Beneath The Shadows of Evil... Torn

by Jolynn Raymond

“If that were true, sweet, then your anger and tears would not pain me so. I want so much for you to be happy here, for you to want to be my wife. That is why the rag on your head pains me love. Not because of your past, but because it denies who you are now. All I want is for you to wish to be my wife and the mother of my son. I wish for you to love me, Alliana.” The truth of his words was written clearly upon his face and Alliana had to turn away in order to hold fast to her anger.

  Mikhal released her wrists, and then danced his fingers over them, rubbing lightly, teasing the delicate skin, and sat beside her upon the bed. He brought one hand down to turn her face towards him and caressed her jaw; letting his other fingers skim lower towards the bite on her neck that would make her body come alive.

  “No.”

  “Let me love you, kitten. Let me show you how my heart feels.” He was stroking her hair, his lips hovering over hers, his fingers skimming her throat just below the mark of claim. So dangerously close.

  Alliana whimpered and shook her head. He was too close; she could feel her resistance melting. How could she forgive him when only moments ago she had been so very furious with him? She had to stop this. He simply needed her for his lust.

  “Mikhal, the babe.”

  “There are many ways to find pleasure, sweet. Many ways to love, positions, touches, kisses, that won’t harm him one bit. Let me love you, Alliana. Let me make you happy.” His fingers found the mark and Alliana cried out as he stroked it, the sensations of pure fire shooting straight to her core.

  “Ahhh... Mikhal, no, you promised.”

  “Why, kitten. Why won’t you accept me?” Again he touched her there. He knew he wasn’t playing fair but his mind was no longer in charge.

  Her lips moved soundlessly as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut, trying to force back the feelings that were overtaking her. Her body trembled and longed for him, burned for him, but it was wrong. He had hurt her, used her, he was evil, he couldn’t care; it was impossible. It... it... it didn’t matter because his lips were suddenly pressing upon hers in a searing kiss that stole her breath.

  Mikhal moved oh so slowly so as not to break the spell and moved his lips overs hers, tasting, savoring, nibbling, as one hand continued to stroke her neck, strumming her like a violin, making the song of passion sing though her veins. He laid next to her without breaking contact, and gathered her close with his other arm, turning her on her side and fitting himself up against her, loving the feel of her rounded belly, hating the yards and yards of material that separated them.

  He broke the kiss and let his lips travel over her face, across her forehead, upon her nose, her eyes lids. Gentle little kisses full of the love he held inside him. When she opened her mouth he immediately brought his back there, be it to silence any protest or to give her what she asked for without words, it didn’t matter. Deepening the kiss, his tongue swept over hers as he stroked and stroked his mark of claim and he felt her shiver against him. She was melting under his touch, the fire was rushing through her veins, she was to be his and this time there was no mirror to bring her back to reality.

  He moved one hand to her back, rubbing, circling, tender, gentle, nothing to cause her alarm, nothing to make her panic, then lower to caress her bottom, again damning the dress and petticoats that kept him from her heated flesh. He felt her sigh into him and gently suckled her tongue, pulling on it, caressing it, then dancing his across hers as she began to dance the dance with him, entangling hers with his, engaging in the silky battle that sent shivers through them both.

  Mikhal continued to caress her bottom as he slowly kissed his way from her mouth to her neck, knowing he needed two hands to make love to her, but not willing to stop his onslaught on the erogenous zone that was the twin punctures left by his bite. His lips found it and he kissed it gently; then suckled as she cried out, pushing her body forward towards him, yearning for his touch.

  Mikhal knew she might hate him for this later, tell him he forced her by using the strange power their mating bite had but right now he didn’t care. Right now his wife was warm and willing in his arms and he was ready to take her to the realm of ecstasy.

  Continuing to suckle on her neck, never letting up, feeling her arch back and thrust her heavy breast forward, Mikhal took one in his palm and gently held it. The weight of it pleased him, she was so rounded now, so ready for their son, and he thought she might be more sensitive there. Tugging the neckline of her gown aside, paying no mind to the sound of tearing fabric, he bared her breast and began to stroke one nipple, then palmed it again and stroked his fingers along the underside as the peak grew hard and red as a berry. Oh how he longed to take it into his mouth but he couldn’t chance it, not yet, not when he was so close.

  Regretting the necessity of his actions, but knowing he had to do so, he released her breast after freeing them both and rubbing them until Alliana was arching her back and clearly aching with need. He moved his hands to her back, sliding one arm under her in a somewhat cumbersome movement, and began to work on the ties that held her gown in place. They of course became hopelessly tangled in his haste, and not being a patient sort of man, Mikhal simply latched his mouth onto Alliana neck, swirling his tongue over his mark, driving her to distraction as he ripped her gown to shreds, barring her petticoats and chemise. He made quick work of the undergarments as well; thankful that pregnant women didn’t wear corsets, and began to run his hands up and down Alliana’s bare back and bottom.

  She wiggled under his touch, her swollen stomach coming in contact with his very hard cock, stimulating it in a manner that Mikhal could have done without. He was on edge, very on edge, and knew he had to take things slowly. It had been far too long since he’d had the pleasure of making love to his wife, and could be a long time before it happened again, and he intended to make this moment last.

  Knowing he had to take the chance, hoping she was so full of fire that she wouldn’t even think of turning back now, Mikhal moved his lips from her neck, and kissed his way up her jaw line to her eyes.

  “Open, sweet.” She did, gazing at him; eyes vividly green, smoldering with need, lids lazy with passion.

  “We need to get this gown off, kitten and then I’m going to put you on your other side.” Her brow creased in question but he smiled at her and stroked her cheek. “Relax, sweet. Just lie there and relax. Let me love you.”

  He moved away and pulled at her torn gown, tugging it down her arms and off her body. Alliana glanced down at her swollen stomach. Her mouth open in a little cry of dismay, her eyes becoming pained, and Mikhal felt her acute embarrassment. She made a move to cover herself, to hide her body from him but he gently took her hands and held them away.

  “You’re lovely as an angel, sweet, beautiful, radiant, never more breathtaking. Please don’t try to hide.” Alliana dropped her hands but lowered her gaze, still feeling self-conscious. Mikhal sat back down and tilted up her chin. “Look at me, love.”

  She did, hesitantly, ashamed. “I’m telling you the truth when I say you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Alliana. I want no one but you. I’m here, with you, asking you to let me love you. Will you, kitten? Will you let me make love to you?”

  Seconds passed and Alliana didn’t speak. There was a part of her mind, a part that seemed very far away and full of mist that was telling her there were reasons she had to say no but her body was heavy and burning for the touch of the man before her. His eyes were smoldering with the same passions she felt coursing through her and she simply couldn’t deny him try as she might. How could she? Not now, not when she yearned for his touch so very badly.

  She knew she should hate him, knew he was a demon, knew she was being held by force and that he had stolen all she known on that fateful night. Knew he dictated her every move and that she should still be furious with his command that she never leave the castle, but there he was, looking as vulnerable and as needy as she felt and she simply couldn’t say no.

  “Alliana, ask me to love you.
” He wasn’t making her say it out of spite. He had no want to embarrass her; he simply wanted to hear the words whispered from her sweet lips. To know she was welcoming him with open arms into her bed and desiring him as much as he desired her.

  Alliana was still unsure of so many things. She felt ugly and swollen and ashamed. She felt that old shame nibbling at the edges of her passion induced haze, but she pushed them all aside. It was time to accept the man before her as her husband in all things. “Love me, Mikhal.”

  Fire blazed in Mikhal’s eyes, but it was the light of passion, not the telltale sign of the demon within. He stood before her and slowly began to undress, loosening the ties of his shirt and pulling it over his head to reveal his hard chest and rippling stomach to her gaze. He was sleek and smooth and Alliana longed to touch him, longed to run her fingers over each muscle of his abdomen. Their eyes met and Mikhal could see the appreciation shining in her eyes and he couldn’t help but give her a smoldering look that held the promise of much pleasure. His eyes flashed and his tongue curled behind his teeth as his eyebrows rose and fell and Alliana blushed and looked away.

  “Oh no, sweet. Look at me.” She glanced up shyly as he sat on the edge of the bed to pull of his knee boots, then watched with shy fascination as his hands unfastened his breeches and slowly peeled them down, releasing his hard shaft. It sprang forth, swollen and proud, needy and pulsing.

  Alliana bit her lip, remembering the feel of him inside her. Remembering how she felt, how wonderful, but how completely full. What of the child? There had been a time when he was at risk. Natalya had said nothing of lovemaking. Alliana hadn’t deemed it necessary to ask.

  Mikhal felt her pensiveness, her fear, and guess its origin at once. “Tis fine, sweet.”

  “I’m frightened, Mikhal.”

  He took her hand in his, opening her fingers and placing his shaft in her grip, biting his lip to keep from crying out at the rush of intense pleasure he got from the simple touch of her hot hand.

  “There are other ways, other things. You shall be fine as will the babe. You know I would do nothing that could harm him.”

  Alliana nodded, but her brow was still creased, her eyes fearful.

  “I ... will... never... hurt... you.” As he said the words he moved closer and closer, until his lips grazed the delicate shell of her ear. “Trust me.”

  His thumb was stroking her cheek, his eyes pleading with her to let him into her heart. Alliana knew she shouldn’t, knew that trusting one such as him could only lead to disaster. He could break her heart, he could turn into his demon; he could... but... but it was time to let go. She had to let go and live this life. Oh the struggle inside her was raging.

  “Trust me.”

  “Yes.” He rose and picked her up in his arms, holding her close; thrilled that she had made the decision out of free will. He’d not touched her on his mark during the entire time and yet she had accepted him freely. She was his. True she may not love him, not yet, but this was a start.

  Mikhal laid her on the bed on her side, facing away from him, and then spooned up behind her. He reached over her and lifted her top leg, then guided his cock between her silky thighs, nestling into the folds of her slick womanhood. She was wet, oh so wet from his attentions and her heat engulfed him though he didn’t enter her, lying there, snug against her was enough.

  Mikhal felt Alliana tense and lowered his lips to her neck, whispering sweet words in between kisses. “This is all sweet. I’ll not go in. Lay still and let me move. Let yourself feel.”

  His hands came around her, foundling her breasts, rubbing her belly, teasing her nub as he began to work his hips back and forth, sliding between her satiny folds. True his cock wasn’t buried deep inside her, he didn’t feel her walls milking the passion from his loins, but this was just as sweet. She was all around him, soft, wet, silky and oh so hot, and he increased his pace, causing the delightful friction to build. He pulled back far enough so his cock head bumped her nub when he came forward over and over and delighted in the sound of her cries of passion.

  She was cooing, crying out, quivering, and it was all for him. She’d come willingly, asked him, and now he was about to take her to the place only he could. He reached down in front of her and rubbed his fingers around her womanhood, making them slick, and then pressed up on the underside of his shaft, rubbing his cock with his hand from below as he thrust and stimulated Alliana’s nub from above. His other hand roamed over her teasing, touching, leaving a trail of fire and his lips suckled and nipped at the mark that joined them as one.

  Faster and faster Mikhal thrust, pushing his cock through the velvety covering of her folds and rubbing her nubbin over and over, bringing Alliana to a peak. He felt her trembling, heard her mewls, her rapid heartbeat, her gasps for air, and his own building passion. The fire in his loins was close to exploding and the time for completion was now.

  Holding her tight, thrusting hard, his balls slapping against her soft bottom even as his cock twitched and jumped, begging for release. He kept up the steady motion until she began to cum. She writhed in his arms, grinding down on his shaft, her thighs clamping around him, squeezing him, almost making him loose control. He held himself off for just a moment longer, letting her come down from her first wave of pleasure then did the thing that would bring them both bliss. Vamping out, snarling out his claim, telling the world Alliana was his, and biting down into the soft flesh of her neck.

  “Mine”

  Alliana cried out, her body jerking in his arms, he had to hold her tightly as he thrust forward. Her blood spilled over his tongue, hot and potent, rich and savory, sending him into ecstasy. He wrapped his fist around his cock, pulling it up tight between the lips of Alliana’s womanhood, nudging it against her clit as he thrust forward, his actions sending her spiraling into orgasm even as he did the same, his cold seed spilling onto the sheet before her.

  Mikhal slowed, letting out little breaths of air, scenting the smells of their passion, small snarls of pleasure issuing from deep inside him, loving her, owning her, the animal inside that was his demon relishing in the act of coupling, in the act of making her his.

  He lapped lazily at his bite mark and felt Alliana shiver as the aftershocks of ecstasy washed over her and delighted in her actions when she wiggled back, pressing her lovely soft bottom into his body. It was the action of a woman who felt well loved. One who was feeling content and happy, not one who was filled with regrets. He lean forward and kissed her cheek, smiling, purring, wrapping his arms around her, holding her close, not able to get enough of her, waiting to wake up and find this was but another dream.

  He heard her murmuring, soft little words he was barely able to make out, but then one became clear, and it warmed his heart like nothing else ever could. “Yours... yours... yours.” She was claiming him in return, accepting him, making him her own, accepting the life they were building here together; and she was doing so of her own free will.

  “Yes, love, yours. Forever yours, for as long as time allows.”

  He caressed her forehead, traced the mark upon her neck, and after a time her breathing steadied and Mikhal realized Alliana was sleeping. He reached down and pulled the fur throw over them, then pulled his arm under, needing to feel her warmth against him, wanting to touch her, to stroke her body, to stroke his son. As far as he was concerned the world couldn’t be a better place than it was at that moment.

  Mikhal knew very well that Alliana might still wake angry, that she might be up for arguing anew about traveling to the village, but he could deal with her ire. Look where the last fight had gotten him. To be fair, he would speak to the head servant and to Natalya and ask about what had actually taken place. Perhaps, if needed, this irritating man could be done away with so Alliana could be happy once more.

  The thought made Mikhal feel good once again, both at thinking of his wife smiling and throwing her arms around him to say thank you, and at himself for being so self-indulgent when it came to her. It wasn�
�t like him, and it probably didn’t hold for being a strong leader, but that smile, oh, that smile. How could a man resist? And this. This bliss he had here and now. Who could put a price on that?

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mikhal lay upon his side, propped up on one elbow, gazing down at the sleeping figure of his wife. The flames from the hearth made glittering patterns across his alabaster skin and anyone who entered at that moment would have been struck by the contrast between the two lovers. She was golden, soft, enchanting; he was hard as carved marble, sleek, powerful. Everything about him spoke of barely contained power, a hardness of muscle that lay beneath that perfect skin, but his hands spoke of the tenderness that now dwelled in his heart.

  He was caressing Alliana ever so gently, brushing back her hair, fingers trailing across her cheek, loving her with such a simple tender gesture that belied the demon that lived within. His beast was nowhere to be seen and that was the way Mikhal wanted it. This was the life he wanted, to be a loving husband and father, to be a gentleman to his Lady, to be her everything. True he would continue to rule his kingdom with an iron fist. No breech of discipline or questioning of orders would be allowed, but here, in this bedchamber, and when he spent time with the woman who had just given of herself so freely despite her fears, he would be the man she needed him to be.

  He stretched lazily, his back arching, muscles rippling, his flaccid cock coming in contact with the burning touch of his wife’s skin, and knew at once that he should rise. She was resting, as she should be. It had been a long day for her, one full of adventure and if she’d told the truth, a bit of unpleasantness. Mikhal knew in time he would have to get up and seek out Natalya to find out the extent of this Samuel’s disrespect and to see just how dangerous he was. It was possible that the man could be done away with so that Alliana could travel to the village a time or two more before the birth of the babe. It would certainly make her happy, but... was it wise to give in to her wishes? That was the question.