Stolen Fire

by S. Dalambakis

  My hips snap forward. The sound of our skin slapping echoes in the room, as I savagely pound into her. The headboard bounces off the wall, mixing with the sounds of Finley’s moans and grunts. I bury my head in the crook on her shoulder, inhaling her scent.

  “More,” her husky voice begs. She turns her head biting down hard on the exposed part of my neck, pulling on my feathers at the same time.

  “Fuck,” I say between gritted teeth. I drive into her as fast and as hard as I can. I feel the wall of her pussy fluttering around my cock. She’s close, so close.

  “Yes. Fuck. Verkor,” she says as she screams her release. I follow right with her.

  For a moment, I can’t tell where my body ends and hers begins. It’s perfect and magical, and I don’t want that feeling to end. I pull my wings in. They lay against my back. I feel her hand in my hair, running her fingers through it. The tips of her fingers on her other hand are tracing a path up and down my spine, right between my wings. A shiver racks my entire body. I pull back, looking into her gray eyes.

  “If you don’t stop that, baby, we’re going to go another round.” She gives me an impish smile.

  “Then what’s stopping you.” I growl. My cock already hardening inside her. I smile down at her.

  “I hope you’re ready.”

  “Always.” I surge forward, bringing both of us to another release.

  Chapter 10

  Finley

  I’m resting in Verkor’s arms. My body is plastered against his side, my head on his chest. I can hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Our legs and feet are tangled together, and he’s running his fingers through my hair. The motion and the feeling are relaxing, and I melt a little more into his body. I sigh. This is what I needed. Well, this and the thorough fucking he just gave me. Verkor is my sweet, caring mate, and it was hot seeing him lose control. He’s a silver tongue devil if you ask me. He has no problem telling me he wants to fuck me, and he does. It’s usually not as savage as what he just did. I’d like to see him lose that control a little more. I think he needed that release just as much as I did.

  “Finley,” his voice his soft.

  “Hm.” I nuzzle my face against his chest. He sighs, and I know what’s coming.

  “I know you may not want to, but can we talk about what happened in the anger level?” Yep, I knew it. Now it’s my turn to sigh. He covers my hand resting on his stomach with his. I might as well get this over.

  “I guess,” I say softly. “What do you want to know?”

  “Anything you’re willing to share.” He squeezes my hand gently.

  “It was weird. I walked through the gate and I was fine at first. I was taking in my surroundings, noticing the huge difference from the level we were just on, to that one. Stolas was explaining the different types of anger. You had startled me, and I dropped into my fighting stance. It wasn’t until you mentioned my job that my thoughts started to spiral.” I shift against his body. I hate talking about my past. I’m not proud of some of the things that I’ve done. I don’t say anything for a few moments and Verkor never pushes. It’s one of the things I love most about him. He’s patient, giving me all the time, I need.

  “I got angry,” I finally say. “I got angry at the type of job I have. I was angry that I steal for a living, and for the condition of my house. I’m pissed because I wasn’t good enough for my birth parents.” I untangle myself from Verkor. I sit up, swinging my legs over the side of the mattress. My hands tighten on the edge of the bed. My voice grows hard as I continue. “I’m pissed because they didn’t love me.” I shove off the bed, running my fingers through my hair, pulling on the strands. I whip my gaze at Verkor, who is sitting on the side of the bed, much like I just was.

  “I’m so angry that they tossed me away. Why have me if you didn’t want me? Why couldn’t they love me enough to make sure I would be okay?” Tears start to well in my eyes. “Couldn’t they have given me to someone who wanted a baby?”

  I look away from Verkor. I can’t see the pity in his eyes. My throat tightens from trying to hold back my tears. They don’t deserve me crying over them, but I can’t seem to help it. I try to swallow around the lump in my throat. I don’t hear him move, but one second I’m trying to hold back my tears and in the next I’m wrapped in his arms, breathing in his icy scent. The dam burst, and my tears flow freely. I wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his chest.

  “Why did they leave me?” I say between sobs.

  “I don’t know, baby.”

  I feel him kiss the top of my head. Verkor just holds me, letting me cry. And I do. I let all the pent-up emotions I’ve been harboring out, and it feels good. It feels freeing. I couldn’t tell you how long we stood there, but Verkor never wavered. He didn’t try to make excuses for them. He just let me be. Just when I thought, I couldn’t love him anymore, he blows that to smithereens, by what he says next, and I fall even deeper in love with him. He pulls back, cupping my face, making sure I can’t look anywhere else but in his blue eyes.

  “It doesn’t matter that they didn’t want you. What matters is the people that do. I do. Stolas and Obsidian do. You have Izzy. Hell, even Hugh and Daemon from the Winter Court do. When I talk to my cousin Cirro, they always make him ask how you are, and when we’re coming to visit. You made quite an impression on them.” He rubs his thumbs across my cheeks. “Your family doesn’t have to be biological. Your family consists of the people closest to you who love and support you. I’m your family.”

  “I’m your family,” I hear Stolas say. Verkor releases me and takes a step back. I turn to the bedroom doorway and see Stolas and Obsidian standing there. I was so lost in what I was thinking and what Verkor was saying that I didn’t hear the door open.

  “I’m your family, doll.” Hearing Obsidian talking softly just breaks all my defenses down.

  “We all love you,” Verkor says, drawing my attention back to him. “We’re going to be here for you in any way you need. I can tell you right now, that I’ll never leave you. You will never be alone. Not on my watch.”

  “Not on mine either,” Stolas says walking closer.

  “You know for damn sure not on mine,” Obsidian says walking into the room.

  “Do you know who else is going to love you?” Stolas questions. I shake my head. “Our pup is going to love you. You are going to shower this pup with so much love, it’s not going to know what to do.” I wince when he mentions the baby. Stolas notices and frowns. “What’s wrong? Do you not want the pup?” There’s a slight edge in his voice.

  “That’s not it. I swear.” I place my hands on my belly.

  It’s then that I realize I’m still naked. I quickly search the room, catching sight of my shirt on the floor by the bed. I grab it and hastily put it on. I spot my panties, putting those on as well. I turn my attention back to the guys. Verkor, who put on clothes as well, and Obsidian have moved and are standing behind Stolas, whose eyes have narrowed at me.

  “I love this pup, more than anything. I didn’t realize just how much until the aftereffects of the anger level.” I start pacing in the small pace by the bed. I stop looking at them again. “I’m mad at myself because when the anger took over me, and I wanted to lash out, this baby,” I place a hand protectively over my flat belly, “could have been hurt. I could have lost it, because my mind was such in a fog and consumed with rage that I couldn’t think past it. It was the only thing on my mind.” I focus only on Stolas as I say the next part. “How can you be okay with that? How can you look at me knowing if you didn’t get me out of there, I could have hurt our baby?” I didn’t think I could cry anymore, but the tears begin to fall.

  “How can I be a mother, when I didn’t think of the baby first? Maybe I don’t deserve this? I don’t even know what I’m doing. How can you still love me after that? How can you still want me to be the mother your child, or any children we have after that?” My chest is heaving by the time I’m done.

  “Do you see how much guilt you
’re carrying right now? This is at the thought you could have hurt our pup. You have to be out of your mind to think we,” he gestures to himself then to Verkor and Obsidian, “would have let anything happen to either of you. We will always be there to help and protect you, even if it's from yourself.” Stolas takes a few steps forward, stopping before me. He runs his knuckles down the side of my face. “You are the most deserving person I know. You deserve to be loved and cherished. Don’t you forget that.” He cups my face. “None of us know what we’re doing, but we’re going to figure it out...” his silver eyes bounce back and forth between mine, “together.” I don’t get to say anything else because Stolas crashes his lips to mine, kissing the hell out of me.

  Stolas

  I never want Finley to feel the way she is right now, but in order for her to move forward, she needs to get this out. She needs to confront it. I do the only thing I can think to do, I kiss her. I pour every ounce of love I can into it. Her small hands encircle my wrist, squeezing them tight. She opens her mouth and I dive in. I run my tongue along hers, deepening the kiss. I could kiss for all eternity and never get tired. She’s my heartbeat, the blood in my veins, the very air that I breathe. How can she not see that? How can she not feel that? I pull back, resting my forehead on hers. Our breaths mingle. I open my eyes to see hers closed, shut tight. I place a kiss on her forehead before moving back. I brush her cheeks with my thumbs, she sighs, letting her arms fall to her sides.

  Finley opens her eyes locking onto mine. She’s beautiful even with red, puffy eyes that still swim with unshed tears. My heart aches and my hellhound wants out to destroy whatever is making her feel this way, but we can’t. It’s nothing physical. Her emotions and thoughts are her demons. I can’t get rid of her demons for her, but I can be there to help her walk through them. I can be here as someone she can lean on. In a quick motion, I pull her against me, wrapping her in my arms. Finley fists my shirt at the sides, clinging to me like I’m her life preserver, saving her from drowning in her sea of emotions. I want nothing more than to take her mind off of this. To have her get lost in my body and me in hers, but that will only prolong the inevitable. If Finley faces this now, it will help us get through our current mission. We need everyone's head in the game.

  Obsidian and Verkor move closer. Each of them placing a hand on Finley, showing their support. I couldn’t tell you how long we stood there, but none of us moved until Finley was ready. She pulls from me, glancing around her. Her gaze quickly finds Verkor’s and Obsidian’s before settling back on me.

  “Thank you,” she whispers.

  “No thanks are needed, love. We will always be here to love and support you, no matter what. You can count on us to be there when you fall. For when you need a shoulder to cry on. For when you just need someone to listen to you vent. We’ll be there to share all your happy memories and the sad. We are going to grow together and become stronger. You stopped being alone the moment we met,” I say, never looking away from her.

  “You tell us what you want to do.” Verkor states. Finley turns looking over at him. She takes a deep breath.

  “I want to know who I am. I want to know why they left me. I want to know where I come from,” she replies. All of us nod.

  “We’ll help you do that,” Verkor responds. Finley shoulders slump. This is a huge weight that has been weighing her down even if she didn’t realize it.

  “Let’s get this piece of the map first. Once we’re home, we can come up with a plan on when to try to figure out my past.” We all nod again. “Can we make something to eat, because I’m starving.” Finley turns and looks at me. “Afterward, will you show me the rest of the house?”

  “Sure, love.” I smile.

  Obsidian and Verkor walk out of the bedroom first. Finley moves to follow, but I grab her hand, stopping her. She turns looking at me. Confusion marring her face.

  “Stolas?” she questions.

  “I just want to tell you that I want you. I couldn’t pick anyone better to be the mother of my pup. You got this, Finley, even if you don't think you do.” Tears start to well up in her eyes, and I start to panic. “No, no, no, love.” I tug her close to my body, hugging her. “Please don’t cry. I didn’t mean to make you cry again.” Finley pulls back. She reaches up cradling my face in her hands.

  “These are happy tears,” she smiles. “You don’t know how much your words and actions mean to me. I love you, Stolas Asmoday. So very much.” Finley goes up on tiptoes, placing a kiss to my lips.

  “I love you too, Finley.” She gives me this megawatt smile.

  “Let’s go eat and make a plan on how to get this piece of the map.” I nod.

  Finley steps back and grabs my hand, tugging me from the bedroom. As we walk down the hall, I notice she didn’t put pants on. Her pink lace panties teasing me with every step she takes. I’m not going to say anything for two reasons. One, she’s growing more comfortable around us. Two, it’s one less piece of clothing I have to take off when I have my way with her later.

  “What are you grinning at?” Obsidian asks as we emerge at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

  Obsidian

  It doesn’t take me long to understand why Stolas is grinning. Finley is dressed in only a black t-shirt and pink lace panties. I don’t think she realizes she didn’t put pants on, but none of us are going to say anything. Not after what just happened in the bedroom. I’m happy she stopped crying. It guts me every time I see tears in her eyes. It makes me feel like I’m not doing a good enough job as her mate. I hate seeing something hurt her. All I want to do is protect her, but there are some things that I can’t protect her from, like her own emotions. All I can do is be there for her, but it doesn’t feel like it’s enough.

  Finley gives me a small smile as she walks by, tugging Stolas behind her. The smile looks forced, and I would know. I’m good at hiding what I truly feel behind a rough exterior. The meaner you are the more people tend to stay away. That’s safer than showing your true feelings and getting hurt. People like to take advantage of one another, especially when they’re vulnerable. I can only try to make sure that doesn’t happen to Finley. She’s had enough hard times in her life. She deserves all the happiness and love we can give her.

  “Are you coming, Obsidian?” Finley calls out. I look over and see she is standing in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen, and I’m still standing by the stairs. Her head is slightly tilted, and her eyebrows are furrowed. She walks over to me, placing her hands on my chest. “Siddy?” Her voice is etched with worry. She’s the only one who will ever get away with calling me Siddy. I actually love when she calls me that, but there is no way I’m telling anyone that. I know the second that I do Stolas will have a field day, and I’ll end up punching him.

  “Sorry, doll,” I say, running my knuckles down the side of her face. “I just got lost in my own thoughts.”

  “Anything you want to talk about?” There is so much concern swimming her gray eyes. I sigh. I hate talking about my feelings. I keep all of that locked up tight, but I can’t deny Finley, and the way she’s looking at me right now. She wants to help. She wants to know what’s going on in my mind. So, I say what I’ve been thinking.

  “You deserve much more than what this life has given you. I want to protect you from everything, and I can’t. It makes me feel like I’ve failed you.” I brush a piece of her pink hair from her face.

  “You haven’t failed me. None of you have. I’m not the only one who has had a rough life. Verkor lost both of his parents at a young age due to jealousy. Do you think he deserved that? I know you were...are hunted because of what you are. Do you think that’s fair? There are plenty of people out there who have it worse than I do...than I did. It’s taken me until now to have it sink in that I’m not alone anymore. Yes, I have Izzy, but now I have you. I have Stolas and Verkor. That’s three more people I didn’t have before. Three more people I can lean on, to help me shoulder my bu
rdens. You guys are doing a great job by the way. I really am lucky to have such loving and supportive mates. How about instead of you worrying about protecting me from everything, you protect me from the things that you can. If someone is trying to kill me, I expect you to go all badass and kill them first.”

  I chuckle. “That I can do,” I smile. She’s right. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I let someone physically harm her.

  “Good. Let’s worry about everything else after we get this piece of the map. We need to come up with a plan. I need food. I swear this baby is making me a bottomless pit.” She takes a step back, rubbing her belly. “You know,” she says softly, looking down at her flat belly, “it’s still hard to believe we’re going to be parents.” I know what she means.

  “It may be happening sooner than we wanted, but all of us are excited.” She lifts her head, meeting my eyes. I see the unspoken question in them. “Yes, doll, even me.” I grin at her. Finley reaches up, tugging on my beard, which needs a trim.

  “You should smile more. It completely transforms your face. You look hotter than you normally do. Don’t get me wrong, I love my broody hamrammr, but there is just something about the way you smile.” I can’t help but grin bigger.

  “Is that so,” I say leaning down, stopping inches away from her face. I watch as her pupils dilate, and I hear the sharp intake of her breath, as she nods her head. I close the little bit of distance between us, pressing my lips to hers in a quick kiss. “I’ll have to remember that,” I say pulling back. Finley is staring at me wide-eyed. I would love to give her what we both want, but she needs to eat, and we really do need to start coming up with a plan. “Come on, doll, let's eat.” I place an arm around her shoulders, steering her into the kitchen.