by Gina Shafer
She’s fucking beautiful.
She mirrors my motion, grabbing for my shirt and pulling it over my head. She leans over and runs her tongue against my flat nipple, and my toes curl when she gently bites down and I let out a growl.
The energy between us changes from want to need and we’re frantic for each other. I say a silent thank-you to anyone who may be listening that the bed in this room is still intact as I spin, taking a few steps with her in my hands before laying her on the mattress below me. I look down at her and take in her wild cerulean eyes; her brown hair splayed creates a stark contrast against the white of the blanket beneath her. My breath gets caught in my throat as I take in her beauty.
She sits up abruptly, grabbing at my belt buckle and shoving my jeans down to my knees. She’s so captivating that I don’t react, I just watch her confident movements, like this isn’t real. When my cock springs free, she grabs hold of it with one hand and runs her tongue across the tip. This sure feels real. I can hardly take the pleasure, and I don’t want this to be over before I’m ready, so I grab her wrist and softly push her body back until it connects with the bed again. I remove the rest of our clothes slowly, kissing her as I travel up to settle over her body.
When my dick hits the soft spot between her legs, she lifts her hips in eagerness, leaving a trail of her moisture along the tip.
Fuck.
“What about protection?” I whisper in between kisses, hating to ruin the moment.
“I don’t…I can’t…” she says, shutting her eyes tight and stilling. I immediately stop, and shift my weight so that I’m lying to the side of her.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I may have left out a piece of the story from when my grandmother was killed…” Her eyes open slowly and lock with mine. I see the guilt flash across her face. What does she have to feel guilty about? Not telling me? She shouldn’t.
“What happened?” I ask, trailing my fingers along her soft cheek. She leans into my touch before closing her eyes again and opening her mouth to speak.
“The demon that came with my mother… he… well, he stabbed me too. Right here.” She runs her fingers over a thin scar running horizontal across her abdomen.
“I almost bled out while I watched them. I used my magic to get away, and then I ran. Marcel found me and took me in. I stayed in the Sicarri infirmary for weeks, but I was told that I would never be able to have my own children.” I shut my eyes as I wait to speak for two reasons. I want to make sure she’s finished with her story, yes… but more importantly, I give myself a few seconds to control the anger that suddenly rages through my blood.
“I understand if you don’t… want to… you know. After what I just told you,” she says meekly.
My eyes pop open, and I frown. I’ve never heard Karina be anything other than confident, and the insecurity I hear in her voice kills me. What the hell is she talking about? She couldn’t possibly mean that I don’t find her attractive after hearing what happened to her as a young girl…
Just as she moves to sit up, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her beneath me once more. Her eyes are wide as she takes in my figure above her.
“If you think for one second that I don’t still want to fuck you into next week, well… you’re wrong,” I say.
“But…” she says, though she doesn’t have a chance to finish because I bend down to kiss her sweetly.
“I would go back and change everything that happened to you. I would kill anyone that hurt you. I was quiet because I was so angry that you had to go through that. I’m sorry.” My words are broken only by the kisses I trail across her neck. When she moans softly, I know I’ve succeeded in bringing her back into the moment. She’s a beautiful, sexy, powerful woman, and I hate to see her forget it.
She looks down at the same time I do, watching as I press the tip of myself into her entrance. When her eyes flash up to meet mine, I see a bit of reluctance in them and I stop again, trembling as I hold myself over her.
“It’s okay if you want to stop,” I say, giving her an out if she needs one. She pulls her lip against her teeth and I have to fight myself not to push my cock into her. She’s so damn sexy, so gorgeous beneath me.
“It’s just… It’s been a long time.” she says sheepishly and keeps her eyes trained to the side.
I smirk at her, coming up with a plan. Part of me is elated that she doesn’t want to end this moment, but I know that she needs a little reassurance, so I give it. I grasp her chin and pull her face until her eyes meet mine at the same time I pull the tip of my cock from her entrance only to replace it with the middle finger of my other hand.
When she realizes what I’m doing, she sighs and lets her head fall back softly against the mattress. I feel her tighten around my finger, squeezing me, pulling me farther into her center. I move my thumb to the bud at the top of her pussy and trail slow circles around the bundle of nerves there. Her hips buck off the mattress at my touch and I know she’s already close. I quicken the pace of my thumb and slip another finger into her velvet folds. She moans deep and my mouth waters at the thought of kissing her entire body. Her pussy is tight and hot and though I can’t wait to slip myself inside of her, I could do this forever. I feel her getting closer, her muscles quaking around my fingers.
“Wait!” she says as her eyes pop open. My brow furrows but my hand stops and slides from her core.
“I don’t want to come without you.” She smiles, reaching up to hook her fingers around my neck. She pulls me over her, and my cock aligns again with her warmth. A deep groan rumbles from my chest and she reaches between us, wrapping her hand around my hardness and guiding it into her center. I feel her open for me, a sigh escaping her plump lips. I push in slowly, dropping my head into the crook of her neck, abusing the skin there with my kisses. Once I’m inside her, reaching the hilt, I lift my head and smile at her beautiful face.
“See, we fit perfect,” I say, and she returns my smile, but hers has a mischievous hint to it. She moves her hands down my back and down until she grips my ass in handfuls and I begin to move. I drive into her over and over again, losing myself in the sensation and the sounds of her pleasure. She moans softly but hungrily, urging me to move faster, harder, until I feel the familiar coil deep within. I pull by head back and lick my thumb before placing it over her clit, rubbing in circles until I feel her body clench tight around mine and she screams my name. I release inside her, feeling the climax from the tips of my toes, and I fight to keep my eyes open, watching her watch me the entire time.
I fall against her, still trying to keep my weight from crushing her beneath me. I’m not sure how long we lie here, with me softening inside her, but eventually she wiggles and I move to the side.
“I think it’s about time we head back,” she says, pulling away from me and standing. She begins to move around the room, grabbing the pieces of her clothes. Her voice is small and I’m worried I may have hurt her.
“Karina?” I say her name, but she doesn’t turn to face me. What the hell?
“What’s the matter? Talk to me,” I beg her. I stand, not even caring that I’m stark naked, and wrap my arms around her body. She’s only managed to throw on her top, so I feel her bare legs against mine and my cock stirs at the feel of her skin.
“Elijah…” She whispers my name and spins around to look at me. She may as well have fucking shouted at the top of her lungs, because at this point I could pick out even the smallest of her breaths from a crowded room. I’m so attuned to her.
“I just… We’ve been in here so long, and we just… we had sex and all this awful shit just happened. I feel guilty,” she admits.
My stomach drops.
I hadn’t even thought of where we were, or if it was a good time to do this. I had only been thinking of the beautiful girl I was making love to.
“Karina… don’t. There’s nothing wrong with what we just did. Okay? No one here would judge us,” I tell her, and at the same time I’m trying to
listen to my own words. I understand where her guilt comes from.
“I know, I guess I just feel bad. All of this destruction surrounding us, how do we deserve to be so happy?” she asks. She’s beating herself up mentally; I know it. I don’t want her to. Not only because she doesn’t deserve it, but because this isn’t the last time I plan on having her beneath me. My reasons are selfish.
“Listen, you and I don’t have to feel guilty for enjoying each other. We’ve both been through so much. If anyone knows how quickly things can turn to shit, it’s us. I plan on taking you whenever and wherever I can.” She blushes at my last words, and I feel myself growing harder from looking at the pink in her cheeks.
“As much as I want to do that right now, we better get going. The others will probably be looking for us soon. We’re supposed to be heading back to the house at nightfall,” I say regrettably and peel my body off of hers so that we can get dressed.
When I turn and cross the room to pick up my clothes, I notice a hint of color peeking out from the debris on the floor in the corner of the room. I squint to try to make out the shape. It’s small. And rectangle. Soft.
Purple.
I walk toward the shape, and bend to pull it from the pile of bricks and cement cluttered on top of it.
Her pillow.
I remember this pillow. It was the only hint of color in her dark room here. Her room must have been around here somewhere; I hadn’t even noticed where we were.
I wipe the dust and small pieces of debris off the pillow with my palm, getting most of it off. I tuck the pillow close to me and turn to face the woman who has completely shaken my world.
“For you,” I say and I hold my arm out, clutching the purple fluff.
Karina looks at the pillow and then to me, then once more back to the pillow before she snakes her hand out and strikes at the purple material, bringing it close to her chest.
“It was my grandma’s. I couldn’t find it before we left,” she says, and understanding dawns on me. Of course this pillow would be so important to her.
I nod at her, crossing the distance between us, and give her a peck on the temple before finishing dressing. I don’t think twice about linking her hand with mine as we exit the room in search of the others.
“Tell me about it.” Karina speaks softly into the darkness surrounding us. I have to fight my body so that I don’t jump at the sound of her voice. It’s been weeks since we’ve been back from the warehouse, and I’ve tried my best to keep my nightmares from her while we’ve been sharing a bed. They are my burden to bear, not hers. I must have been louder than I normally am because she’s awake, and even through the darkness, I know she’s looking for me.
“There’s not much to tell.” I shift my body away from hers. I’m already trying to put up a shield and I know she’ll see right through it. I never shared these dreams with Vara, or Soren. I never shared them anywhere but the dark pages of my journal. Putting the deepest parts of myself out on display and watching Karina pick through them isn’t something that sounds appealing to me.
“Elijah...” Karina sighs and pauses for a moment. I hear her swallow once, loud but no too loud. She must be having trouble deciding what she’s about to say next. I give her time, because I’m curious. I’m sure she won’t be saying anything I’ll be happy to hear. “I’ve heard you every night,” she says, and I catch the hint of embarrassment in her voice. Any chance that she could be feeling something negative has me talking.
“They’re just dreams, Karina. And there’s nothing to be done about them. I grew up with the Sicarri, and I’ve seen some shit I’d rather forget.” I finally answer her question. I’m sure my answer isn’t enough, but I’m hoping it will tide her over for a while.
“If they’re just dreams, why do you scream?” she asks, and my skin feels red hot, like I’ve been standing too close to the sun for too long.
“Karina... I don’t want to fill your head with my issues,” I say, because it’s true. She’s good and she deserves better.
“You remember the story about my grandma?” I nod in the dark, but I remember she can’t see me so I tell her that I do.
“You’re not the only one who’s been to dark places. I tracked them both down when I grew up, Elijah. My mother and the demon she was with when they murdered my grandma… when they took the life I always wanted from me. I ripped them apart and I was happy doing it. I got my vengeance and I too have seen things I wouldn’t wish on anyone. You and me, we aren’t so different. Share your crazy with me.” She pleads toward the end.
I stay silent, mostly because I see her point. It’s fucking terrifying opening myself up to her after what I’ve been through. Like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, knowing I should jump but not wanting to let go. But I would feel like a coward if I didn’t. She told me everything about her, and what happened to her. She told me about the darkest parts of her. She was brave. I should be too. Karina has to know how difficult this is, bearing it all, because she stays patient and waits for me to speak. After a while, I finally do. I open my mouth to speak and I feel myself take the leap when the words escape my lips.
“I dream about a fire mostly,” I begin. “I’ve watched and felt myself burn countless times. I’ve felt the agony and despair wash over me and I’ve felt myself die. Demons are always there, how I remember them. Shadow-walkers. They laugh while I burn.”
She’s quiet, but she reaches across the dark distance and runs her hand lightly over my chest. I clear my throat and continue.
“I’ve seen the people I love burn, and that’s what scares me the most,” I say, my voice raspy at the last word. The one thing in the world that I couldn’t bear is the suffering of my loved ones. My subconscious knows that, and preys on that weakness when I’m defenseless. I’ve never understood why my brain is against me, trying to break me down in my sleep.
“Elijah, you don’t have to be afraid. Everyone you love is more than capable of defending themselves. Besides, we all die eventually, and personally, I can’t wait to see if beyond is better than this demon-infested place.” Her words are comforting, but my fear still holds tight inside me. I can’t cut the strings. I won’t cut the strings.
“And if you never stop having these nightmares, well... then I’ll never stop sleeping next to you. I’ll never stop being here to soothe the flames in your dreams,” she vows. I move across the distance so that my body is flush with hers.
Her promise sets something off inside me. She is everything, and when our lips touch, I ache to feel more of her, kiss her deeper, feel her skin. I reach down for the end of her sleep shirt and lift as my fingers curl around the hem. I tug it over her head in one motion, loving the soft moan that escapes her lips when the cool air hits her nipples.
I hear a soft knock on the door and bite back a growl I feel bubbling its way out of my chest. Karina laughs softly, only causing my dick to grow harder. I love that sound. I smile at her through the dark before I drag myself off the bed and toward the door. I adjust myself, tucking my hardness back into my sweatpants. When I open the door, I’m surprised to see Scarlett standing in the doorway, her eyes red.
“Is it okay if I steal Karina for a moment?” she asks, trying to disguise the hitch in her voice, but failing miserably. I open my mouth to speak, but the woman I left on the bed interrupts me. She must have thrown her shirt on because I feel disappointed when I don’t see the swell of her bare breasts.
“Are you okay?” Karina rushes up from behind me and wraps her arms around Scarlett. The move surprises me and I grow warm when I see her so eager to take care of other people.
“I’ll be back, Elijah,” she says when Scarlett doesn’t answer, and I can see the worry set deep in her brow through the moonlight creeping in through the windows.
She doesn’t come back all night, and it does little to settle the jagged edge I already feel scraping inside me.
“You have anything yet, Karina?” I know that my question will be met with an eye
roll, but I ask anyway. During the two weeks we’ve been back at this house, there hasn’t been a single blip on the demon radar.
It was difficult during the first few days, everyone dealing with their losses in different ways, but right now everyone is pretty much on the same page again. Our anguish has melded with anger, and sitting around while we wait for a lead is agonizing.
As predicted, Karina rolls her eyes in answer to my question. It’s early morning and she has been hard at work for hours already. I don’t think she ever got back to sleep last night. She must be exhausted.
“No, Elijah. You’ll be the first to know when something comes up,” she chides. I’m satisfied for now, but we both know it won’t be for long. She puts up with my persistence fairly well, considering the position she’s in. This is hard for her too, I remind myself. Shit. I’m an asshole.
“Thank you, Karina,” I say. I leave any trace of condescension from my tone in the hopes that it will appease her. I really am grateful for her hard work, though she probably has no idea. I should tell her that more than I have, but then a though pops into my mind.
“What was all that stuff with Scarlett about last night?” I ask her. I try to keep the worry from my voice, along with the slight hurt that she never came back to the room.
“I’m sorry about that, Elijah. Scarlett asked me not to say anything. She’s having some issues with Micha. I spent the rest of the night talking with her, and when the sun rose, I just went straight to work,” she explains. At the last few words, she pulls her face from her computer and smiles at me, no doubt wanting to ease my worry.
Of course she could see through the façade I was putting on. Of course she would know I was worried. I want to ask her more about Scarlett, about the problems they’re having, but I don’t want to stick my head into business that isn’t mine. They’ll share when they’re ready, so for right now, I set out to find Soren. I plan on finally finding out how his training has been going with Lincoln. It’s been sort of a touchy subject around here and I’ve been left in the dark more often than not. I get the sense that it’s extremely difficult for Soren, and he’s having trouble with that. I know that as of now, he can merge with an unburnt for about thirty seconds, no longer. After that he’s jolted back into his body and both are left unharmed, which is not the norm for most demons. That part is painful, and Soren is usually out of commission for a few hours once he’s finished with training for the day. Still, I commend him for trying. Though the thought of my son having any sort of demon abilities makes me a little uneasy, part of me knows how much his in with the demons could help us when it comes to taking down Abe.
