24. Unbridled Lust

twenty-four

Unbridled Lust

Alessia

I t turns out Dovenak is relatively uneventful compared to Avylon. Other than murdering a slew of people, lighting the lord’s house on fire, and picking up a hitchhiking human, of course.

Here, we don’t have to worry about cursed forests or manipulative magic like we do back home.

Home .

I smile to myself at the thought. After all of this, I have a home to return to.

Glancing to my right, I look out over the rugged coast. Waves slam against the jutting rocks, roaring with each crash. Now, I understand why the docks and trade ports are further south in Ryalle—the cliffs are much too sharp here to scale down, and the current is vicious.

A slightly cooler breeze wafts in from the west, smelling of seaweed and fish. It’s oddly refreshing. The forest meets the cliffs, occasionally becoming sparse before regaining density.

We continue south toward the outskirts of Tyrson—a small fishing village—and it takes us the better part of the day to get there on foot, even without any other interruptions.

Eventually, we make it to a small clearing and pause to rest. The sun melts into the sea, and a breathtaking golden glow washes over everything in sight. Ken and Sera perch on a couple of boulders, gazing out at the sea, while Zephyr dangles his legs off the cliff’s edge.

Tynan paces the tree line, inhaling vigorously.

“Village is over yonder—on the other side of the woods.” Ken turns on his rock and points towards a cluster of formidable pine trees towering at the forest’s edge. “Makes a nice barrier, no?”

“Safe to rest?” Rainer asks, scouting the area alongside his brother.

“This is as good a spot as any,” Ken says, spreading his arms wide. He cocks a head, pausing. “I haven’t heard anyone nearby for a while.”

“No fresh human scents,” Tynan agrees.

“It’s best we stop for the night,” Rainer concludes, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he strides toward me. “We have plenty of time before the fête begins. We’ll continue our travels in the morning.”

Tynan grunts his agreement and tosses his bags down in the clearing. He unclips a larger bag and rummages through it.

Sera leaps off the rock, snatching her bag. Crouching beside Tynan, she begins searching through it. She emits a thoughtful noise as she locates her desired item—a tiny vial with a dropper.

“The tents are in your bag,” she says to Tynan.

“Here.” He pulls out two dark cloth cubes the size of my fist. “Where do you want them?”

“Tents?” I squint, trying to figure out what’s happening.

Rainer steps forward, taking one of the cubes. He strolls around, finding a nestled spot between two trees, situated halfway between the forest and the cliff but discreetly hidden from the open area. He tosses the lump down, satisfied .

Meanwhile, Ken snatches the other cube and tosses it up into the air. It tumbles to the ground and rolls like an unpredictable die before halting in a random spot in the clearing. Amused, he bursts into laughter.

“No,” Tynan says. He rushes forward and snatches the cube. “At least put it somewhere it’s protected.” Deliberately, he places the cube in the tree line, pressed against a robust trunk and concealed by bushes at its back.

The males and Sera continue to bicker about the placement of the cubes while I find myself utterly perplexed. I turn, making eye contact with Zephyr. He’s at the cliff’s edge, with his back to a boulder and his knees tucked to his chest. His mouth and eyes are comically large, betraying his bewilderment. At least I’m not alone in my confusion.

“There’s only two tents and six of us,” Sera says adamantly. “We should split up three and three.”

Rainer groans.

“What tents ?” I ask, confused, eyeing the little cloth boxes.

In response, Sera walks over to one, holding her vial, and uses the dropper to squeeze a couple of drops onto it. She jumps backward as the cube pops open and expands rapidly.

“Well, I’m relieved that worked,” she says, satisfied. “I’ve never actually used them before, and unfortunately, they’re not reusable.”

“Holy shite,” Zephyr says from behind us.

My eyes widen in astonishment, my eyebrows rising to meet my hairline as I watch the cube expand into a generously sized tent. Whenever I think I have a handle on the fae’s peculiarities, they surprise me again.

“I’ll stay with Rai and the little demon,” Ken says gleefully.

He joins me, patting me on the head as I gape at the now full-sized tent, with plenty of room for multiple muscular bodies to fit comfortably.

“Under normal circumstances, that would be my first choice, too,” Rainer says. “However, you should stay with the sorceress and the boy.”

“We don’t need to be supervised,” Sera mutters, squeezing a couple more drops of her concoction on the other cube. It also quietly explodes into a tent, nestling nearly perfectly between the trees.

“You’re untrustworthy,” Rainer says flatly. “Alessia and Tynan are with me.”

Sera sighs, then beckons for Zephyr to follow her. He balks, unsure, but then he hurries over to her. She leads him to the first tent, holding open the flap and gesturing for him to enter.

“Wait,” Ken says. Sera and Zephyr pause, turning toward him. “I hear a river over that hill. You don’t want to bathe?”

“If we stay in Wyrville tomorrow, I assume we’ll find an inn?” Sera says.

Zephyr nods. “Yes, the inn is near my cousin’s shop.”

“Good.” Sera smiles contently. “I’ll wait.”

“Me too,” Zephyr adds.

“No one cares what you want, human,” Tynan says.

The human in question flinches. I feel bad for the guy. The fae can mean well, but they’re decidedly not nice .

“Knock it off, Tynan,” I say, rubbing my aching neck. We’re all tired, cranky, and hungry. The last thing we need is to start provoking each other .

Sera and Zephyr enter the tent, and Ken turns to us, plastering on a broad smile.

“Great.” He gives us a thumbs up. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine. I’ve smelled worse things than a tent full of ripe arse.”

Rainer swipes a hand over his jaw, and I can tell he’s trying to hide a smirk. Once he manages to suppress his amusement, he gives Ken a stern look. “Keep a close eye on them, Kenisius.”

The shifter salutes, giving him a crooked grin. “My pleasure.” He chuckles, striding to the tent. “No bathing for this guy, either, then. Apologies to your noses.”

Tynan eyes me hungrily. “Looks like I’m with you, princess.”

Rainer growls, and in the blink of an eye, he’s in front of me, blocking me from Tynan’s view. “Keep it up, Tynan. The world will not mourn your loss.”

Tynan throws his head back and chuckles. He steps forward and pats Rainer on the shoulder. “It’s fun to rile you up, brother. Now go bathe—you reek of smoke and sweat. You’ll never consummate your bond like that.” He winks.

Rainer’s jaw tenses. “Knock off your shite.” He turns to me, his gaze immediately softening. “Are you okay with this?” he asks softly. “Sharing a tent with us?”

I nod. Tynan only flirts with me to rile Rainer up—there’s nothing else to it. As tough as the elder vampyr pretends to be, he’s as harmless as a pixie, usually. But I don’t voice my perspective aloud, not wanting to instigate anything between the brothers.

As for spending a night with Rainer… that will be a true test of self-control. But I’d rather be with him than away from him now, especially after so long apart. It feels right to be beside him.

Interestingly, I can tell my shadow agrees. There has been a noticeable increase in its stability. It’s as if its view of Rainer has shifted from enemy to ally, and it now finds peace in our friendship.

“I’ll be fine.” My eyes linger on the soot smudged on his sharp cheekbones. “Go—clean up.”

The tight muscles in his face and neck relax slightly, and he nods. “I’ll be quick.”

Like Sera, I’ll wait until tomorrow night to clean up. As refreshing as the river sounds, I’d rather not strip down and make myself vulnerable. Even though I have my shadow and Rainer and Ken, too, it doesn’t make mean I’m comfortable exposing myself out in the open.

Instead, I hoist my bag onto my shoulder, the weight pressing against my tired muscles as I make my way to my tent. I step inside, and refreshingly light air greets me. Surprisingly, it’s not as warm or stifling as I expected. Reaching out, my fingers graze the velvety soft texture of the tent’s wall, which is pleasantly cool.

One big room sprawls out before me, furnished with two cozy cots seamlessly integrated into the fabric—one on either side of the room.

I throw my bag down on one, rummaging for a knee-length tunic and fresh underwear to sleep in.

My leather clothes hug me like a second skin, suctioned to me as I pry them off. They’ve kept me surprisingly cool—likely bespelled like Ken and Rainer’s garb—but sweat beads on my neck. Summers in Dovank can get pretty warm, and today has been no exception. The further south we travel, the warmer it grows. At least today, we had the sea breeze working in our favor .

I bring my leathers outside, laying them on one of the boulders to dry out. Laughter seeps from Ken’s tent, and I smile, glad the animosity is lessening. He’s still in there with Sera and Zephyr because their voices ring out in light conversation.

Tynan and Rainer are nowhere in sight.

Instead of hanging around by myself, I head into the trees and climb a small hill. At the top, I spy a wide river meandering down at the base on the other side.

Staying hidden within the trees, I slowly descend toward the river and find a spot on the bank to sit. At first, I don’t see Rainer. A few seconds later, he emerges, facing away from me.

He raises both arms, running his fingers through his wet hair. The jewelry on his fingers and sharp ears glints in the waning sunlight. The muscles in his back flex, and I unabashedly take in his well-defined physique. The water reaches his waist, covering his lower half.

He drags a bar of soap over his body, washing himself. His body is adorned with dark tattoos that form intricate patterns of swirls and whorls. They cover his arms, extending across his back and down to his waist.

Though I can’t see it from this angle, I know his chest boasts a scripture in an unfamiliar language. However, the rest of the ink seems to be a collection of random patterns.

The only color comes from the inside of one of his arms—small splashes of red.

I’m in no rush for Rainer to finish as I hungrily take him in. The water drips down his muscles, highlighting his lithe yet muscular body. He isn’t as bulky as Tynan or Ken but sharp and efficient .

He turns, and the sun glints off his piercing blue eyes as they meet mine, highlighting the confidence and vulnerability there. His presence captivates me, and it’s as if time stands still as he holds my stare.

The sun’s fading rays highlight his chiseled jawline and stubble, adding an air of ruggedness to his already striking features.

A subtle smile tugs at the corners of his lips, hinting at a hidden depth beneath his indifferent demeanor. It feels private, like a secret shared between just us.

My heart quickens as he gracefully moves through the water, treading toward the shore. With every stride, the water responds, rippling around him.

He slowly emerges from the water. The sight of him standing there, completely nude, sends a jolt of excitement through me.

Unable to resist, my gaze involuntarily drifts downward. My heart pounds, and my mouth goes dry.

I crave his touch, missing the intimacy we were building before I pushed him away. Even in our dreams, we’ve managed to put distance between us. He respects my wishes, but I’m questioning whether it’s worth it, especially when he wants me as badly as I crave him.

Rainer chuckles. He begins to harden under my perusal, his thick shaft lengthening and standing to attention. I quickly put a hand over my eyes.

“Sorry,” I squeak out. “I mean, not sorry, but…” I trail off before I dig myself into a deeper hole.

He sighs, and I can hear him stepping closer.

“Mo róisín,” he says softly. “Look at me.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. ”

He chuckles again; this time, he’s so close I can feel his body heat wafting off him.

“Look at me,” he commands, more sternly this time.

He reaches up, gently caressing the hand obstructing my view. Slowly, I lower it and take him in. The fading sun and warm air have already begun to dry him. Only a few stray droplets remain. His wet hair is pushed back out of his face, allowing me to see every bit of his ethereal face. The only thing he wears is that tempting, taunting ink.

“What do they mean?” I ask softly, my eyes tracing the dark lines on his body.

He sighs, rubbing his jaw and glancing away. “Ever since I was a young faeling… I’d see the shadows in my nightmares. Sometimes, they’d help me escape.”

I go still, trying to process. This time, when I look at his tattoos, I view them less as random shapes and swirls and notice how the abstract designs look similar to my shadow’s essence.

I gasp.

“They look like…” I can’t finish. It must be a coincidence. But is there such a thing? Or is it another message from Fate?

“I know.” His gaze latches onto mine, the tight edges of his eyes softening. “I never knew what they meant, or why they meant so much to me, until recently.”

My fingers caress the tendrils along his shoulder. “It’s as if your subconscious knew before you did.”

“I always belonged to you and your shadows, my little rose.”

I blush furiously as my fingers trail below his collarbone to his chest, where the unfamiliar script sits. “What does this mean? ”

He bites down his lip as if fighting a smile. “Na tromluithe is binne,” he says softly, in a beautiful accent. “The sweetest nightmares.”

“Oh,” I exhale. My fingers trace the cursive lettering. “It’s beautiful.”

He gently taps the bottom of my chin, causing me to look up at his face as he takes me in with an intense, unreadable stare. “ You are beautiful.”

I can’t help the smile that blossoms on my face, alongside the curiosity rapidly beating in my heart. “Why did you choose that phrase?”

“It’s in my nature to have nightmares, so a plea for sweet dreams would be too much to ask for.”

“So you asked for sweet nightmares instead,” I whisper.

“The sweetest .” He nods. “Until I met you . Now I pray for our sweet dreams every night.”

A deep, raw kind of sorrow bleeds from him, and it strikes me just how much I was hurting him by taking my space. I wasn’t only searching for my freedom—I was abandoning him and stealing his peace. My heart clenches tightly as I come to the painful realization of my selfishness.

So many words perch on the tip of my tongue, but I’m not sure they can convey my complex emotions. The feelings intertwine with each other deep in my core—love, affection, guilt, apology, need .

As he studies me, his lips tilt up, and that soft dimple of his makes an appearance. I trace it, my thumb lingering on the edge of his lip. He playfully bites down, pretending to nibble on my finger and breaking the tense moment. I giggle and pull it away.

“What’s this one?” I reach for his right arm, where I saw a hint of red, and flip the inside of his forearm toward me. I gasp as I take in the sight of a bleeding rose.

Finally, he turns those icy blue eyes back to me. “You know what that one is, mo róisín.”

It’s me and him. Us . A rose and her thorns.

All of his tattoos, in a way, represent us . But this one is brand new based on the vibrancy of the ink.

“I thought the soul-bond was platonic?” I whisper. “Why would you get this if we aren’t together.”

His glacial stare softens. “This has absolutely nothing to do with the bond.”

“Then what does it have to do with?”

He reaches up, tracing a finger carefully over my Tradeling tattoo. “ You .”

My skin heats beneath his touch. “Why do you think we’re bonded?” I ask. “I mean, there has to be a reason for it, right?”

“There’s a reason for everything if you look closely enough,” he says. “As for us? We were meant to be, Alessia.”

His fingers linger on my jaw, caressing the skin there before he drops his hand. Neither of us pulls away, but we don’t move closer, either.

“I know you’re the one for me,” he says. “I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”

My heart flutters. I swallow the lump in my throat.

“What if I only want to be friends?” I ask quietly.

Lies, the voice inside me says. You lie to us both .

A dark, low laugh escapes him, and I feel it deep in my gut. It distracts me from my shadow-self’s voice .

“We both know you want more than that, mo róisín. It’s not a matter of if you’ll have me, but when. And I assure you, I am a very patient male.”

Without thinking, I reach out and trace one of the swirls on his ribs, tracing it lower. His manhood jerks, standing proud and hard only a hair’s breadth away from my hand.

I caress his pelvic bone, trailing to the dark tuft of hair framing his hardness. His hand flashes out, wrapping around my wrist to stop me.

“You don’t want me to touch you?” I ask, voice husky with desire.

He closes his eyes briefly, swallowing a pained groan. “I want nothing more.”

“Then let me,” I whisper.

“I can’t,” he croaks. “Even patient males can only take so much before losing it, Alessia. I need you to help me out here.”

A palpable silence settles between us, the weight of his words pressing against my chest. The air around us grows thick and heavy, making it hard to breathe. The lines on his face tell a story of vulnerability, allowing me to see his fear and longing.

When our gazes lock, the intensity of our desires collide, reigniting the smoldering flame between us—the one that never died out. It’s so powerful that it sends a shiver down my spine.

“You’re right,” I whisper. Finally . “I don’t want to be friends .”

His grip tightens slightly, then he sighs and relents, loosening his hold on me. I tug free of his hand, reaching for his length. My fingers curl gently around him, seeking his warmth. He’s silky soft, yet hard at the same time. I work my hand slowly up and down him, amazed at his girth .

“If we aren’t going to fulfill the bond, at least let us play,” I whisper nervously.

He groans, his hands working their way into my hair. “This is anything but playful—I take it quite seriously.”

“Then let us seriously enjoy each other,” I tease.

With a gentle tug on my hair, he pulls my head back, forcing me to face him. “I can make you scream my name without ever being inside of you, little rose.” A mischievous smile dances on his lips, and it spurs me on.

A rush of fiery heat overwhelms me, causing me to dissolve into a puddle of lust. All my reservations melt away, and I surrender completely to the intoxicating mix of love and passion I feel towards him.

Gripping his erection harder, I make my intent clear. “Me first.”

“Alessia,” he hisses, his fingers winding deeper into my hair.

It boosts my confidence, and I shift my weight forward, resting on my knees before him. His breath quickens with certain motions, especially when I swirl my thumb around his mushroom tip, licking the underside lightly.

I smile around him and take him deeper into my mouth. He hisses, and his hips jerk forward until I’m choking. He holds me in place, sliding in and out of my mouth. Tears stream down my face, but they only turn me on. I grip his arse, letting him know I’m okay with this.

“Gods, you naughty girl,” he mutters darkly. “You take me so well.”

Keeping a steady rhythm, I work him until he goes rigid.

A loud, low groan comes from him as he shoots a thick, salty stream down my throat. Swallowing it all, I lean back on my heels and wipe my mouth.

Before I can say anything, Rainer leans down, pressing his mouth to mine. He kisses me with enthusiasm, unfazed by the taste of himself on my lips.

He pulls away, cupping my face tightly. “Gods, you beautiful, wicked woman. How did I get so lucky?”

Without giving me time to reply, he scoops me up in his arms and plants me on the soft grass, hovering over me. His lips descend on mine again, and I giggle, squirming with delight.

It fuels his desire, and we continue to explore each other with unbridled lust.