"Ya. I think she's asleep and you do a pretty good job bathing her when she's unconscious," Malachi pointed out.
"You think Aki and Yoshi will let us stay with her tonight?" Quil wondered.
"Ya. They should be fine with it. I asked Crim if we could spend more time with her anyway," Malachi replied.
"You feel a bit lonely?" Quil inquired.
"Do you?" Malachi countered.
"Ya...a bit. I miss the way things were before everything went haywire. I can't be too selfish because I get to bathe her when she's exhausted, but it doesn't really count as quality time. Haru and Itsuki feel a little left out as well since they're the quiet types. We can't blame her because she’s barely had time to adjust to everything that's happening, but just sometimes...it's hard," Quil confessed.
"We'll work it out. I know we will. Once all this madness settles and we finally find the culprits who killed Storm, we'll have all the time in the world to spend with Crimson. Maybe then Homatomashi will regain some of its peaceful nature like it had years ago.”
"Ya," Quil replied.
"Let's go home and ensure our Queen is taken care of. Tomorrow we'll focus on training and catch up," Malachi declared.
"You know, it freaks me out when you get all leader-like," Quil pointed out.
"Fuck you," Malachi huffed. They both chuckled quietly, and I felt something soft press against my cheek.
"Don't worry, Crim. We'll get through this together," Malachi whispered. His words were exactly what I needed to let go in that moment, and I allowed my mind to be claimed by the darkness.
The feeling of a comb gently running through my hair woke me, and I tried to ignore the tempting urge to fall back asleep immediately. I opened my eyes slightly, noticing the bubbles in front of me. Warm water reached all the way to my upper chest, just above my breasts.
It took me a few moments to realize I was in the bathtub in our living corridors in the Emperor's palace, and not in my flat. The combing stopped for a moment, and I felt a hand brush my shoulder. "Crim? You awake?"
"Maybe," I mumbled, still debating whether to go back to sleep or not. I lifted my head up to look up at Quillian, who gave me a relieved smile, his pink eyes locking on mine.
"Hey."
"Konnichiwa," I greeted.
"You’re still half asleep,” he pointed out. I raised an eyebrow in confusion, and he continued. "You spoke in Japanese."
"Oh..." I mumbled, closing my eyes for a moment. I felt something soft press against my forehead and opened my eyes again to see Quillian lift his lips from my forehead, giving me a reassuring smile.
"Go back to sleep,” he suggested kindly.
"Are you lonely...?" I asked, remembering the conversation he had with Malachi when I was only half awake.
"Hmm. So you were awake." He didn't sound mad, but he sighed. "A little,” he admitted.
"I don't want to sleep yet," I mumbled, trying to fight off my exhaustion for as long as I could.
Quillian gave me a sympathetic look. "Crim, you're tired. You inserted another crystal into the watch, and though you may not know it, that takes a lot of energy from you. You should be resting," he lectured.
"IIE," I replied, stubbornly.
Quillian sighed again. "Stubborn, and you spoke in Japanese again."
I pouted, looking back in front of me at the large bath. An idea popped into my head, but I was little nervous to ask. I might as well...it couldn’t hurt.
"Join me?" I asked, lifting my head back up to meet his gaze. He was silent for a moment, and I watched his Adam's apple move up and down. He placed the comb down on the marble ledge next to the bath and pulled his shirt off.
I tugged my eyes away, mostly so I wouldn’t get turned on with no energy to satisfy the need that would torment me if I watched the stripping process. I already had to deal with the steamy memories of Storm's interactions with Quil lately, and that left me wet with need. I didn't know if I could handle much more than that without wanting to have steamy sex, which again, I had very little energy for.
"Move forward just a bit Crimson," Quil instructed. I did exactly as he said, moving forward so he could enter the bath. He lowered himself behind me, some of the water spilling over the edge as he did so.
"Okay, move back,” he requested. I did as he asked, my back coming to rest against his chest. I sighed in relief at the feeling of being in his arms, which wrapped securely around me.
"It's nice to have you in my arms," Quil admitted.
"It's nice to be in them. I'm sorry you're lonely. I'm trying...I really am. I know I'm not doing a good job, though," I confessed.
"Crim, please don't worry. We're all still adjusting to everything. There's no need to apologize. None of us is mad at you," he reassured me.
"You sure?"
"I swear it. We understand. Don't stress about it," Quil spoke with confidence.
I nodded, resting my head back against his chest as I enjoyed the warmth of the water and the feel of Quillian's body. I was trying to ignore his cock that pressed against my backside, but it was difficult.
"What are you thinking about?” he whispered.
"Hmm, I feel like if I ask...it's kinda invasive," I mumbled, unsure how to tell him about my dreams.
"Ask away, Crimson," Quil assured me.
"But..." I began but trailed off.
"Is it about Storm and me?" he inquired.
"Yes," I admitted quietly.
"Then just ask,” he encouraged.
"I...well...maybe it's her, I don't know. I...hmm...this is hard to talk about when we’re naked in a bathtub," I grumbled. Quil chuckled, tightening his hold around my waist. I bit my lip, trying to ignore the way my pussy clenched and my heart skipped a beat.
"Really?" he whispered, pressing a kiss to my left shoulder. A muffled moan escaped me, and I closed my eyes, needing to concentrate and avoid succumbing to my body's desires.
"Hmm..." I mumbled back.
"What's bothering you, Crim?" Quil wondered, clearly trying to pull me back on course.
"I've been having dreams...about you and Storm. Intimate ones. I don't know why, especially since it’s always between you two. Maybe she's testing me or something? I honestly don't know," I confessed.
"Hmm. I wouldn't know for sure. This essence business is an unpredictable one at best, and it's not like we can ask anyone else who's experienced it," he acknowledged. "Does it bother you?"
"Not really..." I trailed off, unsure how to proceed with the topic.
Quil was quiet for a moment before asking, "Do those dreams turn you on?"
"...Yes," I replied.
"And what do you do when that happens?" he questioned, his voice so low I almost missed it.
"I...well...you know." I stumbled over the words, feeling a little shy about talking about my self-pleasuring routine.
I had to admit I had been masturbating more often recently because of the dreams. Even if I'd been more comfortable with being intimate with Aki in the bedroom, I couldn't ask him to relieve the ache caused by having a dream of Quil, or any of the other guys for that matter.
I felt his right arm leave my waist, and his hand slowly trailed down between my legs. I let out a weak gasp but didn't hesitate to open my legs slightly beneath the water, enjoying the feel of his fingertips at my entrance.
"Do you masturbate because of me, Crim?" Quil whispered into my ear before he tugged my earlobe with his teeth.
I moaned. "Yes."
"Should I please you a bit?" he offered. I didn't reply, instead I turned my head and crashed my lips into his. He groaned, kissing me back with force.
I mentally sighed in relief when one of his thick fingers slid into my pussy, which was wet from my arousal beneath the warm water.
He pushed in and out a few times before inserting a second finger, making me arch my back slightly and move my hips so he could slide his fingers as deep as possible in the position we were in.
"Quillian," I moaned, enjoyi
ng how his lips continued to suck at the flesh of my neck. His left arm moved from my waist so he could place his hand on my left breast.
"Yes, baby. You like that, don't you?" I couldn't get enough of his husky voice that contributed to the growing pleasure, which continued to build as his fingers maintained their in-and-out movement. His left hand fondled my breast, pinching at my hard nipple from time to time.
"I do...more, please," I begged. Masturbating with my own fingers was an easy relief, but the satisfaction I felt to have the man I dreamed and fantasized about fucking me with his fingers sent such waves of pleasure through me I almost came right then.
"Faster, Quil...more...mhm," I whimpered, turning my head again so I could savor the feel of his lips that crashed into mine. He increased the pace of his fingers, and I broke the kiss to cry out as my body trembled with my climax. He kept his fingers deep inside me, allowing my pussy to clench around them for a moment before slowly pulling them out.
I laid my head against him, panting loudly as I caught my breath. Quil left a trail of kisses down my neck and along my left shoulder.
"The sound of you cumming because of me is such a pleasant sound to listen to," Quil whispered into my ear.
"I'd love to continue, but I'm kinda tired," I confessed, still trying to slow the rapid beating of my heart and control my labored breathing.
"I know. Just remember, I'm always here if you need to relieve any tension that either myself or the others cause,” he assured me, just like he had when he waited for me back on the mountain when I'd finished my conversation with Hakua.
"Quillian?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for always caring and meeting my needs. Whether I'm unconscious or awake...just...Arigato," I whispered, meaning it from the bottom of my heart. Instead of caring about his needs, he always considered and met mine first. I needed him to know that I appreciated him for that.
"Anything for you, Crimson. I'll always take care of you and put you first,” he vowed.
I moved in his hold, turning my body so I could face him and lean into him. He wrapped his arms around my waist, ensuring I stayed pressed against him. I stared into his pink eyes that were now a mix of dark pink with hints of purple in them.
We both smiled and leaned in to enjoy a tender kiss, one I knew would lead to more in the future.
"It doesn't feel like anything is here," I announced.
"Nothing like what you felt with the third crystal?" Malachi clarified.
"Nope. Are you sure Yoshi got the right info?" I wondered.
"This place has been investigated a few times by shifters who looked similar in appearance to those in Monko Forest. It was worth checking it out," Quillian admitted.
"This place gives me the creeps," Haru mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
Yoshimitsu had gotten news from his father that another location kept being reported by civilians. It was in the south of Homatomashi, close to one of the major oceans.
Malachi, Quil, Haru, and I came to investigate since Aki and Yoshi were stuck in meetings on behalf of Yomato, and Itsuki was scouting the surrounding area for any other clues. We'd been directed to an abandoned house and now stood in a large cornfield that looked lifeless.
"I really don't think anything is here, guys," I declared, ensuring my twin blades were securely on my back before I began walking through the tall stalks, which needed a good weeding to remove all the dead sections.
"Why would they be investigating this place, then?" Haru wondered.
"Hmm. Maybe they needed something or someone here?" Quil considered.
"How about I go check the other side of the field? It won't take me long," Malachi suggested, beginning to pull off his shirt.
"Not a bad idea." Quil nodded.
"Be careful, Malachi," I commented, and he smirked.
"I'll be fine, Hottie. The intense heat of the sun is on my side and will burn my enemies to a crisp." He winked, walking over to me to give me a quick kiss.
"Smooth one," Haru mumbled, rolling his eyes with a small grin on his lips.
"I've always been the smooth one," Malachi argued.
"Ya right." Quil laughed.
"Hmph. I'll be back," Malachi announced. He began running forward, and his body was immersed in light. Then his large purple lion figure came into view, and he dashed off without slowing down.
We watched him disappear into the thicker parts of the field. "Hmm, I’d suggest we take a glimpse of the fields and then head back." I suggested.
"Might as well. Malachi won't take too long, especially in his lion form," Haru pointed out. We all nodded in agreement and began to walk through the fields. My Kitsune was on guard as she approached the surface, her fur fuzzing up as she started to growl.
I noticed the goosebumps that began to crawl up my arms and frowned, although I continued to walk forward. I'd been training for the last week with the guys, especially with Malachi, Quil, and Itsuki who'd requested some time off from other duties to help me train.
Haru had been assigned to help Yoshi and Aki with a load of meetings and all the investigations going on, but due to his strong healing skills, it was best for us to have him with us, especially since Itsuki was scouting the outer parts of the area and would take longer to reach us.
"Guys...I don't feel good," I confessed suddenly as a sickening feeling ran through me. My Kitsune was growling loudly at this point, on the verge of taking control. Just then, my foot hit something, forcing me to stop and regain my balance.
"Something's nearby," Quillian announced. I looked to my left to see him raise his hands slightly, magic circles forming at his fingertips.
"Be on your guard," Haru spoke quietly. I turned my gaze to him and saw a bow appear in his hand, and he readied an arrow for it. I was ready to pull my swords out but lowered my gaze, my eyes growing wide as I gawked at the dull eyes that stared back at me.
"Shit..." I squeaked, taking a few steps back. Haru and Quil both followed my gaze and cursed at what they saw. Haru moved to the dead body, quickly scanning him with his eyes before frowning.
"Bullet wounds?" he observed, meeting our gazes and looking between us.
"How? It's hard to get guns here," I pointed out.
"Not if they're magically modified," Haru countered.
"But-" I began, but a loud sound broke through the air, causing us to flinch. Then the sounds of multiple shots being fired echoed through the field. FUCK!
I crouched down, pulling my twin swords out of their scabbards. I didn't fight my Kitsune when she broke to the surface. It was the first time she'd have control during battle with me being in half Kitsune form, but thanks to the training I'd been having with the guys, I felt a lot more confident than I did even a week ago.
I dashed forward, feeling my tails fuzz up and my ears twitch, knowing exactly where the shots were coming from. I noticed Quil not too far behind me, his body low as he ran to back me up.
My eyes landed on the first masked man, one of three that I could hear breathing rapidly even through the gunfire. Before he registered my presence, my swords were already slicing through his torso, cutting smoothly through him like he was nothing more substantial than a piece of paper. I skidded to a stop and dropped to the ground to avoid any incoming shots as I checked to make sure the shifter was dead. Both halves of him twitched and convulsed for a good thirty seconds before they stilled.
I had to take a calming breath, still not used to killing. I don't think any normal person could get used to taking a life, but I knew since it was a form of self-defense, I shouldn’t feel guilty about it.
Quil walked up to me and pressed his hand on my shoulder. "Just keep calm and don't worry about it,” he instructed. I nodded, and we focused on the next target, who must have noticed his partner had gone missing because he turned his gun in our direction. Quil snapped his fingers, creating a shield to block the bullets from hitting us as we readied to move forward for the second kill. A sudden onslaught of arrow
s rained down on the second shifter. He cried out as the sharp gold and green arrows stabbed him in multiple places, causing him to drop to the ground.
Quil and I exchanged glances before we both darted forward, needing to check and make sure he was dead. I heard approaching footsteps, but my senses weren't freaked out about the incoming shifter, who soon revealed himself to be Haru.
"I can't reach the last shifter. He has a barrier around him to guard against long-distance attacks," Haru exclaimed between pants.
Quil nodded. "We need to get up close."
"Can you shield me, Quil?" I asked.
He nodded. "I got you."
I didn't delay, dashing forward, but keeping myself low as I prepared my swords for the next attack. My speed increased, and I felt my power begin to build, running down my arms and to the dual swords that started to glow a light pink.
I reached the third shifter in less than ten seconds. He looked stunned, shooting as many bullets as he could in my direction, but they either passed me or bounced off the shield Quil was keeping intact. I raised my swords and the guy cursed, quickly dropping his gun and shifting into a large wolf.
He jumped towards me in an attempt to take me down, but I was faster, raising my swords up and pressing them together. I dropped to the ground right before the wolf could hit me. Instead, he flew right into my raised swords, getting sliced in half in the process.
Blood rained down on me as the body parts fell to the ground. I caught my breath, listening carefully to see if there was anyone else nearby.
When I didn't sense anything, I rose back up and looked at my appearance, biting my lip in distaste at the sight of all the blood that stained my fur and clothes.
Quil was at my side in seconds. "You okay?" he asked, breathing hard as his now red eyes scanned the area around me.
"Ya. I'm just really not liking being drenched in blood. It's kind of annoying me," I confessed. My Kitsune was just as irritated, rolling around as if that would help remove the blood.
"Here, I'll help," Quil offered, pressing his hands to my cheeks and closing his eyes. I felt the magic leave his hands, which grew comfortably warm, and a ribbon of water wrapped around me. I wasn't afraid, keeping my eyes open as I watched it move around my body from head to toe, taking the droplets of blood with it. It even worked to remove the dark liquid from my clothes.
Calming the Storm (Crimson Storm Chronicles Book 2) Page 11
