Darkness Undone

by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  Reynner stood in front of Aerén. Fists clenched, chest heaving, his body vibrating with barely leashed violence.

  Aerén pushed away from the wall and straightened his shirt. His eyes glowed white with anger. Power rolled off him, and a sizzle ran through Eve.

  She gasped, her body twitching. She didn’t need this added stimulant along with everything else she was going through.

  “I will do what you won’t. I can always invoke our laws,” Aerén snapped in warning. “I will not let her suffer needlessly.”

  Eve had no idea what that meant, didn’t care. But Reynner stiffened. The ice in his gaze turned molten. “We are not in Empyrea. Touch her again, and I will kill you. Prince or not.”

  Aerén stilled. Then his expression morphed to a slow, dark smirk, like he just discovered something implausible.

  Not caring what that was, she darted between them and glared at Reynner. “Don’t you dare! Why do you care who I’m with?” she cried, rubbing her arms to ease the tingles. “I never asked for any of this.” She flung her hand in the direction of the scroll. “I didn’t.”

  She turned to Aerén, couldn’t see him with tears crowding her eyes. “I-I want to get out of here, please.”

  A swim in the icy lake, and maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to breathe again.

  A callused hand seized her wrist and hauled her out onto the balcony. Eve stumbled behind Reynner. Fabric ripped, resonating in the morning air as he tore off his tee and flung it aside. The ruined garment landed on the floor, and his wings reappeared in all their bronzed glory. His wild forest scent surrounded her.

  She backed away. She didn’t want this. It hurt too much.

  His eyes a blazing blue, Reynner came at her like some avenging angel. He scooped her into his arms and soared off the balcony.

  Eve’s horrified scream never made it past her lips. He captured her mouth in a fierce kiss, branding her with his touch, surrounding her with his warmth.

  Her heart stuttered. How could he be so cruel to torment her like this?

  She tore her mouth free from his and pushed at his chest. “How could you?”

  “Stop, Eve. We’re mid-air.” He grabbed both of her hands with one of his. His other tightened around her waist, his erection pressing against her hips.

  “How could you tell them what the scroll did to me?” she cried, betrayal crashing through her.

  At her accusation, he growled, “I can smell your arousal from miles away—it seeps into my skin, coats my tongue, and haunts my senses. And they damn well could, too. You think I want them catching your scent. Getting worked into a frenzy by you?”

  Eve froze. They’d smelled her? That was why they’d gone robot-still in the lounge? They were holding their breath?

  Oh, God, it was worse than she imagined. Humiliating.

  The moment Reynner landed them on the flat, sun-warmed boulders, Eve spun away and walked blindly into the trees. Unable to face him.

  He came after her, blocking her path, eyes vivid with anger. His spread wings slapping against the branches in fury like he wanted the pain. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “Leave me alone.” She tried to walk around him.

  A snarl. “So you can be with Aerén?”

  She didn’t care. Had nothing to lose. “At least he wants me!”

  Eve didn’t see him move. Her back hit a tree trunk, his mouth taking hers in a bruising kiss. She fought him, pain crushing her heart. She didn’t want his pity. Furious, Eve bit him.

  His head snapped back, blood beading on his lower lip.

  “I’d rather a one-night-stand with Aerén than a pity fuck from you—”

  “He’ll never have you!”

  “Go to hell!”

  “My life is hell, Eve…” The words seemed to be torn from him. “That’s all it’s ever been.”

  He kissed her again. Not in anger, but one filled with need. Gently, he traced the seams of her lips with his tongue. Then there was only his mouth sliding against hers... She melted against him.

  He lifted his head. His skin pulled taut across the sculptured bones of his face. “You think I don’t want you?”

  “I don’t know what to think anymore,” she whispered.

  He stared at her for a long, heart-shattering second. “Undress.”

  “Wh-what?”

  “Undress, Eve. Now.”

  At his demand, she swallowed. She would be naked in front of a man who showed no softness. Had none to give. Still, she wanted him so badly; it hurt just to breathe. With trembling fingers, she reached for the first button on her shirt, but her hands shook too much.

  The next moment, he reached out and swiftly undid the buttons and peeled her top off. He tossed it aside. Warm, callused palms slid to her back and her bra followed. Goosebumps flooded her skin at the cool air. Her nipples hardened. At his dark, caressing stare, she covered her breasts with her arms. He shook his head. “Don’t.”

  He moved her hands away and his gaze swept slowly down her body. His warm palms spanned her waist then slid up in a sensual glide to cup her breasts, leaving behind a trail of heat in its wake. Squeezing gently, he pressed an open-mouthed kiss on the scar on her left breast, then dragged his tongue over her nipple.

  Oh, God! Eve shuddered, her body thrown into a maelstrom of sensations.

  His leathers creaking, he hunkered before her and snapped open the button of her jeans, his beautiful wings sweeping the damp leaves scattered on the ground. He unzipped, then parted the fly, and dragged another heated kiss down her stomach.

  Eve grabbed his shoulders as he pulled the denim down her hips. She stepped out of them, and he tossed the garment aside. He gently nipped her stomach, eliciting another shudder from her. With his teeth, he caught the edge of her panties and pulled the scrap of cotton down her thighs, yanking them off.

  He was at eye level and could see her—would see everything. Instinctively, she flung one arm across her breasts and the other covered her femininity.

  “Eve.” He removed her hands, keeping them in a gentle but firm hold at her sides. “Look at me.”

  Heat washed her face. Her heart raced. Biting back the urge to cover herself again, Eve met his burning gaze. Sunlight filtered through the treetops and dappled his pale hair in shimmering gold and silver hues. He was so beautiful.

  “You are beautiful, Eve.”

  The intensity of his stare made her tremble. And just like the time in his room, he was crouched before her once more. Except there was no fear in her now. Instead, desire and a deep yearning to be in his arms took hold.

  “Reynner, please…kiss me.”

  He did.

  Parting her legs, he put his mouth right on her core. The first lick of his tongue nearly took her over the edge. A choked moan escaped her, his gaze flashed to hers. He pulled back.

  “Reynner?”

  “Not here.” He rose, picked her up, and carried her farther into the trees—away from the decaying smell of vegetation—and laid her down on the soft, green grass. The sweet, clean scent perfumed the air.

  Eve reached for the waist of his leathers. He shook his head and removed his pants, his heated gaze not leaving hers for a second.

  Like some haloed, celestial being, his wings tucked against his body, he moved over her. Warm skin and powerful muscles slid seductively over her bare skin. His hard, hot length pressed against her inner thigh.

  Showered with sensations, Eve inhaled an unsteady breath. She ran her palms over his shoulders to his back, and caressed the silky arches of his wings. His cock jerked, and he stiffened. Seconds later, in a swish, his wings disappeared.

  Her fingers clenched. “Reynner?”

  He shook his head and covered her mouth in a scorching kiss, pulling her back into his passionate warmth. Hot, possessive, he kissed her deeper and deeper…

  Panting for air, Eve broke away. He didn’t stop but latched onto her breast with his mouth. With his tongue and lips, he tormented her nipple—sucki
ng and licking first one, then he moved to the other.

  Desire like a gale force took hold as he tormented her nipple—sucking and licking first one, then he moving to the other.

  She moaned, shifting her hips. He let go of her nipple and slid lower. His pale hair swept over her body in a million silky strokes as he trailed more kisses down to her navel. Spreading her thighs with his hands, he lowered his head.

  This time, it wasn’t just for a taste. He put his mouth on her and licked down one side of her cleft and up the other side. Pleasure grew and spread like a heat wave. She grasped his hair, holding on as her mind lost all cognizance. Every inch of her focused on the sensations coursing through her body.

  Reynner explored her with a deep eroticism she’d only read about, licking around her neglected bundle of nerves and teasing her opening with his tongue, driving her wild out of her mind. When he suddenly locked his mouth on her swollen clit, she near came off the ground, a rasping cry tearing from her throat.

  He held her down, tormenting her with soft licks and firm pulls. God, she didn't think she could last this sensual onslaught. “Reynner, please…”

  He lifted his head, his lips glistening wet from her. “Please what, Eve?”

  “More,” she whimpered, needing him to ease the unbearable ache inside her.

  Slowly, he eased a finger into her wetness, watching her face. But at the alien intrusion, she stiffened. He pulled out. His thumb glided over her clit, once, twice, then his finger pushed in again. After another slick glide of his thumb, he added another finger. Desire sharpened.

  “Better?” he asked, voice rough.

  Powerless to answer with the emotions crowding her, she nodded. Release hovered…so close. Pressure built between her thighs, she arched her hips up.

  He lowered his head. As his fingers worked her, he sucked her clit again, teasing it with firm pulls and soft licks, then a sharp nip.

  Eve cried out as unbelievable pleasure exploded through her, yanking her up and tossing her over.

  It took her a few minutes—maybe several hours to get her breath back before she became aware of him gently kissing her there, his gaze on her.

  Her hands still tangled in his hair, she tugged him up. “Now.”

  He moved up her body, his masculine heat surrounding her. She released her grip on him and glanced down. At the sizeable length of his sex, a moment of doubt invaded her. He was huge. And she’d never been with anyone, but when she met his heated stare, her hesitation vanished.

  She reached between them, wanting to touch him, but he grasped her hand. Something dark flashed in his eyes.

  An ache filled Eve. Because she knew why he wouldn’t let her touch him so intimately.

  He squeezed his eyelids tight as if in agony, then they snapped opened. “This is about you.”

  Not if she could help it. This was for both of them.

  He ran his palms over her inner thighs as he spread them wider, then the blunt head of his cock nudged her opening, and he slowly pushed inside her.

  Eve gasped at the tightness, at the unfamiliar, uncomfortable stretching…

  ***

  Reynner stilled, arms straining as he hovered above Eve. Her expression and her body tense, her short nails digging into his wrists. Discomfort edged her passion-filled green eyes.

  He pushed in a little more, felt the resistance. Aaand like an eighteen-wheeler had just rammed him, his lungs flattened at the truth.

  “You’re a virgin—dammit—of course, you are!”

  The dreaded V!

  Now he godsdamn understood what it meant. When he was half-fucking-way inside her!

  He moved to pull out.

  “No—” Her grip tightened on his wrists. “Don’t.”

  “Eve, I’m hurting you.” And that he couldn’t bear.

  She took several deep breaths. “A moment, and I’ll be fine.”

  So brave. She would accept him into her body, knowing what he was. Where he’d been.

  Before the black memories took over and ruined this beautiful moment, he shoved back his thoughts and bolted his shields. This was about her.

  Reaching between their bodies, he slid his fingers over her slick flesh, thumbing the tiny nub until her discomfort dissipated and arousal darkened her eyes once more. She moved beneath him, her legs wrapping around his hips.

  “Now.”

  Unable to resist her breathy whisper, braced on his elbows to keep most of his weight off her, he lowered his head and kissed her deeply. In a single hard thrust, he sheathed himself completely inside her. Her cry of pain echoed in his ears and squeezed his heart, her fingers digging into his forearms.

  By the heavens, she was so small. He held still, waited for her to grow accustomed to him. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and something inside him shifted, softened. Tenderly, he wiped away the single drop that escaped.

  She humbled him, giving him the purity of her body. Overwhelmed with all the feelings crowding him, he kissed her again, revering her with his lips. He let his healing powers—such as they were—flow into her, hoping it would ease her.

  Her body tensed and she pulled her mouth free and gasped in surprise. The discomfort in her expression gave way to wonder. Reassured, he eased out of her in a long slow glide then surged right back in again. Pleasure flowed across her face.

  Her legs tightened around him once more. He thrust in and out, harder, faster in a ruthless rhythm, driving her towards release. The pressure in his groin grew, pushing him to the edge. He struggled to hold on, not to spill himself inside her—his thumb rolled over her clit, her climax exploded, her body pulsing around him as she fell.

  Fuck, he had to pull out before it was too late. He started to withdraw even though everything in him protested. But she grabbed his arms, as if sensing his decision. “No—” she breathed. “Don’t.”

  “Eve, I can’t do this to you.”

  “Don’t care,” she whispered, reaching up to caress his face. “I waited all my life for you.”

  At her tender gesture, the heartfelt words, he closed his eyes as mistiness blurred his vision.

  Her fingers entangled in his hair, she pulled him to her and kissed him deeply. Like a temptress, she wiggled her hips for him to move, and naturally, his fragile resistance crumpled.

  Hell, he had none when it came to her, no matter what he said…because his heart belonged to her.

  She grabbed his wrists to hold on as he pounded into her. Her pants of pleasure rang in his ears. Her feminine muscles fisted him, and his entire being unraveled. As he drove faster into her, a strange, powerful force took hold of him. He could do little to stop his life force from merging with hers.

  Her eyes widened, the blue mating light shimmering in her green irises as he claimed her in the elemental way of his kind. “Your eyes,” she gasped. “Glowing. Pretty.”

  He merely shook his head.

  Her body bowed up as another orgasm ripped through her. Her core squeezed his cock so tight, a strangled grunt left his throat. He followed hard, releasing himself into her as a warm light flowed through him, brightening every dark corner of his soul.

  Breathing harshly, he pressed his face in the scented hollow of her neck. That claiming white light inside him, a soft glow now. There was no darkness, no crushing rage that normally consumed him after his rare sexual encounters. Ones that usually left him empty afterwards.

  Peace. Warmth. Eve.

  Mine.

  Her arms came around him, and his heart stuttered. She held him like he mattered. He could barely swallow at the emotions swarming him. She hauled him out of the nightmarish hell he’d lived in for so long and made intimacy beautiful for him again.

  She’d completely undone him.

  ***

  Eve held onto Reynner, still in the grips of her orgasmic euphoria. She floated outside her body, had no idea what had happened to them except that this was beyond her wildest imaginings. He was hot, thick, and still hard inside of her; she loved the tigh
t feel of him.

  He raised his head to look at her. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded, unable to speak.

  “I’m too heavy to stay atop you,” he rasped and withdrew.

  Eve winced at the slight burn as the spell surrounding them broke. Concern marred his face. She glanced between their bodies and saw the red tinge coating his sex just as Reynner looked down. Heat flooded her face that he would see evidence of her virginity. She tried to sit and sucked in a breath at the discomfort. She made to slide away from him, but he caught her hips.

  “Where are you going?”

  His slightly husky voice sent another round of shivers sweeping through her body. “I need a swim.”

  He shook his head and stroked her cheek. “No, Eve. The water’s freezing, and you’re sore.”

  But that’s what she wanted. The icy water would soothe her discomfort. “Reynner, please, I have to—” she broke off and gasped, shock knocking her sideways when he parted her legs and licked her.

  “Wait!” She grabbed his hair, tried to tug him away. “You can’t—”

  “I’m not leaving, not while you’re hurting. My saliva will heal you.”

  That she didn’t know. Absolute mortification took hold as he put his mouth on her again, but her embarrassment soon gave way to pleasure. Her body shook uncontrollably while he worked her with just his tongue. She panted, her fingers tangled in his hair, as she crested and fell. Her soft moans merging with the rustle of leaves in the peaceful morning.

  He waited until she’d calmed down, then pressed a gentle kiss to her tummy and rose to his feet. “Stay here, I won’t be long.”

  Eve stared into the canopy of trees above her, unable to watch him go, her brief moment of happiness evaporating. The sun shone through the leaves, dappling her and the area around her with speckles of light. Lying in this peaceful paradise wasn’t going to change the truth. The interlude, no matter how beautiful it was, was over. Besides, the grass made her skin itch.

  Eve pushed to her feet and brushed the crushed flowers and bits of grass from her back and bottom. The sweet, tantalizing fragrance teased her nostrils, one she’d always remember and treasure of her time with Reynner.