I laughed as I continued to maneuver them down over his calves. He stepped out of them so I could toss them aside. “Unlike you, I can restrain myself enough to keep clothes in one piece.”
“I’ve seen you very unrestrained, Mah Kush-la.” Those words caused my pulse to spike, as did the hungry gleam in his eyes when they raked over me. “If I cannot touch you, at least let me look at you.”
“You want to see me?”
“You know I do,” he growled.
Perhaps it was the mjéod still having an effect on me, but I believed it was more the look in his eyes emboldening me to slide my hand sensually down the front of my shirt while I rose before him again. His eyes followed my every movement as I clasped hold of the bottom of my shirt and slid it over my head before tossing it aside.
“More,” he grated.
I unclasped my bra and lowered first one strap then the other. The color of his eyes changed to a golden amber that caused my body to clench with need. That change in color only occurred when he was in the throes of violence or extremely aroused.
I slipped my bra lower to reveal the upper swell of my breast. His eyes remained latched onto me as he waited breathlessly for me to take my bra off. I did so, inch by inch, until my breasts were bared to him. His nostrils flared as his heavy erection jumped before me. The warm air brushing over my nipples and the yearning in his gaze caused them to pucker. He licked his lips while he watched them harden further.
A rush of power filled me as I realized I held him enthralled without even touching him. I ran my hand down my chest to cup my breast. He took an involuntary step forward before catching himself and stopping. A groan escaped him when I brushed my thumb over my nipple before rolling it between my thumb and index finger.
Sliding my hand away from my breast, I ran it lower over my belly, down to the button on my pants. I slipped the button free, pushed my pants down, and kicked them aside. I rose to stand before him in only my simple white underwear.
“All of it,” he commanded. “All of you.”
I lifted an eyebrow when his gaze came back to me. Those eyes, more like a human’s now with whites around the irises, were the color of a wolf’s, and like a wolf on the hunt, he had marked me as his prey. Behind his compressed lips, I could see the press of his four fangs as they elongated in preparation of biting into my skin and claiming me as his. I bore his mark in more than a few places on my body now, but seeing those fangs caused a visceral reaction in me.
“River…”
His roughened voice broke off when my hands fell to the waistband of my underwear, and I slid them gradually down my legs before kicking them aside. His eyes latched onto the black curls shielding me from him, the golden hue blazing brighter. The wetness between my thighs increased in response to his growing arousal.
“No,” I whispered when he moved toward me.
He froze, and his jaw clenched in frustration, but he didn’t come any closer. With a sway of my hips, I stepped into him again. I sighed when my breasts came into contact with his chest. His erection rubbed against my belly, sending tingles of anticipation through me.
My hands ran over him again as I bent my head to swirl my tongue over his chest. Slowly, I moved around his body, kissing and licking my way to his back. His head turned so that he could raptly watch my every movement. My hands slid across his shoulder blades, over the line running down the center of his back as I marveled at the sheer strength and size of this man who was mine in every way.
Sparks danced across my fingertips and his flesh as his vast power fed my ability to draw on life. He shuddered as I continued to explore him with my hands and mouth. I made my way steadily back to stand in front of him again. His muscles vibrated with the restraint he used to keep himself still, but he didn’t reach for me.
Clasping hold of his hips, I lowered myself to my knees before him. I wrapped my hand around his swollen thickness and slid my hand down to the base of his shaft. I kept my eyes on his as I ran my tongue over the head of his shaft, swallowing the bead of liquid forming on the tip. It tasted like his flesh, fiery and salty all at once, and I found I couldn’t get enough of it as I continued my exploration.
His upper fangs were exposed when his lips skimmed back. I slid my tongue over him again before taking his head into my mouth and sucking on it. “Fuck,” he grated. “Take more, River.”
I barely recognized his voice, it was so gruff, but I eagerly obeyed his command. I slid my mouth further down, swirling my tongue over his skin as I moved. His hips bucked forward, and the corded muscles in his neck stood out. My hands slid up his thighs, and I grasped hold of his taut ass with one hand while I used the other to stroke him.
Sweat beaded across his chest and slid down his skin in tantalizing rivulets. He thickened and swelled with pressure as I moved faster up and down his length, working him with my mouth and hand.
Watching him, tasting him, was a rush that made my abilities to wield fire and life seem small in comparison. He still hadn’t touched me, yet I was aching for him to be buried deep within me, but no way was I stopping now.
“Can’t take anymore,” he ground out.
Before I could react, his hands gripped me under my arms and he pulled me away. I didn’t have time to protest him touching me as he carried me three steps and rested my back against a tree. He grabbed my wrists, securing them above my head.
My chest heaved as he kept me pinned before him; the rapid inhalations of breath caused my aching breasts to rub enticingly against his sweat-slicked flesh. His eyes burned into mine as he gazed at me with a mix of awe and a hunger so intense I found myself grinding against him in a silent plea to ease the torment of both our bodies. I’d expected him to plunge into me deeply, but he only stood and stared at me.
“You have no idea the effect you have on me,” he murmured as his gaze fell to my lips.
I couldn’t help but smile as I thrust my hips forward. “You could always show me.”
His mouth curved into a wicked grin that should have served as a warning, but I was unprepared when he released my wrists, seized my waist, and lifted me in one fluid motion. I gasped when my thighs came down on his shoulders; it quickly turned into a moan when his warm breath blew over my aching core. His mouth settled against my aroused flesh, which was now level with his unrelenting mouth and tongue.
A wave of liquid heat coursed through me as my fingers entangled in the thick waves of his hair. I pressed closer to him when his tongue delved into me and licked in greedy swipes that had me on the edge of release. His hands supported my ass as he held me more firmly against him.
I nearly screamed aloud when one of his fangs scraped over my clit. My body writhed as it demanded more; my breath came in shallow pants as he pushed my body to higher and higher levels of sensuality until I didn’t think I could take the pressure building within me anymore. Words spilled from my mouth, pleas for him to end my torment.
“Come for me, Mah Kush-la.” His breath against my center and the greedy possession of his tongue had me helpless to do anything but obey. My head fell back, and I cried out in ecstasy as waves of pleasure racked my body.
I didn’t have time to gather my scattered thoughts before he lifted me off his shoulders and settled me on the ground. My body was still shaking when he placed me on my hands and knees before him.
His powerful body knelt behind mine; one of his arms latched around my waist while the other entangled in my hair. I felt the head of his shaft probing my sex as he pulled my hair back and thrust into me at the same time. My arms gave out at the sensation of him stretching and filling me completely, of the two of us being joined once more. His arm around my waist kept me from going down as he held me up before him.
“So wet, so tight,” he groaned in my ear as he relentlessly pulled me back and forward, on and off of his stiff cock. My head fell forward as he released my hair to slide his hand between my legs. His palm and fingers rubbed my clit. “Mine.”
“Yes!” I
panted as I felt myself spiraling toward the edge again.
His fangs sank into my shoulder as my body splintered apart once more. His guttural shout reverberated against my flesh as he jerked out of my body. I knew we couldn’t take the risk of me getting pregnant now, but I still felt a sense of loss when he pulled out of me to spill his seed against my back.
Gathering me within his arms, he cradled me to him as his fangs withdrew from my shoulder.
CHAPTER 6
Kobal
Tucked against my side, River had her head on her hands as she slept soundly, oblivious to the world around her. I’d realized she only felt this secure when she was with me. I saw the way her eyes constantly moved, the way she warily took in everything when I wasn’t beside her. My fingers slid over her golden skin and across the dusting of freckles on her nose before brushing against the small scar on her eyebrow.
“Stupidity,” she’d once told me. “I accidentally hooked myself on one of my first fishing trips.”
Fishing had once been her trade, the way she survived, and now her life was completely different from what she’d known in her youth. She’d gone from a young woman struggling to keep herself and her brothers alive to being the possible key to defeating Lucifer. I’d dragged her through the wilds beyond the wall—wilds full of horrors that most of the human population remained peacefully oblivious to. I’d brought her to a place that ate at her soul, yet she still faced it all with unwavering determination.
One of three things had to happen soon. One, she had to figure out if she could close the gate. Two, we went in search of her creator to see if, with her, we could finally defeat him. Or three, we returned to the wall.
With her ability to wield life, there might be a chance she could take out Lucifer. She’d stunned the fallen angel, Azote, in battle, and she’d only grown more powerful since then. However, getting her to Lucifer would be a huge endeavor, one that may leave her more exhausted and broken than prepared to fight.
The demons were itching for action, for resolution. They wanted to go into Hell to put a stop to what was happening with the seals, and confront Lucifer. They were tired of waiting, as was I, but I’d never been able to defeat Lucifer by charging at him head-on before. Unfortunately, there may be no other alternative.
I’d wait to see how she reacted today to entering Hell before making a decision on how to continue with all of this. Returning to the wall most likely meant certain death for all if Lucifer continued to break through the seals, but it may be the only option. I had to return to Hell; there was no choice for me. I had to know what had happened to the hounds I’d left to guard the seals, and stop the seals from continuing to fall, but I would make sure River was somewhere safer before I returned.
River stirred beside me; her sweeping lashes fluttered open to reveal her angelic, violet eyes. Her fingers slid across my chest before her palm flattened over my heart. I didn’t know how I’d do it, but I would find a way to keep those seals closed and her protected, even if it meant giving up my own life.
“I’m not so sure about you entering Hell today,” I said to her.
“I can do this. If it becomes necessary, I will enter and I will fight him.”
I brushed back a tendril of her midnight hair and tucked it behind her ear. “You may not be able to withstand Hell, River. We always knew that was a possibility.”
“I’m not giving up.”
“It won’t be giving up if you’re not able to do this. We will come up with something else.”
“It’s been thirteen years since humans accidentally opened the gateway and four years since Bale had her vision about the last of Lucifer’s descendants still being alive. I’ve been the plan for those four years.”
My hand stilled on her cheek. “This was the plan to try to prevent a full-blown war that may end the Earth, but if I can figure out what is opening the seals and put a stop to it, we can make a stand against Lucifer on Earth too. He will eventually come out.”
Her breath sucked in, and she bit her bottom lip. “So many people will die if he walks the earth again.”
“Those deaths and his rise will be unavoidable, especially if Lucifer keeps opening the seals.”
“I can stop that, or at least figure out some way to close the gate.”
“River—”
“Give me more time! I’m getting stronger every day. I may not have figured out the key to closing the gateway, but I will!”
“Fine,” I relented. “Another week, and then we will have to come up with something else.”
“You plan to go into Hell no matter what,” she said, “to stop what is going on with the seals, even if I can’t go with you.”
My fingers curled into her supple flesh. “I don’t like the idea of leaving you behind without me to protect you, but it must be done. The seals cannot continue to fall.”
“Then we will find out if I can withstand entering Hell.” She grinned at me and kissed the tip of my nose before rolling away. With fluent grace, she leapt to her feet before I could snatch her back against me. She’d redressed before going to sleep last night, but now she rushed about gathering her supplies for a bath.
“We should go now,” she said around the toothbrush clamped between her teeth. “I just have to get cleaned up first.”
“River!” I shouted and jumped to my feet when she darted through the forest faster than a wood nymph—creatures I hoped Lucifer would be smart enough not to release, but then, I doubted it. I stalked through the trees after her. Before she entered the water of the nearby stream, I caught up with her and grabbed hold of her elbow. “Don’t go anywhere alone!”
She barely glanced at me as she dropped her things on the bank. I released her elbow when she started tugging off her clothes. “There’s not much time,” she said.
Her eyes focused on the opposite bank. I followed their direction but saw nothing standing on the other side. She frowned as she tilted her head to the side.
“What is it?” I asked.
She shook her head and plunged into the stream. I watched as she dove beneath the surface before bursting up again. She scrubbed at herself with the lemon-scented soap from the camp. Shedding my clothes, I followed her into the water to wash beside her. Every once in a while, her gaze would go to the place where she’d been staring before she’d jumped into the water.
I kept expecting something to materialize there. Nothing did.
***
Kobal
River barely waved a greeting to the skelleins as she sped through the bar toward the door to the hallway. Corson, Bale, Erin, Hawk, and Vargas stared after her before turning to me. “What’s with her?” Erin inquired.
“I told her we would have to figure out a new plan if something doesn’t change soon,” I replied.
“Why?” Vargas asked.
“We cannot continue to sit here and take the chance of being discovered while supplies are running out. We might have to return to the wall, and prepare for a war before I return to Hell. I won’t continue to put her life at risk by staying here if she doesn’t possess the ability to close the gateway.”
Erin spun around so fast I had to abruptly stop walking or run the girl over. She folded her arms over her chest as she glared at me. “She can do this.”
My eyebrows shot into my hairline and my lips flattened as I glowered back at her. Erin’s arms fell away and some of the anger melted from her, but she didn’t back away as she would have done before befriending River. Actually, before then, Erin would have been too afraid to dare speak to me. Despite the fact I’d killed others for less insubordination than this, Erin had earned the right to speak her mind when she’d unfailingly stood by River’s side time and again. So had Hawk and Vargas; even now they both gave a brisk nod of agreement.
“We always knew there was a chance she wouldn’t be able to do it,” I replied. “It was a chance we had to take. With her abilities, she is still the greatest weapon we have against Lucifer and his followers.
We can’t risk her further if we continue to get nowhere here.”
Erin’s eyes blazed with fire. Hawk placed a hand on her arm, pulling her back a step. “He’s right. We can’t stay here if it’s only putting us at risk. Come on, Erin, let’s go.”
She relented to his nudging and turned away from me. My heart plummeted when I realized River hadn’t waited for us by the first door to the hallway. I raced forward and crashed into the door to discover her almost at the end of the hall.
“River!” I bellowed.
She didn’t look back when she reached the far door and pushed it open. Pouring on the speed, I raced down the hallway. My feet didn’t touch the stairs as I leapt into the area surrounding the gateway.
A snarl tore from me when I spotted her standing at the edge of the gateway once more. “What were you thinking?” I demanded as I stalked toward her.
Her head was bent while she gazed into the blackness below her, before lifting her head to look across the pit. She stared in that same way she had been staring when we’d been at the stream earlier. I had no idea what she was looking at, but River often saw things far beyond what I could.
Behind me, the door crashed open as the others filed into the large room. River’s hand lifted, and before I knew what she planned, she brought a knife forth and sliced open her palm.
“What the fuck!” I exploded when the scent of her blood hit me.
I leapt at her as she stretched her hand out and held it above the gateway.
CHAPTER 7
River
I winced as the blade sliced across my flesh, cutting deep. Blood welled in my palm. I closed my fingers before lifting my fist and raising it over the gateway. No blood trickled out, but I could feel its warmth pooling within my hand. Kobal cursed loudly, and his hand shot out toward mine. Before he could touch me, I grabbed his arm and jerked it back.
“No!” I told him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But let me do it.”
The Road (The Road to Hell Series, Book 3) Page 5
