“How much?”
Her fingers slinked into my hair, holding me tight. She kissed me with every ferocious strength she possessed. My breathing accelerated until my side burned.
Letting me go, she grinned coyly. “That much.”
I never took my eyes off her as I thrust my finger, stretching her inner muscles, claiming her. “Good answer.”
She twitched as I pushed a second finger inside. “I can’t wait to fill you. To prove that what I feel is real.” She was so tight, her body fighting my invasion.
My thumb stroked her clit. She shivered in pleasure, her hands catching my t-shirt. “More…”
My mouth watered to taste her. To drink and worship her. We didn’t have time. I should get her back to safety and wait until this was over, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“I’ll give you more.” Sliding down her body, I shoved her nightgown up over her waist, revealing her glistening pussy.
Her eyes popped wide as I imprisoned her thighs in my hands and bowed my head over her dark curls.
“Kite…”
My heart leapt. I grinned. “Have I ever told you how much I love it when you call me that?”
Before she could reply, I sucked her clit into my mouth.
“Oh, God!” Her legs spasmed, latching around my ears.
I rimmed her entrance, driving both of us mad. She writhed on the blanket, trying to get free from my questing tongue.
I didn’t let her go.
“Kite, oh…I need you.”
I smiled. “That can be arranged.” I sank my tongue desperately inside her.
“Oh, shit!”
I growled, “You didn’t specify which part of me you needed, so I’ll take liberties if you don’t mind.” I plunged my tongue again, licking her, drinking her—just like I wanted.
My cock throbbed, twitching inside my briefs.
“I want you—all of you!”
I chuckled, dragging my tongue upward, swirling around her clit before thrusting back inside her. “You already have all of me.”
She grasped the hay, her legs locking tight as I licked her harder.
Her taste drugged me. I had to have more. My pace increased, swirling, fucking, showing her I was alive and here and I would never hurt her again.
My teeth ached to bite.
My hips rocked needing to drive inside her, but I wouldn’t stop pleasuring her—not yet. Not until she came undone and accepted my gift. The gift of everything that I was.
Her fingernails jerked into my hair. “Enough. I need your cock.”
I shook my head, sucking harder. “Not yet.” Teasing her entrance again, I breathed, “Every night apart was fucking torture. Every time I closed my eyes, I dreamt of you.” My finger replaced my tongue while I flicked her clit, driving her skyward. “Do you want to know what fantasies I had while I healed?”
She moaned.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Thrusting two digits into her pussy, I purred, “I didn’t picture you as you might think. Yes, I grew hard for you, picturing you bound to my bed and accepting everything I gave you. Yes, I tortured myself with images of your hard nipples and flushed skin.”
She moaned as I rocked faster.
“But it wasn’t those images that undid me.” I kissed her inner thigh. “Want to know what did?”
She looked down, locking eyes with me.
She nodded.
I smiled, once again bowing to my task of worshipping this woman. “It was a dream that gave me hope. A dream where we do ordinary things. Talk about ordinary life. Become friends as well as lovers. I want to know you inside out, Nila. I want to know everything about you.”
Her legs trembled around my shoulders. Her onyx gaze matched the darkness of the stables. “I want that, too.”
She whimpered as I bit her. With a wicked wet lick, I forced her leg over my shoulder, giving me greater access and depth.
Her skin scorched, blazing with lust. Part of me wanted to drive her to a climax. I wanted her to come on my tongue and lap up every drop. But the other part wanted her snuggled in my arms, her legs wrapped around mine, our two bodies giving, taking, driving, craving.
“I want you forever.”
“Forever.” Her hips arched involuntarily, seeking more.
I splayed my hand on her lower belly, holding her down as she bucked into my mouth.
“Jethro…please.”
“What do you want?”
“You. I want you. All of you. Every part of you. Just you.”
My mouth went dry. I couldn’t deny her.
Her eyes were wild as I withdrew my fingers and prowled up her body. Without looking away, I licked her dampness from my digits and bent to kiss her mouth.
“Taste yourself on me. Know that I fully belong to you.”
She moaned, seducing me with her trust. “I want you inside me. I want to feel you deep, driving me insane.”
She was my ultimate fantasy come true. Dark hair, lithe body, vicious strength, and undeniable power. I’d licked her but instead of feeling like I’d given her a part of me, I felt as if she’d given me more. So, so much more.
Grabbing her wrists, I pinned them above her head. Hay crackled beneath the blanket, stabbing my knees, itching unprotected skin. But it was the best goddamn bed in the world because it was just us. No cameras. No locks. No fear.
“God, I want you.” My voice was rough, obsessed with her.
Her lips were red and swollen, matching the colour of her nipples through the white cotton. I’d never seen her look so sexy. “I want you whimpering—I need those incredible sounds you make when I slide inside you.”
Her lips parted. “I’ll do whatever you want if you stop talking and fuck me.”
I laughed. “Your wish is my command.”
Settling over her, I shoved my jeans and boxer-briefs to my knees and wedged my elbows on either side of her head. I should’ve supported more of my weight, but I needed to feel her beneath me. For her to know that she was blanketed by my body and soul—that I’d protect her forever. That she was mine.
“Let me inside you,” I whispered, nudging her pussy with the broad crown of my cock.
She bucked in my arms as I pushed upward, sliding through her slick arousal, taking her as surely as she’d taken me. My arms wobbled as she grabbed my arse, dragging me forward.
I couldn’t stand it. It was too good. Too intense. Too fucking much.
I groaned, burying my face in her throat. Without warning, I surged upward, impaling my thick length completely inside her.
Her wetness offered no hindrance, accepting every inch.
“Christ, Nila.” I grinded my hips against her as she whimpered.
“More. More!” The desperation in her voice took me hostage. I’d done that. I’d broken her by being shot and making her doubt my affection.
I was hers for eternity. I’d spend the rest of my life making her believe it.
Her hot wetness fisting around me drove me out of my fucking mind. I thrust harder.
We quickly turned from making love to fucking—straining to steal more from each other, driven by the need to hurt but also please.
Her lips landed on my chin.
Instantly, I brought my mouth to hers, slinking together, mimicking the action of our hips. Breaking apart, I groaned, “When I saw you coming to the stables…I fell even more in love with you.” I thrust faster. “When you let me take what I wanted while licking you, I gave the last shred of my heart to you.”
She threw her head back, sweat glittering in the hollow of her throat.
I licked it, avoiding the iciness of the diamonds around her neck. “So beautiful. So perfect.” My stomach clenched. I tightened my fingers around her wrists, loving the rapid thump of her pulse. “I’m never letting you go.”
Her eyes clouded with lust. “I don’t know who I am anymore without you.” She arched up, kissing me, moaning with my thrusts. “I believe in you.”
I wanted to sho
wer her with kisses. “I’ll never get used to you wanting me.”
“Wanting you?” Her eyes flared. “Jethro, I am you. I’m not a whole person anymore without you.”
I winced as her words squeezed my heart. “Fuck, Nila.” Hugging her closer, I plunged harder.
She moaned, inner muscles rippling.
“Shit, that feels so good.” She closed her eyes, pressing her breasts against me; reminding me we were still clothed, still barricaded from being completely free. “You’re so deep.”
“I can go deeper.” She groaned as I fucked her faster. My side hurt with every thrust, but an orgasm spiralled into existence. My balls sparked and the delicious gathering pressure at the base of my spine gritted my jaw. “I want to come so fucking bad.”
“Then come.”
“I want to come all over you, inside your pussy, your mouth. I want you every way imaginable. I want everything from you.”
“I want that, too.”
“I need you on your back, your knees, your stomach, against the wall, everywhere. I could fuck you for the rest of my life and still not get enough of you.”
I kissed her, sucking her tongue, turning every whisper and touch supercharged with erotic passion.
“God, I’m close.” She returned my kiss, wet and passionate—her lips dancing, stealing my soul all over again. Her thighs squeezed my hips, imprisoning me as I drove into her again and again. “I’m coming…God, I’m coming.”
I pumped harder, giving into bliss and stars. “Come. Fuck, I want you to come.”
“Come with me.”
“It would be my fucking pleasure.”
Nothing else mattered. Nothing but bliss and togetherness.
We gave in.
Our motions turned rabid, seeking one goal, devouring each other in a fit of sin.
“Fuck me. Oh, Kite. Love me. Fuck me. Ride me.”
I couldn’t hold on anymore. Digging my knees into the hay, I gave her what she wanted. I lived in her begs and drove faster until red pain flashed through my system.
I plunged into her, our groans and moans drowning out the sounds of our fucking.
Her core tightened.
I rocked harder, rubbing myself against her clit. My balls smacked against the curve of her arse and the hay prickled like tiny needles. Our bodies battled each other—a perfect avenue of violent emotions.
I thrust again and again and again. “Fuck, I’m going to come.”
Her back locked, her core clenched, giving me nowhere else to go.
Her legs locked tight around my waist. I cried out as her knee caught my injury.
“Yes!” She came hard and furious, fisting around me, dragging painful pleasure from every inch.
My orgasm unravelled without warning, exploding like a thunderstorm through every muscle. Lightning and rain drops, I spurted my very fucking soul into her.
One thing was for sure, I didn’t just come. I came undone.
And only Nila had the power to stitch me back together.
TIME WAS MY worst enemy.
Nothing good ever came from time.
It passed too quickly—good moments and happy memories gone in a blink. Or it passed too slowly—bad experiences and unhappy circumstances dragging for an eternity.
And now, when all I wanted to do was fall asleep in the warm stable with Jethro wrapped around me and the sweet scent of hay in my nose, all I could focus on was…time is limited.
We’d carved out all we could, and now it was over.
I looked at Jethro. My freshly cut hair whispered along my jaw. My heart suffocated with love for him and what he’d done.
He’d single-handedly brought me back from the brink, giving me back my self-worth, fixing me enough to stay strong—for a little longer.
He pulled up his jeans and buckled them. Without a word, he slipped off the hay bale and helped me stand. We hadn’t talked about what would happen now, but I already knew. He meant to send me back.
He’s leaving me again.
Sadness and fear tingled my spine.
I can’t go back.
But I had no choice.
I’ll break.
But I had to remain strong.
I couldn’t look at him as he smoothed down my nightgown, readjusted my coat, and plucked wayward strands of straw from my hair.
Say it. Tell me we’re about to go our separate ways after everything that’s happened.
Jethro stiffened, obviously sensing my frustration and terror.
Time would come between us again. I would hate it all the more.
“Nila…stop.” Gathering me in a hug, he kissed my cheek. “You already know what I’m about to say. I feel it.”
I snuggled into him, despite wanting to shove him away. All that talk of keeping me safe, yet he expected me to return to the monster’s den without him.
Please, don’t do it…take me with you.
“What are you going to do?” I inhaled his skin, flinching against the strange scent of antiseptic and musk. He normally smelled so delicious but now he reminded me of death and toil. “Whatever you’re planning, don’t. We could still leave. Tonight.”
Time doesn’t need us apart again. It’s had its fun.
I wanted to create my own time where we became immortal and lived a safe, happy existence forever.
But you know he’s right.
No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t leave Vaughn and he couldn’t leave Jasmine. And if Kestrel ever woke up, Jethro owed him a safe home to return to. As much as I wanted to scream and beg, I forced down my weakness. I was on his side—I would do what he asked of me, even if it was the hardest thing I’d ever do.
Damn obligations and common-sense. Hadn’t I deserved some fantastical ideology where we could run off into the sunset and exist happily ever after?
Why couldn’t life be like storybooks?
Jethro sighed, hugging me hard. His muscles vibrated; his heart thundered. He was alive, in my arms, and his orgasm was drying on my inner thigh.
He’s alive.
I had to trust he’d stay that way to carry out whatever he had planned.
“I need to end this, Nila.” Jethro pulled away, looking into my eyes. “You know as well as I do that we can’t be free until it’s dealt with.”
The cuts on my breastbone flared, agreeing with him. We’d suffered enough—it was their turn.
My eyes fell to his waist. It hadn’t escaped my notice that he refused to take his t-shirt off. However, he couldn’t hide the small pinprick of blood coming through the light grey material.
I reached for it.
He jolted back, clamping an arm around himself—glaring at me, daring me to question his conviction that he was strong enough to do this. “One day, two at the most. I’ll have everything in place and we can finally be happy.”
I shook my head. “Something will happen. It always does.” Tears rose. I hated that I was weak but I couldn’t deny it—the thought of going back to Hawksridge alone petrified me. “I can’t go back, Kite. Please, don’t make me.”
So much for not begging.
“They’ve hurt me. They almost won. I know you believe in me but I honestly don’t believe in myself anymore. Please…please don’t make me go back.”
I couldn’t stop shaking. I didn’t have the power to walk back there.
Jethro kissed the top of my head. “You’ve been so damn strong—stronger than me by far. I sent a note to Jasmine telling her what I’m planning. I asked her to make up an excuse to keep you in her room. She’ll watch over you. She’ll say you’re teaching her how to sew or something.” His voice dropped with love. “She’ll make sure you’re safe and out of their hands for two days.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that Jasmine’s power was minimal, slipping further on a daily basis. Bonnie had her ways to restrict Jasmine. I wouldn’t put it past the old witch to poison her for going against dear ole’ granny.
If Bonnie ever finds out Jasm
ine’s working against her...
“What are you going to do? Two days is too much time.”
Time again.
The enemy to us all.
The sands of hell.
“I’m going to call for help.” Jethro’s jaw twitched as if the thought of admitting he needed others frustrated him.
“Who?”
He frowned. “Just leave it to me. Don’t worry about it.”
“Tell me. I want to know.”
“You need to get back before they find you’re missing.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t climb up the drainpipe. Go through the front door and ask Jasmine for a key. She’ll wipe the camera footage in the morning.”
I took a step backward, needing to distance myself so I could walk out of there without kneeling and begging to go with him. “You’re changing the subject. Tell me what you’re planning.”
He exited the stall, forcing me to follow him down the aisle. “What do you want to know?”
Why couldn’t he see that by asking me to trust him and willingly return to the Hall, he owed me everything?
It’s taking everything that I am not to show you how terrified I am. How lonely. How defeated. You have to give me something to cling to. Something that will keep me strong.
“I want to know what you mean to do.”
He looked over his shoulder, holding his side.
Was it just me or was his skin whiter than before? A fever kissing his brow?
I wanted to strap him to a bed and nurse him back to full health. He still had a long way to go—no matter how adamant he was.
His golden eyes flashed in the darkness. “Fine, I’m going to call Kill. The guy you met at Diamond Alley. I’m going to enlist his help.”
“And he’ll give it?”
“Let’s just say, we have an agreement. He’ll come.”
“But he’s in the States. It’ll take him two days just to get here.”
Jethro spun around, coming to plant his hands on my hips. “I also plan to contact someone else. Someone who’s been doing a great deal of conspiring over the past month. Someone who has had enough like me.”
My heart skipped. Vaughn? “Who?”
Jethro kissed my cheek, brushing aside my hair with gentle fingers. “Your father.”
I froze. “Tex?”
He nodded. “Arch has been busy the past few weeks. While I’ve been healing, I’ve kept an eye on him. He’s gathering an army, Nila—not just media this time, but a proper bought team. He’s ready to hunt and I’ll give him the perfect target.”