Astaroth gripped my jaw with one hand while working me toward orgasm with the other, watching every expression that came over my face. Sweat beaded on my brow and ran down my temple in the humid corridor. Just when I thought the weight of my clothes was too much and I would implode from the heat, he pulled his hand free and yanked my jeans down my legs. The warm breeze felt cool compared to the inferno between my thighs. He pushed my knees to my chest and fumbled with the tie on his pants. A moment later the tip of his cock slipped through my wetness. He thrust his hips, stretching my swollen and tender flesh, and I came undone, writhing with the vines on the wall.
Astaroth groaned as he pumped inside me, drawing out my orgasm. His mouth met mine, teeth clacking, as I peaked again. “Who do you belong to, Cali?” he asked between painfully delicious kisses.
Lost in the moment and barely coherent, I responded when he finally let me up for air. “No one.”
He half laughed against my lips, but he wasn’t amused. His fingertips dug into the flesh of my bottom with the first of many determined thrusts to pound the answer out of me. Over and over, he bumped my cervix to the point of pain until it turned into pleasure, and I shook from the head-to-toe wave of euphoria that washed over me. I didn’t need the everberries. He was a drug.
Astaroth roared his release and fell against me, panting in my ear. “No one else can do for you what I can. Make you feel the way that I do. Worship you the way you deserve.”
My inner walls spasmed around him, almost in rhythm with his words as if agreeing to everything he said. I didn’t want to admit he was right. I was too pissed at him for manipulating me again.
He pushed a little deeper and kissed the skin beneath my ear. “I love when you milk me for every last drop.”
And that was enough to push me over the edge one final time. My cursed mouth breathed his name as I trembled in his arms.
A moment of clarity washed over me. I couldn’t count the number of times he came inside me the past couple of days. The number of sperm searching for an egg to fertilize had to be in the bazillions. A legion out to conquer and impregnate me and create little Astaroth’s.
He took a step back and slid out of me. I could feel his release drip from my body. It wasn’t much relief, but that took care of tens of thousands of would-be children I didn’t want to conceive. If I hadn’t already. Did human birth control stand a chanceagainst fae sperm? The remnants trickled down my leg when he set me on my feet. His possessive gaze followed it before gently pulling my underwear up and then my jeans. I wiggled my sore legs together to dry the damp trail with the inside of my pant leg.
The vines released me, and my heavy arms fell to my sides. They tingled as the feeling came back over them. I rubbed at the red marks around my wrists and noticed the bites on my hands were almost gone. The ones on my stomach wouldn’t be far behind. I pulled my shirt down then quickly buttoned and zipped my pants before Astaroth got any more grandiose ideas.
His fingers wove with mine and lifted my hand to his lips. It was a beautiful, tender sentiment. I turned my head toward the corridor to keep from looking at him. The vulnerability on his face and his imploring gaze made me want to run to save myself. I didn’t want it to sway my decision. Instantly, a fervent wave of adoration crashed against the walls I built to protect what was left of myself. He didn’t need to destroy them. He’d wait until I dropped my defenses and sneak right in. Astaroth’s love was a lethal, cunning creature intent on sinking its teeth into my tender heart and sucking it dry. Just like the bloodsuckles.
I pulled my hand from his and started walking. “We should get going before the beasts come out to feast.”
He locked down his frustration, but not before it nearly swept me off my feet. “Indeed,” he grumbled.
Boots clomping behind me made me feel even more like the prey I was here in the labyrinth. Only the biggest, baddest beast of them all was the one stalking me. Again. It took all my effort not to speed up or run. How often did he get drunk and roam these walls to kill? Would last night happen a lot as the days went on? I hoped not.
Astaroth remained behind me the entire way to the corner. I took a deep breath and let out the building anxiety when he finally came to a stop by my side.
A lush growth of leafy vines with blooms cascaded down the corner and thinned as they ebbed out along the walls.
“Is it safe to move them?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said and approached the plants, parting them to give us a view of the bricks.
I followed his lead. He checked high, and I checked low. We started in the corner and worked our way along one wall, then along the other.
“I don’t see symbols, etchings, loose bricks or anything,” I huffed.
Astaroth stepped back and crossed his arms, fingers digging into his biceps. It was such a human gesture that the pose looked odd on him. “Neither did I.”
“Do you think we’ll find anything at the other corners?”
“Doubtful.”
“Maybe you should talk to Mergle.”
“Perhaps.”
I stood up and brushed the dirt off my hands. “What’s up with you two?”
His gaze flicked my way as if confused.
“Are you fighting?”
Astaroth looked away. “No. Why do you ask?”
“Because he’s not up your butt sniffing your farts.”
A sneer of disgust twisted his lips.
“And you’re very closed lip about him and look… guilty when his name is mentioned.”
His eyes flicked my way before focusing on the bloodsuckles stretching out to us.
I patted his arm. “Friends fight. It’s what they do best.”
I walked back the way we came to give him a moment to digest that little morsel. A howl ricocheted through the corridors, ending it quickly. A portal appeared in front of me, and this time,I walked through it without hesitating before waiting to see if Astaroth followed.
