Chapter 24 : We Didn’t Sleep
It was incredibly still in the room, the only sound that of Jared slowly turning the lock on the door into place. It
echoed through the space with finality. We were alone. He turned to look at me, his shoulders tightening and then
relaxing as he took a breath.
“Do you know what I am?" he asked, taking a step toward me.
My heart was beating a million miles a minute as he closed the distance between us, his gaze locked on my face.
I couldn't answer. I couldn't form the words. Did I know who he was? A bounty hunter… murderer… closeted
master of antiquities… Aeris has called him something else, though.
A lost prince.
“Why did he call you a lost prince?" I breathed as he continued to close the distance between us.
He stopped short of me, looking down at me and the way the moonlight was touching my shoulders. He didn't
answer my inquiry, but he reached out and ran his fingers over my exposed skin. I closed my eyes against his
touch.
“You're not safe around me," he breathed.
“Why are you trying to push me away?" I replied, leaning into his touch as he stroked my neck.
“Because this won't end well for us," he admitted, a hint of regret in his voice.
I opened my eyes, finding him incredibly close now, close enough for me to rest my hand against his chest. I could
feel his heartbeat hammering nearly as rapidly as my own.
“Why?" I dared to ask. I bit down on my lip and closed my eyes again as he reached up and plucked the pins out of
my hair, releasing my curls.
“Eliza," he whispered, resting his forehead against mine. We were silent for the space of a breath, my palm spread
wide over his chest. “I'm a Dark Lord. Do you know what that is?"
“Yes."
I knew of Dark Lords. I knew one personally, in fact. Maybe that's why I'd found Jared so familiar. His dark eyes and
even darker shadow of power suddenly made sense. Maybe like the White Queens, his lineage branched off into
seemingly endless factions of family carrying the same powers and traits.
'I'm not afraid,' I told myself. 'I'm not. I'm not.'
“I could hurt you," he said, tilting his head so his nose grazed against mine. I felt his eyelashes on my cheek as he
brushed his lips against my jaw. A shiver ran down my spine, causing me to curl my toes in anticipation. “I will hurt
you."
"You couldn't hurt me if you tried," I whispered.
"I could," he repeated, but his voice cracked over the words.
"No," I replied, closing my eyes as I leaned into his touch.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe took a shuddering breath, then leaned forward, brushing the softest kiss against my lips.
He had some kind of power over me that I couldn't put into words.
I opened my mouth to him, my hands running up his chest and gripping his shirt, pulling him closer. He groaned low
in his throat, a tremble running through his body as he tangled his fingers in my hair and deepened the kiss, his
tongue running along my lower lip. I whispered his name in a barely audible plea.
Thank the Goddess he'd locked the door.
His free hand trailed down my back and over the laces that held my dress up. He loosened them with his fingers,
pulling on the fabric until it gave way. The sleeves fell from my shoulders and the bodice fell over my chest, held up
only by the breasts.
He released his grip on my hair and trailed his fingers along the tops of my breasts. I sucked in my breath, a
desperate moan escaping my lips. He stole the sound with another kiss, then pulled the dress down until it rested
around my waist.
"Eliza," he breathed against my lips.
He cupped my breasts, his calloused hands warm and rough against my skin. My n*****s tightened and peaked
under his touch, begging to be touched.
I wanted to ask him if he felt what I was feeling. I wondered if he felt that same magnetic pull. I didn't want to break
this spell, however. I couldn't form the words anyway, no matter how hard I tried. He bent his head, running his lips
across my chest, then took one of my n*****s between his teeth. I hissed, gripping his shoulders in response to the
sudden sensation.
But I liked it, a lot.
"Don't stop," I gasped as he sucked, his tongue flicking over my n****e, sending a rush of warmth down my spine. I
threw my head back, shivering in ecstasy.
He made a primal, very male sound deep in his throat that set my teeth on edge with desire as he knelt before me,
his hands running over the curve of my hips and gripping my ass over the dress.
His lips traveled lower, the tip of his nose dragging over my belly before he kissed me just above my hip bone. I
closed my eyes as he slowly pulled my dress down over my hips, exposing me completely to him.
"No underwear?" he growled, circling his thumb over the apex of my thighs.
I choked on whatever sarcastic reply I'd had in mind as he kissed me just below the belly button.
I was drenched. I could feel the wetness pooling as he slid his fingers between my thighs. I hadn't realized I was
clenching them together until he forced my legs apart, growling in satisfaction.
I cried out in mingled shock and relief as his mouth settled on my core. He was rough, his stubble scraping against
the tender skin along my upper thighs as he pulled me closer to him, one hand spread wide on my lower back to
stop me from moving away.
"Jared," I cried, tangling my hands in his hair.
I was losing the ability to stand upright, my legs trembling as the warmth of his mouth fanned over my skin, his
tongue lapping me into a stupor. "I–I can't–Oh, please–" I pleaded, my breath coming in gasps as I fought to stay
upright. Every muscle in my body tightened. I was on the edge of release.
But then he pulled away.
I yelped in surprise as he scooped me into his arms and walked me across the room, tossing me roughly on the
bed. I looked up at him, watching as he hastily removed his clothing. His eyes were on me, on my body, on my legs
spread wide on the bed.
"f**k," he cursed under his breath, his eyes glassy with passion, heat burning behind his eyes as he watched me. He
was nearly all the way undressed, wearing nothing but his shirt, which was long enough to hide the one part of him I
was absolutely desperate for at the moment.
He slowly tore his eyes from my fingers and met my eyes, his gaze feral and dripping with hunger. He grabbed my
ankles and pulled me toward him.
There would be no going back, not now… not now that he was climbing onto the bed, holding himself over me as he
bent his head to kiss me. It was a long, hungry kiss. He ran his tongue along mine as he lowered himself on top of
me.
He explored me with his hands, running his fingertips from my cheek all the way down to my navel, and then
between my legs. I shivered under his touch, then cried out as he slid his fingers inside of me. I arched my back,
pleading with him as he circled his thumb over my clit.
I'd never been with a man before, not fully. I could feel the length of him resting against my inner thigh, hard and
hot and aching as he slowly ground against me, his breath coming out in a rasp.
I whimpered as he worked me with his fingers, always slowing his movements whenever he felt my muscles tighten
around him.
He was enjoying this. He was enjoying teasing me and making me beg. He was watching every shred of pleasure
and desperation pass over my face, the corner of his mouth lifted into a devilish smile.
He kissed me again, his hand leaving my core and resting on my knee, pushing my legs open wider for him. I tore
at his shirt, ripping it open in a shower of buttons that bounced over the bed and onto the floor.
The head of his c**k slid across my drenched entrance again and again. My eyes nearly rolled in the back of my
head at the movement, my arms falling limp at my sides. With one hand he took me by the wrists and pinned them
above my head, holding them firmly against the mattress.
"You're a virgin, aren't you?" he rasped against my neck.
"I'm not afraid," I whimpered.
He choked on a short laugh, his eyes shining in the moonlight as he rose onto his knees between my legs, running
his hands over my thighs in the softest of touches. My words were an invitation. Claim me, I prayed. Take me
however you want.
"You're exquisite," he breathed, taking me by my hips and pulling me toward him. He positioned himself, his hand
stroking his length over and over, his eyes fixed on mine.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe thrust into me achingly slow–inch by inch, by inch, until I was gripping the bed sheets in a desperate attempt to
stifle the scream threatening to tear through the room. He pulled out just as slowly, testing me, his hands gripping
my hips tight enough to leave marks.
I knew he was holding himself back. I could see it in his face, which was twisted in concentration. He was trying not
to hurt me, but I was beyond caring. I wanted him to release himself on me, to ravage me, to tear me apart.
"Please," I whimpered as he slowly pushed his length inside of me, stretching me apart. "Oh, f**k, please–" I arched
my back as he pulled out again, a little faster this time. I clenched my muscles around him, trying to stop him from
pulling out completely.
He growled, his fingernails digging into my hips.
"Don't play games with me, Eliza," he choked, then thrust back into me with all of his might.
I screamed, the line between pain and ecstasy blurring just like my vision as he thrust over and over, his teeth
gritted in concentration. "f**k! You are fucking... tight–"
He grabbed my ankle, lifting my leg in the air. He pulled me closer, his teeth grazing my ankle as he thrust, and
thrust, and thrust until I was seeing stars. His other hand toyed with my clit until I felt a rush of warmth tighten in
my belly. I gripped the sheets, gritting my teeth to stop myself from babbling incoherently.
"Come for me," he commanded.
I whimpered, shaking my head. I clenched my muscles around him again and he roared, his eyes narrowing in
concentration. I didn't want this to end, not yet–maybe not ever. I was absolutely out of my mind.
He dropped my leg and in one swift motion had me face down on the bed, his grip tightening on my hips as he
drove into me from behind. I screamed into the pillow, losing myself completely.
"You're mine," he rasped, tangling his fingers in my hair. "No one else can have you. No one else."
He lost himself just like I was praying for. He claimed my body, rocking into me fully and crying out as he spilled
himself inside of me just as my body tightened with a mind-bending pleasure that had my vision going black and my
chest heaving for breath.
I trembled beneath him. He pulled me into his chest, holding me upright against him. He was still inside of me, his
c**k pulsating in rhythm with his thundering heart.
I leaned my head against his shoulder, fighting for breath. He cupped my breasts and then kissed my neck all the
way up to my ear.
"Again," I said in a shattered breath. "Please, I want to do it again."
“Insatiable," he rasped in my ear, his breath tickling my neck.
I was totally at his mercy in this position. The air in the room was chilled but my skin was burning with heat and
unquenchable desire.
He flipped me over, our legs tangling in the bedsheets.
We didn't sleep.
Not for a long, long time.