple to me. Oriana can’t hurt her.”
“She will not be at full power, Luca. She is with child,” Nathanial revealed.
“What? Again? She just gave birth to Orion not long ago. Does Ryan not understand the concept of protected sex?”
“It is not our business,” Nathanial said. “Perhaps they wanted another child.”
Luca rolled his eyes. “Unbelievable.”
“You should worry more about your business in that area,” Kristoff said.
Luca spun around and snarled. “I told you already that Aerona will not be bearing my child anytime soon. Drop it!”
Nathanial growled in disapproval at this news. “Excuse me? There will be no child?”
“Not yet, father. In time, I promise there will be,” Luca said.
“Nathanial!” Marella called. “Can we concentrate on our child right now?”
Nathanial took her hand and kissed her palm gently. “I am sorry, angel. Of course.” He looked at Luca and Kristoff. “Discussion over. Go to Cora. Leave us now unless you wish to witness what is about to happen here.”
Luca looked between Nathanial and Marella uneasily.
“No, I’m fine never having to see anything of the sort,” Luca said.
Kristoff grabbed his hand. A moment later the two of them teleported away.
Nathanial set about getting Marella comfortable and preparing for the imminent birth of his daughter.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
“Come closer, my love,” Ryan murmured sleepily as the fact that Cora was no longer nestled against him roused him awake.
He reached for her, but he only made contact with her pillow. He opened his eyes and looked over at her. But she wasn’t there. A rush of adrenaline shot through him and he sat up, suddenly wide awake.
“Cora!” he called out.
There was no answer.
He drew on his wolf senses to locate her. He could feel her, but it was very distanced. It meant that she wasn’t in their apartment. Hell, she wasn’t anywhere near. “Fuck,” he breathed anxiously. Not again. He hated it when she disappeared like this without telling him. Did she really think that he wouldn’t notice? He was a wolf for fuck’s sake. There was no question that he’d notice if she wasn’t by his side.
