He filled her, stretching her to that precise point of bliss. Less would be unfulfilling, more would be painful.
Price was right. The perfect fit.
She tightened her legs around his waist, skimming her hands up and down his broad back, delighting in those rippling muscles that flexed as he bore her weight.
“Tell me, what will you do to me in that room?” An entire week? Shivers erupted across her spine.
He thrust into her, a long, purposeful pumping. “First, I’ll peel off every inch of your clothing.” Smug, he bent his forehead to hers. “With my teeth. Next, I’ll tie you to the bed with silk scarves.” He nipped at her lips. “Red ones, dark and bold against your tawny skin.” His chest rumbled as though he was pleased by the image. “Tie you on your stomach,” he purred, “and kiss every inch of you. Be warned, I do bite.” He sank deep. “Hard.”
“Mmm. What if I use my claws to free myself?” To emphasize, she sprang them free and pinched his backside.
His shaft swelled inside her, impossibly hard and thick. She mewled, but didn’t release her claws.
“You do that and I’m going to bend you over my knee. Spank you, and then fuck your sweet ass.” He slammed into her. “Until you scream.”
Naughty Price, his descriptions made her sex grow slicker and tighter with his erotic threats.
Though he was strong—powerful and fast from Horse’s talents—he sensed how much force to exert with her. How to pleasure her without breaking her.
And she didn’t doubt for an instant…
How to make her scream.
***
The image of pounding himself between the plump curves of Daji’s tight, hot ass made his balls threaten to explode. He slowed his pace, but her pussy sucked him right in, demanding he grant it the attention it craved.
He swiveled his hips in deep, sensual strokes. Offering her a little less than he perceived she desired.
Teasing her, taunting her. Tempting her to the edge.
Her panting quickened. Oh yeah, she wanted it. Her desperate little claws dug in harder, demanding.
Too bad there wasn’t a bed to tie her to.
He’d prove to her no one else would fulfill her wildest fantasies like he would. No one would love her as hard either.
Thunder cracked across the horizon. Well, it wasn’t the sky, but close enough. He stiffened, forcing his hearing to stretch beyond their heavy panting.
“Maybe we should get the Hell out of here.”
“Price.” She groaned at his bad joke and dug her claws in, pinching his ass so tight she almost pierced his flesh. “Not until you feed me.”
“Happy to oblige.” Do it fast. Before more yāoguài decided they didn’t need a master to make him and Daji their next meal.
His cock didn’t require any coaxing. He shoved deep, burying himself into her as he came, grunting into her chest.
She clung to him, her sheath clenching around him and drawing out every last drop. “Mmm.” She moaned, her head lolling.
“Good?”
“The best.”
She was a bit out of it and he set her on her feet, tugging her pants up her legs. The buzz usually left her on a high, but something seemed off. Daji still appeared weak.
If that wasn’t a blow to the quality of his jīng… Well, no worries. Once he got her back to the palace, there’d be plenty of time to refuel both of them. Maybe things worked differently in Dìyù.
Hell wasn’t exactly famous for being a realm of pleasure and erotic carnality.
“You okay?” He steadied her, lifted off his hands, careful she didn’t fall, and shrugged on his pants.
Daji wavered on her feet but accepted his hand on her waist, her arm around his shoulders. He unlocked the door and poked his head into the corridor. Empty.
“We can’t leave.” Daji tugged on his shirt. “Dì Xīn told me there are four of them. Lucy’s uncle, Nat’s father, and one more.”
“Really?” He ducked inside and slid the door shut. “What would we do if we found them? Huh? We have no weapons. This stupid-ass box doesn’t work.” He punched a hand to the box in his jacket.
“I know.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I wish we could stop them, but I’m too weak, and you’re right, we don’t know how.”
“What we do have is information we can hand off to the Chosen.” He sighed. “They sent those assholes here. It’s not like it will be a surprise to them.”
This palace was so huge, it wasn’t shocking no one had detected them killing Dì Xīn and those minions. Sooner or later, the occupants of this fortress would come looking.
Screeching echoed off the corridor walls.
“Someone unwrapped our house-warming present.”
Daji padded to his side. “We’d better leave before an army of yāoguài descend upon this place.”
He snared her head and pressed a rough kiss to her lips. “Good idea.” He slipped his hand through hers, cracked open the door, and peered into the hallway. “Clear.”
Grasping Daji’s hand, he led them through the palace, stalking the empty halls. As long as the occasional squawking rang behind them, they would be fine.
Even if the demons figured out what happened, it would be a while before they searched for him and Daji. They’d be long gone by that time.
They sped down the stone staircase and into the pitch blackness of Level Eighteen. At the far edge of the expanse, the ground underneath them trembled and screeching reverberated toward them.
“Crap.” He swung Daji against the wall and flattened himself behind her, blending them in.
His dick nestled right above the soft curves of her ass, and he couldn’t help from rubbing against that plush cushion.
“Price,” Daji hissed a warning.
“Shh.” He nipped her ear and slapped his hand across her mouth to muffle her yelp.
She sucked his thumb into her mouth, flicking her silk tongue against it.
He bit down on a groan.
The hollering intensified as the yāoguài scurried into Level Eighteen, clambering through the slick ooze and clucking at each other. A rush of their foul, rotten-meat-like stench brushed through his nostrils while the wave of demons passed them.
He buried his nose in Daji’s hair, inhaling her floral fragrance.
His hard-on thickened, expanding into the hollow of her back, and he rolled his hips up and down, pressing along her spine.
Gods, she felt so good. So tempting.
Even when one false move would mean a legion of demons descending upon them, he couldn’t resist skimming his hands down, along the sides of her full breasts, and resting them on her waist. Fitting her back perfectly against his front.
She belongs here.
The conviction pressed into his mind and wouldn’t relent. She was the right fit for him—not just her body, which was like fucking candy to his cock.
Her sly humor, her clever, strong mind.
How she “got” him.
Like they’d been peeled from the same ball of thread, their destinies meant to intertwine.
He sighed into her neck, the clatter of the yāoguài’s scrambling passing them by. As soon as they were out of this place, he’d make good on his promises.
He released her hips, grudgingly disengaging his erection from its preferred resting place. “Soon, Daji,” he purred into her ear, and grinned at the slight shiver fluttering across her skin.
Together, they trudged through the levels of Dìyù, climbing toward the surface.
The near immortality that came with being a Chosen had never been so welcome. He made a mental note to avoid these sins in the future, so his soul would never have to step foot in this place again.
They slipped by the demon attendants guarding the first level. The passage lay ahead. Ox Head and Horse Face were probably in their positions. He hadn’t worked out how to sneak past them again. If Daji whipped out a gateway fast enough, they might be able to worm through.
“Ho
w much time do you need to open a portal?” He regarded her, frowning. Her pale skin and the sweat beading her forehead weren’t promising.
“Um, a few seconds.”
“Okay, I’m going to haul ass out of the gateway and get them to chase me. You sneak out and get the portal going for when I come full circle.”
“I can do that.” She wiped her forearm across her face, exhaling. “Ready.”
“It’ll be okay. We’ll make it.” Daji’s brow was wrinkled as though she was worried. He pressed a reassuring kiss to her lips. This was a child’s game compared to a lot of the stuff he’d done as a Lotus.
He winked at her before cloaking Horse and dashing through the gateway.
“What the fuck!” one guard shouted as he sped past.
“This day sucks ass,” the other groaned, heavy footfalls thudding behind Price.
He twisted his head aside and caught sight of both the guardians chasing him. Perfect. He rounded on the side of a slight hill, curving back. Daji passed through the gateway and extended her hands, slicing open a portal.
Price shot past the guardians, galloping toward freedom.
And love.
A grin spread across his lips. He skidded to a halt in front of her and uncloaked Horse. “Let’s go.” He extended his hand.
She didn’t snatch it. Instead, she clasped her stomach, hissing.
Dread dropped into the pit of his gut.
He snapped her hand and towed her toward the portal.
“I can’t.” Whimpering, she staggered backward.
“What’s wrong?”
A hundred feet away, the two pissed off guardians sprinted toward them, vengeance burning in their eyes. “No time, Daji. We gotta get out of here.”
“I can’t.” Fear pricked the heightened tone of her voice, and she pressed the silver canister into his hand. “Take care of them for me,” she whispered the words, her eyes narrowing in realization. “Dì Xīn poisoned me. I can’t go with you.”
He grabbed for her, but his hand slid straight through hers.
She lifted those beautiful copper eyes to his. “I’m so sorry, Price.” Her hand shot to cover her mouth, glistening drops of pearly liquid shimmering down her cheeks.
“What’s happening, Daji?” He sounded desperate, panic stabbing his chest.
“I’m dying.” She squeaked out the words, sniffing. “I love you.”
He blinked, staring with his mouth open like a damned fool as her image flickered and faded into nothingness.
No. She couldn’t be dead. Not again. She couldn’t abandon him, exactly the same way his mum had. Sparking into nothing. He scanned the horizon. She had to be here, somewhere. Maybe in the cave. He lifted his foot forward, but a force latched on to his shoulder and yanked him backward, into the portal.
Daji forced open her eyes. Cool marble pressed against her cheek and the left side of her body. Her limbs were heavy and numb as she hefted herself to sit.
Where am I?
An empty, white chamber.
Oh no.
Her vision focused, and she recognized this place. Somewhere she hadn’t ventured for a long time, indeed.
Her heart panged and panic fired through her veins. Price. Where was he? Not here. Her shoulders sagged. Had he made it out of Dìyù? Gods, she prayed yes.
One thing was certain. He wasn’t with her. Not in this realm.
“Welcome, my child.” The velvety voice was one Daji had never forgotten. Her goddess.
Nüwa.
Dì Xīn’s poison had worked. Killing her the second she’d attempted to depart Dìyù. Now, she’d transported to the place all húli jīng did when they died.
Nüwa’s realm.
A heaven, of sorts.
Daji bowed, twisting toward the sweet voice. “Aschar Mteay. Great Mother.”
Am I dead? Was there no coming back from this?
“You have done well, my child. You fulfilled the task I set before you and avenged my honor.”
Daji swallowed thickly and raised her head. Nüwa, the snake goddess, smiled upon her. The female’s long, gilded serpentine body coiled beneath her, attached at her waist much like a mermaid, with a human upper body. Her dark locks curled around her, brushing the floor, and covering her bare breasts. Flickers of silver and gold flashed in her sharp, bronze-hued eyes.
Nüwa wasn’t only the mother of the húli jīng. She’d also formed the humans from drops of mud, and she’d saved the world from a disastrous hole in the sky that threatened to crash heaven down.
Centuries ago, she’d tasked Daji and her two sisters with crushing the Shang Dynasty. With destroying Dì Xīn. Because he’d insulted Nüwa’s honor.
Daji had moved on from that task, though, and claimed her throne.
After her death, her soul once more belonged to the goddess. Dare she beg for rebirth? Would Nüwa even grant it?
She bowed her head again. “Arkoun, great and wise, beautiful goddess.”
“Enough flattery. Rise.”
Daji did as told, stealing a glimpse at Nüwa. “I do not wish to be here.”
“That is not your decision. Come, join the others.” Nüwa swept her hand toward the archway.
Daji dropped her lashes in resignation. There might be a means to escape, or to be reborn, but not by arguing with the goddess. Like all gods, Nüwa did not appreciate being told what to do.
Patience was her best option. She followed the goddess down a glistening alabaster corridor and onto a sprawling terrace. Nüwa’s realm was high above the clouds, overlooking the human realm but hidden from it. Miles of manicured gardens stretched before them, blending into the cloud-covered horizon. Hundreds of trickling fountains and ornate statues were sprinkled throughout the lush vegetation. Cheery tunes from harps and flutes carried from all sides, but Daji didn’t spot any musicians.
She did, however, view the húli jīng. Her people. The ones who had passed. They wore luminous, transparent robes, and drifted through the gardens like butterflies flitting from flower to flower.
It was a harmonious paradise.
Daji glanced down. She wore the same robe. The rosy tips of her breasts were just visible beneath the shimmering silk.
“Welcome to your new home,” Nüwa hummed before drifting away.
Home. This wasn’t home. Not without Price.
How would she attain the peace these húli jīng emitted, when her heart swelled with pain and longing?
I don’t want to be here. I can’t be here.
Her heart beats thrummed in her ears, drowning out the whimsical melodies. Without Price, this place wasn’t Heaven.
It was Hell.
***
Umph! Price slammed into something solid. Ground? His head throbbed against a hard surface like rough stone. He pried one eye open.
“Are you okay?” Blue eyes peered down at him, crinkling with concern. Ryden.
He tensed his muscles, noting they were intact, along with the canister in his right hand, but a blinding pain lanced through his body.
Daji.
Where was Daji?
He shot onto all fours, whipping his head around. “Where’s Daji?” He spotted Naya beside his brother, but no copper eyes and dark fanning hair.
No Daji.
“I don’t know.” Ryden set both hands on Price’s shoulders, forcing him to look up. “We only grabbed you.”
He squeezed his eyes. “We have to go back. Have to find her.” Panic squeezed his throat.
A gentle hand clamped on to his shoulder. “She wasn’t there,” Naya murmured.
His eyes shot open. “What do you mean, not there? She was right in front of me, holding my hands, and then she…” His air cut off.
“I’m so sorry, Price.” Shimmering tears glistened in Naya’s eyes.
“No, don’t fucking say that.” He tossed his head, shutting out her words and struggling to inhale a breath. Air pinched into his lungs, painfully inflating them. If she spoke those words, it meant she concl
uded Daji was dead.
Not. True.
He clenched his left fist and slammed it into the ground.
“Let me handle this.” Ryden nudged Naya aside and sank to the ground beside Price, folding his hands between his bent knees.
Price waited for his brother to speak, but the guy was smart. Didn’t open his trap.
In the silence, his mind sorted through what had happened. They’d defeated Dì Xīn, hadn’t they? Daji had seemed well enough when he’d been making love to her. Weak, but not dying.
His fist clenched around the canister. Slamming the ground hadn’t helped. He didn’t even detect any pain in his hand, only numbness. Paralysis of the heart.
“I’m not going to just sit here and accept she’s…gone.” The last word was hard to grate out. He cleared his throat, staring straight ahead at a stone wall.
“Okay.”
“No big brother talk? No knocking sense into me?” Never mind Price was the older one. Ryden had always been the sibling with the level head.
“Daji dying doesn’t make sense.” Ryden shrugged, jingling his hands. “I wouldn’t accept that if it were Naya.” He nudged his chin in her direction, catching her attention.
She treaded toward them and sat in front of them, tucking her legs under herself. “You found the missing fox spirits.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.” He handed her the canister, which she accepted with tears glistening in her eyes.
Ryden clasped her hand, smiling at her, before growing somber. “Tell us about Nüwa.”
“She’s the goddess who gives us life. When we die, we return to her realm.” Her lashes lowered. “Your mother is with her. As is every húli jīng who has passed.”
“It’s another realm. Like Dìyù?” His heart thumped. He’d rescued her from death once and he’d do it again.
Naya frowned at him. “Nüwa is far more powerful than anyone in Dìyù. She’s not just a goddess, she’s a creator. She formed humans. Húli jīng. Many others. She’s saved the world from destruction. If there’s one being you don’t cross, it’s Nüwa.”
“Okay, so she’s the shit. Still, she must have some weakness? Something we could bargain with?”
Naya shook her head, her long curls bouncing. “Not that I know of, but there’s someone you can ask.”
Reining Him In (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 5) Page 25
