by C. R. Jane
He also seemed perfectly calm.
While me… I sweated with nerves and had to wipe my wet palms down my dress.
“Some people don’t understand the word ‘no,’”” he said, his voice a deliciously deep baritone that practically melted me in my seat.
It took me a while to respond as I hadn’t realized I sat there frozen, drowning in his presence. I was meant to hypnotize him, not the other way around. “Thanks for coming to my rescue,” I said, finally finding my words.
I batted my eyes, unable to control my reaction to this man. The fire in my chest felt primal and raw. It should be me having him at my beck and call, not the other way around.
There was something dark about him, something dangerously sexy. The warning in my head pushed forward. Except, I came here for one night to get away. To escape. To find the right man to help me forget the shitshow my life was about to turn into.
And this man was exactly what I was looking for.
“I’m Katrina,” I said, and reached over, placing a quick hand on his knee as I gave him the fake name I’d chosen for the night.
He glanced down at my touch then back up at me. “Keon. It means king of the kings apparently.” He chuckled, the sound like a tickle on my ears.
“Really. So, you’re from royalty?” I teased.
His hand slid over the top of mine, the heat from his touch zipped up my arm and flooded me instantaneously. Leaning closer, he whispered, “In a way.” That devilish grin returned, and I saw in those eyes of his my earlier confirmation that he wasn’t a human. Something else stirred inside him, but asking was out of the question. I wouldn’t out myself if he hadn’t sensed anything out of the ordinary with me yet.
Questions rippled over my mind, my upbringing pushing me to ask him about his life, his heritage, what exactly he was...anything be polite.
But I didn’t actually want to know any of those things. The less I knew, the better. He was my knight in shining armor for one night. Beyond that, I wouldn’t torture myself with any other details.
“What can I get you to drink?” he asked.
“I already have a drink,” I told him, before realizing that I’d already drained my drink dry.
“I don’t think I’m thirsty anymore,” I murmured as I leaned closer to him.
“Didn’t you just get here?” he responded.
I shrugged, struggling to concentrate as he put his hand on mine. The way he so easily claimed my touch and held me there in place affected me.
“I came for something else,” I whispered, my cheeks flushing with heat, but I held onto his gaze. This was my night to let loose, to be anyone but myself. Julian might be claiming me tomorrow, but there was something he wouldn’t be able to own tomorrow that I was going to hopefully give away to this stranger tonight.
I might never get this chance at freedom again.
The look on Keon’s handsome face softened. He leaned in closer, his mouth grazing over my cheek as he reached my ear. “I promise not to hurt you.”
His words left me breathless. There was no shock on his part. Did girls pick him up all the time? I wouldn’t be surprised, but I didn’t want to think about that today. None of that mattered.
Not when I was transfixed on his perfect lips that I wanted ravishing me. My breaths came fast and shallow. Everything about him made my body crave him, so I pushed myself off the stool. Bravery had me lifting my chin in his direction. Darkness flooded around him, people were everywhere, and the music picked up. But all I saw was this man. This stranger who captivated me.
He glanced at me, and we were at eye level. I couldn’t help but notice his large hands on my hips. Fire engulfed me. He drew me closer to him, and I stumbled to stand between his strong thighs.
Exhilaration thrummed through me.
His grip slid around my lower back. We stood chest to chest, plastered to each other. Our mouths inches away, his breath warm. All I could smell was him… Intoxicating, masculine, and woodsy.
“You may be tiny, but you have a fierceness about you that is incredibly beautiful,” he breathed.
I wanted to laugh out loud, because I felt anything but fierce. I was scared and desperate and controlling the only thing I had left under my power.
From the corner of my eyes, people were mingling, stealing glances my way, their eyes still seeming to flick over him.
When I turned back around, his mouth grazed mine, and he kissed me. I pressed myself closer to him, my hands splayed over his rock hard chest, and kissed him back. He plunged his tongue against the seam of my lips. I parted my lips and let him into my mouth, our tongues tangling. Shivers of excitement ran over my flesh, and a moan spilled from me.
My whole body lit up from the most incredible kiss I’d ever received. I floated on air, forgetting where I was… all I knew was that this gorgeous man was kissing me with a delicious hunger.
When he broke our kiss, I couldn’t stop smiling. “That was amazing.”
I felt stupid as soon as the words came out, but he didn’t seem to notice. He climbed to his feet, collecting my hand in his. “Come with me.”
I followed him through the crowds. Men I passed all glanced our way, hatred tossed at Keon, who they appeared to see just fine now. Jealousy radiated from the guys’ gazes. Keon didn’t notice. His hand around mine tightened as he rushed us to the rear of the bar. He palmed open the door and drew me into a stairwell. We were surrounded by nothing but white walls and a hum of noise from back in the bar. Before we even reached the steps, he wrenched me toward him.
I gasped as he pinned me to the wall, then turned me around to face away from him. My cheek pressed into the cold stone wall, my hands splayed on either side of me.
His chest pushed flush against my back, the hard bulge in his pants grinding up against me. His hands bunched up my skirt and found the bare cheeks of my ass. His hands were rough and confident.
My pulse thundered through my veins.
His breath grazed my ear. “Is this what you want?”
I gasped for air, my whole body burning up.
“Feeling indecisive?” he persisted, then hooked his thumbs into the elastic of my thong. I was vaguely aware of him pulling away from me and sliding my underwear down to my ankles.
“Step out of them, gorgeous,” he ordered, and I obliged, melting under his dominance.
I turned to see him stuffing my bunched up thong into his pocket. He was pressed up behind me, a strong arm looped around my waist, his mouth on my neck. “Fuck, you’re driving me crazy.”
With a hand, he forced me back around before gripping my hips. With his strong palm sliding to my back, he pushed me to bend forward, my ass in the air, the cool breeze caressing my exposed rear. With a foot, he nudged my ankles wider apart. “Spread your legs.”
My heart pounded so hard, my knees wobbled. We were going to do it here, like this? I hadn’t given this a complete think through or had any expectations. But did it matter? I wanted one thing from him, and he was about to deliver.
The rational part of my mind insisted I should suggest a different location, with me facing him. But there was nothing rational about tonight. Instead, a sharp edge of desire rippled through me, and I held back the moan pressing on my throat.
“Please,” I mouthed with desperation.
His hand slid over my ass and skated down to my inner thighs. I clasped my eyes shut, feeling every graze of his fingers. Every inch of movement brought me closer to the peak of arousal. I’d pleasured myself, but no one had ever touched me before.
A bent finger swept lower and brushed over the slick seam of my heat. My clit clenched in response, my nipples pebbled tight.
I was on fire, my hips pushing back and forth from the intoxicating need driving me insane. Goosebumps exploded over my flesh.
“I don’t think you’re ready for me,” a whisper brushed over my ear.
Stiffening, I glanced over my shoulder to his wide grin. Was he blind?
“Maybe we sho
uldn’t do this then,” I suggested and started to shift as if to move away from him.
In response, he drove one finger into me, plunging deep.
I arched, moaning loudly.
“No, my mistake. You’re ready,” he said with a teasing sarcasm.
If I wasn’t completely lost to him finger-fucking me, I might have thought of a smartass comment. Except, I barely breathed, barely stayed upright.
“Please don’t stop.” Never in a million years would I have guessed how delirious having a man touch me could leave me.
He released me, and I looked down between my legs to find him kneeling behind me, taking in all of me. “I’ve been thinking about licking this sweet, little pussy of yours since you walked into the bar.”
My cheeks flared with fire, but I wanted him, and his growl confirmed he needed me too.
His mouth covered my arousal, licking and sucking.
I flinched at first, from the softness, the tickly sensation, the suddenness. At the pleasure rolling through me like waves on a beach.
He laughed softly, then slid his tongue over my lips, tasting all of me, leaving nothing untouched. Giving me long generous licks, I was left moaning for more. In response, he started to feast on me. The sounds were divine. He pushed his tongue inside me, the sensation incredible. I writhed beneath him as he tongue-fucked me, shattering me into a million pieces with the arousal he awakened within me. I shut my eyes, never wanting to come down from this high.
His teeth nipped at my flesh, causing me to cry out in surprise.
Breaking away, he moaned with pleasure. “You’re fucking beautiful.” He stood up and drew me by an arm to join him. His mouth and chin glistened with my juices. He licked his lips and wasted no time in dragging me into his arms.
Our mouths clashed, our kiss fast and starved. I tasted myself on his tongue and loved the intensity, the scent that screamed sex.
His hands fell to his belt, pulling at the buckle, then unzipped his pants. My hand slid down, our kiss never breaking. I wrapped my fingers around his shaft, hard as steel, covered in silk.
A growl came from his chest. He pushed my hand away. “No, you’ll end this too fast,” he hissed. With his large hands grasping the back of my thighs, he lifted me off my feet. He guided my legs around his hips. I dragged the fabric of my dress out of our way and the tip of his cock found my entrance with ease.
My heart leapt into my throat.
“So, are you sure about this, gorgeous?”
“Yes,” I purred. “Fuck me already.”
A savage hunger flared over his face, an animalistic look like he might lose control. Without ceremony, he pushed into me. I gripped his shoulders, feeling him stretch me, widen me. I cried out and squirmed against him. He held me tight, pressing my back to the wall and drove full hilt into me. The pain merged with pleasure, both twisting into euphoria.
Meeting his green eyes, he groaned with desire. His hips thrust into me. I tilted my pelvis to meet every slap. A wicked grin spread over his mouth as he fucked me. As he unknowingly took away the one thing I had left. And I willingly gave it to this handsome stranger.
“Ahh.” I floated on clouds, my heart racing.
He pumped into me faster and faster, filling me. The pain of having him inside me was always there, but mixed with pleasure, the ache eased.
“Come for me, gorgeous. Come all over my cock, squeeze me with that tight pussy.”
My body responded to him, and I screamed as a climax ripped through my body. I pressed my face to the nest between his neck and shoulders to muffle my scream. In his arms, I convulsed while he kissed my face and neck.
“You are divine when you come.”
When I finally breathed steadily and opened my eyes, I couldn’t help but laugh. “That felt incredible.” It didn’t hurt anywhere near as much as I expected.
He held me close as he lowered me to my feet, slowly sliding out of me. Staring into his eyes, his gaze was brimming with lust, with frustration.
I lowered my skirt. “What about you? You didn’t come?”
“Tonight was just for you.” He pulled his pants up over his hips, then froze and stared down. I followed his gaze to the smear of blood on the tip of his still erect cock. He jerked his head up, his expression panic stricken. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a fucking virgin?” He buckled himself up quickly.
His words surprised me, and it never occurred to me he’d find out, or care. “B-because it was my decision. And it wasn’t a big deal.”
He dragged me closer and nuzzled my neck. “If I knew…”
“What would you have done? Walked away from me?”
“Yes! Or at least gotten to know you better, taken you to a bed instead of fucking you against a wall. You deserved more than a stairwell.”
Shaking my head, my chest already started to clench. “This was a one off. A night I’ll never forget. And it was exactly what I needed. You helped me more than you’ll ever know.”
“Who in the world are you?” He cupped my face, his breaths raging. Our faces were inches apart. He stared at me with a cocktail of curiosity and anguish.
I softened against him, craving to stay with him. To run away from my real life. But I was fooling myself. Julian would hunt me down, and he’d kill this angel.
“A shadow is all I am. That’s all you need to know.” I pried myself out of his warm arms, and a chill quickly replaced his embrace. The need to stay plagued me, it tore at my chest, except our destiny wasn’t meant to be.
My throat tightened, the ache between my thighs a delicious reminder of what he gave me. The relief was temporary, but he’d been exactly what I needed. There was no space for anything else in my messed up world.
Before I changed my mind and let emotions control me, I turned and ran toward the door and vanished from his life.
Chapter 4
Julian was even more terrifying than usual this morning...if that was even possible. His eyes were hungry as he stared at me, and I knew he was imagining everything he was going to do to my body.
I shifted nervously, and I could feel the ache between my thighs from last night's activity, and it made me smile.
Wasn't he going to be disappointed.
"I hope that last night gave you enough time to get over your attitude. It will be much more pleasurable for you if you do it willingly. I'm a skilled lover," he said confidently, even though I couldn't imagine being happy with him in bed.
I didn't know much about the subject, other than last night, but I figured that an important trait to being called good in bed was being unselfish. And I couldn't imagine Julian ever being that.
He walked toward me, and I tried not to shiver under his gaze. He stood in front of me and trailed a finger down my neck, across my shoulder, and then down my arm.
And all I wanted to do was to get in the shower with scalding hot water and try to erase his touch.
It was time. It wasn't going to be pleasant.
But I didn't regret anything.
"I feel like I've been waiting forever," he whispered, heat glimmering in his eyes as he savored the feel of me.
I got up close to him, so close that I'm sure he thought that I was going to kiss him.
"You're going to be waiting forever," I whispered, not taking my eyes away from him.
He froze, not understanding what I was saying at first. And I watched as he got it.
All of a sudden, I was against the wall, choking from his iron grip around my neck. He sniffed the air, inhaling my scent, then let out a choking growl. He knew for sure I spoke the truth.
"Who?" he snarled. And the way he said it was one that I knew I would savor for a long time. It was the sound of someone who had been gravely disappointed.
I couldn't talk on account of his hands being around my neck, and I certainly wasn’t going to give him Keon’s name from last night, so I remained silent.
Which just infuriated him more.
"Tell me," he growled, squeezing
my neck tighter.
At that moment, I wasn't sure if this was the end of me or not.
I had known that he wanted me, but I think I had underestimated just how much.
He finally realized that I wasn't able to talk and let go of me, pushing me to the ground as he pulled at his hair. He looked deranged, like he had lost all grip on reality.
It was spine-chilling. "I'm pretty sure I gave you warning that we were never going to happen," I said, admittedly unwisely.
"I'm going to kill whoever you were with last night. If you're lucky, I won't kill you. Who were you with?” he asked again, his eyes still wild.
“That's the great thing about the whole thing. I don't even know him," I said to him gleefully.
His eyes widened at the idea that I'd given my virginity to a stranger. I realized too late what was happening next, as his fist met my face.
There was an explosion of pain across my cheek. And then, everything was black.
When I came to, I was alone. But I could hear Julian's enraged voice as he yelled at someone. When I heard the soft placating voice who responded to him, I realized that he was yelling at my mother.
"How could you let this happen?" he hissed at her.
And I heard her pretty tears. The sound filled me with an enormous sense of satisfaction that my mother's negligence of me all my life had finally come back to haunt her, even if I was now considered an adult in both the human and paranormal realms, and she had no real right of control of me.
There was the sound of flesh hitting flesh, and then I heard her crumple to the ground as she erupted in sobs
Terrible or not, at the sound, a huge grin appeared on my face.
Hurried footsteps came into the room, and I quickly pretended that I was still out.
Obviously I didn't do a good job of it, because Julian's foot soon connected with my ribs.
