I spend the day with Lily before returning to the castle late at night. As I step into our shared bedroom, I freeze, my breath catching in my throat at the sight before me. Nickolas stands with his back to me, his sculpted body bare as he strips off his clothes, the fabric dark and heavy with what can only be blood. He turns slowly as if sensing my presence, and I feel my knees weaken at the sight of his chest and abdomen that’s painted red, the blood still wet and glistening in the dim light.
“Like what you see?” he asks, his voice a low, cocky drawl that sends shivers down my spine.
“No,” I lie, tearing my gaze away, my cheeks flushing hot.
“Hmm,” he smirks, clearly seeing through my feeble attempt at nonchalance. To my surprise, he doesn’t stop undressing, his movements deliberate and sensual as he unzips his fly and sheds his stained pants and boxers. I can’t help but stare, my core clenching with need at the glorious sight of my mate naked before me, all hard muscle and tanned skin.
“How was your day?” I manage to choke out, my voice sounding distant and hollow to my own ears.
“It was good, little one,” Nickolas purrs, suddenly right in front of me, backing me up against the closet wall with the heat of his body. I collide with the hard surface, my lips parting with a gasp as I lift my eyes to meet his, drowning in the intensity of his gaze.
In the next heartbeat, his mouth is on mine, claiming me with a searing kiss that steals the breath from my lungs. My arms wind around his neck of their own accord, pulling him closer as I deepen the kiss, my tongue delving past his lips to taste him, and sets my senses on fire.
Nickolas’s hands are everywhere, caressing and teasing, leaving trails of heat in their wake. Before I can even process what’s happening, my dress is gone, my panties quick to follow. I moan into his mouth as he lifts me effortlessly, encouraging me to wrap my legs around his waist, the hard length of him pressing insistently against my aching core.
His lips leave mine to blaze a trail down the column of my throat, his teeth and tongue worshipping my sensitive skin until I’m writhing in his arms, desperate for more. My nipples tighten almost painfully as he reaches behind me to unclasp my bra with deft fingers, freeing my breasts to his hungry gaze.
“Nickolas,” I whimper, arching into his touch as he takes one peaked nipple into his mouth, the wet heat of his tongue sending bolts of pleasure straight to my core. His hand finds my other breast, kneading and plucking at the sensitive flesh until I’m mindless with need, my head thrown back against the wall as I push myself deeper into his mouth, silently begging for more.
“Your body was made for me to worship, little one,” Nickolas growls against my skin, his words vibrating through me like a physical caress. He releases my legs, letting my feet find the floor again before dropping to his knees before me, his face level with my dripping center.
“Let me show you how,” he commands, his voice rough with desire as he lifts one of my legs to drape over his broad shoulder, opening me fully to his darkened gaze.
“Nickolas, please…” I keen, my fingers threading through his hair to pull him closer, desperate to feel his mouth on me.
“So fucking perfect,” he praises, his breath hot against my sensitive flesh. And then his mouth is on me, his tongue delving deep to lap at my juices, his lips and teeth pulling my throbbing clit into the wet cavern of his mouth to suckle mercilessly.
I cry out at the intense pleasure, my eyes slamming shut as I feel my release building deep in my core, my arousal dripping down my thighs to coat his chin. Nickolas doesn’t let up, alternating between long, slow licks and quick, targeted flicks of his tongue until I’m shaking and incoherent, my fingers tightening in his hair as I hurtle toward the edge.
“That’s it, little one. Cum for me,” he coaxes, his voice a dark rumble that pushes me over the precipice. I shatter with a hoarse scream, my body convulsing as wave after wave of ecstasy crashes over me, leaving me boneless and trembling in his arms.
Nickolas rises to his feet, his lips and chin glistening with my juices as he licks them clean with a wicked smirk.
“Kneel,” he commands, his tone brooking no argument, sending a fresh gush of arousal flooding my core.
I sink to my knees without hesitation, my mouth level with his impressive length. He doesn’t give me any warning, fisting a hand in my hair and guiding me forward until the blunt head of his cock pushes past my lips, filling my mouth and throat with his thick length.
“Suck daddy like the little slut you know you are,” he growls, his grip on my hair tightening as he begins to move my mouth against his dick fast, setting a brutal pace that has tears springing to my eyes. I hollow my cheeks and relax my throat, taking him as deep as I can, sucking him off, and loving every minute of it.
Nickolas groans above me, my name falling from his lips like a prayer as I work him closer and closer to his release, my own arousal building again at the knowledge that I can bring this powerful male to his knees with just my mouth. Just as I feel him start to throb against my tongue, he pulls me off with a hiss, his chest heaving with the effort of holding back.
“I want to cum inside you,” he rasps, using his grip on my hair to pull me to my feet, his eyes wild and hungry as they rake over my flushed body. “Mine,” he snarls, the word a possessive brand against my skin as he backs me into the wall once more, lifting me effortlessly to wrap my legs around his waist.
I cling to his shoulders, my nails digging into his sweat-slicked skin as he notches himself at my entrance, teasing me with the promise of his thick length. “Please, Nickolas.” I whimper, my hips rolling against him in wanton invitation.
He answers with a single, powerful thrust, sheathing himself to the hilt in my tight heat, stretching and filling me so perfectly that I see stars. The blood on his chest smears against my breasts and belly as he begins to move, his hips snapping against mine in a relentless rhythm that steals the breath from my lungs and the thoughts from my head until all that exists is him and the exquisite pleasure building between us.
“Nickolas,” I keen, my release coiling tighter and tighter in my core with every deep stroke of his cock against my fluttering walls.
“Mine,” he chants against my hair, his voice strained and desperate as he loses himself in my body, his thrusts becoming erratic and harsh as he chases our mutual completion.
I shatter first, my orgasm hitting me like a freight train, my inner muscles clamping down on his length like a vice as I scream my pleasure into the sweat-dampened skin of his neck. Nickolas follows me over the edge with a guttural roar, his hips stuttering against mine as he fills me with his seed, the hot rush of his release triggering aftershocks that leave me boneless and trembling in his arms.
“Mine,” he breathes again, softer this time, almost reverent, as he holds me close, his cum dripping down my thighs.
I try to find my footing, to pull away and stand on my own, but Nickolas’s arms only tighten around me, refusing to let me go.
“We need to shower,” he says, his gaze lingering on our blood-stained bodies.
“I know. I wanted to walk to the bathroom,” I explain, attempting to free myself from his embrace once more, but he holds on tightly. “What’s wrong?” I inquire gently, reaching up to caress his face, seeking answers in his eyes. He’s unusually clingy and possessive today. I loved how he called me his, but I couldn’t help but notice he did quite a lot today.
“Nothing,” he replies, but I can see the lie in the way he avoids my gaze, his jaw clenching beneath my fingers.
“Nickolas, talk to me,” I plead.
“It’s nothing, little one. Let’s shower,” he insists, turning his face into my palm to press a kiss against my skin before pulling away, leaving me feeling confused as he carries me into the bathroom. I decide not to push on and rest my head against his chest.
The hot spray of the shower envelops us as we make love again, our bodies moving together in a sensual dance. I cry out Nickolas’s name as waves of pleasure crest over me for the second time in less than an hour.
As the steam swirls around us, beads of water trailing down the hard planes of his chest, Nickolas speaks in a low rumble. “I’m sorry for what I said the night we had sex.” His dark eyes hold a hint of regret as the words tumble out.
I meet his gaze steadily, understanding dawning. “I forgive you.” He must have panicked in that heated moment and lashed out with harsh words he didn’t truly mean.
Nickolas lets out a slow exhale, some of the tension leaving his powerful frame. “And I only insisted you bathe afterward because I was worried about the lords finding out and making you a target.”
My brows knit together as I try to follow his meaning. “I don’t understand…”
He pulls me closer, big hands spanning my waist as he explains about the potential consequences if the lords were to discover we had sex and the danger it could bring down on me.
I feel the blood drain from my face as the weight of his words sinks in. All this time, he was just trying to protect me in his own gruff way.
“Thank you… for explaining this to me,” I murmur, rising up on my tiptoes to press a soft kiss to the rough stubble of his cheek. I know how difficult it must have been for him to open up and voice these vulnerabilities.
Nickolas simply holds me tighter, the thrumming of his heart under my cheek the only response he needs to give.
We emerge, clean and sated from the bathroom a few minutes later, and I pad into the closet to find something to wear, reaching for a pair of panties first.
“You won’t be needing those,” Nickolas says from behind me, plucking the scrap of lace from my fingers and tossing it back into the drawer with a smirk.
“Why?” I ask, my brow furrowing in confusion even as my core clenches at the heat in his gaze.
“Because they’ll only be a hindrance when I’m hungry,” he replies, his voice a low, suggestive rumble that sends shivers down my spine.
“Hungry?” I echo, tilting my head to the side in question. Understanding dawns a moment later, my cheeks flushing scarlet as I realize exactly what he means. I turn away quickly, pulling a soft t-shirt over my head to hide my burning face, my heart racing in my chest at the thought of being so open and available to him, always.
We climb into bed together, Nickolas pulling me flush against his side, his arm a solid band around my waist. I turn to face him, my fingers tracing the strong lines of his face in the dim light, marveling at the beauty of my mate.
“I’m listening,” he murmurs, his hand sliding up my back in a soothing caress, his eyes soft and open as they meet mine.
“How did you know I have something to talk about?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper in the quiet room.
“It’s written all over your face, little one,” he replies, his fingers dancing along my spine, leaving trails of heat in their wake. “What’s on your mind?”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation I know we need to have. “Earlier, you said you needed to see my father. Why?” I ask, my heart in my throat as I search his face for any hint of deception or ill intent.
Nickolas holds my gaze steadily, his expression serious but open. “What other reason could there be, little one?” he asks softly, his words heavy with unspoken meaning.
My heart stutters in my chest as I can’t believe I was right.
“How can I be sure he’ll leave there alive?” I whisper, giving voice to my deepest fear, the one that has been gnawing at me since Nickolas first made his request.
Nickolas releases my waist to capture my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing over my cheekbones in a tender caress. “If I wanted to harm him, I wouldn’t have asked,” he says solemnly, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that steals the breath from my lungs.
Nickolas is asking me to trust him, and my heart wants to comply, but my brain is hesitant. His eyes convey sincerity. I exhale heavily and drop my head against his chest. I’m torn about what to do. Earlier, I was filled with happiness, but now that the moment of decision has arrived, reality hits me hard.
The thought of my father’s death being my responsibility if I misjudged Nickolas’s intentions weighs heavily on my mind. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. Yet, I can’t shake the anticipation of what their meeting might bring if things go smoothly. It could pave the way for a future with Nickolas.
“I trust our mate,” Marie whispers in my mind.
“But what if he’s just trying to get us to deliver Dad to him?” I argue.
“I don’t think so, Amelia. Trust our mate this time.”
“Hmm… I hope you’re right,” I respond before cutting off our connection.
I lift my head to meet Nickolas’s gaze. “I’ll arrange the meeting. They will choose the time and place. okay?”
“Fine with me, little one,” he replies, smiling.
I lean back against his chest, silently praying that I’ve made the right decision.