by Linda Kage
I was fully nude by the time he made his way back around to the front. His gaze paused on my breasts, then dropped to the shadow between my legs. “No,” he revised, “I know exactly where to begin. Lie down on your back and open your thighs for me.”
I shivered at the heated instruction, and my nipples pearled with desire. “As you wish,” it was my turn to repeat.
Sitting down first, I marveled at how warm the rock was under my bare bottom. Then I lay back slowly and spread my arms over the heat of the stone as I drew my knees up until the bottoms of my feet pressed against the rock too. And only then, did I spread my knees, opening them so wide they nearly pressed against the rock top on either side of me.
“Fuck…me,” Indigo whispered from the dark, his voice full of awe.
I smiled and turned my face in his direction. “Actually, it was me I was hoping you’d fuck.”
“Gladly.” He stepped from the shadows and appeared between my thighs. His throat worked as he swallowed, his gaze running over me from my long hair to my face and breasts, then down to my fully exposed pussy. “Damn,” he croaked, licking his lips. “Hang on, empress. I’m not going to go easy.”
Then he leaned down and drove his tongue inside me.
My back arched and fingers curled over the side of the rock, clinging desperately.
Indigo showed no mercy, gripping my thighs as he pushed his tongue in, then pulled out, thrusting again and again before licking his way up over my clit. My body wasn’t prepared for such a sudden onslaught or just as sudden change. I cried out, bucking my hips wildly.
He tightened his grip on me and held me down, forcing me to take his tongue again, spiking and licking where I least expected it. It flicked low, just below my opening, and then was pushing into me again. I never knew what he was going to do next, and the anticipation was too much to bear.
I came with a force that shattered logical thought to dust. One hand rose to grip my breast as heat swirled and consumed me. All I knew was this man, his tongue and hands, and the rioting current taking control of my body.
Then it quieted, and I was me again.
“Oh my God,” I panted. “Oh my God. That was—Oh my God.”
Indigo rose, both his eyes and lips gleaming in the moonlight. “Fucking amazing,” he finished for me. “That was fucking amazing. And it does taste better than hot strawberry and blueberry pie.”
It had been amazing. Except…
“I haven’t had my turn to see you come yet,” I reminded him. And that had been my whole purpose for this little trip into the woods too.
His eyes glittered with heated awareness as he stroked his hand over my knee and down the outside of my thigh. “You really want to see me come, empress?”
I nodded and bit my lip. “And I want it now.”
“How?” he pressed. “In your hand? Your mouth? Right here?” His fingers barely grazed my still wet and sensitized pussy, making me shiver. “Or do you want me to pleasure myself?” When he grabbed the base of his cock and stroked it once, arousal ricocheted through me.
“Right here,” I told him, pressing my fingers against my mound. “Fuck me, Indigo.”
“Gladly.” He stood up from his knees and remained between my spread thighs with his feet on the ground as he continued holding the base of his dick with one hand. Leaning over me, he planted the other hand by my face and braced himself. “With my body, I thee give,” he whispered as he guided himself to my opening.
His blunt head pressed against my entrance and slipped in without restraint. But then he began to go deeper, rocking to work himself further inside me.
My eyes widened. This did not feel like either his finger or his tongue. The fit was tighter, his cock so much bigger, stretching muscle and tissue I didn’t even know I had until they were wrapped snugly around him, accommodating his massive girth with an almost brutal acceptance.
I shook my head blindly, not sure how I was possibly going to be able to take all of him, but he caught my hip, and his fingers stroked soothingly.
“Quilla,” he murmured, causing me to snap my attention to his face. “I feel your nerves, darling.”
Again, I shook my head, trying to deny it. “I’m not nervous.”
His lips twitched into one of those beautiful smiles of his. “Yes, you are. But just remember, I’d never do anything to hurt you. Right?”
“Right.” I gulped and nodded. That was right. This man would die for me. He had killed for me. He would never hurt me. Comforted by that notion, I stopped clamping my thighs in a death grip around his hips and I made them open for him again. I made myself relax and breathe.
The stretched muscles inside me loosened with each calming breath I exhaled. He shifted deeper, and a small burning tear followed. I sucked in a breath and squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for an onslaught of agony.
When none followed, I opened one eye.
Indigo cocked an eyebrow, watching my expression.
My other eye opened. “Was that it?”
Huh. I thought losing my virginity would hurt a hell of a lot more than that.
He laughed. “That’s not even the beginning of it, but I’m thinking the most uncomfortable part is over, yes.”
“Oh.” My body went completely limp with relief. “Well, then…” I nodded. “Continue.”
I let my head fall back on the rock and blew out a breath of relief, only to gasp when Indigo thrust the rest of the way into me, no longer holding back.
“Holy fuck,” I cried, gaping up at him when he paused once he was fully embedded.
“Was that a good or bad holy fuck?” he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion as he studied my face. “I’m only sensing surprise.”
“I…” I shook my head. “I’m not sure yet. It was just…intense.”
He nodded. “I can work with intense.” Pulling back out slowly and letting my body adjust to the change, he surprised me again when he shoved back in with so much force that my back skidded a few inches across the surface of the rock.
“God,” I gasped, blinking up at the moonlight.
“Good or bad?” he asked again, grinning this time because I’m sure the cocky bastard could feel how much I liked it.
So, just to mess with him, I repeated, “I don’t know,” before ordering, “maybe you should try it one more time.”
He did.
I cried out.
“Good,” I panted, slapping the side of his arm in part encouragement and part demand that he never stop. “Oh, God. So good.”
“My thoughts exactly.” And then he started pumping in a ceaseless rhythm that never seemed to end. My fingers cramped as they bit into the rock, and my body absorbed each plunge with a jarring kind of ecstasy.
Then I came, squeezing around him, spasm after spasm igniting my senses. Indigo watched me in awe until I finished, and then his nostrils flared as he let himself go. His movements turned frantic and driven, jerkier and faster, I knew he was close to his release now, so I shifted my legs, trying to give him more, and his nostrils flared.
“Motherfucker,” he seethed through gritted teeth. “You’re so fucking tight. So fucking warm. So…”
Unable to finish the sentiment, he gripped my hips with both hands, lifting my bottom off the rock, and he pounded deep, grinding hard as if trying to burrow even more of him than he could possibly fit inside me. Hips thrust forward, his chest bowed out, and his head fell back, exposing a neck full of corded and strained tendon. He let his lips part in amazement while he gaped up sightlessly at the moonlight and released his seed.
I watched the shock and elation on his face, and I felt complete. This man was a part of me. For the rest of my days, he would be my true partner, no matter where either of our fates led us.
When he was spent, he crumbled forward, bracing his forearms on the rock as not to crush me, even as his face burrowed into my hair, seeking solace. I listened to him collect his breaths as he clutched my hair in two hands and panted. Then he rolled off
to the side so he could lie on the rock next to me.
With his shoulder pressed to mine, we stared up at the night sky together, side by side, and he reached down to take my hand, our fingers intertwining warmly. After a time, he began to hum “Singin’ in the Rain.”
Smiling, I whisper-sang the words along with his humming. “Why am I smilin’ and why do I sing?”
Turning his head to look at me, his eyebrows shot up. “You know that song?”
I laughed a little at the question. “I’ve been to Earth, so yes, I know the song.”
Looking delighted by that, he brought our locked hands up to his mouth and kissed the backs of my fingers. “After I went to live with my grandparents, Grandpa Atchison would sing it to me almost every night to help me get over my parents’ deaths. It was the only song he could remember from what his mother used to sing to him, but I always thought it was the absolute worst thing to sing to a grieving child. He was crazy; there was no reason to smile. But now…”
After releasing a long breath, he shook his head. “Now that I think back on all of them, I realize that stupid song did help me heal. I can remember everyone I’ve lost and smile now. I can be grateful I even got to know them. They were good people, and they loved me. I was lucky as hell for getting them as long as I did. Just like I’m lucky to be getting this moment with you right now.” Closing his eyes, he sighed as he brought our hands to his cheek and brushed the backs of my fingers across his jawline. “This night’s going to stick with me for a very long time. It’s what’ll help me get through the hard times ahead.”
A tight ache filled my chest as a delighted smile crossed his lips. I was lucky too, I realized. Lucky to get him right here and right now. I’d always been too leery to accept the fact that he was my true love before because I couldn’t believe I’d ever be able to gain something like love and affection from another person for long. But he’d just helped me see that it didn’t even matter how long I got it. Each moment of the good stuff was a gift all on its own. And it wasn’t how long you had it that mattered; it was how well you appreciated it while you did have it.
Opening his lashes, he grinned at me as he untangled our hands. “You know what else,” he said. “You were right.”
“About what?” My brow furrowed as I watched him look up at the sky, making out his profile perfectly in the moonlight, from the curve in his cheekbones to the swoop of his eyelashes, and every hair growing along his jaw. It was so striking and familiar to me, I just wanted to reach out and trace my fingers over his lines, wishing I could memorize this moment so that it’d always be fresh and distinct in my mind.
Rolling onto his side to face me, he looped an arm comfortably over my hip and sent me a smile that I felt straight to my toes. “You said to me that it didn’t matter what world or dimension you traveled to; men would do anything for sex. Well, I’m finally agreeing with you. I would do anything for this.” His gaze focused on mine. “I’d do anything for you.”
Well, that was handy. Because right now, I felt as if I’d do anything for him.
Reaching up, he drew a lock of hair out of my face so he could see my eyes better. “Would it be too tacky of me to thank you for waking me from a deep sleep and giving me the best night of my life?”
I blushed and bit my lip before answering, “Would it be too pompous of me to say you’re welcome?”
He grinned. “Not at all. Own it, empress.”
Then he kissed me, once on the mouth, then my cheek, behind my ear. His fingers ran down the opposite side of my neck until he met the base and encountered the necklace I wore. It’d been hiding under my chemise until I’d stripped bare, but he must not have noticed it after that.
“What’s this?” He tugged at the strap until the end reached his hand and he was holding an amber-colored jewel in his palm. When it glowed in the moonlight, he lifted his face slowly to look at me. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yeah. That’s the amulet,” I confirmed.
He swallowed thickly. “The same amulet that can keep you on Earth permanently and send a Replacement back here in your stead?”
“The very one,” I whispered, easily taking it from his hand so I could hold it up to the light for both of us to study.
He laid his head beside mine so he could look up at it with me. “I had no idea that’s what they looked like. It’s smaller than I thought it’d be.” His finger came up to trace one pointed tip.
When he drew his hand away, a small white two-inch scar marring the inside of his forearm caught my attention. Dropping the amulet back to my chest, I caught his arm and frowned. “Where did you get this?”
Indigo smiled sadly as he looked at the old wound. “That would be a gift from your dear cousin Qualmer.”
I lifted my face in surprise. “You’ve fought Qualmer? In the flesh? When did you even meet him?”
His lips curled with amusement. “Meet is kind of a strong word, but sure, we crossed paths once. When the tenth reaping started, your family knew High Cliff would retaliate, so to stave off the news of their reaping reaching the king too quickly, they sent someone to the home of the current High Cliff emissaries living in Lowden—which were my parents—to take them out. That someone was Qualmer. Or maybe he volunteered. I don’t know. But just my mom and I were there when he arrived.”
Hissing out a breath, I ran my finger over the old wound, trying to soak up some of the pain from his memories. He covered my hand, then took my fingers and brought them to his mouth to kiss them in gratitude.
“There was this knock on the door. Loud and urgent. Mom answered it, and this bedraggled boy—only a teenager—surged inside, covered in blood and soot. He’d just lost an eye, so of course, Mom pulled him into a comforting hug, ready to assist him however she could.”
“Good God,” I uttered, already knowing where this was headed.
“He pulled out a knife and murdered her then, stabbing her in the back before I even realized what had happened.” Indigo shook his head and swallowed thickly. “When he turned to me next…” He sighed. “I don’t know. I was only eight. I fought him off as best as I could. But he still got a few good licks in. Here’s another.”
He showed me a white scar high on his rib cage.
“And another.” This one ran along the outside of his thigh.
I touched both of them, smoothing my fingers gently across the old, healed wounds. “How did you get away?”
“My father returned,” he said. “Qualmer saw him as a bigger threat, so he turned his attention to my dad and managed to kill him too. Others showed up then to assist us, and your cousin got away, jumping out a window and escaping.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, hating that it was my family who had caused him so much heartache.
“Not your fault,” he assured me, combing his fingers through my mass of hair. “Nothing anyone in your house has ever done has been your fault. Okay?”
I nodded, even though a part of me couldn’t fully believe that. The Graykeys were my blood. My people. And they’d caused a lot of destruction. It was hard to separate myself from that kind of darkness, and yet being here with Indigo, like this, I think I did feel a little cleaner.
Maybe enough time with him would convince me to completely believe him one day.
When his gaze dropped to my amulet again, a million thoughts swirled through his eyes. I swore he wanted to say something, so I softly asked, “What?”
His gaze lifted. “Before we seek out that jeweler in Tyler, do you think Melaina would reject the idea of taking a quick detour first? There’s a loch just outside the village. Someone I trust lives there. They should be able to tell us if the jeweler is a reliable source or not. Maybe give us a little background information to use as leverage.”
I nodded and smiled. “I’ll make sure she agrees to it.”
Shifting the amulet across my breast with the tip of his finger until the jewel purposely got caught on the tip of my nipple, he grinned.
“
Thank you. But until then…” His gaze lifted to mine, and his eyebrows waggled suggestively. “How much more of me do you think you can handle tonight?”
Chapter 28
Indigo
I was having the perfect sleep when a boot kicked my shoulder, jarring me alert.
I bolted upright, dagger already half unsheathed, prepared to kick ass, when I realized it was my true love’s temperamental aunt blocking the morning sunlight and glaring down at me. Hands on her hips, deep blue dress billowing and fiery red hair fluttering around her face, she kicked me again, in the knee this time.
“Ouch!” I scuttled backward, out of her foot’s reach. “What the hell?”
“You know what,” she snarled. “What the hell to you, you ass! I mean, I just adore how you’ve butted your way into our scavenger hunt and taken over. I bet you’re only delaying the inevitable to keep Quilla here as long as possible because you know she’s never going to claim you as her mate and bring you along to the old world with us. But newsflash, asshole, I’m not going to let you deter us from our goals.”
With a groan, I flopped back onto my bedroll and closed my eyes. “I don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about, Melaina.”
And where was Quilla? I was supposed to wake up to her wrapped in my arms, the both of us tucked inside my bedroll together, where I could make love to her at least another dozen times before we even thought of getting up for the day.
Not getting kicked by her damn unstable relative.
Feeling out with my mark, I found her near. So I opened my eyes and peered around Melaina’s obstructive skirts to discover her at the fire, trying to coax it back to life.
Completely ignoring my abuse, she sat, outfitted in a dress as well, which told me she planned on entering Tyler today and going into public. She only wore her trousers when she didn’t plan on having many encounters with others, because women in the Outer Realms who didn’t don dresses tended to stick out, and she liked to blend in as much as possible, though I knew she preferred pants.
