I gave him a look, and he nodded in understanding. His hand slipped into mine, and we began to swim up to the surface. I gasped as my head broke through the water, and let go of Quil's hand to slide my hair back and out of my face as I took a few deep breaths. We both swam to the ledge that faced the clear glass entrance leading back into our house.
Quillian lifted himself up first, then turned and crouched down to offer me his hand. I gave him an appreciative smile and placed my hand in his. He helped me out of the water, lifting me out as if I weighed practically nothing.
He walked over to get us both white towels and returned, passing one to me.
"Arigato," I whispered and began to dry myself.
We were quiet as we patted ourselves down and then walked over to put the towels in the hamper. I didn't know what to do after that, to stay outside and continue thinking about what happened, or take a relaxing bath and go straight to bed.
"Crim?" Quil's gentle voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"I don't know how to feel about what just happened. I've thought about it and played it over and over in my head...yet I can't wrap my mind around the reality that...that it happened," I expressed, glancing down to my feet.
"To think our country has become so accustomed to hatred, that twelve and thirteen-year-olds are willing to...participate in killing a little girl. A six-year-old human girl who couldn't even defend herself. She would have died if we turned a blind eye, and it makes me wonder how many individuals have done just that, turning a blind eye for the sake of their own safety at the cost of someone else’s? Where is the justice in our lands anymore? Maybe this was what Storm wanted to end; maybe she wanted to ensure that an innocent kid didn't have to face death at the hands of her peers."
Quil nodded. "She wanted the hate between races to stop and bring forth unity. Any form of dislike of one another that resulted in detrimental harm, such as being severely wounded or death, would face serious consequences. That's what the peace contract would have enforced. It would make it so that people would attempt to get along and accept that not everyone could be a shifter and not everyone was born a human. It would end the bullying and senseless deaths that are still occurring. We all have differences, and the point of the peace movement and signed agreement between Storm and the Council was to bring us together."
"I want us to be able to do that. We have to implement something, or we'll kill one another until there's nothing left," I whispered, raising my head to look into his dark blue eyes.
"I know, and we will," Quil assured. I nodded and walked up to him. He opened his arms up for me, and I stepped into his embrace, inhaling his scent deeply before letting my worries leave me.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have closed you off. I just...needed a moment to process everything. Did I scare you?" I asked.
"A little. I knew you were in the water, but I got worried when fifteen minutes passed, and you still hadn't come out," Quil admitted.
"Fifteen minutes. It was that long? Hmm. I've never really tried to hold my breath that long," I admitted.
"It could be because of the blue crystal you have. I remember Storm was able to hold her breath for long periods of time and said it was due to the pocket watch," Quil explained.
"Hmm..."
We stood there for a while before we pulled back to stare at one another. "Why don't we take a much-deserved nap?" he suggested.
"We haven't had a nap together in a while," I admitted, although I didn't feel tired just yet. Quil’s eyes darkened, and he lowered his gaze to my mouth. He lifted his hand and trailed his thumb along my bottom lip, meeting my gaze again.
"Are you tired?"
"Not really," I replied in a hushed tone, lost in those mesmerizing eyes that kept switching to different colors. Our faces drifted closer and closer until our lips were just centimeters apart.
He took the initiative to close the gap, kissing me gently on the lips. I returned the kiss eagerly, and soon enough we were making out with urgency. His hands lowered to my ass, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
We maintained our heated exchange as he scooped me up into his arms and carried me into the cabin. I didn't care how we got into the large bedroom; my mind focused solely on kissing Quillian and relishing how my body responded to him.
He lowered my legs so I could stand, the action still not breaking our kiss, which only grew deeper. I removed my arms from around his neck to run them down his bare chest, and down to the band of his swimming trunks.
He tugged at the string of my pink bikini top, untying it with ease before dropping it to the floor, releasing my breasts for him to admire once he was done kissing me senseless.
I undid the drawstring of his shorts and slid them over his ass, allowing them to fall to the ground around his ankles. Quil lifted his legs up to remove the trunks, kicking them out of the way and exposing his cock.
He broke the kiss so he could lower his hands to the waistband of my bikini bottoms. He looked up at me as if asking for permission and when I didn't argue, he dropped them to the floor.
It was my turn to pick up my feet and kick the piece of clothing to the side, leaving both of us naked. I looked down at his cock and reached for it, stroking it slowly with my right hand.
He let out a low groan, closing his eyes and allowing his head to fall back as I worked my hand up and down his length. Soon, I was on my knees and eagerly taking Quil's cock in my mouth, moving up and down slowly.
Quil's moans were like music to my ears, motivating me to take as much of him as I could.
"Oh...shit...Crim. Faster baby,” he begged. His breath was uneven and his moans got louder and more frequent. His cock was so hard, and I could tell his orgasm was getting closer with each suck and sliding movement.
His hand ran through my hair, stilling my head so he could take over. He began to move his hips, thrusting into my mouth but not far enough to make me gag.
"Yes, baby. Take me like that. Fuck," Quil breathed. I couldn't help but slide my hand downward, fingering my pussy while he fucked my mouth.
"Shit...Crimson!" Quil bellowed, cumming inside my mouth. I swallowed every drop of his release. He slowly pulled out, letting go of my hair while he caught his breath.
"Damn...I didn't know blow jobs could feel that good,” he commented, piquing my interest as I licked my lips. He offered his hand to help me up and I accepted it, using the one that wasn't covered with my own juices.
"You've never had a blow job before?" I asked, sounding slightly shocked.
Quil blushed, looking everywhere but in my direction. "...No."
I pulled him into a passionate kiss, slipping my tongue in his mouth. Before I knew it, I was pinned on the bed and his tongue was invading my mouth. I gasped at his fingers that slid right inside me, my pussy so wet, they glided in with ease.
"I think you're ready for me, baby," he hummed, removing his fingers and placing the head of his cock at my folds.
"Mhm, fuck me hard, Quillian," I begged, my body longing to be filled by him.
"As you wish, Crimson,” he proclaimed, sliding himself inside me. I let out a sigh, closing my eyes to savor the moment. It intrigued me how different his cock felt within me. It filled me so perfectly, like his length was made just for me.
He began to move, thrusting in and out. It wasn't long before we were kissing furiously as he fucked me hard and fast.
"Yes! Ah, fuck! Yes, yes, yes!" I cried out, loving how roughly he was pounding into me.
"That's it, baby! Moan for me. Cry out just for me. I want to hear you say my name when you cum and I'll fill you with every damn bit of my load," Quil growled, heaving loudly as he continued his quick, powerful thrusts. He pulled back, only to pound harder into me, doubling his pace.
"Shit!" I screamed, clenching to the sheets beneath me as I braced myself for the coming orgasm that would send me over the edge. "Quil...won't be long...so close to cumming," I confessed through pants.
The built-up emotional de
sire was growing stronger and stronger, making it hard to think.
"That's it, baby. Cum for me!" Quil ordered, shifting his position slightly, which pushed him even deeper within me, sending me right over the edge.
"QUILLIAN!" I cried out, my body locking up as I was hit with a wave of pleasure. My climax rocked through me, wave after wave that made my muscles clench and my pussy flutter around Quil's cock that was still thrusting.
"CRIMSON!" he screamed, giving one final thrust before cumming inside me. I could feel every bit of his hot release fill me, making me whimper. I was overwhelmed by the warmth that flooded through me and the tingling sensation that teased every nerve within.
We both remained still for a long moment, our rapid breathing sounding loud in the otherwise quiet room. I opened my weak eyes to see sweat drip down his face. Quil met my gaze and grinned with satisfaction, leaning forward to hover over me before lowering his lips to mine.
This kiss was much slower, neither of us having enough energy left to go another round. "That was soo...soo good," I mumbled against his lips. "I really needed that."
"Me too,” he whispered, pulling me into his arms and rolling us over so I was laying on his chest.
"Are you going to pull out?" I questioned.
"Do you want me to?"
"No...but I don't know if I can sleep with your cock inside me." I giggled weakly.
"Really?" He moved a few wet strands of my hair from my face, clearly looking like he had no intention of moving.
"Hmm. Maybe," I pondered, closing my eyes. His fingers ran up and down my back soothingly, and his heartbeat was relaxing to listen to as it slowed down from its rapid rhythm. I didn’t realize I'd drifted off until I felt my body being lifted up, which stirred me awake.
"Quil?"
"Don't worry. Taking us to have a bath. Go back to sleep." He placed a kiss on my forehead. I wanted to argue, but I knew I'd be fine in Quillian's care. Whether conscious or unconscious, he'd always been able to take care of me.
"Okay...I love you," I whispered sleepily.
"I love you too, Crimson. Thank you...for everything," he said quietly. That was the last thing I heard before I fell into a deep slumber.
"This is the place where we got the tip," Aki declared. Yoshi nodded, adjusting his sword, which was securely in its scabbard strapped to his waist.
"Another crystal is here," I announced, feeling the pull that had happened last time, as well as the heat of the pocket watch on my neck.
"You feel it, Crimson?" Haru asked, coming over to stand next to me.
I nodded and turned my head to give him a determined grin. "Yes. It's definitely here," I confirmed, sliding my hand in his. He beamed at the action, squeezing my hand back.
The others gathered before me, all of them ready for battle. They wore armor-type gear created by the blacksmith at the palace. It was just in case we got ambushed again like last time, so we'd be protected and ready for action.
I, on the other hand, wore a short traditional kimono with my twin swords strapped to the belt on my waist, one on each side. The outfit was pink and gold. The silk fabric was pink with white cherry blossom petals, and the trimming was gold, which matched the belt. I'd questioned how this outfit would do anything to help protect me, but Yomato explained it was made for Kitsune shifters with the purpose of giving us agility.
Our primary strength was our speed, so wearing pants or anything constricting our legs would be more of a hindrance than anything. With the added freedom I'd have with my tails, it was the best option. I looked down to the talisman around my ankle. I’d put a few other bracelets around it so no one would realize my true reason for wearing it.
I didn't have dreams specifically about Quil anymore, only experiencing random ones here and there. As for Storm taking over, she hadn't made an appearance since the hospital. I could still sense her essence within me, but it was more subdued than it had been.
Thanks to the talisman, I felt like myself: confident and ready to get the next crystal. With how strongly the pocket watch burned, I knew it was close. Really close.
"Why the hell do I have to be a part of this mission?"
I mentally groaned and fought the desire to roll my eyes at Erica's voice. We looked to our left, seeing her and five of the top soldiers Yomato could provide us for the scouting mission approaching us. All of the men had on armor like my guys, and Erica wore a similar outfit to mine, but in a red and black material.
"I question why myself," I huffed.
She shot me an irritated look and Yoshimitsu sighed. “Erica, please. This isn't a playground. We can't afford for this search to fail, so everyone, please cooperate,” he said with a stern voice.
We all nodded, and Erica and I turned away from each other. I didn't want to deal with the stern Yoshimitsu right now, and he did have a point. We wouldn't get a second chance with this tip, which had been from a reputable source.
Hakua had been doing a tour in these parts with Jeff and their parents when they spotted someone who looked like James in the area. Hakua had tracked him long enough to get a quick picture but had no idea where he went. Upon asking a few locals, we learned that the man with red eyes had been here for a few days, claiming he was a part of a company who was searching for a stolen jewel that went missing almost three months ago.
Even if this ended up being a trap, we weren't underprepared like we were last time. That was why all of us had come as a team and were planning to stick close to each other. Adding Erica and the other guards ensured that if we did get split up, we'd be in good hands.
"Fine. Let's get this over with. I have a nail appointment at four,” Erica huffed.
"Let's get going. Everyone in twos. Erica and Crimson, right up front. Haru and Quillian, in the middle. You two both have good long range attacks and can defend us on either side if trouble brews. Aki and I will be in the back, and Itsuki, you'll be in front with one of the guards. Walk further ahead to clear out anything dangerous and let us know if something is approaching. Any questions?"
"Are we gonna go in this formation the entire time? It will take us three days to go through the entire forest this way," Erica pointed out.
"She has a point, even if it kills me to agree with her," I acknowledged. I knew Yoshi was trying to protect me and wanted us going in groups, but the clock was ticking. "We don't need to spread out like before, but we'd be wasting time and risk alerting the enemy if we don't do this as quickly as we can."
"Fine. Itsuki and two of the guards, head north. Crimson and Erica, you follow them but keep a good distance and scout the area. One of the guards stays behind Crim and Erica, just to make sure no one is coming from the rear. Aki and I will take the south side. Quil, go with Malachi to the west. Haru, go with Itsuki to the east. We’ll check back here in three hours or if we sense any commotion. You all have your phones on you?" Yoshi asked.
"Hai!" we said in unison.
"Alright, let's get going," Yoshi encouraged. I pulled out my phone, checking to make sure it was on and the tracking system was working. I wasn’t going to be kidnapped and thrown on a mountain twice.
"Crim, you ready?" Itsuki's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I lifted my head to see him smiling down at me. "Yes! I'm ready."
"With your hair down?" he inquired.
I frowned, just now realizing the long locks weren't in a ponytail. "Ah...I forgot my hair tie," I grumbled and felt my cheeks burn red.
"That's why short hair is the best. Doesn't become a hindrance and who needs to deal with losing all your hair ties when you need them the most?" Erica mocked, walking over to the two guards that were waiting patiently for Itsuki.
I mumbled 'bitch' under my breath, and Itsuki snickered. "Turn around. I'll put it up for you," he offered.
"Okay," I replied cheerfully, turning around to allow him to work with his magical hair styling skills.
"Hmm, once this is over you’ll probably need to trim your ends,” he observed.
"I
should cut it short. It's gonna be at Storm's length soon if I don't," I mumbled.
"You miss your short hair?" Itsuki questioned.
"Yes and no. It's a complicated relationship," I admitted. I did miss my short locks, but I wouldn't ignore how hot it was in bed when a man ran his hands through your hair. Or, when they tug it to keep your head still before kissing you with intense need.
"Sounds like it." Itsuki chuckled while he continued to put my hair up in a ponytail. When he was finished, he walked over to face me and nodded in approval. "Perfect. They match your outfit."
"Do they?" I asked, assuming he’d made me a similar set of chopstick-like hair ornaments like he had last time.
"Gold with pink cherry blossoms dangling at the end," he revealed. I saw him and the other guys eyeing me with appreciative looks.
"Damn, Itsuki. Are those real Swarovski crystals on each cherry blossom?" Malachi whistled, impressed.
"Where the fuck did he get Swarovski from?" Quillian questioned with a sigh.
Itsuki grinned and Aki laughed. "Your guys’ memory sucks. Itsuki's family is one of Swarovski’s biggest distributors and creates many of their limited-edition jewelry and hair pieces," Aki revealed.
"Nani?!" I squeaked, quickly looking at Itsuki, who shrugged.
"Magic craftsmanship includes jewelry making."
"Jeez, guys. Even I knew this. You all need to go do some icebreakers and do a recap or something to learn these things." Erica shook her head, looking completely bored.
"I'd love for us to continue, guys, but we have to go. I'm starting the timer. We have three solid hours," Yoshi announced.
"HAI!" we replied. I swiftly exchanged goodbyes with all the guys, giving them quick kisses while Erica was busy playing with her phone. And just like that, the countdown began.
"You search that side, and I'll take this side. I swear if I break a nail, Yoshi will hear about it from me," Erica complained. I thanked the ancestors that we were splitting up, with her checking the right half of the clearing, and me taking the left half.
Calming the Storm (Crimson Storm Chronicles Book 2) Page 16
