Chapter 44

M y hands shook. This wasn't how the spell was supposed to go.

I glanced at Skrain. His expression was frozen somewhere between shock and joyful skepticism, the ghost of a smile making his lips twitch as he stared at the gem.

Improvisation wasn't a wise course of action when it came to enchantments, but I had no time for distilling or careful preparation. A genuine, heartfelt emotion like this couldn't be reproduced on command, and since the stone had already reacted to his tears, I had to try—my exhaustion be damned.

I rolled my shoulders as I called upon the warm flow of my magic and recited the incantation.

By shadows' void, where darkness reigns,

A stone to bind in blood and chains.

Through silence, deceit, regret its power swells,

To imprison monsters from the Hells.

The jewel pulsed with light, the tingle of power flowing from my fingertips into its center. My voice strained, growing thin while I poured all of my energy into channeling. Even for an experienced caster such as myself, this spell was a challenge, and I'd already exerted myself applying the other two ingredients.

With each word, the stone glowed brighter. Skrain didn't dare to move, breaths shallow, watching me work in silence.

As the last syllable left my lips in a sigh, Skrain's tears had been absorbed.

"Is it done?" he whispered.

I nodded, almost stunned as I placed the jewel on the table. My hands were a little numb, and I rubbed them together. "Yes. Yes it's done—I think."

For a few moments we stared at each other, then Skrain hollered. Cradling me in his arms, he jumped up.

"You did it!" He kissed my forehead. "My wife is a genius!"

I laughed, relief and elation flooding my thoughts while Skrain danced over the terrace, spinning, holding me tight.

He paused and gave me a stern nod. "I think you deserve a reward," he said decisively.

My mood dimmed. "But we haven't figured out how to weaken Aculeus before we?—"

"Shut up, Keryssa." He kissed me again, on the lips this time to showcase his serious intentions of shutting me up. It worked. "If I say my darling wife deserves a reward, she gets a fucking reward. Besides, I didn't drink the entire night away. I had a conversation with Emily earlier, and she said she has a few tricks up her sleeve. She wants to talk her plan through tomorrow morning."

"But—"

"No more buts right now," he interrupted. "You need some good old rest and relaxation, and I have something special in mind, something I've always wanted to try. All you have to do is let me do my thing and enjoy, yes?"

I swallowed another complaint. Skrain was right, I was tired and my thoughts sluggish. "Fine," I sighed. "Show me your special something."

His hands shifted my body, twisting me so we were chest to chest, guiding my legs to wrap around his hips and my arms around his neck.

"Hold on for a second," he said and when I did, he let go.

He fetched the stone from the table and put it safely in his pocket before carrying me toward the house. Stopping abruptly, he craned his neck to look up. Smooth, thick vines shot from his outstretched palms, and I looked over my shoulder, watching them surge high, all the way to the balcony of our bedroom above.

They twined through the ornate railing, twisting into one thick rope as they met on their way down to us. At the bottom, they split again in a y-shape. More smaller vines branched off from the ends. A few wove into something resembling a seat, slimmer growths forming a backrest, and two loops resembling stirrups.

Then, for the first time, I witnessed Skrain's vines disconnecting from his body. They withered at the base of his palms before the stumps retreated beneath his skin.

"Doesn't this hurt you?"

He laughed. "Only a little. Once separated from me, the vines wilt soon, but I can control them until then. Growing them back expends a little more of my magic, but I'll deal with that later. Sleep will help, and this occasion is worth it."

Fiery excitement coiled in my belly. "So what the Hells is this contraption for?"

"You'll see in just a moment." Skrain grabbed my ass. "I know you'll love it."

With a half-convinced hum, I released him. He lifted me, and I bounced softly as he sat me down on the braided vines.

"Lean back," he instructed.

I relaxed, getting comfortable. It was like sitting on a cozy, elastic swing, and I giggled at the weightless feeling tempting me to kick my legs.

"Like this?" I asked.

"Perfect," he purred.

Something slithered along my wrists, and my pulse hopped. While short vines tied my wrists, pulling my arms taut above my head, Skrain's hands wandered over my clothed breasts, teasing at the piercings decorating my nipples. His caress drew over my thighs and calves to my bare feet.

He took the right one between his palms, set a slow kiss atop it, and slid it into one of the loops. The vine fastened around my ankle while he gave my other foot the same treatment.

An ache built in my core and the first dew of arousal slickened my folds as I realized the position I was in.

I hung suspended, bound and immobilized. And Creators, absolutely nothing got me hotter than being at my cruel husband's mercy.

"Now comes the part I have dreamed of, my priceless treasure," he said, eyes flaring with an expression I knew and loved.

Desire.

The vines around my ankles tugged upward and to the sides, spreading my legs. My skirt slid up and bunched around my stomach, exposing my damp panties.

Skrain's gaze dropped to my sex as he licked his lips. "Would you look at that …" He tutted. "Does being tied up in my vines get you this wet, my little slut?"

By now, after the weeks we'd spent together, falling into our dynamic was both relief and exhilaration. It was as familiar and comforting as the moon's soft glow, and yet as thrilling as diving headfirst into turbulent, dark waters.

"Yes, master," I admitted, cheeks heating. "Knowing you could do anything to me and I'm helpless to resist … it's my favorite fantasy."

He smirked, stepping between my legs. "And I love seeing you like this, Kerys. My wife, my prey, bound and ready for me to fuck."

I was at the ideal height for him to take me, my groin lined up with the erection bulging in his trousers.

His hands found my waist again, rocking me slowly back and forth. Fingers hooking into the waistband of my thin panties, he tore them off in one, swift yank, baring my pussy to the cool night air.

A grin playing on his face, he teased along my mound. He flicked the piercing above my clit, and I moaned loud enough for the neighbors to hear—if we had any. But we did have servants … My thoughts drifted to their quarters on the ground floor, and my eyes snapped to the blackened windows.

"Oh, Kerys, Kerys. What am I going to do with you? I know how much you love being watched while I fuck you," Skrain said, thumb circling the throbbing nub of nerves crowning my slit. "Are you hoping the servants are looking at us right now?"

I bit my lip. "Y-yes."

"Oh, they are looking. Nobody could sleep while you're moaning like this." He nodded at the house.

I squinted. My eyes took a few seconds to adjust, but soon, I made out figures moving in the dark, squeezing into the window frames. My cunt clenched, weeping. I couldn't see their faces, but it was enough to know they were there.

"Because you've worked so hard, and you've been so obedient, I won't make you wait tonight," Skrain said, unlacing his trousers. "I promised a reward, and a reward you'll get."

His cock burst free, the piercings at the head gleaming with drops of lust. He stroked himself, letting me get a mouth- watering look at his impressive size before guiding his length between my legs.

The tip nudged my entrance, and I groaned as he pressed slowly into me. His upward thrusts were hard and steady, and the stars above blurred in front of my eyes.

Fuck. How could a simple change in position be this damn good?

Suspended, the pull of the ground was a faraway memory, letting me fly high on pleasure.

Every time he drove into me, the elastic vines made me sway. The angle of his dick inside me sent shudders along my body, each and every roll of his hips perfectly hitting that forward pleasure spot along my inner walls.

"Tonight, you can come as many times as you like, whenever you like," Skrain groaned, keeping up that maddeningly even, deep rhythm. "But I'm going to fuck you for as long as I want. You're only getting out of this swing when you're drenched in my cum, understood?"

I made a whimpering noise somewhat close to the word yes , and with my husband in such a generous mood, that answer was enough for him.

"Good little wife. No more talk. Now I want to hear you scream for your adoring audience," he said, pulling out before he slammed into me.

And I did just what he asked. I screamed.

I screamed my euphoria to the moon above, moaning his name while he impaled me with punishing thrusts.

One of his hands found my breasts, massaging them in turns, tweaking my nipples with delightful bursts of pain. The other hand brushed along my folds, up to my clit, and a single touch was all it took.

My breath caught as an eruption of ecstasy shook me, momentarily making me black out. As I was coming down from my peak, something appeared in front of my face.

I blinked away the haze of my orgasm, bringing the green object into focus. It was a bundle of vines connected to the swing, threaded into a long, girthy shape with a bulbous head, closely resembling his cock—only a little larger yet.

My eyes widened as the plant phallus pressed against my lips, and Skrain let out a lust-hoarse laugh.

"One of your pretty holes isn't enough tonight, my darling wife. Either you get it nice and wet, or I'll fuck your ass dry. It'll hurt both ways, just as you like it, but you decide how much," he said, favoring me with a wink.

My eyes rolled back as pleasure surged through me. I couldn't get enough of him talking down to me like that. There was nothing I wouldn't have done if he spoke to me this way. I would have let him do anything to me, followed any order, even crawled on hands and knees.

My mouth fell slack and the bundle of vines slid between my lips. My tongue swirled around it, exploring the ridges and bumps, sampling its earthy, grassy tang.

The green phallus retreated and a moment later, as it prodded my ass, I took a deep breath, relaxing my muscles. It squirmed into me, the pleasure and pain of the stretch bringing tears to my eyes.

"Oh Creators, this is even bigger than the plug," I groaned, gritting my teeth.

"That's it, my pain slut," Skrain murmured, his thrusts not letting up. "Just a little more."

The vines writhed . They contracted and expanded, moving like a snake, touching every sensitive nerve, claiming every inch of my insides. The sensation was so foreign, so alien, so fucking amazing, shivers of flame passed through me.

"My naughty wife is doing so well," Skrain said, leaning down to press his lips to mine. "Taking her husband into both holes at once, just like a good slut should."

I moaned against his mouth, hungry for him and for the taste of tobacco and wine lingering on his tongue.

"One of these … days," he panted while he was rutting into me like a wild animal. "I'll get a mage to remove that Gods damned protection spell and—" He kissed me, ravenous, teeth grazing my bottom lip as he pulled away. "And then I'll make everyone watch while I finally put a baby in you."

That was it for me.

My second climax almost tore me in two.

I floated, a hum under my skin. I thought it would never end, wave after wave of heat rolling through me, goose bumps scattered across my body. When I stopped convulsing, Skrain pulled out. He stroked himself, pumping once, twice?—

Threads of white spurted from the head of his cock, soaking my dress, streaking my thighs and belly, glazing my mound. Some landed on my hair and face, right by my mouth, and I greedily lapped up the salty droplets.

"Told you I'll only stop after you're covered in my cum." Skrain grinned, tail swaying. "What a pretty mess you are …" He slid a finger along his seed on my chest and brought it to my mouth. I sucked it between my lips, his eyes blazing as I licked it clean.

"Maybe I should leave you hanging out here for the servants to find tomorrow morning?" he suggested, brows raised.

I huffed a tired laugh. "You'd never. I know you can't sleep without me," I teased, letting my overworked muscles fall limp in the swing.

He shook his head, faking disappointment, while he freed me from his vines. "Damn. You saw right through me."

When I was safe in his arms again, my lids already shuttering on the way upstairs, he snickered. "So, the thought of me getting you pregnant makes you come, huh?"

"It makes you come, too," I slurred, my tongue slow from content exhaustion.

"You bet it does, Kerys."

I dozed off when a stray thought rattled my brain half-awake.

"What about containing the demon?" I groaned. "Now that the stone is complete, he won't wait much longer. And what if it doesn't work, what if?—"

Skrain pressed a hand to my mouth. "Don't worry, my darling wife. We've waited this long; we can wait one more night. Rest now. And when the sun rises, we'll solve those problems—together."

I barely managed to nod before my head fell against his chest, my eyes too heavy to stay open.

Together , I thought. Yes, together, we'll find a way .