Chapter 8: Charity

Chapter Eight

Charity

M y hand flies to cup my middle as I glance around, trying to figure out where I am. It smells fresher than I’m used to. Not to mention, I don’t recognize the rustic cabin at all. I’m fairly sure this is another dream.

A ridiculous moan escapes my lips at the cramping pain that rips through my pelvis.

“Gods, are you all right?” Eldritch’s voice makes my head whip up. He jogs down a set of wooden stairs that line the far wall of the small cabin.

I think it’s a cabin, anyway. The floor, walls, and cabinets all have that real-wood aesthetic. There’s a small kitchen, living room, and a closed-in room under the stairs. The stairway seems to lead to a loft area.

Eldritch appears in front of me, and my hands land on his forearms. He’s in soft linen pants, rather than the leather breeches and braces that I saw him in last. “I’ve spent my days searching everywhere for you, sweet siren.”

“Days?” I sputter as he scoops me up. “I saw you last night.”

“I’m afraid that was weeks ago for me,” he says, frowning. His whitish-blond hair falls around his face as he nuzzles his cheek to mine. “Time moves more quickly in Faere. I’ve also attempted to find the nightmare to demand that he reunite us.”

I don’t know how to tell him that I’ve seen him twice since last night. Once when I cried over his wyvern, and then when I said goodbye as I headed to work.

It makes my chest tight. He’s trapped in his own mind, searching for me with no idea what’s truly happening.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, my eyes welling up with unshed tears.

“Don’t, my love. You’re here now, and I intend to make the most of it.” Eldritch jogs toward the stairs with me in his arms. He cradles me close, turning sideways to ensure my head and feet don’t slam into the wall.

Once he’s up the stairs, the room opens up.

On the right is another seating area, facing a set of double doors. Curtains block the view, but I’m guessing it leads out to a small, second-floor deck.

Do they have decks in the fae realm?

I have no clue.

“There’s something different about your scent.” Eldritch bumps open the door to reveal a small bedroom.

It’s cozy and has no windows, which instantly makes my system buzz with excitement that I don’t even understand.

“I know it’s not much,” he says, clearing his throat. “But it holds sentimental value. It’s the cottage my mother and I shared when I was very young. I couldn’t bring myself to part with it, despite the many hundreds of years that have passed.” He carefully kicks the door closed behind him and carries me over to the bed. His light gray eyes shine as he holds me with one strong forearm and rips the blanket back with the other. “I’ve yearned for you. And here you are, like a stunning gift from the Gods. A gift we won’t waste.”

My heart races as he places me down, gently framing my body with his own as he crawls over me. His whitish-blond curls fall over his forehead as he stares down at me with a look that feels very much like awe.

“I missed you too,” I choke out as his hand slides up my side. The other caresses my cheek as he runs his thumb over my lower lip.

I’m not expecting him to bump my head to the side, but his mouth lowers to exactly where he bit me last night.

My hands somehow landed on his back, but they move to dig into his hair.

His tongue flicks over the location of his claiming bite, making my entire body pulse with heat that quickly leads to me grinding under him.

I cradle his cheek and my fingers brush his ear. Tugging his hair to the side, I marvel at the perfect point. My ears have a slight crest, but overall, it’s barely noticeable, making it easy enough for me to pass as human. But not Eldritch.

“Even your skin tastes sweet,” he groans, scratching his sharp canines down the column of my neck. He shudders as I tease my finger over his ear. “They’re quite sensitive, you know. It would be like you rubbing my wings.”

My free hand snakes between us, and my fingers brush his warm skin as I work lower until I can cup his cock over the fabric of his pants.

“Mmm, I believe your quickening is approaching. I won’t be able to offer you fledglings, but I will gladly do my best to ease your pain,” he murmurs, kissing from my collarbone up my neck and over my jaw.

My mother always believed there was a chance I would take after her. She informed me about what to expect with the quickening, but I’ve never had any indication that I would experience the period of hyperfertility that full-blooded fae females do.

Eldritch moves to nip at my lips as I try to determine how this is even happening.

The last thing I remember…

I don’t know.

Everything is hazy and muted.

The more I focus, the more distant the memories become.

I must have fallen asleep after work, and our partially formed bond reunited us.

In that case, I intend to do everything possible to deepen our connection.

Eldritch grunts into the kiss as I squeeze his shaft, desperate to will away the material separating us. His long fingers tease up the edge of my dress, and I nod wildly, trying to sit up. I fail, falling back against the mattress.

“Help me up, so we can get that off,” I manage to say between tantalizing kisses.

He pulls back until he’s kneeling, and his Adam’s apple visibly jumps as his wings fall in on themselves, eventually disappearing into his back.

“My beast is fully confident that we can tackle this, but I must admit…” Eldritch’s cheeks turn pink before my eyes. “I have no prior experience.”

It takes several seconds for my brain to compute the meaning of his words, and when they finally click, my entire body pulses with desire. Releasing his shaft, I push up with my feet and tug my dress up above my butt. Once I sit up, I pull the material over my head, tossing it aside.

My hand stretches back to unclip my bra, but my eyes stay on Eldritch. He swallows thickly as his eyes dart from meeting my gaze down to my chest.

It’s surprisingly cute.

“Just to clarify, you have no experience with a human? Or a female?” I ask, feeling especially dense.

“No, my love. With anyone of any gender or species. The fae do not look kindly upon halflings, as I’m sure you know. Dragonkind views wyvern as little more than…” His head shakes as his gaze falls to the bed.

“Most dragons are dicks.” My hand lands on his stomach, brushing down the multitude of lithe muscles. “They have no idea what they’ve missed out on, but I have to admit, the thought of you being all mine really does something for me.”

Eldritch’s curls bounce as his head flies up and his eyes meet mine. “Truly?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“Then, I’m happy to be able to tell you, I have no bloody idea what I’m doing.” His mischievous smile makes my insides all melty. “But I’m a quick study.”

God.

He’s so sweet, it makes my heart hurt. He has no idea he suffered something terrible and is, at least for now, permanently trapped in his beast form.

I twist, giving his chest a little shove.

Operation “bring Eldritch back to me” is about to commence.