Page 39 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“What was in that drink?” I ask, but before Colton can answer Nyx comes through the door.

“I’ve been looking all over for you,” Nyx says, extending a hand to me. His eyes go straight to the spot Colton was touching on my leg moments ago like he could see the imprint. I take his hand, instantly relieved when he pulls me to my feet.

“Nyx, my man. I didn’t know you two knew each other,” Colton says, getting to his feet. He extends his hand for Nyx to shake, but Nyx just looks down at him with his lips pressed in a hard line.

“Lyra, let’s go.” Nyx places his hand on the small of my back, ushering me back to the party. The callouses on his hand scrape my sensitive skin, causing me to clench my thighs together.

A man approaches us right away, smiling broadly at me.

“Lyra, this is Bim,” Nyx says as he came to stand in front of us.

Bim is tall but shorter than Nyx, and he has a wide, muscular build with a bit of a pudgy belly, short light-brown hair that’s slightly messy atop his head, and a trim brown beard to match his light-brown eyes.

“Pleasure to meet you,” I say, returning a smile.

Bim takes my hand and places a kiss on the top of it.

“Oh, the pleasure is mine, Princess,” Bim says. His breath on the back of my hand tickles in a way that shouldn’t arouse me but does. Something is wrong with me. My body feels flush and . . . wet.

“Don’t start,” Nyx elbows him, but Bim just chuckles. Nyx still has his hand wrapped around me, and I press into him, touching my hand to his back. He feels so strong, and his back is firm. He keeps talking to Bim, but I can’t focus on their conversation. I move in front of Nyx, burying my face in his chest and wrapping my arms around him. I tug his shirt up in the back. My hands find the warmth of his bare skin. My heart is racing, and I need to be closer to him.

“Lyra, are you alright?” Nyx places his hand under my chin, coaxing me to look up at him. The golden chandelier dazzles above his head. “Shit. Did you eat or drink anything?” he asks, brows furrowed.

“Maybe,” I drag the word out slowly then bite my bottom lip. Nyx smiles at me, wrapping his arms around me.

“We’ll talk later,” I hear him say to Bim, then darkness surrounds me. The smell of him almost destroys me.

A moment later we’re back in the quiet of Nyx’s castle standing in the bed chamber. I push him back toward the bed, and he sits down. I crawl onto his lap, pushing on his chest until he falls back onto the bed.

“Lyra, wait. What did you have at the party?”

I can’t think about anything else right now. I need him.

“Lyra, I need to know what you had,” Nyx says while gently placing his hands on either side of my face, forcing me to meet his gaze.

“Stardust,” I whisper then push his hands away. I start undressing him, pulling his shirt over his head. I’m going to eat him alive.

“Lyra, stop. I don’t want you to do anything you’re going to regret. You don’t understand that stardust is a powerful aphrodisiac. It doesn’t last long. You should be snapping out of it soon.”

I don’t know what he’s saying. All I know is I need him. I need to taste him.

I lean down on top of him, finding his mouth and letting my hair fall around us, hiding our faces. I run my tongue across his bottom lip and bite down on it. He makes a guttural sound deep in his throat, and it lights me on fire. I can’t stop groping him. I run my hands through his hair and across his chest, devouring his mouth with mine. I press my tongue against his, wanting to taste every part of him. I feel ravenous. I can’t get enough of him. I start tugging at his pants, but he halts me, grabbing my wrists and tossing me back on the bed. He crawls on top of me, kissing me deeply.

“I’m not going to have sex with you when I know you’ll surely regret it later.”

“I won’t.” It’s a plea as I move my hand, grasping his hard length pressed against his pants. He moans, and I take it as my chance. I start tugging his pants off, but again he stops me. He grabs my wrists, bringing them together over my head and pinning me there with one hand. I buck beneath him, wanting him to take me.

“Please,” I cry out.

Nyx just smiles down at me, pinning me with his body. “So demanding.”

I use my legs, wrapping them around him and pushing him over. The only reason it works is because he wasn’t expecting it. Back on top of him, he chuckles loud beneath me. I get to work on his pants again, trying to fully undress him. I need him. He places a hand to my forehead, and it’s the last thing I remember.

* * *

I open my eyes, blinking slowly, thankful for the dim light of the fire. My head is pounding, and I don’t think I could handle any bright lights right now. I’m in bed, but this isn’t my bed chamber. I sit up and see Nyx sitting in front of the fire, drink in hand. He must notice my movement because he moves to the bed, sitting next to me.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.