From my lips, Maksim moves down my neck, sucking and biting until he reaches the neckline of my shirt. “Sorry,” he says, the words my only warning as he takes both hands and rips my shirt into two pieces, revealing my bra.
He eyes the purple fabric for a moment, gaze lingering on the cleavage the underwire creates, but before he can move, I throw up my hand and place it against his chest. “Don’t you rip it! It’s my favorite,” I tell him, and with a sigh, his hands start to slide around and underneath me.
I hide my smirk in the bend of his neck as he searches for the clasp to unhook the back, but when his hands begin to heat up and I fear he may burn the offending material from my body if he doesn’t figure it out soon, I sit up. Moving quickly, I use both hands and reach in the front, right between my breasts, and unsnap the hook.
His lips part as the bra falls open, releasing my breasts, and as he leans in to take one with his mouth, he rubs the hard length of his erection against me, and I wiggle my body so that it’s closer to where I really want it. Right between my legs.
Rubbing against him must feel good because I feel a deep vibrating rumble from his chest as he flicks his eyes up in my direction, the amber is lost among the flames, and my body tightens in anticipation of what’s to come. Any other time I’d be worried about him losing control. But not this time. This time I’ll welcome the burn. I’ll lavish in how he sets me on fire.
He never moves his lust filled gaze from mine, even as his hot mouth works my breast and my eyes flutter closed as his hand begins to slide down my side, tickling me slightly as he dips it into the waist of my blue jeans.
I gasp as he runs one finger down between my folds, slipping it inside of me easily as I’m already very wet. He stays like that for a moment, slowly drawing it in and out in deep strokes, the feeling as pleasurable as it is maddening. All the while, his mouth keeps moving on my breast, his tongue circling my hardened nipples.
“Maks,” I breathe, feeling a slow rise of pressure beginning to build from his teasing, and he lifts his head up, eyes dark but for the twin fires that burn there and my breath catches at the raw look of desire that’s painted across his features.
“I believe I made you a promise,” he says, his finger moving slightly faster, and with it, my pulse increases too, that pressure building further and as I look into his hungry gaze, he leans forward and bites down onto my sensitive nipple, the sensation too much and pushing me over the edge as my core squeezes around his hand.
Small waves of pleasure roll through me when he finally pulls away, and it takes a second to blink away the starburst that dances within my vision.
Peeking one eye open when the bed moves, I can’t stop the small noise of disapproval I make as Maksim stands up and stares down at me, a satisfied smirk on his face.
“Don’t look at me like that, Rhia. I’m nowhere near being through with you,” he says in a dark promise, and despite just finding my release, I feel my desire for him rise again.
“Then hurry back,” I say, hoping he can see the challenge, the dare, in my gaze. When his eyes narrow slightly, I know that he does.
Standing before me, Maksim takes his time as he pulls his shirt over his head, revealing a body that causes my mind to go blank as I drink him in.
Despite being so tall, he's not lanky. His shoulders, chest, and back are broad with muscle and his waist is slim. He doesn't have a six pack, but he doesn't need one. Not with the way the lines of his muscles draw the eye, holding me transfixed and begging for me to taste him. So that's exactly what I do.
I raise up and on my hands and knees, crawl the few feet that separate us and run my tongue up the short space that sits between his belly button and pants.
A shiver runs through him as I do it, and I cut my eyes up to find his head tilted back, jaw clenched. Figuring fair is fair, I take advantage of him looking away, and unzip his pants, pulling them down his hips, and I’m surprised to discover he’s not wearing any underwear.
That surprise only holds my attention for a moment however as, once his pants move down a bit more, his erection springs up, right in my face, and I don’t resist the temptation to lean forward and wrap my lips around the tip where precum glistens.
The noise he releases this time hardly sounds human as his large hands come down to tangle into my braids, fingers clenching ever so slightly with each bob of my head, but after a moment, he withdraws himself and before I can even protest, he lifts me from my knees and tosses me back onto the soft bed.
“Enough!” The words leave him with a rasp, and my eyes widen as he prowls toward me, coming to a stop at my legs where he reaches up and wrenches the jeans from my body. My underwear goes with them and all I’m left in is the tattered remains of my shirt and my unclasped bra as his gaze travels over me, devouring every inch. “Don’t test my control, Rhia. I’m not that strong.”
His threats do nothing but spur me on, and I tilt my head to the side, examining his wild face as I open my legs, spreading them as I crook my finger at him. “Who said you have to control yourself, Maks? Actually, that’s the last thing I want you to do right now,” I say.
His nose flares and he clenches his fists, and before I can say more, his pants fall from him into a pile of ash, the material burned right from his body. My eyes widen as he stands nude before me, flames racing up and down his legs and torso, and I find that the heat from his body is no match to the heat that is running along my skin from how much I want him.
Without warning, he jumps, the flames extinguishing only inches before he lands on the bed, legs on either side of mine, caging me with his body, and I swallow hard. I know he’d never hurt me, but this new savage side of him, has me arching my back, his heat washing over me and leaving me flushed.
Leaning forward, he once again crashes his lips with mine, the searing kiss steals my breath. I feel his hard length pressing against my thighs, the tip of him kissing my folds and I squirm beneath him.
“Wait, you need protection,” I say, breaking the kiss as the coherent thought barely comes to me. It’s hard to think straight with him so close.
Rising up on his elbows above me, causing his groin to push into mine even more, I moan as he meets my eyes. “Didn’t I tell you? Cherufes can only procreate with their own kind. Our heat is too much for anyone outside of our kind’s reproductive system. I could go into the science of it, but there’s something else I’d like to do more,” he growls as he shifts his weight rubbing himself against me. “I can put one on if you’d like, but uh… it will probably melt. I’m just too hot for it.”
I snort, knowing he’s not being conceited but meaning that his body is literally too hot, and he quirks his head to the side as he gazes down on me. I sober up quickly at the look he gives me, and then reach my hand up to run down his cheek. “You sure?” I ask, needing the reassurance.
The flames in his eyes lessen then as he gives me a serious look. “I swear to you, Rhia. I’d never lie to you. Especially about something like this. You’re safe with me.”
That’s all I need to hear from him, and he doesn’t even get the chance to move again as I reach up and grab the other side of his face and bring him down hard into a rough kiss. He meets my kisses with his own, and it’s a clashing of lips and teeth as we nip and bite at each other, the temperature of the room rising with our combined lust.
With nothing to stop us, Maksim slows down right as the tip of his cock starts to enter me, and I gasp at how hot he really is as he slowly moves into me, filling me. Combined with his heat and how ready I already am for him, I have to force myself not to come apart with just his one thrust, wanting this to last longer.
Once I’ve acclimated, I look into Maksim’s gaze. The wild lust is there, but there’s also a tenderness too, and he places a soft kiss on my lips as he starts to move, his thrusts coming faster and deeper as he moves.
We find a rhythm together, him moving and me meeting his thrusts with my own as I throw one leg over his hips, using it t
o push our bodies closer.
We stay like this until his breathing changes, and I feel him grow impossibly harder inside me. This makes my own breath quicken as I feel that building pressure once again, and with one last thrust, he pours himself into me, pumping harder than before as he drops his shields, invading my mind with his thoughts of pleasure, and makes my own orgasm crest. I claw out my pleasure into his back, carving my passion into him as I allow my own shields to drop, to run down the line that not only connects me to Maksim, but to Satine as well.
I can tell the moment the energy of our orgasms hit her, the awareness that comes from her as the lifesaving energy flows into her, giving her what she needs and restoring her health. “Thank you,” she whispers across our minds, taking in the last of the energy from the bond, before closing her shields with a contented sigh.
Spent, he leans forward, forehead pressed against mine and breathing hard. He hovers over me, using his arms to keep from crushing me beneath his full weight as he places one last kiss on my lips. Our lips move against each other slower this time, and I feel myself grow tired. I draw away as a yawn stretches my lips, and he rolls to his side and pulls me flush against his chest. Warm and sated, I close my eyes and finally think about what I had felt from him when he had dropped his shields during sex. There had been pleasure and happiness, but much deeper than that, almost so new that I almost missed it, was a tiny kernel of love. The love he feels for me.
As I relax into his embrace, I decide not to mention what I felt. It’s up to him on whether or not he shares that with me, so with my body tired and heart full, I fall to sleep to the feel of him stroking his hand up and down my spine.
I’ll Bring The Gravy
Two days pass without a problem or word from Candy, but just as I start to relax and believe that she isn't going to try and go through with her threats, a knock sounds at the door.
Since I’m the closest, the others either in their rooms or in the kitchen, I walk toward the door to answer it, but my skin begins to feel tight the closer I get.
It’s weird, but by the time I arrive, it feels as if a thousand insects are crawling across my skin, and sweat has begun to bead down my back, but not because it’s hot. The temperature hasn’t changed, but whoever or whatever is on the other side of that door is magic. Very powerful magic. Strong enough that even with the thick wood separating us, I can barely restrain myself from running to my room and hiding.
When a knock rings out again, I swallow hard as I go to look through the peephole, but before I can, I hear thundering footsteps come from down the hall. Maksim runs into the living room, eyes wide and mouth pinched. “Stop, Rhia. Let me open it,” he says, and even though a part of me wants to insist that I can open a door by myself, the part that is currently fighting to keep from fleeing the room agrees.
“Be my guest,” I say, words strong, but not completely hiding the tremble within them.
It’s not that I’m scared, but I am being cautious. The power coming from outside is enough to set anyone’s teeth on edge.
Jaw tight, Maksim arrives at my side, and with a pointed look, one I can easily decipher as ‘stay back’, he shifts one hand to a hot flame, and uses the other to twist the handle, pulling the door inward slowly, revealing our guest on the other side.
For a while, neither Maksim or the man outside speak, both standing there taking stock of one another. They may be similar heights, meaning the guy is huge, but where Maksim has thick black hair, this guy’s head is shaved bald, making his black eyes all the more startling.
When neither appear as if they're planning on talking anytime soon, I go to step around Maksim, but Fifi is just magically there, her denim mini dress hugging her curves with her pink hair in two perfectly combed pigtails.
“Hallelujah, and Merry Christmas to me. Somebody has been taking their vitamins,” she says, breaking the silence and drawing the man’s eyes to her.
“Pardon me for my silence, ma’am. The young man and I were settling something. It’s a dominance thing,” he says, his voice rich and deep, the sound almost melodic.
Grunting from my side, Maksim narrows his eyes. “I’d hardly call that a dominance thing. In my culture, things are handled in a more physical nature. But you already know that, don’t you demon?” he says, growling out the last word.
My head swivels so fast to the side I worry I’ll get whiplash, but if the man is offended at Maksim’s tone, he doesn’t say so.
“Demon is a bit of a stretch, young man. Ifrit is what most of us prefer to be called, but you already know that,” the man retorts, and I search my brain for what an ifrit is.
I know that it was covered in one of my classes last semester, and as I wrack my brain, I remember that ifrits are like the fire-wielding cousins of the djinn, meaning not only does the man before me have a large reserve of power, but it's old power too. He's had time to hone his craft, as ifrits don't age.
Smiling sweetly up at him, Fifi reaches out and rests her hand on his bicep, drawing his attention back to her.
“Don’t mind Maksim here, he doesn’t mean any harm,” she says, causing another snort to come from Maksim. “Well, maybe he does, but I love company. Would you like to come in and allow me to give you something to quench your thirst… oh, and I can fetch you something to drink too.”
I roll my eyes as Fifi flirts, but if this new stranger minds, you can’t tell. Not with how he’s eyeing her with interest.
“Yes, ma’am. A drink would be great. I am quite thirsty.”
It’s like a game watching the two go back and forth. And I hear Maksim’s sigh when Fifi places her hand in the crook of the ifrit’s arm, leading him past us and to the kitchen. I go to follow, but a large hand on my shoulder stops me.
“Be careful around him, Rhia. Ifrit are strong and cunning. I’m not sure why he’s here, but I don’t want you to ever be alone with him.”
My first instinct is to snap at Maksim that I have no intention of being alone with him, but when I look up at him, I can see the worry there.
His shoulders are tight and jaw clenched; and I reach up and run my hand down his strong jaw, my mind flashing back on our night together.
“I promise, I’ll be careful. Fifi, on the other hand… Well, I’m not sure if we should warn her or him.”
Maksim snorts, knowing full well that Fifi is more than capable of taking care of herself, and I find myself grinning right along with him.
“Him.”
“Definitely, him.”
We both say at the same time and burst out laughing. Maksim is still chuckling, a quiet rumble coming from him, when we make it to the kitchen and find the others have all joined Fifi and our guest at the table.
Eyeing the room, I see that there’s only one place left to sit, so I hold back so that Maksim can take it. Once he sits, I find all eyes at the table focused on me, but when Satine scoots to the side, tapping the space in the chair she has made, I go to her.
“You know, Rhia. I have a much more comfortable place you can sit if you want. No need to sit on the edge.”
I raise my brows at Gavril, a small smile ghosting his lips, and I blow him a teasing kiss before sitting back, Satine’s arm going around my waist.
“That’s okay. Besides, this seat gives me a great view,” I joke, sending a wink his way as I make an obvious show out of letting my eyes run down his face and across his broad shoulders.
Scoffing, Declan grabs my attention, his hair standing out brightly next to his grey shirt, and my grin turns to a soft smile as I catch his eye.
“Well, now that we’re all here, why don’t you start talking?”
Maksim isn’t necessarily rude, but it’s clear in the way he’s eyeing our newcomer, arms crossed across his broad chest that he isn’t happy with his presence here.
Eyeing him back just as intently, the man raises his hand and rubs it across his brow. “Listen, I’m not here to fight or cause you any problems. The opposite actually. My name is Brenda
n Ledger, the owner of this house and Candy’s uncle.”
The room falls silent as we let that sink in. Knowing what we know of Candy, this visit has just gotten more tense, regardless of what Brendan says.
“Well, then let us thank you for your hospitality and the use of your home. It’s lovely. A nice rustic feel,” Fifi comments, batting her long eyelashes at Brendan.
I have to bite my tongue to stop my laugh, but when I see that Brendan is staring at Fifi with a look of pride, I decide not to. Candy’s uncle or not, he is allowing us to stay here for the summer for free. The only option given to me by Dean Wiseman.
“Yes, thank you for your generosity. However, after our last conversation with your niece, I believe I speak for us all when I say we are just a wee bit wary,” Declan says, giving Brendan his full attention, a keen look in his eyes.
Brendan sighs again, seemingly tired, and I wonder if that's what it's like to be Candy's uncle. Eternally tired from dealing with her messes. "I'm aware of your conversation with my niece. Or at least, her side of events. That's why I'm here to apologize. Your dean stressed the importance of your anonymity when she requested the use of my property this summer. As such, I declined telling Candy who exactly our guests were. I'll ask that you forgive her for any grievance she has caused. That dragon blood of hers causes her emotions to run hot, and she often acts on impulse. I hope she'll grow out of it, but only time will tell."
The others are quiet, even Fifi, as his words sink in, but I decide to take pity on him. He’s no more responsible for Candy’s actions than I am, so I scoot forward in the chair and meet his eyes.
"Yes, Candy can be a bit hard to take, but that's not your fault. As Fifi said, we appreciate you letting us stay here for our summer break," I say and notice him begin to relax. "But, when someone says no, it means no. These are my friends, and she made them all uncomfortable either through her actions or words. That's not okay. So while I'm grateful for you and your help, I also request that she not come over here again. Not while we're still here. If that’s going to be a problem since she’s family, let us know now and we’ll leave, but that’s how it has to be. No one, and I mean no one, gets to hurt the people in this room.”
Wishes to Burn Page 13
