Sleeping with Monsters

by Amelia Hutchins

  Once my skin began to prune up, I stood up, staring out at the city as my nipples hardened as the crisp air stung my skin. I turned, sensing I was no longer alone. Spyder waited on the other side of the glass doors, staring at my naked figure hungrily. I slipped back into the water quickly as he glared at me.

  “You weren’t supposed to be back for a few hours,” I said out loud with shock as I brought my arms up to cover my boobs.

  “And you weren’t supposed to be naked,” he returned angrily, stepping backwards, as if he needed to put distance between us. He spun on his heel, headed back towards the bedroom and retrieved his bag, then marched to the elevator. I stared at him while he jammed his finger repeatedly against the button as he continued to stare at me with a hungry look lingering in his wintry, icy blue gaze.

  Once he disappeared behind the doors of the elevator, I stood up immediately and grabbed a towel, then moved briskly to the bedroom. I slammed the doors closed behind me as my heart hammered wildly.

  I grabbed my bag and dressed into pajamas, combed my hair, then retrieved blankets from the bed and a single pillow before I moved to the large couch and made a bed, crawled into it, and pulled the blanket up to my chin, never taking my eyes off the elevator as I waited for Spyder to return.

  I awoke, sort of, to arms wrapping around and lifting me from the couch as something solid held me. I felt myself being moved onto the bed, but instead of waking up I smiled as I lifted my mouth and kissed warm, masculine lips. My hands cupped his strong face as I pulled him to myself, claiming his mouth and welcome heat against mine. He pulled away, and I whimpered at the loss of his warmth. I felt weight pressing against the bed, and then it was gone.

  “Lucian,” I whispered before sleep claimed me again.

  Chapter 14

  The next morning, I awoke with a start as something crashed against the wall. I lifted my head groggily, then slowly wiggled out from the blankets and shuffled into the other room. Spyder glared at me as I yawned.

  “Get showered; we find this witch and we get the fuck back to Metaline Falls so I can be rid of you,” he rasped angrily. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was mussed, as if he’d been running his fingers through it all night.

  “Fine,” I nodded, still fighting sleep. “What the fuck triggered you?” I snapped, but his glare stalled any other argument I might have had.

  “Get in the fucking shower and lock the door, kitty. I’ll be back,” he snarled as he punched the button and refused to look back at me.

  “I’m going, asshole,” I growled as I moved back to the couch and then eyed the bed with confusion. “Did you move me?” The sound of metal crunching drew my eyes to him. I looked around the now empty-room, which was bathed in shadows. The doors to the elevator opened, but no one was there. “Spyder?” I called out as a shiver raced down my spine. I glared at the now-ruined room service cart and frowned.

  I shook it off, grabbed my pack, and locked the door to the bedroom and escaped to the bathroom to shower. I quickly undressed and took in the large shower that was about as big as my bathroom at home.

  I stepped through the glass doors and turned the water on, feeling a sensation of warmth as it feathered over my nipples. I paused, closing my eyes as the water started raining down over my hair and skin. I reached for the soap and removed it from the paper. I quickly lathered every part of my body that I could reach, and as I rubbed the soap over my pussy, pausing as a wave of warmth and lust surged through my body, moaning loudly, unable to stop it from coming out. I felt something, like warm hands touching me, but the moment I turned around to investigate, there was nothing there, and I wondered if I was losing my shit. I sat on the small bench inside the shower and parted my legs as my clit throbbed like a heartbeat that begged to be touched, needing release. I let the water run over my body as I pushed my fingers inside my wet sex, clenching against them. My eyes lifted to the shadow that moved on the other side of the glass, and I closed my eyes against it.

  It didn’t take much; the tension of being here with Spyder and feeling this wild craving was sending my body over the edge. I pushed two fingers inside, spreading my legs further apart as I rested my head against the shower wall as the other hand stroked my clit slowly. I exploded without warning, no building pressure, just euphoria as it rippled through me.

  My moans were muffled as I brought my hand up, holding it over my mouth as something slid through my naked pussy, pushing against the wet folds as it dipped and pushed inside. I cried out as my body tensed and arched for more. Something flicked against my clitoris and I shuddered as another orgasm began to build. I started to look down to see what was happening, and everything stopped as if I had imagined the pressure and entrance into my body. I stood on trembling legs, letting the steam from the shower comfort me.

  I was going insane.

  I was a little twisted, but who cared. I had needs, and had Lucian been here with me, I probably would have used him to fulfill them. But he wasn’t here, and I wasn’t sleeping with Spyder just to scratch my itch. It wasn’t something he could fix anyway; only one man could assuage the ache he created inside of me, which sucked to admit.

  I quickly finished my shower and dried off, and pulled on a pair of ripped jeans which had black lace peeking from where the holes were. I slipped on a comfy oversized sweatshirt and ran a brush through my hair. I glowered at my tired reflection before leaving the room, and found Spyder sitting at the table, staring out the window with his finger pressed to his lips.

  “Feel better?” he taunted, and I considered becoming one of those birds that hid their heads in the ground as I wondered if he’d heard me in the shower.

  “Refreshed,” I stammered as I laid my bag on the floor and pulled out my kit. I set the map down on the large round coffee table and sat on the floor in front of the couch. Mother had mentioned that if we couldn’t find the witch at the address to try scrying for her.

  “What are you doing?” he grumbled suspiciously.

  “Scrying for the witch so we don’t have to drag ourselves through every Gods-forsaken place in Portland,” I answered softly as I shifted to my knees and bent over the small table. The shirt exposed his bite, which didn’t go unnoticed by him. He moved closer, sitting next to me as I set out what I needed for the scrying spell. I paused, and glanced over my shoulder to where he sat. He grinned wickedly, noting that I squirmed with his proximity. Before I could say anything else, he slid down beside me, sending my heart palpations into a crescendo.

  He leaned over my shoulder, forcing me to look back at the map as I picked up the crystal, which was attached to a magic chain. I whispered the spell and held the crystal over the map, where it began rocking back and forth as it searched for the witch. I felt his mouth hovering inches from where he’d bitten me and my concentration snapped.

  My head jerked in his direction before thinking, and I found my lips smashed against his. I stared him down, wondering what would happen if either of us moved an inch. My mind warred with right from wrong. I pulled away from him, crying out as the bite mark burned red hot on my shoulder. It pulsed and sent waves of pain through my body.

  “It’s only going to get worse.” His head dipped close and his mouth moved gently against the bite, kissing my shoulder as my head rolled back. He pulled away as if I’d burned him, or as if he’d forgotten himself momentarily. His breath fanned my skin and I bit my lip to keep the moan that bubbled up at bay. He stood up and quickly put some distance between us. I gazed at him from beneath my lashes as he made his way to the mini-bar and pulled out a little bottle of Jack Daniels, biting the cap off and chucking the empties into the little trash basket. “The longer we suppress it, the more it builds. That ache, the one in your shoulder where I claimed you, I have that same fucker in my chest. It throbs for you and you alone. I fucking hate it, and yeah, I hate you a little because of it.”

  “How long will it be like this?�
�� I frowned, lifting my eyes to meet his.

  “That’s the thing, kitty. It never ends,” he laughed coldly as he downed another bottle. “One of us would have to die, and sometimes the bond doesn’t end there. It’s not white magic binding us, it’s dark. Why do you think you were in a dark room with blood being taken from all of us? Lucifer could easily kill you, but there are a lot of bad things he would do to you before he did you in. We gave you our protection, but it wasn’t free. I’m not a fucking saint, and this cost me a lot, more than just the need to fuck you. That’s why you’re ours now, not just his. If I decide to act on these feelings, do you think he’d stop me?” He snickered coldly as his question danced on every nerve ending throughout my body.

  “And he agreed? Lucian would share me with you and the others?” My voice hitched as pain tugged at my heart and did little to hide the growing panic I felt.

  “They can’t claim you like we can. When we claim, it does more than just mark you. It claims your soul at the same time. Lucifer won’t fuck with us. You don’t have to worry about him anymore; you’re ours to protect now, kitty.” His voice was filled with lust and smoke.

  Spyder’s eyes began to glow the color of freshly polished rubies as a dark smile spread across his lips. I paused, gaping at him, swallowing hard repeatedly as I gathered my courage. Once they’d changed back to the icy blue, I picked up the crystal, forcing myself not to tremble as if his little display of otherworldliness hadn’t just shaken me as much as it had.

  “You obviously want me to know that you’re not like me, I get it. You also don’t want me to know what you are, which is fine. If you did, you’d tell me. I also know witches can’t mark other witches, because free will is huge and fucking with it is frowned upon. Breaking it curses you. All magic has boundaries, even dark magic. That means none of you are what you’re pretended to be. Yet he’s fully claimed me, and on top of that, he also agreed to breed with me. That means I will end up carrying his child sooner or later.” I paused, glaring suspiciously as I studied him.

  “Unless of course he can’t breed, in which case, his mark and yours will be removed, Spyder,” I sighed heavily as I shook my head. “I have a bloodline to continue, and I want to be a mother someday. In fact, with everything happening around us, I’ve realized how fragile life is, and every day I have it drummed into my head from the coven how important it is to carry on my line. I mean, look at us. We are in Portland hunting down a witch because the coven thinks she is in trouble and can be of help to us in some way. We live in very dangerous times.”

  “So if he can’t have kids, you’d just find another dick, just like that?” He drained another bottle and tossed it into the growing pile in the basket.

  “We are not a couple,” I replied softly. “He’s fucked me. It didn’t mean we changed our social media statuses to ‘in a relationship,’” I snorted as I made air quotes with my fingers. “Now, let’s take a special note of how he fucked me. That wasn’t normal sex, and nothing between us has ever been normal, has it? He says he did it because I was in danger, but that doesn’t mean he really wants to create a life with me and I wouldn’t force anyone into it, so the entire point is moot. Then add in the fact that he doesn’t really like me, and I don’t like him. That’s a mutual understanding, which makes my brain itch when I even think of having a child with him.”

  “He wants you and if he fucking offered, you can believe he means it,” he growled harshly, as if I had offended him. “He isn’t used to wanting anyone. One thing you should know, though, kitty: If I didn’t think he really wanted you, you’d be spread out on that bed with me, twelve inches deep in that naked little pussy. You think I’m enjoying fighting this? I don’t; I hate not just taking you as everything inside of me is screaming to do right now. Only reason I’m fighting this need to fuck you is because of Lucian, he’s my best friend. So do us all a favor, try talking to him before you consider tossing him aside for some limp dick that couldn’t begin to fucking scratch your itches. Because, let’s face it, no witch alive could soothe that fucking ache we created inside of you. You’re a dirty little girl, which is just the way we fucking like them. One who needs to be ruthlessly fucked, hard and often. Now fucking scry away, because I’m about done playing house with you,” he ordered and then hesitated, as if he was contemplating saying more and when he did, it was said gently. “And, kitty, if he can’t give you a powerful child, I sure as shit can.”

  “You would do that for him? Because I’m not sure we’d work out, Spyder,” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

  “I’d do anything for him. Anything he asked of me, even snap your pretty little neck.”

  I swallowed hard and regarded him through narrowed eyes as the crystal continued to move across the map. His spiky hair was black, but it moved as if it was trying to blend into the shadows he tended to stand in.

  “That would solve the little claiming issue we have.” I smiled as he gawked at me and then laughed outright, revealing a dimple. He looked younger smiling, and I realized I’d never seen him genuinely smile before. This man was a killer; it was etched in the lines of his face, and it shined from deep within him when he looked at you.

  The crystal stopped and slid down, and I glanced at the area. There was nothing there, no buildings, no nothing that was marked on the map other than a mass of caves and heavily wooded area, marked in the terrain.

  Spyder stepped forward, staring at the map. “Bloody hell,” he breathed out with a chuff as he lifted his liquid blue orbs from the map to mine. “Fuck that. We’re done here, get your shit. We’re going home.”

  “No, we are not! I can’t go home without her.” I squared my shoulders as I stared him down.

  “You think he’s going to let this go if I take you into that club?” he challenged.

  “What the hell kind of a club is it?” I dropped the bravado a tinge. After all, it was a club in the middle of nowhere, which said a lot about it. I wasn’t even sure how he knew it was a club since the map only showed a lot of caves, and rough terrain.

  “The kind where you would be my pretty little plaything, kitty,” he purred thickly. “The kind where they’d expect me to fuck you right there in front of everyone.” He moved close enough to me that I stepped back. “You think you could pretend to be my plaything for a night? Because that is the type of club that hellhole is.”

  I swallowed and nodded. My hand slipped into my pocket, knowing why my mother had given me the potent Siren’s hair; because if Spyder wasn’t willing to take me, and if I had to, I’d use it. She’d said whatever it took, and now I knew she hadn’t meant against others, only him.

  “I can be your fucking huckleberry if I have to be. Whatever it takes,” I whispered, hoping my voice wasn’t shaking as much as I was inside. “Just help me get her out of there.”

  “And if Lucian loses his shit over this?” he asked as his mouth lowered to mine. “Who takes the punishment?”

  “I will,” I said, lifting my mouth until my breath fanned over his lips before I allowed them to touch his, ever so slightly. “He likes to punish me anyway,” I whispered as I stepped away from him. “You can tell him I drugged you or spelled you to do as I said.”

  “You think he’d believe that?” He laughed, but it was hollow. “He’s going to be livid.” He moved into the bedroom and punched the code to the safe in. I followed him into the bedroom, holding the Siren’s hair in my fingers, ready to use it if I was forced to.

  He took a few things from the safe, closed it then turned around and moved towards me. He smirked, gazing down at me as I held his icy eyes and slowly held up a jeweled necklace as if he was challenging me.

  “Lift your hair and turn around,” he ordered, and I hesitated. I rotated slowly, giving him my back and lifting my hair as I stared his reflection in the mirror that faced us on the wall. He brought his hands around my body, touching my skin as his fingers rubbed my co
llarbone as he slid the necklace around my throat.

  No, it wasn’t a necklace; it was a collar for a submissive. I swallowed hard as I shivered at what it meant. Once it was clasped together, he didn’t move away. His lips touched the side of my neck, right above the jeweled band. I didn’t look away from him, knowing he was testing me. If I pulled away now, I failed to do as he said, I’d end up using the hair on him and his way was easier, less messy. “Grab your things; we have to go get you a dress.”

  “Right now?” I asked, staring in the mirror at the sparkling collar.

  “It’s only a collar, kitty. Every pretty pussycat should have one,” he said huskily as he strode away from me. “Just don’t let Lucian catch you wearing my collar.”

  “He hasn’t placed his on me, yet.”

  “Careful,” he warned. “I’m hanging by a thread, and you’re about to fucking cut it. Both of us would regret something like that happening, so let’s go before you end up on that bed, tied to it.”

  “Okay,” I stuttered breathlessly, scooting away from him and fleeing the bedroom to the elevator, where I pushed the button several times. “I don’t have much cash with me.” I glanced over my shoulder at him.

  “Don’t worry about it; we’re shopping with Lucian’s card.” He smirked at me as we waited for the doors to open. His hair seemed darker than before, black as it blended in with the shadows; even the small gauges in his ears seemed darker. I wondered what the hell he was, that he literally became a shadow.

  “That’s not something I really want to do,” I said, turning to enter the elevator as the doors opened.

  “Didn’t ask your permission, did I?”

  “How much money does he have?” I asked.

  “Enough.”

  Chapter 15