The Hard Way (Box Set)

by Stephanie Burke

  “No, pretty-pretty Ash, confused little vampire. You have been nothing but a selfish whining bitch.”

  “What…” she tried, her fingers curling into claws, her nails digging into the hand that encircled her throat.

  “What did you do?” It smiled, exposing its razor sharp fangs. “You want to know why I am visiting death and fear upon your poor little innocent person?” He shoved his hips hard between her thighs, forcing them apart, setting his hard cock against her pussy. “You are so pathetic,” it snickered. “You weren’t going to kill the Dryad and use that as an excuse. How about I kill you and use your pathetic whining as an excuse?”

  Ash bucked her hips, struggling weakly as it pressed a claw against her carotid. She froze, knowing that if that artery were pierced, she would quickly bleed out.

  “Why do you fight so hard,” it whispered, leaning close to lap at her ear. “Why struggle when you want to die?”

  “No!”

  “You want this, don’t you, pretty-pretty-pretty?”

  Ash whimpered, her heart racing in her chest. It was not the hand that encircled her throat that concerned her -- it was the deadly claw that pushed hard enough to part her skin. The pain was intense, and the threat of death was enough to make her whimper.

  “But remember -- you have no use for this life. Remember? You wanted to die.”

  Tears welled up as she stared at that beautiful, violent face.

  “No?” it asked, tilting its head and sniffing at her neck. “Your fear is delicious.”

  Ash froze, her long life not passing through her mind as she would have expected under these circumstances. All she could think of was that she was not ready for this.

  “Oh.” He licked at her face as a tear rolled down one cheek. “She cries like a thing with something to protect. Do you have something to protect, little vampire?” He eased the pressure off of her neck, just enough for her to speak, though its hard body pressed against hers.

  “My… life…” She didn’t want to die. She didn’t want this. “I want to get out of this damn hotel and away from you!”

  “Mmm,” it whispered. “Not so ready to die, after all.”

  Ash lay there gasping for breath as she realized coming there, that Dryad, looking for excuses… it all meant nothing. When it came down to it, she wanted to live.

  “But didn’t you come here to end it all?” Nightshade pressed.

  “Mistake!” she gasped, struggling again in vain. “Mistake!”

  “Hmm,” Nightshade chuckled. “Thought so.” That said, it rose to its feet, leaving a stunned Ash lying in the moss. “And after I groomed you so nicely, too.”

  Lying there, Ash could finally inhale deeply, her chest heaving as she realized how close to the end she had come. Maybe she had taken her long life for granted, she thought as relief caused her tight muscles to sag. She hadn’t been that close to death since the Dryad had changed her.

  A red robe landing on her chest brought her out of her silent reflections.

  “There,” Nightshade called. “And now, I find myself feeling a little peckish. Care to donate?”

  “You weren’t going to kill me?” Ash looked up at it, amazed. It stood… it looked regal standing above her, its hair drying as it blew in the humid air of the jungle. Its horns gleamed in the bright sun, and the gold that adorned its body glinted as much as the diamond highlights in its hair. Its red robe draped enticingly over its body, exposing even while it concealed.

  “Of course I would.” It smiled, licking its fangs. “I am what I am, Ash. Just as you are what you are. It’s in my nature. I can’t go against my preternatural nature.”

  “Well, I wasn’t born the way I am. I was born human. I was turned preternatural.”

  “Well I was, pretty-pretty-pretty -- born different, that is. And I am always true to my born nature. What is… human nature?”

  “To… to survive.”

  “Well.” Nightshade smiled. “You do what you were born to do, and I will do what I was born to do, and balance is maintained.”

  “Balance,” she whispered.

  “When you dwell on what you have lost and the meaning of your existence, you deny the very nature which makes you unique. You were born human with the ability to adapt and survive. I, on the other hand, cannot adapt to the world outside. I am a Forbidden Child, Ash. My people do not want me and those of my kind. I could never blend in with the human world. My survival is dependent on staying right here, where my every desire is attended to and my meals are brought eager and wiggling to my bed.”

  He tossed his hair behind him and took a proud stance. “You, on the other hand, are designed to be out there, designed with the want and the will to live.” It bent down and caressed the side of her face.

  “And when that will finally dies,” it whispered, rising up and turning to walk away. “I will be here, as always, waiting.”

  Chapter Eight

  Nightshade stayed away from Ash, leaving her with her thoughts, her tattered pride, and her new lust for life. It left her sitting there on that mossy bank, and Ash was indeed grateful.

  How could I be so stupid, she thought, shaking her head as she watched the sun begin its descent over the hot springs. She was now dressed in the red robe, as it provided seemingly tentative and dubious protection as she tried to rebuild herself.

  She had almost thrown it all away… just because she was having a few bad years. Well, maybe more than a few years, but what was that to someone who was nearly immortal?

  And it took almost getting her throat ripped out to realize it.

  With her confidence rebuilding, she realized she had a lot to thank that hermaphrodite for. Rising to her feet, she went to seek out her ever-changeable host/hostess. She needed to have one last talk with it.

  She found it sitting in its nest, calmly braiding its hair.

  “You want something, pretty?” it asked, looking up from its sitting position, a smirk on its lips.

  “Yeah, I need to know how to get out of here.”

  “Don’t know,” he replied. “The others just left… or they stayed… in pieces.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Was there anything else?”

  “I… I just wanted to… You’re smarter than you look.”

  “Which is a feat because I look so very good.” It grinned.

  Ash had to smile at that, its arrogance reassuring in some strange way. She took a seat near it. This Sincubus scared her, confused her, intrigued her, and still turned her on.

  “You look… lively,” it noted. “A reality check is sometimes good for the soul.”

  “And what would a demon know about the soul?” she asked, relaxing again. Nightshade had already told her that it wouldn’t hurt her.

  “Nothing,” it chuckled. “But I do know death, pretty-pretty Ash. Especially little deaths.” It leered at her.

  Ash tilted her head to the side and smiled. “Well, I can’t get out and I don’t have anything better to do…”

  Nightshade arched an eyebrow and dropped the length of hair he was toying with. Ash had his full attention.

  Rising to her feet, Ash let the draping red robe slide off her shoulders, smiling. Nightshade was on her in a flash, easing her back into the fragrant nest that smelled so much of sensual heat, and sex, and life. It lowered her carefully, its hands just ghosting over her body, feeding off her aura, an aura that had glowed strongly for him since it first discovered her in its sanctuary.

  Her hands reached up to tangle in its hair, to pull it closer. “You know,” she breathed. “In all the sex we were having, never once did you really kiss me.”

  “I kissed you, and we were never really having sex. We were just having… extended foreplay, pretty. You were not ready for anything more.”

  “And I am now?” she asked, her eyes drooping as she felt blood swell in her groin, a pleasurable feeling that made her sigh and arch up into Nightshade’s touch.

  “Now,” It buried its face in he
r neck and inhaling deeply, “now I believe you are.”

  Ash shuddered at the contact, moaning at the intense feelings that this creature, this Sincubus, was able to draw from her. “Then give it to me,” she whispered, leaning up far enough to run her tongue along its lips, tasting it as it had tasted her so many times before.

  It smiled at her before raking its claws gently down to her breasts. “These are almost as perfect as mine,” it mused, kneading the soft flesh, flicking its thumb against her swelling nipple. “These would be beautiful pierced…”

  “I’ll take that into consideration.” Ash chuckled, reaching up and tugging at its hair. “But not at the moment.”

  “Mmm.” Purring under its breath, Nightshade lowered his head and let his tongue lash out at the berry-colored nub.

  Ash gasped. Although she’d expected the rush of pleasure that flooded her body, right now it somehow seemed more intense. Her whole body shuddered, and she wrapped both arms around its head, urging it closer, demanding that it take more of her into its mouth.

  And it did, flicking the metal of its spiked tongue piercing across the sensitive nipple. It nearly burned with the intensity of its body heat and it was enough to make Ash writhe beneath it.

  It began to suck, its teeth teasing and pulling, then soothing the sting. It quickly left that nipple to play with its counterpart, but its fingers teased the wet flesh it had just abandoned.

  “That… Oh, God, that feels so good.” Ash’s legs spread as she thrust up into its body, feeling its scalding erection with its metal ornamentation pressing against her thigh. “Do it harder.”

  Nightshade eagerly complied, its breath hissing in anticipation of its eager partner. It ran its free hand down her side and over her hip, massaging her soft skin as it went. Soon it began to move lower, licking and nipping at her firm stomach before it paused at her pubic mound.

  “Shaved is so much more attractive,” it informed her, making her open her eyes and glare down at it.

  “You had no complaints before,” she snorted, petting the soft hair on top of its head. “And if you want to talk hairy, let’s discuss your legs, baby.”

  “Baby,” it purred, running its fingers through her wiry pubic curls. “I like that. Call me baby and I’ll eat you like you were my last meal.”

  Ash grinned, her own fangs dropping as she stared into those deep black eyes. “Baby,” she purred, licking at her lips and casting it as seductive a look as she could manage.

  “Perfect.” Its moist breath heated the skin above her pubic thatch as it dropped both hands to her thighs, squeezing the soft flesh there. “Say it again.”

  “Baby.”

  “Mmm,” it moaned, spreading her thighs enough to make a place for itself between them. “Again.”

  “Baby, baby, baby… oh, ba… Ahh!” Ash felt her whole body curl up around him as his thumbs parted her labia, exposing the glistening, rose-colored flesh.

  It inhaled deeply at her scent, taking in the musk, the lush femininity that seemed to surround her. Her clit swelled beneath its gaze as her juices began to flow, soaking his fingers and covering them in slick natural lubrication.

  Unable to wait any longer, he lowered his head and buried his face in her sweetness.

  “Uh,” Ash gasped, her thighs trembling, her head rolling back and forth in the soft flowers of the nest. “Night… That feels so…”

  Nightshade murmured his agreement as he flicked his tongue along her clit. His thumbs gently pressed against her labia, stimulating it as he dropped lower to lave the tender pink lips and her drenched opening.

  Ash’s hands slid through his hair, dragging the silky locks up her chest to rub against her breasts. He felt so… so damn good! She whimpered and threw her hips upwards, licking her lips and wordlessly begging for more.

  “Mmm,” it growled. “Delicious,” And Nightshade began to feast in earnest, flicking its tongue, nibbling with its teeth, sucking her juices, as its fingers traveled below her opening, pressing against her perineum.

  “More!” Ash screamed as he pressed into this nerve-sensitive area. “Give me more!”

  Nightshade pressed his finger into her cunt, shuddering at the feel of her wet, slick walls gripping his fingers. “I am going to fuck you through the ground,” he breathed, sliding that finger around her anus before reaching around to grip her by the hips.

  Moving up a bit, he began to suckle at her clit, unhooding it and flicking it with his tongue. Ash screamed, her hands tugging at his hair as wonderful sensations washed over her body. It pulled back, giving her one final lick, then gripped her hips in both hands.

  Before she could question its actions, Nightshade threw its head back to free its hair, then twisted Ash around so that she wound up on her hands and knees.

  “What…” She turned, looking at it from over her shoulder, wondering what it was up to now.

  “I’ve only done one side,” it explained, leering at her as it ran its hands over her tapering back and rounded hips.

  Ash moaned, arching like a cat into its touch, then gasped as it raised one hand and sharply slapped her ass, making her cheeks wobble.

  “I loooove that,” it breathed, reverently caressing the rounded cheeks of her ass. “I love knowing that all of this belongs to me.”

  “For now,” Ash felt compelled to add, but Nightshade nodded its agreement.

  “For now.” Then it was leaning over her, pressing the warmth of its breasts against her shoulders.

  Ash moaned at the feel, licking her lips as its hard nipples ran over her skin. She rose up, her hands reaching around her sides to caress the soft, hot skin that it possessed. She pulled Nightshade closer, nestling back into it as she felt its erection press against her ass. Its cock was hard and hot, and dripping with its desire. She pressed deeper into the touch, wanting to be totally possessed by this Sincubus.

  Its hands reached around to pull at her breasts, to tug at the nipples and massage the soft, swollen skin. It dipped its face into her shoulder, just at the base of her neck, and began to lightly nip at the skin, licking a path up to her ear where it gently breathed her name.

  “I… I wannnt… to… touch…” she managed, her body on fire as it danced beneath Nightshade’s fingertips. “I… I need to…”

  “Soon,” Nightshade promised, slipping one hand down between her legs to tease at her clit. She screamed and thrust her hips forward into the touch, feeling her own wetness coat her thighs and run over Nightshade’s fingers.

  “This is what we were made for,” it breathed, the other hand running over her breasts and up to cup her chin, tilting her head to the side. “This is the true, raw essence of beings… like me, like us.”

  Ash whimpered in agreement, one of her hands slipping behind her to caress the pierced dick that so filled her fantasies. Nightshade growled, then quickly spun her around, pressing her against the soft grasses and flower petals of their nest.

  “Now you may touch me,” he agreed, sitting back on his heels, opening his thighs, fully exposing all of himself to her.

  Ash stared at the hard cock weighted down by metal, the full balls that shifted in their sack, knowing what secrets hid behind them. Then she was up on her knees, bending low, ass in the air as she gripped his cock in both hands.

  “This is… amazing,” she moaned, bending low, letting her ass twitch and wave behind her.

  “Give it a little kiss,” Nightshade urged, licking its lips as its breathing increased and its eyes glowed. “It remembers you.”

  Ash chuckled, then stuck out her tongue to lap at the hooded head. “Mmm,” she managed. “Like sweet flowers and honey…”

  She peeled back the cowl and blew gently over the plum-shaped head, watching as pre-cum beaded up on the slit. She ran this slick moisture over the head, hissing as Nightshade leaned over and palmed her ass from above.

  “Keep going,” it urged, humming in pleasure as it kneaded the flesh of her ass.

  Ash leaned closer, flicking her
tongue over the head and sucking just the tip into her mouth, writhing as the flavor of it exploded over her tongue. The bars, those bits of golden metal drew her attention and her curious tongue had to explore. She pulled back to run her tongue along the shaft, pushing the bars back and forth as she went. Holding Nightshade’s cock steady, she ran the tip of her tongue over one round capture ball, noting that it was hotter than the skin it pierced by several degrees.

  She nibbled one, smiling as Nightshade hissed and cursed above her, its stomach tightening. She knew from experience that its little tuft of a tail would be wagging. She sucked at the stud until Nightshade cried out above her, and then quickly went to the next. She repeated this several times, counting out seven bars in all.

  How would they feel entering her body, sliding against her hot spots, teasing her inner walls with their steely hardness, so much harder than the shaft they pierced?

  One of her hands released the base and slid around Nightshade’s back to caress the skin there and worry at the rapidly moving tail. Her other reached down to cup its balls, rolling and tugging them gently before they slid back to uncover its own hidden little clit and pussy. She flicked her thumb against its throbbing nub then sank two fingers in deep.

  Nightshade stiffened then screamed, its cock lurching in her mouth as its inner walls tightened around her fingers in a warm, slick embrace.

  “I have to be in you,” Nightshade gasped, its heart pounding in its chest as it thrust its hips against her fingers, riding them even as it slid its fingers into her pussy from behind. “You are so wet…”

  Ash moaned around the cock in her mouth, the vibrations making Nightshade wetter, more needy, hungrier. They worked each other, both rising on a tide of eroticism, of ecstasy, until their bodies fairly screamed out in need. Then Nightshade was pulling away, groaning as her fingers slid out of its pussy with a wet slick sound.

  Ash, franticly suckling on its cock, grunted in displeasure and tried to suck him in deeper. It was a challenge, the soft, hard feel of its shaft against the hard, unforgiving metal of its piercing. It stimulated her mouth and left her hungry for the heat and friction it delivered. If it felt this good in her mouth, how much more wonderful would it feel in her pussy?