15. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Iris

The bathroom is filled with steam, and the water warms against my body as I sit in the deep tub. The soft trickle of droplets leaving the tips of my skin to drip into the water below interrupts the silence occasionally. It's peaceful. Or rather, it would be if Remus's words weren't clinging to my thoughts. In my time in his care, I've never known Remus to say things on impulse. But his words seemed very candid at the moment. He almost sounded jealous of Jude. But would he really kill him because of me?

I sink deeper into the tub as my mind wanders to Jude. He's a determined man. And his knowledge of the resistance brings me hope again. It also makes me concerned about his closeness to Zaya and what that could entail now that she's bringing him around Remus .

After an hour the water begins to grow cold and prune my skin. I reluctantly get out of the tub, making my way to the mirror that stands on the wall. The edges of the mirror light up upon my approach, giving me the perfect view of myself. Remus's "care" has done more for my physical appearance than man's invention of spa days and creams ever could. My skin is clear of all dirt and grime and practically glowing in my reflection. Even my hair, which I haven't seen in years, has grown past my chin, the color a glossy black that holds soft waves. I look healthy and feel better than I've felt physically in years.

The sound of the door opening catches my attention, and I turn just in time to see Remus entering the bathroom. His expression is unreadable as his gaze quickly sweeps over the room to find me standing in front of the mirror.

Naked.

His gaze darkens as he takes me in, closing the door behind him to make his way to where I stand. My heartbeat quickens the closer he gets to me, and I know he hears it. A small smile plays on his lips, confirming my suspicions.

"Enjoying the view?" he asks. I clutch the towel closer to my chest as he approaches, and he notices the motion, raising a brow. He places his hands around my waist, guiding me around to face myself in the mirror, his tall physique standing behind me. His purple eyes meet mine in the reflection, burning bright with excitement.

"I meant you, Iris. Look at yourself." My eyes slowly shift from his to my body as he pulls the towel away, and I feel my cheeks burning from embarrassment. I've never seen myself as a sexual being. I've never even thought about sex and what exactly it entails until I met Remus. And now, as I look at myself in the mirror, I have no idea what to look for. I don't understand what he wants me to see. When I look in the mirror, I see a terrified girl.

Remus chuckles softly behind me, his hands gently pushing mine away from my body, reaching up to cup my breasts. A light gasp leaves my lips from the bold action. My breasts fit perfectly in the palm of his hands. He places a soft kiss on my throat, and I shiver when I hear a deep rumble from his chest.

"You're a beautiful woman, Iris." He lifts my chin, forcing me to look at myself.

"Your breasts are perfect. Your body curves in all the right places, calling to me to be touched..." He emphasizes his words by running his hands over my stomach and waist, moving his left hand up to cup my breast and his right hand deeper toward my sex. I tense, my body moving away out of reaction, but his grip tightens, pulling me closer to him. His hand dips between my folds, and he slowly begins to rub his finger over the sensitive bud that resides there. I feel the familiar ache of arousal slowly being coaxed alive by Remus, his eyes staying lined to mine in the mirror.

"It takes everything in me not to fuck you every time you cross my path," he murmurs as his finger dips into my tight channel. I open my mouth, letting my soft shudder wash over the room. Remus's finger strokes me on the inside, mimicking what usually happens between us during sex, and my body responds accordingly. My inner walls grow wetter with each stroke, quivering in anticipation of what usually follows.

"Look at yourself. You're a minx without trying."

I open my eyes to look at myself in the mirror. My cheeks have a light red stain over them, my mouth is slightly parted, and my eyes are glazed with pleasure. Even my nipples are beaded under his touch. Just as the thought crosses my mind, Remus squeezes my nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

"Ah!" I cry out.

Pleasure sparks through me, adding to my buildup, and I involuntarily arch my back to get more of his touch. I feel Remus pushing another finger inside of me, stretching me to get me ready for him. The pleasure only deepens, and my knees slowly become weak.

Remus hoists me up, placing his hand under my ass. He pushes my back against the mirror, pressing himself against my center. I place my hands on his shoulders to steady myself, and I feel the bulge of his erection straining against the front of his pants, pressing into my drenched center. I want to rub myself against the material, the pleasure he's built up for me so far becoming too much to bear. But his gaze keeps me steady. He's studying me.

"Why do you risk your life for these people?" he asks. I hear genuine curiosity in his tone, no amusement, no anger, just curiosity. I feel an intense urge to cower under his gaze. His bright purple eyes are boring into my soul with the intent of finding an answer that I have to wrack my brain to give.

"I... can't stand aside when people are in need," I whisper .

He raises a brow, emphasizing his next sentence by pushing deeper against me, causing me to tremble as his shaft rubs against me in pleasure.

"Even if you yourself are helpless?" he asks huskily.

Silence washes over us. I don't know what answer to give. Luckily, Remus doesn't force one out of me. A smile spreads its way onto his lips, and I feel him slowly adjust himself. His eyes drop to my lips, and out of reaction, my tongue comes out to lick them.

That's all it takes for him to lean into me and place his lips over mine.

His lips are warm as always and gentle. I feel his tongue lightly trace my bottom lip before he pushes it into my mouth, stroking each corner. My sex aches with need from his kiss, which sends fire through my belly. I hate myself at this moment. I want nothing more than to beg for him to take me, but I know he's my enemy. I cannot enjoy him in any way.

I feel him slowly entering me, his cock stretching me to the brim until his pelvis is flush against mine. I cry out, my head leaning against the mirror, and Remus uses it as his opportunity to suckle at the sensitive flesh on my neck. His hands grip my thighs as he slowly begins to find his rhythm. With each thrust, he lifts me off the mirror only to push my body back into it, giving me more pleasure than I had anticipated. I cry out, my moans echoing off the walls. His cock easily strokes me in every way I could desire, bringing me to the brink of pleasure.

"You love it when I fuck you, Iris. Why do you continue to fight with me for a race that has no chance?" he asks huskily .

His words are like cold water, forcing me to open my eyes to look at him. He has a wicked grin on his lips and doesn't give me a chance to retaliate. He violently thrusts inside of me, the force of it pushing me flush against the mirror. He quickly shifts his mood, his thrusts becoming rougher and rougher as he plunges in and out of me relentlessly. I couldn't stop my cries even if I wanted to. It's as if each thrust forces pleasure from my lips.

His hands drag up my sides until he has my hands above my head. The only thing keeping me up is him between my legs and my back against the wall. It feels like he's keeping me on edge forever until I realize, in horror, I'm about to beg. I bite my lips between my teeth, trying my hardest not to give in until I feel blood welling to the surface.

Remus chuckles, wiping my cheek with his thumb.

"So defiant. You're always so defiant."

He shifts his strokes, and immediately, my orgasm hits me. I open my mouth, screaming in pleasure as I grind my sex against him, my body involuntarily going for ultimate pleasure. My inner walls convulse wildly, squeezing Remus's shaft in desperation as I come apart between him and the mirror. Remus's thrusts don't slow down as I feel him spilling inside of me. The warmth of his seed fills me, intensifying my pleasure until I feel myself convulsing against him.

The intensity of our pleasure finally dies down, and I realize that Remus hasn't pulled out of me. I open my eyes, and he's watching me again, his gaze impossible to read. He slowly pushes my hair out of my face, leaning in to lick my ear before his voice washes over me.

"If you keep defying me, for the sake of what's wrong and right, I won't be able to give you that kind of pleasure anymore." Remus places his lips against my shoulder, pulling back to glare at me. I see no amusement in his gaze as his hand snakes up to lightly rest around my throat.

"Can't fuck a dead woman, now can I?"

The room is dark and silent. It's one of the rare times that Remus has fallen asleep before me. He's lying behind me, holding my body close to his. His breathing is steady, and I can feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back. It would be peaceful if he weren't who he is. So much has happened within the day. My mind is running a mile a minute trying to keep up. Remus has been at meetings all week planning and has gone as far as bringing people that are very important to his armada around. I think back to Jude's words about the resistance actually giving them a run for their money.

Could it be true? Could this be why Remus really came to the capital?

Until now, I had no idea a resistance even existed. But hearing that they have a fighting chance gives me much more hope than I ever anticipated. Remus was right to lie to me about who those humans were. I can already feel my inner hope continuing to build the more I think about it, fueling my rebellion. There are so many more questions I want to ask Jude, and I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to see him again, especially since Remus admitted to his jealousy.

It's uncharacteristic for Remus to be jealous, especially of a human. Remus is the type to take and destroy whatever he wants. He holds that kind of power. And he's been very clear about what I am to him. So why would he be jealous of a human slave?

Remus suddenly tenses behind me, pulling my body closer to his. His hands lock around my body tightly, and I feel his lips on my shoulder. I let out a panicked cry when the familiar pull of Remus's feeding hits me. An icy wave consumes my body for a moment, but it doesn't stop. My skin begins to prickle in pain like someone is pricking me with a thousand needles. And it only intensifies.

"Remus," I say, unable to get my voice above a whisper. But he doesn't stop. I try to move, but his grip tightens, crushing me against his chest. I feel my body weakening and my vision dimming. The pain reaches my head, giving me an intense headache, and my skin feels like it's tightening against my flesh.

"Re..." My voice is gone. It takes too much energy even to breathe, and I feel like I'm slowly fading. The icy feeling turns into a full-on blizzard, and my body begins to convulse as it panics from the foreign attack and Remus still shows no signs of stopping. I'm gasping for air, opening my mouth to inhale—anything to survive. But I can't. And he won't stop. My ears begin to pick up strange sounds that warble over me like a roar, and I can feel the pulse of my panicked heartbeat slowing .

I take one final attempt to breathe, sucking in a deep breath to no avail.

I try again, still getting nothing.

Nothing but darkness.