Hard as Rock

by Stephanie West

  The room was dim, yet when Roc pulled off his pants, Meline couldn’t help but gape at what he revealed. Nothing about the man was small, right down to the turgid cock jutting from his pelvis. His crown was so broad, her thighs clenched on reflex. The way he hovered over her, he looked ready to pounce with his intense silver gaze riveted to her naked body.

  “Roc?” she said nervously when she found her voice.

  “Roll over, angel,” he husked.

  Meline swallowed hard, recalling his promise to do unspeakable things to her as she rolled onto her stomach. She’d bitten off more than she could chew and yet if she turned back now, she knew she’d regret it.

  “No, no,” Roc chuckled in that deep rumbling voice of his.

  She rolled back to her side, confused, as he stretched out next to her.

  “Just relax,” he whispered.

  That was easier said than done.

  Roc wrapped one large arm around her waist and tugged her back against his firm chest. He gently stroked her belly while placing chaste kisses on her shoulder.

  He wants to spoon. She was a bit surprised but also touched.

  With nothing between them, Roc’s stiff cock pressed hot and heavy against the back of her thighs. He wasn’t prodding or insistent, yet there was no ignoring it. As daunting as he was, she wasn’t about to leave him hanging. Meline turned her head.

  “Kiss me.” She smiled back at him.

  “With pleasure.”

  His lips met hers and she poured herself into the kiss. She took his hand on her stomach and guided it to her mound. Meline lifted her thigh and draped it over his. Roc groaned into her mouth when she shifted her hips, pressing her ass against his crotch. She kept her hand over his, but he didn’t need to be shown what to do. Roc found her still pulsing clit as he insinuated his cock between her cheeks. He slowly rolled his fingers over her swollen nub with gentle pressure, while curling his hips, sliding his cock through the soaked folds guarding her pussy.

  Her kisses became more insistent as the heat between them rekindled. Roc sped up his tempo, adding more pressure as he worried her clit. Each time he pumped his hips, his rock-hard cock sheathed in silky smooth flesh grazed her labia. She clenched her thighs, desperate for more of the delicious sensations that kept spiking through her with each stimulating lunge. His cock jerked in response.

  “Fuck, angel, you’re going to make me come before I get a chance to sink into your sweet little pussy,” he groaned.

  She smiled at the way his muscular body trembled against hers. It was a heady thing knowing she was able to affect him this way. Roc buried his face into her hair and nosed around ‘til he found her neck.

  “Oh.” Meline drew in a sharp breath when his teeth latched on, holding her firm like a lion would his lioness.

  Primal instinct made her freeze, her body stiffening as a tremor moved up her spine. She had no clue being bitten on such a sensitive spot would be so pleasurable. Roc shifted his hips and notched his cock at the mouth of her pussy. Meline’s mouth opened wider, feeling the pressure of his broad crown as he demanded entrance to her body. He growled an inarticulate sound into her neck and his mouth tightened its hold, when her quivering channel spilled another flood of desire. He worked his pulsing arousal, stretching her open incrementally.

  “Roc,” she gasped, and gripped his arm.

  Roc vigorously stroked her clit while he continued to slowly impale her on his shaft. He just kept going and going. The sensation was unbelievable. His engorged crown pressed and rubbed against the bundle of nerves on the roof of her channel as he delved deeper. A needy sound she didn’t recognize escaped her throat, and her pussy spasmed hard. Roc’s hips bucked in response. Her cry echoed off the walls when his cock punched deep. He instantly froze.

  “Fuck, relax, angel. You’re clasping me so tight.” Roc’s voice was so deep it was a snarl.

  She couldn’t speak, it felt like he was in her throat. And the way his shaft pulsed, the twitching head bumping into the over-sensitized recesses of her pussy didn’t help. Even his warm fingers resting against her swollen clit were too much. Tortured pleasure coursed through her in waves. Meline panted as she tried to rectify being possessed by such a large man. After a moment Roc started pulling out and she clamored to grab his hips, uncertain she was ready for him to move as his cock grazed her slick walls.

  “Oh God,” she gasped.

  Her back arched when Roc resumed teasing her clit as he retreated. The spikes of pleasure had her stomach doing mini crunches. She writhed, conflicted between trying to escape while chasing the mounting ecstasy. Roc’s arm tightened around her waist and he stroked back in. His straining cock rubbed against every inch of her channel, kicking off another hailstorm of convulsions.

  “That’s it,” he groaned.

  “Oh,” she moaned deep, when he hit the spot deep inside that was quickly driving her wild.

  Each stroke was faster and deeper than the one before and the ache morphed into the agony of impending orgasm. She was riding the knife’s edge, ratcheting higher and higher. Roc sank his teeth into the back of her neck while pinching her clit and she burst at the delicious bite of pain. Something in his bite set her on fire, like she’d been injected with pure unadulterated nirvana. Meline screamed as the pleasure stole through her, shoving her over the cliff she’d been teetering on. Her muscles seized, her fingers and toes flexing.

  Roc snarled a deep feral sound and rolled them, pinning her on her stomach. He restrained her hands above her head, twining his fingers with hers as his muscular body pressed her into the mattress. Savagely, he thrust into her at an inhuman pace, forcing his thick cock past her jerking inner muscles. The powerful lunges drove her up the bed. The sound of his hips slapping into her ass and the headboard slamming into the wall weren’t enough to drown out her cries or his primal grunts. His heady delicious scent surrounded her, adding to the delirium.

  The ecstasy he was wringing out of her body was unbelievable. Her pussy should’ve given out by now but it continued to seize around his hammering cock. There was no escaping the fierce passion threatening to consume her entirely. Her orgasm raged on and on, burning through her like a wildfire. Roc slammed in, going deeper than before, his balls grinding against her ass. Meline screamed into the pillow as his cock jerked, spraying her insides with a jet of heat that forced her to climax again.

  “No more,” she whimpered deliriously as she went limp. This time she meant it. He was going to kill her.

  Roc grunted an incoherent sound, his body shuddering atop hers. Meline sighed when he rolled them back onto their sides. He kissed her shoulder, and she smiled sleepily then gave into exhaustion.

  8

  Roc

  Roc awoke with a yawn as light streamed in through the windows. He smiled, feeling Meline’s warm soft body pressed against his, recalling the glorious evening they’d spent together. Making love to her was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. He felt better than ever. The jittery sensation he’d been experiencing and the ache in his jaw was gone. Roc stilled and his smile faded as his gaze landed on her creamy skin pressed against his chest.

  Shit! Sometime in the night he’d relaxed, and his skin shifted back to its usual bronze tone.

  Attempting not to rustle the sheets, Roc retracted his wings and eased his arm out from beneath Meline.

  “Sacrament,” he softly cursed, realizing his tail was wrapped around her leg. Gingerly he uncoiled it.

  “No more pâté,” Meline mumbled, and he froze.

  He needed to get out of here before she awoke, but couldn’t help pausing to watch the way her face scrunched up in displeasure, her tongue darting out to dispel the imaginary taste in her mouth.

  “Don’t worry, angel, I’ve got it,” he whispered.

  “Roc.” She smiled, her eyelids fluttering before her expression went lax again.

  Something inside jumped hearing her say his name in her sleep, looking so happy and relaxed. Then his chest clenched
. He had no business going soft for a woman he couldn’t have. He knew in the back of his mind this was a bad idea and yet he’d pursued Meline anyway.

  Just get out of bed, you fucking moron!

  Roc eased the rest of the way out, taking a last look at Meline peacefully sleeping before he retreated to the bathroom. He softly closed the door, sighed and got into the shower.

  meline

  Meline awoke the instant the door clicked open.

  “Hello!” She scrambled to cover herself when John walked in, then remembered he couldn’t see her.

  Meline glanced at the other side of the bed, her brow furrowing when she didn’t see Roc, then she heard the shower running.

  “Oh, my apologies, madame, I should’ve knocked,” John commented as he carried a tray to the small table near the terrace.

  No, no, it’s all right, just come right in. This wasn’t how she imagined being awoken after the night she had. Don’t go making mountains out of mole hills. This isn’t your home, and what do you know about having a butler? She shook her head at herself.

  Her clothes were still in the bathroom, and as intimate as they’d been she didn’t feel quite right just barging in on Roc. Meline noticed a dress shirt and a pair of boxers tossed on the nearby chair. Hopefully Roc wouldn’t mind if she borrowed them.

  Oh.

  She paused as she got out of bed, taking stock of the lingering ache between her thighs. Meline blushed as snippets of the evening darted through her mind. Roc was a wild man. It was a wonder she could walk at all. Her hand stilled at the sight of the necktie as she reached for his shirt. The heat tingeing her cheeks spread down her chest. Their encounter was torrid enough, what would it have been like if Roc tied her up with it, like he’d threatened?

  As Meline threw on the oversized white shirt, she almost poked her head through the odd slit down the back. His boxers were large enough she had to roll down the waistband to get them to stay up, but eventually she got it.

  I guess that’ll do. She snorted, looking down at herself and headed to the table.

  “Coffee or tea, madame?”

  She smirked, seeing he brought two sets of everything. He’d known full well she was in here when he entered the room but still acted surprised.

  “Coffee, please. You’re just as wily as Roc, aren’t you?”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, madame. Cream and sugar?” John asked, his mouth quirking up ever so slightly.

  “Uh huh,” she replied to his feigned ignorance. “Both, thank you. So, is this the usual routine?”

  “Pardon?”

  “Do you usually shoo away Roc’s conquests after a quick breakfast while he hides in the bathroom?”

  “Madame, I…” John nearly spilled the cream.

  “Oh, careful.” She steadied his hand.

  “Thank you. I must apologize for rudely entering uninvited. You are correct, I did know you were here, clearly.” He gestured to the spread of coffee, tea and scones. “But it wasn’t my intent to frighten you away. I know you will be staying with us for a while.”

  “Oh yeah, sorry.” Meline suddenly felt stupid for her bout of insecurity.

  Why did the morning after seem to always bring doubt? Does he like me? Doesn’t he? Should we have done this? Are things going to be weird? Will we do it again? God, I hope so.

  “I know it’s not my place to say this, but I have been working for Roc for many years now and this is the first time I’ve brought breakfast for two.”

  Meline gaped at the bombshell John dropped. Really?

  “Well, I must see to some things at the museum and Roc has some errands he needs me to run.” He quickly excused himself, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

  Don’t go making a big deal of things.

  She forced the swirling thoughts from her mind, grabbed her coffee and wandered out onto the terrace. It was a brisk morning, way too cold to be out half dressed, and from the looks of it, it might rain. Meline took a big gulp of her hot coffee as she quickly took in the skyline before deciding to head back inside.

  “Fuck.” She heard Roc’s barked curse from the bathroom. It sounded like he hurt himself.

  She rushed over, opened the door and peeked inside to make sure he was okay.

  “Dammit, that always fucking hurts like a bitch,” Roc muttered as he blotted up the blood on his scalp.

  Along his hairline, there were two raw welts where the horns had been. She panned down and noticed the two stumps laying on the counter, then saw the biggest pair of bolt cutters she’d ever seen.

  “What are you doing?” She stared in confusion at his reflection in the mirror. From the looks of it he’d cut them off, but that didn’t make sense. Why would he have to cut fake horns off?

  Roc’s gaze darted toward her and the large wings on his bare back swiftly retreated into two long slits, disappearing beneath his shoulder blades. No costume was that amazing. Her breath sped up and she dropped her coffee, the mug shattering on the tile, as she took in the unbelievable scene.

  “Meline,” Roc said, his rugged face contorting.

  He tucked his tail into his loose jogging pants and tugged on a baseball cap. It was sufficient to fool anyone who wasn’t studying him too closely, but she’d already seen more than enough. Not that she had a clue what the hell was going on.

  “I don’t understand,” she stammered while backing up.

  “Please, Meline.”

  “You...you…” She shook her head, unable to fathom any of this.

  “Just let me explain,” he insisted as he came toward her.

  Oh, God. That’s why his costume looked so real, felt so real, moved the way it did. Even the shirt she was wearing with the slit in the back now made sense. Yet none of this made any sense. Meline felt like her mind was fracturing. I’m not insane. But that was the only logical solution.

  Meline froze as the description of the creature in her great-great-grandfather’s journal churned to the surface of her turbulent thoughts.

  “You’re the thing in Nicolas’ journal!”

  roc

  Meline stared at him in horror. She called him the thing in Nicolas’ journal and a part of him died. He had to hide who he was his whole life because people thought he was a monster. As much as society had progressed, some things hadn’t changed.

  “Yes, but that wasn’t me. It was my father. And we’re not things or demons. My sire saved Nicolas from falling off the old church. Believe it or not they were friends, not that you’d know it from the description Nicolas wrote.”

  The moment the words fell from his lips he knew he’d made a grave error. Meline sucked in a sharp breath, her face turning red as she retreated farther into his bedroom.

  “You have read his journal! You—you broke into my room, kept opening my window,” she screeched, making him cringe.

  Fuck me!

  “That was before I knew you. I only read a few pages and I didn’t take the journal. I don’t steal from innocents.”

  “Meaning what, you do steal from people you deem guilty?” She gestured to the painting on the wall in disgust.

  “I don’t just steal treasure and horde it. I find things and return them to their rightful owner, like Nazi loot,” he defensively replied, feeling like utter trash in her eyes. “But clearly that doesn’t make amends for anything,” Roc snapped, years of anger surfacing.

  “Yes, I lied to you. My whole damn life has been a lie. I knew your ancestor Nicolas. For hundreds of years I've lived in the shadows, surviving off the spoils I take from people too rich to know what to do with themselves, but what else do you expect me to do to survive since I’m a monster?

  “And yes, I broke into your hotel to take your journal, but I didn't. You want to know why? This is the really sad part,” he barked a morose laugh. “I saw you and something called to me. But that's just me lying to myself about shit I'll never have, because I'm not human. I'm not privileged to walk among you, to have a normal life. But I'm not
fully Khargal either," he snorted at how delusional he was.

  "I must be a fucking moron, looking for that damn family heirloom so my sire can go home, a father who fucking abandoned me once and refuses to wake up. Another fucking lie. Like he's going to wake up and be grateful. He'll just get on that damn ship and abandon me again. Sure, I could go, but there's no way in hell I'm going someplace I've never known, just to wind up another damn outcast."

  Meline stared at him in stunned horror, her whole body shaking, her mouth hanging open. Roc felt how tight the skin on his face was and the way his wings vibrated and realized he’d exposed the darkest part of himself in his fit of anger. He sighed and retracted his wings, letting his features relax, though it didn’t matter now, he’d already put the final nail in the coffin.

  “I have to get out of here,” Meline stammered when she found her voice and sprinted for the door.

  “No!” He couldn’t let Meline leave, not while she was worked up. Not after seeing him like this. And certainly not with the people who posed a threat on the hunt.

  “You can’t keep me here.” Fear made her voice tremble.

  As Meline reached for the doorknob, he scented pungent cologne and another recognizable smell.

  “No! Meline!” he bellowed as she turned the knob, but couldn’t get to her fast enough.

  meline

  No matter how she tried, Meline couldn’t catch her breath. She felt dizzy. Her heart was racing, the sound thundering in her ears. Nothing was what she thought it was, not Roc, not even her perception of the world. She no longer knew what was real or who to trust. She just knew she had to get out.

  Meline tugged open the bedroom door then stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes widening in fear, seeing the two men waiting on the other side.

  “I must insist you stay.” The nosy bald guy from the masquerade grabbed her.

  Roc growled and lunged.