Chapter 11

I had a key to Kaster’s apartment, but I knocked anyway. He answered almost immediately. It was nighttime, after all. The time when he was most active. Soft notes of classical music escaped into the hallway along with the sweet scent of vanilla from one of the candles I’d bought him.

He stared at me with questions in his dark eyes.

I was tired, so tired of all the emotions that churned through me, unsatisfied and unreconciled. Tired of the possibilities that I could never have. Of the loneliness that lived in my heart even though my cup of purpose was full.

I was tired of being the protector. The leader.

Tired of unresolved and incomplete stories.

I’d come to Dracul territory with a disgust for vampires, but two had wormed their way into my affections. One I couldn’t…shouldn’t have, because he already belonged to someone else. But there was no reason that my story with the other should remain unwritten.

I took a breath, stepped closer to Kaster, and tipped my face up to his. “Will you be mine for real? I can’t fully consummate what we have, but I can give you my heart. Will you accept it?” It was selfish of me, but I was too drained to be noble.

He exhaled softly, his dark eyes searching mine for long seconds before his hands came up to cup my face.

A gentle buzz raced over my mind, and then his smooth voice filled it. I’m already yours, Orina, and your heart is more than enough.

He pressed his lips to mine in a kiss that offered acceptance but demanded nothing then gently steered me into the apartment.

You’re freezing. I’ll make some cocoa.

But I didn’t want cocoa. I wanted him. Had been craving him for the longest time. There are other ways to warm me up.

A different kind of heat bloomed in his eyes. You’re right. There are. He scooped me off my feet, and I let out a yelp of surprise that turned into a giggle as he crossed the apartment toward the bedroom.

But he didn’t take me to the bed. He carried me into the bathroom dominated by a huge shower that we’d had fitted with the largest rainfall showerhead.

He set me down on the tiles.

Take off your clothes . He kissed the spot beneath my ear.

I peeled my top over my head and dropped it at my feet. My heart beat hard in my throat with anticipation. It had been too long since I felt skin on skin, too long since a man willingly worshipped my body without expecting culmination. I kicked off my trousers next, standing before him in my underwear.

Kaster tugged off his shirt and pushed down his pants. My pulse skipped at the sight of his arousal. I wanted it.

He followed my gaze, smiling knowingly, then pulled his pants back up. Let’s hide the temptation.

I reached for him. I want to touch you. Taste you.

Next time. Tonight is about you . He traced the seam of my bra, running his fingers along the tops of my breasts before reaching for the clasp and unhooking it with one hand.

His gaze was a caress leaving me aching. I wanted him to touch me, to put his mouth on me, but he didn’t. Instead, he gripped my hips and hooked his thumbs into my panties. May I?

I nodded, biting back a moan as he slowly peeled them down, exposing me to cool air. I kicked them off, naked now. Vulnerable.

His fingers grazed my bare skin, skimming around my hips and over my buttocks, the touch too light, too teasing.

Kaster…

I know, he breathed. I fucking know.

My pulse jumped at the sound of him cursing because he rarely did it.

He drew me into the shower stall and the water came on, cascading over us, mimicking a rainfall, warm and inviting, soaking our skin and leaving us slick. We stood face to face for several beats, chests rising and falling fast as the tension of the past few weeks, the longing, the need, surged to the fore.

I took a step toward him, and he snagged me around the waist, dragging me against his body to claim my mouth in a crushing kiss that left no room for doubts. I sank into him, clinging to him, fingers digging into his taut biceps as heat rushed to my core, buzzing there with whispers of promise.

I was kissing Kaster Black. Kaster Black was kissing me, and oh God, his mouth tasted like cherries.

He lifted me easily so that we were chest to chest, and I wrapped my legs around his hips. My pussy pressed to the soaked fabric of his pants, to the hard, thick ridge of his cock. He ground me to him, pushing up as I pressed down until I was rolling against him, shockwaves shooting through me.

Imagine I’m inside you. Moving, thrusting.

His tongue mimicked the action in my mouth, and I sucked hard on it, groaning, pulsing, sliding.

Yes, that’s right, Orina, get wet for me.

God, his voice in my head. I wanted…needed… Fuck.

He groaned in my head, whispering wicked things that made my heart race.

Are you warm enough now?

Yes.

Good because I’m hungry, and I’m going to eat you out .

He was killing me.

The water shut off, and warm air blasted us, drying us in seconds, but his mouth was on my breasts, sucking hard on my nipple and sending signals to my core to be ready.

Kaster. Please.

He carried me back into the bedroom, sat me on the foot of the bed, and knelt between my legs.

Put the heels of your feet on my shoulders.

A lance of embarrassment shot through me. What?

I told you, I’m hungry, and I need to see what I’m about to feast on.

My stomach flipped, and desire killed my shame. I obliged, heels up, falling back on my elbows, my heart racing like a wild thing.

You’re fucking beautiful.

Another pulse of heat followed by a deep, eager pulsing.

Yes, weep for me.

He licked me with the flat of his tongue, and my hips jerked. “Ah…”

He did it again, firmly parting me to suck on my clit.

Fuck, you taste so good. I need this. He continued to suckle on me . So wet…so juicy…

My mind shut down, body taking over as his clever tongue got to work.

“Kaster, oh, fuck, fuck.”

He entered me deep, curling his tongue up.

“Yes!”

I’m in you, fucking you, so fucking deep, Orina, can you feel me? Move for me.

He tongue-fucked me, the pace never faltering, his words in my head driving me hurtling toward the edge.

My body bucked, muscles contracting and sparking in a way that I’d never experienced with oral sex. My cries hugged my throat, trapped and weak as I ground myself against his mouth, desperate for the feeling to continue, to last, to mount higher and higher until there was no breath in my lungs and the stars exploded. I fell back to earth, his weight on top of me, his mouth on mine. My taste, my arousal on his lips.

Orina, Orina, you are divine. You’re mine.

Yes. I kissed him hard, Deeper. Yes, yes, I’m yours.

I’m not sure how long we simply lay tangled in each other’s arms—hours, minutes, it didn’t matter. I was sated, safe, and happy. Yes, in that moment I was happy. Kaster left to get me some water before climbing back into bed and pulling me into his arms.

He held me close, stroked my back, and ran his fingers through my hair, his gaze soft and contemplative.

I lightly touched his mouth, tracing his bottom lip. He had beautiful lips. What are you thinking?

I’m thinking what a surprise you are. You…unexpected, wonderful you. Here with me… He tipped my chin up and captured my mouth . We sank into a kiss as he continued to share his thoughts.

This, being like this with you. You taste like honey. Your skin… His hands coasted over my body, sliding down to cup my ass. This ass…

He broke the kiss, rolled me onto my front, and lightly bit my buttock.

I gasped and giggled, but my laughter morphed to a moan when he slipped thick, long fingers into me.

“Kaster…Oh…Oh…”

I want to watch you come around my fingers . He hooked an arm under my waist and lifted me up for better access. Open your legs for me. Yes, like that. Good.

More.

Ask me out loud.

“Please…Kaster…More.”

He obliged, stretching me further, and I bit down on my pillow and pushed back. My eyes rolled as he worked me, his heavy breath coasting over my ass cheeks interspersed with kisses and nips that made me wetter.

Orina…you have no idea what you do to me.

My eyes rolled back as I came again, and his fingers were replaced by his mouth as he lapped at me, driving me further over the edge.

I collapsed, and he rolled me onto my back and spread me wide so he could kneel between my thighs. Desire tightened my belly at the sight of his cock so close to my pussy, but panic was hot on its heels.

“Kaster, I can’t?—”

Don’t worry. I won’t go in. I just want to watch you while I come. He gripped himself and slid his cock between my folds, coating himself in me back and forth. I bucked involuntarily, my chest so tight I couldn’t draw breath. Then he began to work himself, and oh God, my heart swelled at the sight of this magnificent male kneeling between my thighs, fist around his cock, thick forearm flexing as he pumped. His eyes blazed, focusing on me, locked on my face, veins in his neck popping as he hurtled closer to climax.

“Let me.” I took over keeping the rhythm, using my thumb to circle the tip of his cock with every upward sweep.

Fuuuck, fuck. Don’t stop. Don’t…

He found release, thick ropes lashing at my abdomen and spilling over my hand, and in that moment, he was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

Intimacy in the past had always been fleeting moments. Pleasure taken without emotional connection. I’d never lain in a man’s arms after…never been held reverently or looked at with tenderness.

Kaster gave me all those things. He even made cocoa, which we drank while sitting in bed.

It was perfect.

How was the dinner with Ezekiel? Kaster asked.

It was okay.

That’s what your text said. But I doubt that any interaction with Ezekiel is ever simply ‘okay.’

He didn’t know about the curse, about any of it, so he couldn’t possibly comprehend the extent of my turmoil when it came to the vampire king, and if I had anything to do with it, there would be no more confusion.

Ezekiel would be nothing more than my charge. He’d be a duty and no more, and in time he’d fall in love with Ariella and she with him, and all would be perfect.

Orina?

I’m sorry. I spaced out.

He reached over to wipe the corner of my mouth. Chocolate.

I licked my lips, and he tracked the movement before dropping his gaze.

“What?”

Nothing. He took my now empty mug off me and stood. You’re tired. You should get some sleep. I’ll be right back.

Had I upset him by being so short about the dinner with Ezekiel?

He returned a few moments later, and we climbed into bed, lying face to face.

God he was beautiful. His sharp features were softened by moonlight, his eyelids at half-mast and lips swollen from my kisses. Ezekiel is my job, and I don’t like bringing my work home with me.

Home?

I smiled because yes, I’d said that. Yeah, home. If you’ll still have me. This would be good. The best way to show Ezekiel that I’d moved on.

He had feelings for me.

It didn’t matter.

It could never matter. It was an illusion that could never be real, but what I had with Kaster was true. It worked. We worked.

I kissed him and nuzzled close. I’ll bring some stuff over next week. I won’t be moving in fully but splitting my time between the chapter house and here if that’s all right.

I needed to be on hand for my team and the Old Town patrols we sometimes had to run for the Old Town Sangualex office. It was rare, because crime in Old Town was rare. It was noble house territory after all.

I’d like that. He stroked my back. I like this.

I closed my eyes and relaxed against him, soothed by his fingers in my hair and his breath coasting across my brow.

Oh, before I forget, he said . A thought occurred to me about your missing persons. Have you considered that maybe the fae king of Brimswood Park is lying?

Okay, now I was awake. Crush?

Yes. You say all the signatures stop by the park. He says it’s to do with the wards on the place, but what if he’s lying?

He’s not. I can tell when someone is lying to me. Besides, fae don’t lie.

That’s a myth. They can lie, just not directly.

Shit, I hadn’t thought of that.

Did you directly ask him if he had something to do with those missing people?

Had I? I couldn’t recall. I don’t remember.

Then maybe that’s something you should do.

I don’t think he’s involved. My gut says he’s a good guy.

Then maybe someone in the park is responsible. He might not even know what’s going on. It’s worth speaking to him again.

You’re right. I’ll do that. We have an invite to his club for this weekend.

You’ll be with your team.

Yes.

Good. Just…be safe.

Always.

He tucked me against him. Now we can sleep.

I snuggled close, allowing my body to relax. I could get used to this, and for the first time in a long time, that was okay.