by LJ Swallow
“I think that leads down to the cellars.”
We both stare at the door, hands in pockets. If there’s one thing I like about a locked door is the challenge of opening it, but I can’t see anything resembling a lock in the smooth wood.
“What’s in the cellars?”
Cillian shrugs. “I asked Donovan, and he said there’s a storage area down there, including warded rooms.”
“I thought this was a human led place?” I eye the door, now more eager than ever to take a look.
“The Kirkas have links to magic and always have.”
“Interesting.” I tap my lips. “Oh!” Cillian looks at me in alarm. “What if they have prisoners down there?”
“Really, Syv?”
“Really! Man, I want to take a look.”
Cillian wrap an arm around my shoulder and guides me away from the door. “Please don’t try.”
“What? In case something kills me?” I shake my arm at him. “Somebody else has that covered.”
“Syv.” Cillian pauses and turns me towards him. He cups my face with his hands, which are thankfully much warmer than last time. “You won’t die.”
My cheeks heat beneath his hands but not through magic, and I stare at his lips while moistening my own. “I hope not.”
I startle as Cillian’s mouth touches mine for the briefest moment before he withdraws. That one tiny touch is enough to send desire roaring into my veins.
Whoa.
“We need to talk about the kiss,” he says and rubs his soft thumb across my lips. “The other one.”
“Yeah, I don’t do the whole ‘talking about shit that happened’ thing.” I step back. “We can continue where we left off sometime, if you like, but please no deep and meaningful bleh.”
Cillian’s eyes shift bluer, something I never noticed in the gloom outside Le Fee Verte. This time, his lips linger longer against mine, much cooler than they were before. I touch my lips as he smiles at me, mouth tipped at one corner. “I’m guessing you’ve never had sex with an elemental before?”
“Since they didn’t exist in the world until a few months ago, I haven’t had the pleasure.” My heart rate spikes at his suggestion there could be something different to usual.
With a smile that holds a promise, Cillian turns and walks away. “End of tour. I hope you had fun.”
If Cillian expects me to follow him with my tongue hanging out, he can think again. Instead, I turn in a circle to orientate myself before heading back to my room. Alone.
Chapter Eighteen
Afternoons are for sleeping, something I've trained myself to do through years spent as a night owl. Or would you call me a night magpie since I'm out collecting precious objects? I retire to my room after my tour with Cillian and morning planning our excursion this evening. Somehow I manage to fall asleep despite the anxiety and crazy thoughts whirling around in my head.
The heavy curtains help block out the day but too effectively since I'm roused by somebody banging on the door. Groggily, I grab my phone from the nightstand and read the time with one open eye. 5:00 PM. Ugh.
"Syv? Come and eat before we leave tonight." Cillian.
I head to the door and pull it open. There's something about this tall, wiry guy that draws me in. At first, I thought it was his eyes and unusual looks. I'm always drawn to this—look at Bastian and me. But, in the last couple of days, I'm fighting to figure out more. Guys don't usually look at me the way he does. He asks questions and tries to understand what's going on beneath my facade. His protective reaction yesterday soothed over a raw patch exposed by my encounter with Bastian.
"I hope you don't mind me waking you, but I know how much you love food and wouldn't want to miss out on dinner." His mouth quirks into a smile. "Make the most of the Institute's free meals."
"Do they have chips?"
Cillian chuckles. "Yes, and sauce for drawing ketchup runes."
"Ha ha."
Only when he moistens his lips and takes a glance at me do I realise I'm half-naked. I pulled my jeans off before climbing into bed earlier but left on the other clothes; I never like total nudity in bed in case I need to be on guard and fully dressed quickly. Running away from pursuers in my underwear wouldn't be a good look.
Obviously, when I'm sharing with somebody, nudity isn't a worry. I arch a brow at him, and his grin grows. "Was this a ploy to get into my room?"
"No. I'm merely concerned about your welfare. You'll need all your strength for tonight's 'big bone hunt'."
Sure, he is.
Cillian steps inside and closes the door behind him before resting against the wood.
But he's forcing me to admit one of the fears that ran around my head as I drifted to sleep earlier. "What if the bones don't exist, Cillian? Maybe there isn't any hope."
Cillian holds my steady gaze. "I believe there's always hope."
"I hope so." I smile. "Otherwise, I've a few days of 'Netflix and chill' before life is over."
"Great. I can help with the chill part." He frowns when I chuckle. "What?"
"You don't know what the phrase means, do you? 'Chill' equals sex."
He reaches out and pulls my bottom lip down with his thumb. "Willing to help with that too."
My mouth parts, and I've no idea why this guy has such a huge effect on me as his thumb's rough pad sends a spark across my face to match any magic.
Cillian's presence here is definitely not concern for my welfare.
I could easily respond to the undertones between us and pull him onto me—his mouth, his hands, all of him. Would sex with an elemental be earth-shattering? I smile to myself.
"What do you mean 'earth shattering'?"
I blink. "Did I just say that out loud?"
"Yeah, with a weird look on your face." He winds a tendril of my hair around his finger. "We should get to know each other more. I'm sure we'd make a great team."
"Are you talking about you and me or the four of us?"
"Both."
My skin goosebumps when he drops my hair which brushes my cheek. I'm now hyperaware of how little I'm wearing and how he could touch me right now, and I'd probably respond.
Shaking myself out of lustful thoughts, I turn away from Cillian and bend to pick up my jeans from the floor. I hear a sharp intake of breath.
"Stop staring at my backside." I pull them on without turning back to him.
"Sure."
"You're still looking, aren't you?" I ask as I focus on fastening my jeans.
I hear movement and hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention as I detect Cillian close behind. "Maybe. Who could resist that view?"
I tense as he pulls at my shirt, straightening it over my jeans. His fingers brush my ass lightly, without lingering, and Cillian's strangely sweet scent and cool breath remind me of yesterday.
Do I stand still or turn around? Because if I turn, I'll kiss Cillian again. And if I kiss him, I can guarantee I'll lose more than my jeans before I climb on the bed this time.
You know what? Fuck Netflix, I'll go with the chill.
I turn to face Cillian, who doesn't move an inch, our bodies almost touching. Every hair on my arm stands up too as his eyes search mine, asking a silent question. I'm more fascinated by the colour change to a cerulean blue.
"Fire or ice?" I ask him.
He looks confused for a moment. "Oh. Do you think I'll explode into fire and burn you? Or maybe turn you into an ice sculpture?" He smiles. "I reserve that for my enemies, not my lovers."
"One look at me half-naked, and you presume I'll be your lover?" I attempt to sound indignant, but the breathiness gives me away.
My heart continues to hammer as we remain close but not close enough, his lips tantalisingly near again.
"I apologise." His fingers brush my cheek again. "I would never presume anything, Syv."
Cillian lowers his mouth until his lips touch mine, warm and soft. When I part my lips, he delves his tongue into my mouth and crushes me against him, one stro
ng arm around my waist. His kiss holds more than the one outside the club, this time his taste and the way his tongue strokes my mouth builds an overwhelming need for more.
"Your fingers are warmer," I murmur and tip my head back as he lands kisses along my neck, hands sliding beneath my shirt and along my side.
"You complained last time." He grips my ass to pull me into him, mouth returning to mine in another kiss that scorches through my body, and I'm shocked at how sudden he arouses me.
Mouth still locked, I move to unbutton his shirt and push it open, splaying my hands across his hard abs and pecs. Nice. I figure if this guy can make me wet with just a kiss, he'll have other skills and slide my hands between us to flick open the button on his jeans. I'm more than happy when he works on taking off the jeans I just put on as I wriggle out of them until they hit the floor. I drag my mouth away and grin before pulling my sleeveless top over my head. His blue eyes glisten as he soaks up the sight of my almost nakedness, moistening his lips.
"Do you want to—" he begins.
I slam my mouth back on his and drag him by the shirt towards me, falling backwards onto the bed with Cillian's hard body landing on mine.
"Don't ask stupid questions," I say with a chuckle. Any guy who turns me on this quickly isn't going anywhere.
Cillian pushes his shirt from his shoulders and kicks off his shoes before his jeans join mine on the floor. Our legs tangle together, and I'm more than interested in the hard cock pressing against me, my core pulsing as the devouring kisses continue.
Cillian unhooks my bra, and I toss it aside, eager for his mouth on my peaked nipples. He doesn't disappoint as he flicks his tongue against one. I arch up to him as he takes my other into his mouth, sucking and teasing as he rubs his thumb against the first.
My breathing speeds, and I lose myself in his attention, happy to find a guy who isn't 'clothes off, let's fuck’ for once. Cillian leisurely swirls his tongue around my nipple before laying soft, warm kisses across my breasts and downwards, covering every centimetre. He pauses and nips my belly.
"You're awesome, but so far there's nothing different," I say as I prop myself up to look at him.
"What? Did you expect me to have an icicle dick or something?" He pushes hair from his face then darts his tongue out to run it from my belly button to my breast.
I take a sharp breath at the temperature change. "Your tongue is cold!"
"Uh huh." The sudden cool against my hot skin shocks me, but as he moves back and blows his warm breath along the line, he licked; I gasp.
"Fuck, that's hot."
He rests his chin on my belly and looks up at me. "I wouldn't say hot."
"No. Feels good hot," I say hoarsely.
"Ah." He dips his cool tongue into my navel sending a tremor through.
"How are you doing that?"
"Elemental." He slides a hand along my inner thigh, and as he does, they turn from warm to icy cold. Holy shit, this is different. Cillian lightly skims his fingers against my pussy, and I hiss at the temperature difference. "No?"
"Uh. Yes." I jerk as he parts my folds and slides his fingers along. His thumb presses my clit, and the temperature difference shivers pleasure through me. "Omifuckinggod."
Any thought I had that I'd be in control of the situation is blown away by the sensations overtaking my restraint.
"Different enough?" he asks as his cool lips meet mine again. At the same time, he pushes a finger inside me, and I breathe out, mind blown by how fucking good this feels. I move myself against his hand, and the sensation jolts through my body as Cillian strokes a spot inside hardwired to the rest of my body.
I dig my fingers into his back, running my hands across his muscular shoulders as he gives himself over to pleasuring me. The pressure grows, and I spiral to the edge, blood pulsing in my ears, the need for release shaking through my body. I'm aware the moans in the room come from my mouth, but I no longer care as my vision blurs, close to the edge.
His hand stills, and I groan at him. "Don't stop."
Cillian's eyes gleam as he nudges my legs apart and shuffles down the bed, sliding his mouth across my breasts and down to my belly, inch by tormenting inch. My body buzzes in anticipation. Oh, hell, yes. I can't remember the last time a man bothered to go down on me. I tremble as he kisses along my thigh, and his cool breath caresses my heated flesh before he swipes his tongue between my folds.
I just about hit the ceiling. "Fuck!"
His mouth covers me as he leisurely draws his tongue the length of me until he reaches my clit, teasing. An intense pleasure floods from the place his tongue touches, through my limbs, and I close my eyes, yielding.
I grip his hair as he thrusts two fingers back inside me, and his tongue skilfully strokes and teases as he sucks on my clit until I'm heading upwards again. This guy does things to me I never imagined possible, each stroke pushing me further towards a natural high, driving me out of my mind, and craving one thing. More. Him. Everything.
Cillian pulls me to the blinding edge, burying his face further between my legs, and the rhythm of his tongue and fingers drag me into an intensity I've never experienced. Blood roars through my ears; my vision blackens as the orgasm shatters me, body and soul.
I'm still floating somewhere around the ceiling as Cillian kisses along my belly, and I wrap my shaking legs around him as he reaches me. His lips touch mine briefly, and then he looks down with a smug smile, chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Please don't tell me your cock will do the same thing," I murmur as my head continues to spin. "I'd rather have hot and hard, thanks."
Cillian shuffles out of his briefs. Well, I don't need to worry about adding 'big' to that list. He moves to settle himself between my legs, and his length slides along my pussy. Yep, hot and hard.
"Yeah?" he says.
"Uh. Yeah," I breathe out.
I gasp as he thrusts into me hard, kissing me again and forcing my mouth open to accept his tongue. I grip his shoulders, fingers digging into the knotted muscle, and lock my legs around his waist. Cillian pulls his head away and takes a deep breath before withdrawing slowly, watching my face as he runs his fingers along my lips.
"You feel so fucking good," he says, voice hoarse.
"Believe me, so do you."
Cillian pushes into me again, lust darkening his expression as he moves, eyes on mine as he maintains the rhythm. The ebbing pleasure resurges, and I push against his hips as he rocks against me.
My nipples brush his hard chest, pushing me further toward another orgasm. Tipping my head back, I moan with pleasure, eyes half-closed. Cillian's thumb presses my clit, and the sudden blinding explosion in my head courses through every nerve ending, wave after wave of bliss engulfing me. Gripping my ass as I clench around him, Cillian raises my hips to push himself hard once more before groaning loudly as he comes too.
We collapse back onto the bed, and I have no words, my mind totally destroyed, unable to do anything but moan as he continues to move inside me, lips softer as the aftershocks shudder through us.
Eyes closed and lost in the incredible world of fantastic sex; I don't notice another difference at first. Cillian's movements quicken again, and I snap my eyes open as he holds himself up with hands on either side of my head, rocking against me.
"You're still hard."
He smirks. "Elemental. We stop when I want, not when my body decides. If that's okay with you."
I roll my hips against him. "No complaints here."
"I didn't think so."
"But dinner?" I gasp out as he closes his mouth around my nipple.
He pulls away and laughs loudly. "Ah, Syv and her food. Dinner isn't for another couple of hours. I had other plans when I came to see you."
"Sneaky," I say and reach up to grab his shoulders. "You just can't trust Dwellers."
Cillian pauses and rests his head against mine. "Says the damn sexy thief."
"Shut up and fuck me."
He laughs and catches my l
ip between his teeth, and pleasure sears again as he thrusts harder. Endless erections? How the hell do elementals get anything else done in life?
Chapter Nineteen
The mausoleum is located in a fenced-off area of the graveyard, a few minutes walk from the car park. We waited for dusk to fall, then I was out of the car and at the gates in seconds.
I rarely visit places like this because these are human domains. Most supernaturals have a longer life span or—such as vamps—don't die at all. Shifters age and die, but they have their own rituals to dispose of bodies. Piles of dusty dead demons don't need burying. Fae? They bury themselves beneath the court with family crests and inscriptions to mark their passing. There's no way fae would partake in human ceremonies.
The guys walk either side of me as we approach, and Dex hangs back a little as we tread along the narrow path between gravestones. I pause and look down at a shiny, modern black stone with etched gold lettering. A floral wreath adorns the grave, stirring a memory of the one funeral I attended. My human grandmother is buried in a cemetery close to my childhood home, but I never visited her grave since the day of her funeral.
I didn't know her well, but she rarely visited her only granddaughter. Once I discovered my origins, I wondered if my grandmother knew something about me. Someone had to. Demon spawn don't randomly occur in human families.
The further we head into the cemetery, the older and more overgrown the stones become, and I can no longer make out the names and dates.
"Syv. Come on," urges Cillian as I continue to think about my past. "Others will know we're looking for the bones."
I glance around. "Is anybody else here?"
"No."
"We should've asked the Horsemen to help," I say as I tramp onwards.
Morgan snorts. "No. This isn’t important to them."
Cillian pulls his collar closer around his face. "No. This is Dweller business. If they interfere, things could get confused. They don’t like cooperating and don’t understand enough."
I trip over a loose tombstone and he catches my arm before I fall. "We already asked for help."
