6. Cassandra

CASSANDRA

Ashe’s bite is brutal. A pure animalistic attack that reminds me I am nothing but I am flesh and bone against his vampire nature. He is the predator and I’m the prey; and I’m at his mercy.

I relish it, relish him.

Tilting my head into his grip, I offer my throat willingly. The growl of approval that rumbles from him blisters my skin and coils into tight arousal. Each tug of his, drawing my life force into his mouth, churns my magic as much as it fans my desire.

He doesn’t release my hands, keeping them pinned at my lower back.

His fangs are deeply embedded in my throat, his tongue rasping over the wounds. The sharp, aching pleasure of the bite is heightened by the lack of his touch.

Ashe’s free hand cups my breast, kneading and shaping me through the fabric of my shirt. I moan his name, wanting him to touch me, skin to skin. He growls, his thumb and forefinger tweaking the hardening point of my nipple.

It’s a shock, jolting through my bloodstream to center between my legs. My knees weaken, leaving me to hang suspended from the grip Ashe has on my wrists.

Magic, vampire, and primal need combine into a heady concoction that clouds my thoughts. All I want is more. More of him. More of us. More of the pleasure that is building with each passing second.

My shirt tears, the sound of ripping fabric sharp and loud. Ashe releases my breast only to rip away the bra covering my chest. His palm is hot against my skin as he grips my naked flesh once more.

My nipples harden further, aching for more than the light touches and teasing pinching.

Ashe bites harder, my blood spilling over his lips to stain his chin.

I struggle against his hold, gasping out, “I need to touch you.” I whimper as he licks a long path up the column of my throat until he bites my lower lip. “Please.”

“You need to earn it, my dear wife,” he murmurs against my lips. His golden eyes are bright with lust, his words ghosting across my flesh with a dark, hedonistic promise.

“Tell me,” I whisper, nipping at his chin. The coppery tang of my blood teases my taste buds.

Ashe’s smile is sinful, his talon-tipped nails slicing through the remainder of my clothing. The silk of my blouse and my long skirt flutter to the floor around my feet. The bra I’d been given is already hanging from my shoulders, and with a heat-inducing bite, he snaps the straps, leaving me in the shockingly small underwear Josephine assured me was the standard. According to her, there are more revealing underwear, and I can’t imagine such a thing.

But if Ashe continues to look at me the way he is, I will happily wear whatever scantily covering items he wants. Under his gaze, I feel like the rabbit cornered by a wolf—the wolf fully intent on devouring me as an act of worship.

He holds my gaze, my chest rising and falling as my heart races, while he slowly—so damn slowly—traces a talon-tipped finger down from the hollow of my throat. Down between my breasts, making my nipples tighten, down the soft curve of my stomach before hooking it underneath the elastic of my underwear. I shiver, but it has nothing to do with being cold.

This, right now, is nothing like the first time we came together when I accepted I was his mate. That had been a thing of love and beauty.

This is darkness and promises violence. The claiming between two wild animals.

With a twist of his wrist, he tears the fabric from me, leaving me fully bared before him. I’m revealed to him, while he drinks me in like a dying man.

I struggle once more, wanting him as bare as me. I want him to feel what I’m feeling. What he’s done to me.

He tsks, the sound a low, sensual purr. “Impatient little mate.”

I bare my teeth at him, but the effect is less than I’d hope when his lips are slick with my blood. My magic crackles around us, traveling under my skin, desperate to join with him.

“Release me, Ashe,” I hiss.

“Are you begging me, Cassandra?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

As soon as the word leaves my lips, Ashe has me pressed against the wall.

“No,” he growls. He pins my hand above my head. “Do not move your hands, witch.”

“And if I do?”

The dark flash across his face has me tempted to disobey.

“Then I’ll punish you,” Ashe confirms. His lips twist up in a beautiful smirk. “But the real punishment won’t be the spanking. It’ll be taking what I want from you without ever letting you come.”

I groan, bereft at the idea of him withholding my pleasure. “Okay,” I whisper, dropping my head back against the wall to stare up at the ceiling. He releases my hands and I look back at him. He steps away, sliding off his black jacket and laying it neatly on top of the dresser along the wall. My mouth goes dry as he turns to face me after slipping his feet from his shoes and removing his socks.

In black trim trousers and a white button-down, seeing him shed his clothing feels more like he’s shedding his armor.

When Ashe unbuttons his shirt, revealing a triangle of beautiful skin dusted in fine hair, I begin to reach for him without realizing. His pointed growl has me flattening my palms against the wall above my head.

“This is torture,” I groan.

He shakes his head once in rebuke, before sliding the shirt off and laying it over his jacket. He meets my gaze as his hands go to his belt, unfastening it. “No. Torture is seeing your mate every day and never being able to touch her. Never able to taste her. Never sleep beside her at night and wake up every morning with her.”

He pauses, his belt dangling open. I watch as Ashe swallows, his throat working as his jaw tightens. “Torture is seeing the one person you thought would be beside you forever disappear from you. To have their body possessed by a demon.” Ashe’s eyes bleed crimson, the color seeping from the outer rim of his irises to spread towards his pupil. “Torture is wondering every single day if it’s worth continuing to live since your reason for living was gone.”

My heart cracks, splitting open as Ashe strips bare before me. Emotion clogs my throat, tears pricking the corners of my eyes.

“Ashe,” I whisper, choking on the guilt and pain that flood me. I’m drowning, unable to breathe as his pain becomes my own. “Ashe, I’m so sorry.”

Ashe stalks forward, naked and glorious, his arousal thick and heavy between his thighs. He grasps my neck, the side clear of blood. This time his touch is gentler, an anchor to ground me. “What did I say about you saying that?”

I swallow, lowering my eyes. There are no words to truly express the remorse for the pain I caused him. I don’t regret it, though. I will never regret saving his life.

“Cassandra,” Ashe murmurs, dipping his head to capture my attention. His free hand trails down my side, leaving goosebumps in its wake. When he reaches my hip, his fingers dig in and he jerks me forward. My gasp is lost as he kisses me, this one tender, coaxing, and filled with love.

The stark difference between this kiss and the one from before leaves me dizzy.

His tongue tangles with mine, his fangs nipping and teasing. He doesn’t draw blood again, though. Instead, Ashe drops his hands to the back of my thighs and lifts me. Instinctively, I wrap my legs around his waist and wind my arms around his neck, holding him close.

“I love you,” Ashe whispers against my lips. “I hate you.” Ashe’s voice breaks. “I need you.” His chest brushes against my nipples as he takes a deep breath. “I miss you.” He slides one arm free from supporting me and I’m pinned tighter against the wall as Ashe cups the back of my head. “I’m so gods-damned angry at you, Cassandra,” he grinds out.

“I know,” I manage. His emotions are pouring into me. I absorb them, welcoming the pain and the anger because I deserve it. I welcome it because it’s a sign Ashe is finally opening the bond between us.

“I’m so gods-damned angry, Cassandra,” Ashe repeats, resting his forehead against my own. “I’m so scared, mate.”

The last word is a broken plea.

“I’m here,” I answer, cupping his face and smoothing my thumbs over his cheeks. “Ashe, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I swear it. We will figure this out. This time it’s not just Eris. It’s all of us.”

Ashe shudders, his breath leaving him in a rush. “I can’t lose you again.”

“You won’t,” I promise him.

“You don’t know that,” he growls. Then he crushes his lips to mine.

This kiss is punishing, all teeth and fangs and blood. Ashe consumes me, his free hand sliding up the inside of my thigh until his fingers find my core. His groan is low and deep as his fingers slide between my folds and discover my arousal.

“Cassandra,” Ashe growls, sliding his fingers free and gripping my hips. He rocks his hips forward, his length sliding through my center. I shudder, a whimper escaping my lips as Ashe’s fangs scrape down the column of my throat.

“Ashe,” I plead. “Ashe, please.”

“Please what, Cassandra,” he murmurs.

I lift my hips, tilting my pelvis to find the tip of Ashe’s erection.

His groan is ragged, his arms tightening around me.

“Ashe, please.”

“Gods, Cassandra.”

He captures my lips as he thrusts up and inside of me. My gasp is swallowed by his kiss. My magic crackles in the air, the purple wisps curling around Ashe and me. My nails dig into his shoulders as Ashe withdraws and slams back into me.

This is violent and primal. It’s the reunion of two souls who’ve been separated for too long.

Ashe is relentless. His movements are hard, driving into me with a force that threatens to splinter the wall at my back.

“Cassandra,” Ashe mutters over and over, his forehead against my own. Our gazes are locked, and I can’t tear mine from his.

“Ashe,” I answer. Magic flows freely from me, wrapping around us both, twining us together. Ashe’s emotions pour into me. Love. Anger. Pain. Longing. Hope. Desire.

“Cassandra,” Ashe whispers, slowing his thrusts. He pulls back, cradling my cheek with a gentleness that shatters me. “Cassandra,” he murmurs again, like a prayer, kissing me.

I melt against him, tears trailing down my cheeks. I had never allowed myself to admit how much I missed this connection with him. I wouldn’t have been able to survive all these years being possessed by a demon otherwise.

Ashe’s pace changes, his thrusts slow and deep, his grip on my hips gentle as he helps me lift and lower my hips. My magic curls around us both, strengthening the bond and our connection.

Ashe groans, burying his face into the crook of my neck.

“Ashe,” I gasp, my core tightening. Pleasure winds tighter and tighter, each brush of his body against my clit heightens the tension.

Ashe growls my name again, biting my throat. He drinks, his thrusts growing faster, harder.

I shatter, crying out his name as I find my release. Wave after wave of bliss crests over me, leaving me floating. I’m weightless, lost in Ashe’s arms and his love.

Ashe shouts my name, his hips stuttering as he finds his own release.

We remain entangled, my magic dissipating as my breathing calms and my heart slows. Ashe’s weight presses against me, and I welcome it, running my hands down his back.

After a few minutes, Ashe carefully withdraws and carries us to the bed.

We lay wrapped in each other’s embrace, our bodies touching, our gazes locked.

“I love you, Cassandra,” Ashe whispers, tracing a finger down my cheek.

“I love you, Ashe,” I answer, smoothing the pads of my fingers over his cheek and down his neck.

Ashe’s lips twitch in a small smile. He leans forward, brushing his lips against mine.

I answer his smile, kissing him before tucking myself against his chest.

“Rest,” Ashe murmurs. “I’ll wake you up when it’s time to meet with everyone again.”

I hum in agreement; I know he has his own tasks to perform before the meeting but I want to cling to him and this moment a little bit longer.

I trace whirls on his chest, refamiliarizing myself with every aspect of my mate. A quiet trepidation intrudes on this peace, one that I can’t hold back.

“Are we going to be okay?” I whisper, barely hearing myself but knowing Ashe can anyways.

He’s still under me, his arm holding me to him tightening. My head lifts and falls as he lets out a deep sigh. My eyes flutter closed, readying myself for rejection. I’d deserve it. Just because we had sex doesn’t mean he’s forgiven me or ready to be mates again. I’d understand if he says he needs more time.

He presses a kiss to the top of my head and relief sends a shudder through me. “We will be,” Ashe answers, his voice filled with tentative hope. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

I shift until my chin is on his chest and I’m looking into his golden eyes. “Together,” I vow.

There won’t be any more decisions made only by me. If Ashe says no to something, I won’t do it. We’re mates, and because of the newly reopened bond between us, I can feel his hesitancy to trust. I swear to the goddess I will earn his trust once more. I will repair the damage I’ve done. Even if I can’t be saved and only have days left to live.