Chapter Seventeen: Aralyn
Aralyn had always followed the path fate had carved out for her.
She'd never shied away from doing what was needed when it was needed.
But this…being with Caldric. This was a detour. One her elders would not understand, let alone agree with.
She didn't care.
This felt so right. And so what if she was under a magic spell? One cast by a fae band, or a witch, or a damn sentient tavern.
She wanted this.
She wanted Caldric.
"Make love to me," she murmured. As he opened his mouth to speak, she placed her finger on his lips. "And don't say you can't feel love." Her hand slid down his chest and covered his heart. "Because I see it in your eyes."
A small smile made his lips curl up at the sides, and his eyes glowed a deep purple. "I want you, Aralyn. I know it. Just as I know that damned sun will rise in the morning. Just as I know its rays will turn me to ash."
"There you go with your romantic words again," she murmured and then slipped her hand around the nape of his neck and pulled him closer.
Aralyn closed her eyes as she parted her lips. Her breath caught in her throat. Caldric moaned and nipped her bottom lip before caressing it with his tongue. Then their lips met, and their kiss deepened.
She sighed against him as he wove his fingers into her hair, while his tongue plundered his mouth. He ignited a fire within her, one that burned hot and fierce.
Aralyn's body melted against Caldric's, her curves molding to his hard planes. His cool skin contrasted with the heat building within her, sending shivers down her spine. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders, marveling at the strength coiled beneath her fingertips.
Moving her fingers across the hard plains of his chest, she unbuttoned his shirt as he cupped her breast in his hand, his thumb rubbing against the hardened nipple.
In all the battles she had fought, never had fear robbed her of strength. But now, in Caldric's arms, her knees went weak. But not from fear, from desire. Pure, unadulterated desire.
Caldric sensed her weakening and swept her into his arms, carrying her to the bed. He laid her down gently, his eyes never leaving hers as he removed his shirt. Aralyn's breath caught at the sight of his sculpted torso, pale and perfect in the dim candlelight. She reached out to trace the lines of his abdomen, marveling at how someone so cold could ignite such heat within her.
Caldric lowered himself onto the bed beside her, his hand gentle, reverent, as he touched her cheek, and traced his fingers down her neck and along her collarbone. Then he leaned forward and kissed her neck, his cool lips sending shivers through her body. Aralyn arched into him, desperate for more contact. He trailed kisses down her neck, pausing at the pulsing vein there.
"Caldric," she whispered, as his fangs grazed her neck, then he licked her skin, and she turned her head to meet his hungry gaze.
"So beautiful." He raised his hand and caressed her cheek before he slipped his hands beneath her jacket and pushed it off her shoulders.
She shrugged it off, aware that the weapons meant for killing his kind were now openly visible on her belt. Caldric's eyes flicked to them, a wry smile playing on his lips.
"Quite the arsenal you have there," he murmured, his fingers trailing along the wooden handle of a stake.
Aralyn tensed, suddenly aware of how vulnerable she was, how exposed she'd made herself. If he wanted to attack…
But then his fingers went to the buckle, and he unfastened it and set it carefully aside. "I don't think we want any accidents. Do we?"
"No." Aralyn shook her head. "I don't think I'd forgive myself if I staked you through the heart by mistake."
"You have already pierced my heart," Caldric told her.
She buried her face in his shoulder and giggled. "That is so corny."
"I apologize. I am somewhat out of practice." He ducked his head and dropped featherlight kisses along her jawline. "But I am sure it will all come back to me."
"I am sure it will." She slipped her hands beneath his shirt and followed the contours of his toned chest as she inched it over his shoulders. It slid from his shoulders. As he leaned back and yanked it off, he stilled as he looked down at her. Caldric was like a statue made of marble, pale and perfect in the moonlight streaming through the window. Aralyn's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of him, her fingers itching to trace every line and curve of his sculpted form.
Caldric's eyes, now a deep, swirling violet, locked onto Aralyn's. The intensity of his gaze made her shiver, a mixture of anticipation and vulnerability washing over her.
She was about to give herself, body and heart, to a creature she had been taught to kill. But more than that, she was about to give a part of herself in the hope that it would lead to something more. That it would deepen their relationship.
She'd never opened herself up like this to another person before.
Sure she'd had sex. But she was fooling herself if she thought that was what this was.
When she'd asked him to make love to her, that was exactly what she wanted, needed from him.
Ironic, since he was cursed to not feel love. Not feel anything.
Yet, as he kept his eyes fixed on hers as he unbuttoned her shirt, it was hard to believe that was true.
Had she awoken something deep inside him, in the same way he had awoken a part of her long-dormant?
Stop overthinking, she berated herself as Caldric lowered his head and kissed the swell of her breast.
Aralyn arched her back off the bed, wanting more, wanting him to kiss her from head to toe, to touch her, to tease her, to make her beg for mercy.
With deft fingers he unclasped her bra, his cool hands capturing them, as he brushed his thumbs over her nipples. She writhed beneath him. Aralyn gasped as Caldric's cool lips closed around her nipple, his tongue swirling and teasing the sensitive bud. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as waves of pleasure coursed through her body. She arched into him, craving more of his touch, his kiss, his everything.
Caldric's hands roamed her body, exploring every curve and dip with reverence. His fingers trailed down her sides, leaving goosebumps in their wake, before settling on the waistband of her jeans. He looked up at her, his eyes seeking permission. Aralyn nodded, her breath catching as he slowly unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her legs. She kicked them off, feeling exposed yet exhilarated as Caldric's gaze raked over her nearly naked form.
Then he returned to torturing her breasts with his mouth and tongue, as he slipped his hand inside her panties and stroked her mound. She closed her eyes as the flood of sensations threatened to overwhelm her. Caldric's fingers found her sensitive nub, circling it slowly as his mouth continued its sweet assault on her breasts. Aralyn moaned, her hips rising to meet his touch, craving more friction.
Caldric lifted his head, his eyes burning with an intensity that made Aralyn's breath catch. He watched her face as he adjusted the position of his hand, his thumb stroking her sensitive flesh while he dipped a finger inside her. Aralyn gasped, her body arching as he slowly moved his finger in and out. Her hands roamed his back, nails digging into his cool skin as the pleasure built within her.
Caldric added a second finger, curling them so they grazed her inner walls, searching for that perfect spot inside her.
Then he found it.
Her hips bucked involuntarily as waves of pleasure radiated through her body. She clung to him, her nails digging into his shoulders as he continued his sensual assault.
"I want to taste you." He kissed his way down her body, his lips trailing a path of fire across her skin. Aralyn trembled with anticipation as he reached her lower abdomen, his cool breath teasing her most sensitive areas.
Caldric hooked his fingers in the waistband of her panties, slowly sliding them down her legs. Aralyn lifted her hips to assist him, her heart thumping as the last barrier between them was removed. She felt exposed, vulnerable, yet utterly safe under Caldric's reverent gaze.
Caldric's eyes roamed over her naked form, a look of awe and hunger in his violet eyes. "You're exquisite," he murmured, his voice low and husky.
He placed gentle kisses on her inner thighs, working his way up slowly, teasingly. Aralyn's breath quickened, her body tense with anticipation. When Caldric's cool tongue finally made contact with her most sensitive area, she gasped, her back arching off the bed.
He explored her with deliberate, languid strokes, savoring her taste and reactions. Aralyn's fingers tangled in his hair, urging him closer as waves of pleasure washed over her. Caldric's tongue circled her sensitive bud before dipping lower, teasing her entrance. He alternated between long, slow licks and quick, teasing flicks, driving Aralyn to the brink of ecstasy. Her hips moved in rhythm with his ministrations, chasing the exquisite sensations he was creating.
As Caldric's tongue worked its magic, he slipped two fingers inside her once more, curling them to hit that perfect spot within her.
The dual sensations of his cool tongue on her most sensitive area and his fingers stroking her inner walls sent Aralyn spiraling toward her orgasm. Her breath came in quick gasps, her body trembling as the tension built within her.
"Caldric," she moaned, her voice ragged with desire.
Caldric redoubled his efforts, his tongue moving in quick, precise circles as his fingers continued their relentless rhythm. Aralyn's world narrowed to the exquisite sensations he was creating, her body coiling tighter and tighter like a spring about to snap. She gripped the sheets with one hand, the other still tangled in Caldric's hair as she teetered on the edge of release.
With a particularly skillful flick of his tongue, Caldric sent Aralyn over the edge. Her body arched off the bed as waves of intense pleasure crashed over her. She cried out Caldric's name, her thighs trembling around his head as he continued his ministrations, drawing out her orgasm until she was gasping and oversensitive.
As the aftershocks of her orgasm rippled through her body, Caldric slowly kissed his way back up, his cool lips leaving a trail of fire on her heated skin. Aralyn's chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, her mind hazy with pleasure. When Caldric reached her face, Aralyn pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss, tasting herself on his lips. She wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling his hardness press against her core.
"I don't think you've lost your touch," she whispered against his lips.
"You don't think?" Caldric inched away from her.
"Well, if you have anything else you want to show me, I am more than happy to give you feedback." She batted her eyelashes at him.
"Next you're going to tell me you are going to give me marks out of ten," Caldric said as he moved to hover over her body.
"Hmm, that's not a bad idea," Aralyn teased, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest. "Though I might need a few more demonstrations before I can give an accurate score."
"I'm more than happy to oblige," Caldric murmured, his lips curving into a seductive smile. He captured her mouth in a searing kiss, his tongue entwining with hers as he settled between her thighs.
Aralyn could feel the hard length of him pressing against her, sending a fresh wave of desire through her body. She rolled her hips, urging him closer, craving the feel of him inside her.
As he entered her, Aralyn gasped, her body arching to meet him. Caldric moved slowly, giving her time to adjust to his size. The contrast between his cool skin and her heated core sent shivers of pleasure through her entire body.
She'd never expected making love to Caldric to feel so…incredible.
He moved slowly, penetrating her inch by incredible inch, and she was sure he was enjoying the exquisite torture he was unleashing on her body. Torture made more incredible as he cupped her breast in his hand and flicked his tongue over her nipple.
Aralyn sucked in a sharp breath as Caldric's cool tongue swirled around her sensitive nipple, sending jolts of pleasure straight to her core. She wrapped her legs around his waist, urging him deeper. Caldric obliged, sinking fully into her with a low groan that vibrated against her breast.
Aralyn's breath caught as Caldric filled her completely, the sensation overwhelming in its intensity. He stilled for a moment, and she rested her forehead on his chest as she fought for control.
Then he rocked his hips back and forth, small intimate movements that caused a frisson of pleasure to ripple through her body. Aralyn matched his rhythm, rolling her hips to meet each gentle thrust. Their bodies moved together in perfect synchronicity, as if they'd been lovers for centuries rather than mere moments.
Caldric's lips found hers again, kissing her deeply as he gradually increased his pace.
Aralyn moaned into his mouth, her fingers digging into his shoulders as the pleasure intensified. Each thrust sent waves of ecstasy coursing through her body, building toward another peak.
Caldric broke the kiss, his violet eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that took her breath away. The connection between them felt electric, transcending the physical act they were engaged in.
Higher and higher, he took her until she could hold on no longer. With a cry she came, her inner walls pulsing around his hardness, setting off a chain reaction as his seed spurted inside her.
Wait! She hadn't expected him to actually… Did that mean he might sire her child?
But hadn't Silas let Merri leave Wishing Moon Bay because he wanted her to have the chance to be a mother?
No, a child with Caldric was wishful thinking.
Yet as her orgasm faded, she allowed herself to hope that the tavern was indeed magic, and that magic might answer her wish.
***
Aralyn stretched out her hand to touch Caldric.
But there was no one next to her.
She sat up, clutching the rough sheets to her.
He'd left her.
"Caldric," she muttered under her breath as she reached for her clothes and quickly got dressed.
Her stomach growled as she stood up and approached the door, telling her she'd been asleep a long time.
Which meant it was probably morning. If Caldric wasn't here, where was he? Perhaps he'd gone home to sleep in his basement. Or wherever he slept.
She tugged the door open and stepped out of the room.
But as she headed along the corridor, the skin on her lower arms prickled and then the hairs stood on end. And then she heard his voice.
"I think two eggs, don't you, Brushworth?" Caldric's voice drifted up the stairs from the tavern below.
The vampire was talking to the sweeping brush.
Keeping her back pressed against the wall, and her senses keen, Aralyn made her way down the stairs.
"Bacon. And toast. What about orange juice? I think that would be refreshing. And then we can brew some good coffee." Caldric sounded as if he were making breakfast. And since he did not eat food, then he was making it for her. "But best not tell Morwenna. I've heard she's a little precious about her coffee."
She relaxed a little, but still kept her guard up as she reached the first landing and then proceeded down the second flight of stairs.
By the time she crossed the tavern to the bar area, the hairs on the back of her neck were tingling, just as they should in the presence of a vampire.
"Ah, there you are. I managed to convince Brushworth here to let me make you breakfast," Caldric began. Then he dropped his voice to a whisper, "Not that Morwenna keeps much in the way of food here. I had to go across town to an all-night grocery store to buy provisions."
"You did?" Aralyn asked. No one had ever done as much as popped to the corner store, let alone go across town so he could make her breakfast before. "I must have slept for longer than I thought."
"You were out cold when I left," Caldric replied. "I hope you don't mind that I left you. It's not as if I keep the bed warm."
"This breakfast more than makes up for you leaving me." Aralyn climbed onto a stool at the bar, and Caldric placed the plate down in front of her. "It smells wonderful."
"I hope it tastes good, too." Caldric leaned his elbows on the bar and watched as she ate, which was a little disconcerting.
But the food was so good she was not going to deny him the pleasure of observing her enjoyment. The eggs were fluffy, the bacon crispy yet not overly salty, and the toast had just the right amount of crunch. Even the orange juice was perfectly tart and sweet.
Caldric's eyes never left her face, a slight smile playing on his lips that revealed just the faintest hint of his sharp fangs.
But then she pulled away from him and whirled around, leaping from her stool and taking up a defensive stance as the tavern door opened.
Vampire. The word was a whisper in her head.
"Woah, hold on a moment there!" Silas stood before them with a rolled-up piece of parchment in his hand. "Don't shoot the messenger!"
"Messenger?" Aralyn asked, not yet ready to relax.
"Yes." Silas waved the rolled scroll. "I have the invitation you asked for, Caldric."
"Invitation?" Aralyn asked.
"To this precious party of yours," Silas replied. "It wasn't easy..."
"Do you mind if we discuss this later?" Caldric asked, casting a nervous glance in Aralyn's direction.
"No, we can talk about this now." Aralyn tilted her head at Caldric. "Can't we?"
"I am going to leave this here." Silas set down the parchment on the bar and backed away.
Aralyn reached for the scroll and unrolled it, her eyes scanning the artistically written words. "You lied to me."
"Aralyn, I can explain," Caldric reached out for her.
"Explain why you dressed me up in that dress and danced with me. Explain why you made me drink that awful wine..." She sucked in a shuddering breath. "When all along you didn't have an invitation."
"I..." Caldric stuttered.
"This was all just a game to you, wasn't it? A way to while away some time..." Aralyn stormed toward the door. "I knew I should never trust a vampire."