Her Dark Defenders: Breath of Air (The Darkness of Light Book 1)

by Nala Kingsley

  Without warning, Solo continued to walk, stepping into the water, and then he tossed me. I landed and gliding along, swimming easily. My gown fanned out around me, and before I could reach the surface, Solo grabbed me low around my hips, forcing my dress to remain away from me. Two powerful kicks of his legs and we broke the surface.

  “Solo!” I shrieked as he carried me to the opposite embankment.

  He gently laid me down and pushed up my dress. My clothes were soaked, and he eased down my panties.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, trying to move my skirt to the side so I could watch.

  “You clearly haven’t experienced this yet. If you do not like or wish for me to stop, tell me.”

  “And you’ll respect my wishes?”

  “I’ll do my damnedest,” he groaned, his hand reaching down to adjust his erection.

  Almost of their own accord, my legs shifted and pushed my panties off entirely before spreading wide. Solo placed them on his shoulders, winked at me, and began to leave a trail of kisses on the inside of my upper thighs. I shivered with delight as he blew hot breath on my heated core.

  “Do you want this?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I moaned, already turned on.

  His thick fingers trailed against my folds as I had earlier.

  “You’re so wet,” he murmured.

  And then his mouth and tongue attacked my clit. I squealed at the most pleasurable assault my body had ever faced. I squeezed my knees together to keep him locked there, and as his tong flicks grew faster, I gripped his messy hair, thrusting against his mouth, needing more, wanting more, just a little more…

  Solo’s hands gripped my ass, and a finger shifted toward my ass. He rubbed against that opening, and I was out of my mind, so close, nearly there, ready to orgasm but not quite there.

  His fingertip eased into my asshole. At the same time, he pushed two fingers into my vagina. Combined with his tongue loving my clit, and I came so hard I saw stars.

  “Solo!”

  My legs went limp, and I released his hair, but he kept on licking, kept on fingering me, the finger up my ass slowly entering farther and farther. I rocked against him, against his mouth, against his fingers. The experience of having something up my rump was so foreign, but it also made me feel full, and that was so delicious, unlike any I had ever experienced before.

  But nothing compared to his tongue. Solo knew just how much pressure to use, and another orgasm built even faster than the first.

  “Solo!”

  Chuckling, he pulled back. Around his lips and chin was a thin layer of sheen. My juices. He never looked hotter.

  I lay there, in a peaceful daze, loving how sore my body was, enjoying the aftermath of a… of a love-making session.

  But here I was again, being a tease, this time with Solo. I had feelings for them all, and that wasn't fair, but I also shouldn't be the only one to receive pleasure.

  I sat up, too fast, and I grew dizzy.

  “Whoa,” I murmured, holding my head.

  “Are you all right?” Solo asked.

  How could he go from downright sexy in an almost dominating fashion to so utterly charming and concerned in an instant?

  “I’m quite all right.” My gaze traveled down his body. His shirt was now glued to his chest, and I could see the ridges of his abs. Down below his belt, something else caught my attention.

  “Not now, Violet,” he murmured.

  “But—”

  “You need to recover.”

  “But—”

  “You look like you’re ready to faint.”

  “I’m fine,” I assured him.

  “That you are, my dear, and in more ways than one.”

  Again, he swept me into his arms, and he carried me across the pond to the other side. This time, he placed me onto the unicorn, and we walked along easily, talking and laughing. It wasn’t until we arrived back at the cottage that I recalled his original intention had been to bring me back to the castle or at least to look upon it. We had become distracted, though, and now, I was tired and famished. I was in danger of overdoing things, but perhaps tomorrow, I could find a way to see the fairies for myself.

  While I might be enjoying my time with the men, I would not forget who I had left behind. Even though I was in hiding, I remained the Fairy Queen.

  Chapter 14

  A large spread of all kinds of fruits and berries awaited me. They weren’t overly filling, but I did not wish to have an overly full stomach to sleep on. Once I ate my fill, Aman guided me back to my bed.

  By the time I had returned, my dress had dried, for which I was grateful. I didn’t wish for the others to know what Solo and I had been up to, a thought that gave me pause. I was doing all of them a disservice by toying with them. That wasn’t my intent, though, and yet I was not preventing myself from teasing, flirting, and now, so much more.

  Aman shut the door behind him, and he immediately lifted the hem of my skirt. He gave a low whistle, and it was only now that I realized neither Solo nor I had put my panties back on.

  “Someone is ready to be taken to bed,” Aman said with a wicked glint in his eyes.

  Despite his flirting, he helped me into another dress. This one hugged my curves, and my nipples pebbled, visible through the white fabric.

  “If you continue to dress me in white, I am going to start thinking that you wish for me to be an angel instead of a fairy,” I teased.

  He laughed long and loud. “Believe me. None of us want you to be an angel.”

  “No?”

  Aman’s thick lips curled into a devastating smile. “Would you wish to be with an angel? No. They are far too boring.”

  “I’m sure they aren’t all boring,” I protested.

  “Perhaps not. Perhaps you would be the one to end all matters.”

  I knitted my eyebrows in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

  Aman started to talk, but my loud yawn cut him off.

  “I apologize,” I said, my words muffled by my hands.

  “Do not worry. I know you have had a busy day.”

  You do not know how busy and with whom and doing what.

  “Aman…”

  “Yes?”

  “I wish to see my people tomorrow.”

  He stiffened and then nodded. “I understand. I do not think it wise.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a hand. “Allow me to go in the morning. I will see to their defenses. If it is safe, if I think you will not come to harm, I will bring you there myself.”

  I climbed into bed and yawned again as he lifted the comforter to cover me. “You would do that?”

  “For you, I would do anything.”

  “Why?” I asked. I had not reclined, and I patted the bed beside me.

  Unlike the others, Aman sat beside me, and he placed his hand on top of mine. “You are special.”

  My heart sunk. “Because I am the queen.”

  Of course. They only sought me for my favor, for the power and prestige of my crown. Then again, how much power did my crown command if the demons were willing to attack?

  And the timing of the attack was so suspicious. A moment sooner, I would not have been crowned. The fairies would have had no queen. Also, the demons had not dared to ever attack when my parents had been the rulers. They had been just and fair, true nobles with the will of the fairies and their needs and desires driving their every decision. The demons never would have attacked while they lived.

  Had my parents not been stricken ill, I was certain that the demons would not have attacked. Rather, they would have waited until my coronation day, whenever that might have been, whether in ten years, fifty, one hundred.

  “I am responsible for all of those deaths,” I murmured.

  Aman took my face in his hands and shook it. "No. I do not care for you because you are the queen. I care for you because you care for your people. You care so much you seek to place the blame of the tragedy onto your shoulders. You fought with such command,
such control. Even in the face of all you have lost, you strove to give of yourself so that others might live. Violet, I don't think you realize how close to death you were, and yet, I firmly believe that—"

  “—I would do it again.”

  “—you would do it again,” he said at the same time.

  “How can you know me so well?” I asked.

  Aman shook his head. “I have said nothing that anyone else there that day could not have said. The first night, I saw how much fun you wished to have, how much life you have within you. You do not stay long within the castle walls, do you?”

  “I leave whenever I have the chance,” I confessed.

  “And your magic, that is most impressive. I didn’t realize the strength and power a fairy could have.”

  “I taught myself a fair amount,” I admitted. “My tutors wished to teach me only certain avenues, but I wanted to learn more, do more, be more. When I would run off, I taught myself a great deal.”

  “You’re mostly self-taught?" he asked incredulously.

  I shrugged one shoulder. “It took a lot of trial and error, but for the most part, magic has always come to me naturally.”

  “That amazes me. I cannot imagine what you must have been like as a child.”

  My laughter was caught off by a yawn. “I was not exactly a proper princess,” I admitted, “but my mother allowed me to do as I wished. She thought there was plenty of time yet for her to groom me.”

  I lowered my head. My mother most certainly would not approve of my actions with the men.

  “What is wrong?” Aman asked. He squeezed my hand, and I squeezed back.

  “I think that…”

  I gulped. It would be so very easy for me to lie and claim that talking about my mother was too painful, but he deserved to know the truth.

  “I’m a mess,” I said. “I’m grieving yet, but I feel like I can’t really truly grieve while I’m here. I’m so upset and frustrated by the attack, and…” I inhaled deeply. “And I’m confused by my feelings.”

  “Which feelings?” he asked without seeming to press.

  But my eyes were impossible to keep open, and I slumped against him. I was out, but not so soundly that I didn't just realize Aman was pulling me closer to his chest. He nestled me against him and tucked us under the covers as he laid us down from our sitting positions. I thought he kissed the top of my head, and I was certain that he whispered something about his promise.

  Then, I drifted off to sleep, and there, in my dreams, Aman was waiting for me in bed, and he proceeded to turn me over the side of the bed and took me from behind. It was glorious, and when I came, I shouted one of the other guy’s names, but Aman didn’t seem to mind. In fact, suddenly, the other guys were there, with us, squeezing my breasts, rubbing my clit, kissing me, sucking me all over, and I couldn't handle it. I needed to give back, but whenever I tried to pleasure one of them in return, the guy would disappear until finally, it was Aman and me alone again.

  “Why won’t you let me love you?” I asked him, cupping his face.

  “It isn’t easy for me to love.”

  “The others too?”

  “We can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?” I demanded.

  He tried to turn aside, but I wouldn’t let him.

  “Anyone can love,” I said.

  “But why? You’re laughing. You’re kissing. You’re willing to give your heart to us, but I can see the sorrow you’re trying to ignore. You’re in pain because your parents, who you loved so much, died. Why would you open yourself up to that pain again?”

  “Because life is pain. Love isn’t. Love is goodness. Love is light. Love is a new beginning.”

  “What if the sun has set on us?” he asked hoarsely.

  “What if the sun has been trying to shine on you all along, but you’ve been clinging to the shadows for so long you never even noticed?” I countered.

  And I kissed Aman soundly, only I woke up then and realized Aman was gone, and I was trying to shove my tongue into the pillow.

  That dream. Utterly ridiculous. I did not love them. I couldn’t. Yes, I was getting to know them all better, and yes, I enjoyed spending time with them all, but to say that I loved them was too premature.

  The love for my parents was equal to the size of the loss I was feeling. To open myself up to the four of them would be absurd. How many of us would be hurt if I dared to do that? No. I could not and would not be that selfish.

  Still, I hoped Aman had left to see after the fairies. Why hadn’t he woke me to say goodbye?

  I rubbed my forehead and felt a slight dampness. He had kissed my forehead at least.

  Ducking my head, I hid a smile. Aman knew how to make me happy. They all did. For now, I would try to be happy, but as the dream had stated, any joy was merely masking the pain and guilt I was feeling. Still, I appreciated everything the men had to offer me. I just hoped I could offer them something in return.

  Chapter 15

  After changing my clothes and wondering how they were able to find so many dresses and all in my size, I left the room. The cottage was well lit at least. I supposed the men finally realized that I did not need total darkness to sleep after all.

  Breakfast in the form of pastries covered with chocolate drizzle or filled with fresh fruit greeted me at the table. I helped myself to a fair amount. The serving amount was for only one person, and I managed to eat nearly all of it before I heard footsteps behind me.

  Baxon slipped his arm around my waist. "You could have sat down to eat, you know."

  “I do know, but I was too tempted, and I was afraid someone else might steal these. They’re amazing. So flaky and amazing. I’ve never tasted anything so delicious before.”

  His dark eyes glittered when I said “tempted.”

  “Nothing more delicious, mmm?” he asked.

  Just like that, he licked the corner of my mouth where a drop of jam had been. Before I could react, he pulled me flush against him and kissed me so soundly that I could feel myself grow wet. My knees buckled when he finally released me.

  “N-Nothing more delicious,” I said faintly, dizzy.

  A single kiss should not affect me like this, but here I was, ready to throw myself at him. Why? Purely physical. This was lust and nothing more.

  Yet I felt so very safe when in his presence, with any of the four. I hated needing anyone especially after the loss of my parents, and I did not want to need the four of them. No. I wouldn’t. The pain from losing anyone else would be too great. As it was, I did not even know the names of the twenty-six fairies who had died in the attack.

  Baxon allowed me to slip from his grasp, and I woodenly pulled out a chair and sank onto it. Any happiness at seeing him had vanished away. A large hole had taken residence where my heart should be, and I could not, would not expect it to ever be filled again.

  “What is it?” Baxon asked. Instead of claiming one of the other seats, he knelt beside me, his hand on my knee.

  I didn’t even look away from staring at my crumb-filled plate. “I can’t handle this. I know you all want to keep me safe, but keeping me away from my people, keeping me away from them when they need me the most…”

  “We are not keeping you here.”

  I glowered at him. “Aren’t you, though?”

  “You could leave.” He gestured to the door.

  “I don’t know where to go to return home,” I said, thinking back to the waterfall and the pond… and what happened after…

  “There's something else," he prompted, rubbing my knee. For once, he wasn't touching me to be erotic. It was to soothe me.

  But I could not be comforted. I could not stop the growing ache threatening to overwhelm me.

  “You can tell me anything,” he murmured. “Anything at all.”

  “I… can’t,” I whispered, my heart breaking all over again.

  “Why not? What can’t you tell me?”

  I wanted to smile at that, but I couldn’t. I was
too numb to give into any feelings for fear that the weight of my sorrow and grief would crush me into oblivion if I allowed any emotion access.

  “You can’t tell me how amazing I am?” he guessed playfully.

  I pursed my lips.

  “How I’m a better kisser than Marlo?”

  My eyebrows lifted in shock. They talked about their experiences with me? Did that mean the others knew about Solo and where he had his mouth?

  “Or is this about your parents and how you haven’t had the chance to grieve them before being thrust into a position of power and then immediately being attacked by a terrible force?”

  “I can’t believe you said thrust with a straight face,” I muttered.

  He just stared at me, his large brown eyes unblinking.

  I sighed and rubbed my ear against my shoulder. “Yes, you’re right. Everything has happened all at once, and fairies aren’t supposed to grieve, and I can’t… I don’t… Mother always said that I couldn’t show any weakness ever, and—”

  "You aren't weak," he said softly.

  “I am. We celebrate death. It is the end of one’s journey. We return to the earth and allow for a rebirth.”

  “It isn't weak to grieve them."

  "They shouldn't have died!" I burst out. "They had years upon years!

  “Why, oh, why were they taken from me? Why did they have to die? Why did the demons attack during my coronation? Most of all, why can't I be the leader the fairies need? I can't lead them from here, and all I want to do is ask Mother and Father what I should do."

  I hung my head and fanned out the ivory skirt of my dress.

  “Mother would hate this.” I sniffed. “It’s not fit for a queen.”

  “You are lovely. You do not need a fancy gown, but if you must…”

  He held up a long finger, straightened, and his wide stride brought him to the door in two steps. Baxon was outside only a minute before he returned with several purple cornflowers. He guided me to stand, tucked and arranged several of the flowers in the sash around my waist and then tucked one behind my left ear.