Hidden In Darkness (A Seven Realms Book Book 1)

by S. J. Stewart

  Orren let her move against him until he couldn’t take it anymore. He was going to explode if she kept at this tantalizing pace, and he barely touched her yet. Throwing his weight, he flipped them over, clutching her beneath him.

  Her smile was slow, teasing, as she looked up at him through thick lashes. She pulled her bottom lip through her teeth. The slow drag making all the blood in his body shoot down to the place throbbing with need.

  “Fuck.” He hissed. “This can’t be real.” He said his thoughts out loud, needing some sort of reassurance.

  Her mass of curls blended into the darkness of his sheets, her slashed brows raised. For a second, he didn’t think she was going to answer. Her silence all the answer he needed that somehow he drifted off to sleep and ended up here, in this new type of dream. It should alarm him, but with the heat from her body warming his, he couldn’t get his brain to focus.

  Reaching up a long finger, she traced the line of his jaw. Her eyes watched the movement, her breasts brushing up against his chest with every slow breath she took. “Orren?” His name was a question, confusion flickering across her face, both of them living in this uncertainty together.

  His skin pulsed with electricity under her touch. His jaw, his chest, his thighs where they brushed against hers.

  He held himself above her, needing a little space where he could breathe and think to make sense of it all. He looked down at her beautiful face wondering how she managed to haunt him in the dreamscape and now wherever the hell this was, just to walk out of his life so easily when he finally saw her in his wakefulness.

  The skin of her thighs was as soft as his sheets as they moved between his own before pushing open, spreading for him.

  His eyes followed the line of her chest before dropping lower, mere inches separating them. He only had to shift the smallest measure to sink under her thin shorts and into her, to see if once inside her he could finally breathe again.

  “Sleep is my paradise, yet you make me want to stay awake.” He whispered, his voice quivering.

  Reaching up, she wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck. Her face softened as she gently pulled him down, closing the space he put between them. Her lips pressed to his and all his thoughts, all his questions, disappeared. Melting away into nothing. An explosion of heat radiated from her lips, quickly spreading over every inch of him as her tongue licked the seam of his lips. He opened his mouth to hers, suddenly ravenous.

  In all his life, he never felt a hunger like this. Even when he was new and needed to feed off desires to survive, never had the yearning been this intense.

  Her knees skimmed the sides of his waist, her feet gently climbing his heated flesh to wrap around him. It was enough for him to completely come undone.

  Without another thought he sunk home, her slickness guiding him.

  Melas called out, a breathy moan that threatened to have him exploding before he even moved. Her heat made him suck a sharp breath through his teeth. Her nails dug into his back, a gasp breaking their lips apart as he buried himself to the hilt inside her. Her head rolled back into the pillows leaving her neck open to him, inviting him to taste her flesh.

  Unable to deny himself, he trailed hungry kisses down her throat. She tasted sweet and warm, unlike anything that ever passed his lips. One taste and he felt desperate to get as much as he could. He needed more, more of this, more of her, just more.

  If he was sound of mind he would be worried about feeling this overcome, this frantic, but he couldn’t think past the taste of her skin, the feeling of her brushing against him, the sound of the breathy moan vibrating through her chest against his own.

  “Yes.” Her hands wrapped around his arms, as she writhed against him. Her hips meeting his at every thrust. “Yes.” She willed him to move with that one word alone.

  A groan bubbled up his throat as he pulled out of her, almost leaving her completely before plunging in again. His thrusts would normally be controlled, he would maintain a slow and steady pace that would push her to the edge and keep her there until he would pull her down into the depths of her desire. Just the one thrust had his control slipping, he felt a slow tingle move through him.

  His brow furrowed.

  He wasn’t used to being this out of control.

  He wasn’t going to last like this. He felt like a virgin, struggling to keep himself from bursting as soon as he was finally allowed to sink home.

  Biting down on his lower lip, he moved slowly, trying to remember he was a being made to spread sexual desire. He was made for this, he reminded himself as he struggled to slow his breath and focus on her pleasure.

  Arching her back off the bed, her thighs wrapped around him, her core flexing and squeezing him. He dropped his forehead against hers, trying to keep his control as she rode her ecstasy. He hadn’t thought she’d been that close.

  Unable to hold on any longer, he pumped frantically into her, chasing his bliss.

  She tightened again and he came undone.

  This was a dream, a fantasy. He could let himself be vulnerable in this moment. Not worried about his skills or the task of bringing as much pleasure to her as he could fit into a single night before he was walking out the door of her dreamscape never to see her again.

  Their quiet pants echoed through his bedroom as he held his weight above her. His chest heaved as he inhaled deeply, crushing his lips to hers once more. “Melas.” He whispered her name in the darkness.

  Her eyes held onto his, her thumb brushing against his jawline and making him shudder. “Orren.”

  Then, she was gone.

  He collapsed on his belly on the bed, the sheets still warm under him as he scrambled to his knees, looking around the empty room. He could still smell her, the fiery scent of her mixed with just a hint of cinnamon. “What the hell?”

  Throwing his feet off the edge of the bed, he sat there and looked down at himself. He was still slicked with her arousal. She’d been here, she had to have been. It felt so real, his skin still burned where she touched his flesh.

  Dropping his head in his hands, he ran them over his face.

  He longed for her, burned for her in a way that made him feel reckless.

  There was something about her. Something special that defied everything he knew about their realms and the magic pulsing through their worlds. She was inexplicable. Capable of things none of them would have ever thought possible.

  Had she even really been here? Orren groaned, fisting the sheets at his sides.

  Getting up, he walked to his bathroom.

  He would need to shower. He couldn’t think with her scent still on him.

  16

  MELAS

  Melas shot up in bed. Her skin slicked with sweat, her hair clinging to her forehead as her chest heaved. Bringing her hand to her forehead, she slowly brushed her fingers across her damp skin.

  “What the fuck?”

  Orren was attractive, but she was so consumed with everything else going on in her life she hadn’t given herself the chance to think about anyone sexually. She had too much to lose. Falling to her primal urges didn’t seem smart. It would lead to letting someone past her walls. Having to deal with them and their needs if they developed feelings for her.

  She couldn’t deal with that right now.

  She needed to find out who she was. What she was. Nothing could get in the way of that. She needed to know so she could understand the threat they were under. Nothing was more important than keeping them safe.

  Keeping Zura safe.

  Reaching a hand down, she touched the tips of her fingers between her legs. She frowned when they came away slicked.

  How was this possible?

  Her eyes scanned the room knowing he wouldn’t be there. They hadn’t been in Zura’s treehouse room on the trundle bed Ridhor put in here knowing full well she wouldn’t want Zura sleeping in a bedroom without her. They were in a masculine room, with log walls and black silk sheets. Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried
not to shudder with pleasure at the memory.

  Was this the power of an Incubus?

  She thought he worked in the dreamscape, not pulling beings wherever he wanted, taking his fill, and leaving them to wake up confused and alone.

  She was torn between being turned on and feeling violated. She wanted it when she thought it was a dream, where she could live out her sexual fantasies without having to deal with the consequences. His liquid between her thighs had her feeling this was more, and she wasn’t happy about it.

  Looking up at Zura sleeping in her treehouse bed, she moved to the attached bathroom.

  She needed to shower, wash away the evidence of whatever the hell happened last night.

  Then, she would find Ridhor. She had questions, and she knew he would have answers.

  * * *

  Melas walked into the kitchen, her hair damp from her shower and covered in oils Ridhor always made readily available for them. It was great and kept their curls manageable in a way that didn’t seem like a huge deal, but was one less thing to deal with.

  The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Her foul mood slowly dispelled as Ridhor turned away from the counter holding a coffee mug out to her. “Morning.” His voice was always deeper in the morning. Melas couldn’t help feel it in the depths of her belly as she took the mug and settled onto a stool tucked under the island.

  She savoured her coffee, watching as he turned, leaning his hip against the counter. His eyes moved over her face, likely taking in the flush she normally wore after a night of sex, the way the muscles in her shoulders were sudden lax.

  Ridhor noticed things she tried to keep hidden with little effort. It intrigued her. Made her wonder if it was something about him being a Berserker or just another part of him. A skill he had to learn because of the life he lived.

  “I have some questions.” She stated. Ridhor had been pretty accommodating since bringing them here. Yet, she didn’t want to make it seem as though she were feeling him out to see what answers he would give her. She was telling him she had questions and hoping he would see she wouldn’t settle for anything less than truthful answers.

  Nodding, he sipped his coffee.

  She didn’t know how to explain it, but she could feel Zura in her chest. Knew she was still sleeping deeply. She wondered for a moment if this was because she was Zura’s mother or if it hinted she was more than human.

  Pushing those thoughts aside for a later time, she set the mug in front of her and reminded herself to keep all her questions geared around Orren, his skills and powers.

  “When you have a dream and are visited by an Incubus, are you brought to them?” She asked.

  His brows lifted slightly at the question for a quick moment before his face returned to the blank expression he usually donned. “I imagine it’s similar to being visited by a Succubus. They enter your dreamscape, you don’t enter theirs. I don’t believe either an Incubus or a Succubus has a dreamscape. Our dreamscapes appear to them like rooms, within that room we are often in a dream they enter and change to fit the scenario they will play out to achieve their goal. For some, it’s to feed off your sexual desires. For others, it may be to try and implant a thought that will have you completing tasks during your waking hours. This type of thing is why during many of our wars, whoever had the Incubi and Succubi on their sides were often victorious.”

  Wars. Of course, they had wars. Humans were constantly at war. Driven by power and greed. Something that would affect all types of beings.

  Melas brought her thoughts back to Orren. “Would I know if one entered my dreamscape?”

  Ridhor shook his head. “There are instances where they would want you to know. If they entered your dreamscape to leave a message or something of that extent. If they were there merely to feed, you would just wake feeling sated. Having very little memory of why.”

  “You wouldn’t remember the dream?”

  “You would remember how the dream made you feel, often having a feeling of satisfaction or euphoria. You wouldn’t remember the details. Remembering would make a return visit problematic for whoever visited your dreamscape.”

  “And physically,” She wondered the best way to phrase this question. “Would there be physical signs you were visited?”

  Ridhor frowned, not attempting to hide it from her. “What do you mean?” He pushed off the counter, walking to stand on the other side of the island as his eyes quickly looked her over. “Is this about Orren, or someone else?”

  Their relationship was built to a point where she didn’t feel she had to hide things from him, but she didn’t know his triggers or how to settle him if he did get angry and turn Berserker. It was something that caused both Orren and Andrei to be careful with what they discussed with him. She didn’t want to risk him becoming upset, not with Zura in the house.

  She decided to ignore his question. “Incubi and Succubi are both sexual beings. I imagine a lot of the dreams they take part in are sexual. Physically, would there be evidence of sex?”

  He slowly shook his head. “No. Anything that happens would just happen in the dreamscape. They create a scenario in your mind feeding off the pleasure they create, there is no actual sexual act.”

  Melas frowned.

  Confused, she picked up her mug to busy herself, her thoughts running wild. She was slightly sore between her legs, the evidence of sex was there. She didn’t understand how that could be if that wasn’t how a visit from an Incubus worked.

  Forcing a smile, she decided to keep it to herself. The hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as a metallic spiced scent filled the air. “I’m trying to understand how all of your powers work. It’s a lot to wrap my head around. If I’m not human, I was thinking maybe learning about the different beings and how everything works might shake some memories loose.”

  Ridhor’s eyes studied her face for a moment before grunting.

  “Did you invite Andrei here or is this his attempt at being inconspicuous?” She sipped her coffee, leaning forward to rest her elbows on the island.

  His eyes scanned the area around the kitchen before Andrei stepped around the corner. “How did you know I was here?” A pout on his lips transformed his face from harsh beauty to playful. “Ridhor brother, I’ve been waiting for you to notice me all morning.”

  “I’ve always struggled to notice you in shadow form.” He replied.

  Melas frowned. “You were a shadow?”

  Andrei stepped into the kitchen, making himself at home. Grabbing a mug from the hook on the wall, he poured himself some coffee. He turned, mirroring Melas’ lean on the island as he stared at her. “Yes. Few can sense me in my shadow form. Majority of those beings are also Vampires who have a shadow form. I find you very extraordinary.”

  Ignoring him, she looked at Ridhor. “Did you sense him at all yesterday?”

  Ridhor straightened, crossing his arms over his chest. Although his face barely changed, she could sense the annoyance. “Just how long have you been skulking around in the shadows, Andrei?”

  Before he could open his mouth to respond, Melas answered. “A few hours every day for the past week and a half.”

  A slow grin stretched across Andrei’s lips as his eyes flashed with heat. “Melas, you beautiful being. What would you do if I tried to kiss you right now?”

  Grabbing the blade from where it was hidden in the waistband of her yoga pants, she drove the tip into the wooden cutting board between them on the island. She flashed him a grin before returning her attention to her coffee.

  Letting out a dramatic sigh, he pushed away from the island. “Such a pity. Something tells me you would be worth it.”

  “Why all the sneaking around, Andrei?” Ridhor asked, ignoring his attempts to flirt with Melas. If he wanted to get stabbed, that was his business.

  He lifted his shoulders. “As I said before, I’m intrigued by Melas and Zura. The cabin has been quite dull since the three of you left. Orren is just pouting around, obsessing.
Ela has disappeared—”

  “Disappeared?” Ridhor’s brow lifted slightly.

  Andrei nodded, waving it away as though it weren’t important. “We think back to The Veil. We knew it wouldn’t be long before Fate went searching for her favourite child. We’ve been waiting for the fallout but with whatever mark Melas managed to burn on her, we don’t think she could lead Fate back to us even if she wanted to.”

  “Does she want to?” Ridhor rinsed out his mug, placing it in the dishwasher.

  Lifting his shoulders, Andrei kept his gaze on Melas. “Another question to add to the pile.” He joked, flashing a grin.

  It did nothing for her. She could understand how it would be enough to have most people swooning. Andrei was an attractive man, more so when he wasn’t ranting, whining, or pouting. He was more what she imagined a Vampire would be right now. Unrealistically handsome, with a dark and dangerous glint in his eyes.

  She could understand the attraction.

  If her world wasn’t thoroughly rocked last night, it would cause between her legs to heat and throb with need.

  Biting her bottom lip, she kept her sigh of frustration trapped in her throat. Ridhor saw through her too easily. She didn’t want to tip him off with what was on her mind. The whole scene with Orren still confusing her.

  “Morning, Zura,” Melas said without turning around.

  Zura bound into the kitchen, her hair a wild mess around her head letting Melas know she was tossing and turning all over the place last night.

  Andrei’s eyes widened. “How the hell does she do that?” He whispered, both men completely unaware of Zura’s silent footsteps.

  Ridhor shrugged.

  Zura jumped up, wrapping her arms around Melas. She lifted her into her lap, pressing their cheeks together before kissing her forehead. She held her for a moment before setting her back on the floor when she started to wiggle. Rounding the island, she hopped around Ridhor’s legs, her arms up. “Are we going to go to the water today?” She jumped around.