by Grey, T. A.
Abby bit on her fingernails, tearing them as anxiety built.
Then suddenly something completely different happened. Aidan said something; it was too soft and faraway for her to hear, but all the fighting stopped.
Huh?
The two demons and Aidan shifted, turning towards Alrik. Abby stood, her eyes flaring at what she saw. Those cheating bastards!
All three turned on Alrik and jumped. She screamed as he went down to the ground, the floor shaking with a boom. She could hardly see what was happening through the flurry of fists, jabbed knees, and head-butts. She just saw it was all happening to Alrik.
Before she knew what she was about, she ran down the stairs and flew to the mass of fighting men. The sound of flesh hitting flesh grew louder. She heard shouts coming at her and knew they’d try to stop her, but she couldn’t stop. They were killing him.
Heart in her throat, she ran as hard as she could. Without any real plan, she reached the group. Aidan must have sensed her, or heard one of the demon’s yell something for he pulled back. Little did he know he just made himself a target. Abby jumped.
His arms came around her in a protective way to shield her from hitting the floor, which meant he landed on bottom. Good. She wouldn’t be surprised if her eyes glowed red right now with how angry she was. She was pissed the fuck off.
They were lousy, no good cheaters!
She sat on Aidan chest and leaned down low to hiss in his face. His eyes darted to her mouth. He didn’t look scared. He looked...pleased. She planned to rectify that in two seconds.
With a quick move, she grabbed his long hair in her hand and slammed his head back down. Then she did it again and again. She put every ounce of strength inside her into it and when she pulled back, breathing hard, she saw his eyes closed but the pulse still beating at his neck. Unconscious, but not dead.
Her head slowly turned to her left. Alrik lay on the ground, clenching his ribs and looking like he was fighting the urge to curl into a ball. His face was busted from his eyes to his nose to his mouth. Yet, she swore she saw his lips lifting into a smile.
The two other demons stood now looking warily between her and Aidan.
“Get her off the field so we can finish this,” her next target said. He planted his foot on Alrik’s neck and pushed hard. She heard Alrik’s gasps for air a second before he pressed his hand back against the foot. Abby shook with rage. She felt close to how Carrie felt in that Stephen King movie after pig’s blood had dropped on her. She’d reached the last straw.
All at once she called her magic. Her skin warmed, fingertips turned hot, and she swiped one hand at the two demons towering over her demon. They flew back as if a missile hurled into them.
She didn’t stop there. Demons charged in after her but she could have been floating above them on a cloud with how much power surged inside her. There was no trying to conjure her magic or learn how to utilize it. She just did it.
Her hands pressed out in a ‘stop’ motion and all the demons, every single one of them, froze in mid-step. She didn’t realize that what she’d just done was incredible and took so much power to do. All she focused on was getting Alrik and her out of here.
She held her hand out to Alrik and he looked at her with an odd look on his face. Still, he took her hand but wouldn’t let her pull him up. Instead, he jumped up and somehow managed not to sway. His knees started to buckle so she wrapped one arm around his waist to help steady him. He looked at her with that strange look again...almost like she was the crazy one. As if.
Then, without further ado, she and Alrik walked out of the arena with her power keeping the men in check. She didn’t even look back. She had everything she wanted right in her arms--a crazy ass demon who wanted her to commit murder. It wasn’t normal, it might not even be right, but she wanted him something fierce.
In the great hall, she let Alrik go so he could grab a sack of supplies. With a harsh groan, he slung the bag over his back, grabbed his two swords lying in a pile of weapons, and then grabbed her hand. Warmth swelled inside her, but this time not from the magic still coursing through her body like wine.
Hand in hand, they walked out of there.
Abby couldn’t hide the goofy smile on her face. Looking up at Alrik, she blasted him with that happy smile. He blinked and she swore his lips twitched though she couldn’t be sure with all the swelling and blood caked around his mouth.
“I win this round.”
This time she couldn’t mistake the sound of his laughter; deep, low, and sexy. She laughed with him and together they left the castle and headed south once more.
Chapter Thirteen
“Let’s stop here for the night.”
Alrik hid his pained wince by turning his head to the side. He didn’t want to appear weak to her. His body felt like it’d been pummeled with hammers. It took every bit of his willpower not to collapse to the ground and pass out. But he couldn’t do that. She’d done the impossible back in the rogue demons’ castle and gotten them out of there. The magical power she’d shown was incredible. For the first time since stealing her, he finally knew she could kill his mother if she harnessed her power. If anyone could do it, it was the human witch Abbigail.
“Here, sit down,” she said, her face drawn in worry.
He shot a dark look at her command but she only rolled her eyes. If she thought that helping them out of a tight spot one time would put her in charge she was sorely mistaken. Although, something did change back there. Maybe it’d been between them the whole time, but when she stood up for him with her eyes glowing, her body ready to fight, he’d felt...good. He’d even felt proud of her.
“Don’t think just because you helped out back there that you can order me around, Abbigail.”
She got in his face or tried to the best she could considering he had at least a foot of height on her. Suddenly her hands shot up to his hair and she brought his face down. So surprised was he at the action that he didn’t pull back. He just stood there stunned waiting to see what she would do. Her gaze softened searching over his face, and then she leaned in, wrapping her body against his with a sigh.
The ache in his chest became too much to bear. Not even he had the strength to turn away from her when she was in his arms.
Alrik leaned down and crushed his lips against hers. The pressure hurt his lips but he couldn’t have passed up the moment for anything in the world.
His heart felt too tight in his chest as if it were expanding. Why didn’t she pull away? He’d kissed her once before but he’d hardly left her any choice. Besides, she had been so surprised by the first kiss that she just accepted it. But not now; now she knew better and still her wet tongue darted out to lick at his lips. He’d seen the desire in her eyes before. She actually wanted him.
Her lips were soft and warm beneath his. A breathy sigh fell across his lips as she licked her tongue across his bottom lip.
Even as his cock leaped to attention, he pulled back suddenly, his hand wiping his mouth. This couldn’t happen for too many reasons to count.
She watched the motion and hurt flashed in her eyes. “You don’t have to wipe my kiss off you! I’m not that disgusting.” She turned around and stalked away.
He took a step towards her then stopped himself. He started to call her back and explain himself but didn’t. He ended the kiss because he’d been sitting in a dungeon so he surely smelled foul, and blood still covered his mouth where his lips had cracked from the beating. He didn’t need her licking at that filth.
But he said none of those things. “I’ll be at the lake.”
She went deeper into the woods until he lost sight of her. Funny but he didn’t worry at all that she’d try to leave him, not after she’d rescued him. They had a bond now, and it wouldn’t easily break. Still, his gut tightened until he heard her reply.
“Fine!” came the snappy retort.
Alrik chuckled then grabbed his ribs as they jostled with the action. He hadn’t told her but they didn�
�t travel as far south as he’d have liked to. If Aidan and the other rogues wanted to, they could probably reach them within a matter of hours. But he’d needed to stop before he fell on his face.
They’d managed to find an open path of grass with tall vibrant green trees scattered on either side. Down the path over boulders and loose rocks rested a dark lake. He couldn’t remember the name of this lake or if it was a fallout from Deco lake. It’d been too long since he had a geography lesson.
Down at the water he pulled off his shirt. He moved slowly because as he lifted his arms his muscles tightened, burning. He panted at the pain. The wind blew, splashing ankle-high waves into the rocky shore. He didn’t sit down to pull off his boots because he wasn’t quite sure he’d be able to get back up if he did. So, he toed them off then dropped his pants. They needed to be washed but they’d have to wait for another day. His energy level was running on fumes as it was. Every time he closed his eyes it became harder and harder to open them again. He left the clothes and slowly treaded into the water.
The frigid temperature hit him like a punch to the gut. His whole body tensed as goose bumps popped up over his skin. Cupping the cool water, he washed idly, his body performing the motions out of practice, but his mind was somewhere else. Or, he should say, on someone else.
Abbigail. His Abbigail.
She was his, too. She could have tried to escape or coax Aidan or one of his men for help, or even told them that he’d stolen her from her home. Yet she’d kept silent. Not a word of his doing or their plans had been whispered about.
He’d seen the way the men had looked at her. If he had been free he would have slaughtered every single one of them for looking at her like that...like they wanted between her legs. Only one man would be moving between her thighs.
And soon.
Shit. Had he really just decided that?
Damn right, his body answered. He would have her…soon.
Alrik ducked under the water and floated below letting the cold water cool his boiling blood. He would be the only one. Yes, his cock filled with blood, engorging into a hard rod even in the cold water. If he closed his eyes and concentrated hard enough he could almost feel her lips against his, imagine what she’d feel like wrapped around his cock—wet and tight—a hungry little muscle for him to plunder. He shivered at the thought. He wanted her hands and legs clinging to him, holding on to him as he sent her screaming his name in passion.
Alrik dove back to the surface and sucked in a harsh breath. His cock throbbed. With a groan, he wrapped a fist around it. Damn, he was hard as stone. He trailed his hand up and down the hard rod but the pleasure wasn’t there at his own hand. If it were her hand...that’d be a different story.
His mind filled with erotic images: Abbigail kneeling before him with her mouth sucking his cock, her legs spread wide with his head buried in her pussy, and her curvy body riding his cock with her luscious breasts swaying in his face.
His hand moved up and down his shaft, breath stuttering from his lips before he realized what he was doing.
“Alrik?”
He spun around guiltily, his hands thrown up in the air at the soft voice. Slowly, his arms lowered back down but his jaw was much slower to close.
Abbigail stood naked at the water’s edge, water lapping at her small feet. Her breasts were bare, full with small delicious pink nipples he wanted to suck on. Her waist dipped in then flared out wide to a set of hips meant for a man to hold. The light caressed her smooth legs making them shine. Her legs were strong but not overly muscular or long.
Abbigail was a petite thing. A curvaceous woman meant to be held as he fucked her. His cock throbbed, blood pumping hard to the organ. He must tread carefully here for he would surely blow it if he kept gazing at her nakedness.
“What are you doing?” he asked, voice dry.
She swiped hair back from her face, gave a tentative smile, and then came forward.
The water reached her knees before she squealed and jumped two steps back. “It’s so cold!”
It was but if she thought to get in here with him while he had an erection the size of a tower that had no intention of going away, then he needed to keep her out. “It only gets colder as you get in. Go back to the camp, Abbigail.” Even to his own ears his voice sounded huskier. If she noticed it, she didn’t say so.
She stood straight at his words, a look in her eyes...a look with strength and desire floating under the surface. She took a deep breath and slowly waded in...towards him.
He flexed his abs in response. The pain it sent to his ribs did nothing to weaken his erection. His gaze fell from her face to her soft breasts glistening, bobbing in the water. His lips parted at the sight; his mouth suddenly dry as dirt.
“What are you doing, Abbigail?”
She was only a few feet away. He could see her shoulders trembling. Damn. She was cold. He didn’t like that. Before he thought twice about it or tried to deny what he wanted, he reached forward and pulled her into his body. Heat flared between them creating a unique polarizing sensation in the water from hot where their bodies touched and cold where the water licked at them.
Abbigail gasped and as quick as a snake wrapped her arm around his neck pulling herself closer. They buoyed in the water, legs slowly kicking to keep afloat. She had yet to discover his erection but it was only a matter of time. If she touched him...he didn’t know if he’d be able to not push himself inside of her, test her tightness, and see how wet he could make her. She was naked, her pussy bare and close, and within reach. It was almost too much. Alrik bit hard on the inside of his cheek to distract himself.
“I wanted to make sure you didn’t need any help. And, I brought the soap.” She held up the yellow bar he’d managed not to see before. He watched her with wary eyes. She reached behind him to lather her hands then started rubbing her fingers in his hair. Her touch was gentle, seductive. When she reached his scalp, his cock pulsed. Each gentle tug in his hair felt like a stroke of his cock.
“You don’t know what you’re doing, Abbigail,” he warned.
“I think I do,” she whispered, her voice so close to his lips.
Their eyes met and locked together. With his eyes he tried to tell her that if she wanted to back out now was the time. After he touched her, really touched her, he wouldn’t be able to stop.
With her fingers moving so gently through his hair, washing him, and her eyes gazing at him with such gentleness, as if she cared, something changed. A wall dropped around his heart. It couldn’t be a good thing because the wall he’d erected had only dropped once and the person who it dropped for was now dead because of him. Still, he felt that wall shifting, moving, and dropping.
He snaked his arms around her waist, pulled her breasts into his chest. The soft globes flattened against him and hard peaks rubbed against him. For some reason, he felt the urge to tell her the truth. He didn’t want their last angry words to be hanging between them.
The words spilled from him. “I wasn’t wiping your taste from my lips.”
Her hands stilled in his hair. “What?” He heard the passion, thick and husky, in her voice.
“I was afraid you’d taste the blood on me. I don’t want you to taste that.”
Her eyes widened with a feminine softness, and then she rubbed her wet naked thigh on the outside of his.
He couldn’t wait anymore.
* * *
Nothing had ever felt more right. There were times in life where Abbigail had been in just the right situation to have something good happen to her, and when that something good happened, a euphoric giddiness filled her. She could hardly stop smiling. Right now in Alrik’s arms, she felt that same feeling.
Alrik wasn’t just some coincidental event. He was a flesh and blood demon who was trying so very hard to resist her. She could see the war in his eyes, the way his gaze darted to the shoreline and around them as if trying to search for a reason to get away from her. He wanted her. He wanted her as badly as she did h
im. She was done fighting it.
At first, it’d been anger that made her stomp down to the riverfront. She was gonna give him a little piece of her mind, but when she’d watched him, naked, vulnerable and wearing a grimace on his beautiful mouth from the pain she knew she couldn’t do it. No way, it didn’t feel right. She knew exactly what she did want to do.
She dropped her clothes among his on the ground then, and before she knew it she was in his arms with his hard chest pressed tightly against hers. She shivered at the touch. Her nipples took in every single touch of them and shot spikes of pleasure to her needy center. She wanted to rub her chest against him to alleviate the burning wet, pulsating heat inside her. Her hands were soapy, entwined in the soft strands of his hair.
“You’ve made your decision, Abbigail. There is no taking it back.”
Her heart stuttered at his words. She’d been playing it so casual as if she got naked in front of men all the time and just threw herself at them. When in fact her heart raced wildly and her body shook with need. He was so much bigger up close and naked. The man had a powerful, strong body. A warrior’s body that needed a woman’s touch. And she was going to give him what he needed.
She licked her dry lips a second before he groaned and crushed his mouth onto hers.
Yes, yes! she wanted to scream.
His kiss drove her mad. His kiss consumed her body and mind. Her hands tangled in his hair to keep him from moving. Their lips meshed and when his tongue slid along her lips, she parted them so he could enter. The kiss turned consuming, their breaths mingling, tongues exploring tastes. His was masculine, heady...sexy.
They fought for the kiss, heads turning left then right to get the better angle. He was trying to outmatch her, but she refused to roll over for him. Well, unless he asked her too.
Their tongues twined, wet lips fusing and sucking. A deep groan growled from his chest and reverberated all the way down her spine. She squirmed in his arms needing more. The kiss wasn’t enough. His touch made her wet and ache to have him between her thighs. She needed to be touched.
