Shadow witch, p.11
Shadow Witch, page 11
“Help me find him—right now. Make him pay for what he’s done.”
“No. We aren’t going to just run in and kill him without a plan.”
“I don’t care about a fucking plan right now,” I retorted, my eyes tearing up as the storm of emotions inside of me threatened to blast out violently. “If you won’t help me, then I’ll go on my own. I’ll go right now.”
“Don’t,” Lazaro warned harshly, closing his eyes for a long moment. “Don’t fucking say that shit.”
“You don’t control what I say,” I insisted, pushing my hand against his chest. A dark chuckle slipped from his lips that had my skin prickling—I knew he found my words anything but funny.
“You can say whatever you want, but you’re not leaving. I won’t allow it.”
“You don’t get to allow anything,” I bit out. Lazaro examined my expression for a long moment, something shifting between us. His lips pressed down on mine gently, causing me to shiver before he nipped my lip hard, the contrasting effect leaving me almost dizzy.
“Lazaro,” I whimpered, my nails digging into his chest.
“I think I can find other ways to convince you to stay,” he said, brushing his nose against mine. “Take us somewhere, Deva—create a different shadowscape.”
A different shadowscape to be alone… Before I could help myself, I was imagining exactly what he meant—a dark room with a luxurious bed—and in seconds flat that’s exactly where we were. If it wasn’t for how damn heated I felt, I would’ve appreciated the ease in which I’d been able to do that.
“Perfect,” Lazaro praised. “You know exactly what you want, don’t you, little thief?”
“To kill him—” I gasped as his hands moved down to my waist and pushed up my shirt, exposing my skin to the air. My legs opened for him as his larger frame settled perfectly between them, his rough hands pushing up my sports bra and releasing my breasts.
“Are you sure that’s what you want right now?” Lazaro asked, his thumb rolling over one of my hardened nipples as his tongue darted out to tease the other, causing liquid heat to rush to my center. I nearly moaned at the sensation, and one of my hands slipped into his hair, not wanting him to stop. He groaned at my hard grip as he continued to tease me, his teeth toying with one nipple before moving to the other.
It was having a disastrously distracting effect on my body.
“You are so fucking stubborn.” He chuckled, his hot breath against my skin causing me to curl my toes. “Roll over. Now.”
“Make me,” I snapped back, the effect ruined by the breathless nature of my voice, and he chuckled darkly before doing exactly that. I landed on my stomach as his hands ran over my ass. I could feel energy coursing under my skin, and when he tugged my shorts and panties halfway down to pin my legs together, I arched my back, wanting his fingers and mouth back on me.
“So fucking perfect,” he praised, smoothing his fingers over my skin, causing shivers to break out over my entire frame.
His hand suddenly came down across my ass in a sharp, hard slap, a breathy moan of surprise slipping from my lips. The slight sting of pain was like an electric bolt to my clit, and I tried to spread my legs, wanting him to run those same fingers over my center, only to be stopped by my shorts.
The second slap and Lazaro’s deep growl when I tried to arch into him made me remember that I wasn’t supposed to be enjoying this or giving into him. My voice was barely convincing as I tried to speak up. “You can’t just do that—”
“I’ll do it until you admit that what you’re suggesting is dangerous—that you’re trying to fucking run from me,” he said sharply, another hit coming across my ass. A full whimper left my lips as he groaned, running his fingers between my legs, clearly realizing how much this was turning me on. I needed more, though. This teasing was enough to drive a woman mad, especially when I could imagine how good he would feel inside of me.
“You’re so fucking wet,” Lazaro hummed, his soft voice contrasting the way his hand suddenly wrapped around my hair and pulled, forcing my back to arch and ass to press against him. “And here I thought I would need fear to turn you on, little thief. Instead it seems like a little pain and being overpowered will do the fucking trick. Is that what you need, Deva? For someone to just decide exactly how and when you need it?”
My breath hitched as I tried to look back at him, his large frame leaning over mine as he wrapped a hand around my throat, his voice knowing. “You’ve always been forced to take care of yourself, forced to make decisions, forced to fight or run. Let me take care of you. Let me decide what you need and when. Let me take control.”
I knew what I was agreeing to wasn’t to be taken lightly in any way, shape, or form. I knew that agreeing to this meant truly handing him control when it came to what happened between us…and I found relief in that possibility.
“Wherever and whenever I think you need it, little thief. Give me the words.”
“That’s what I want,” I admitted breathlessly. “I want…I want you to be in control.”
Lazaro’s chest produced a dark and dangerous noise as his fingers brushed over my nipple, pinching it and causing me to literally tremble. “You trust me that much? After this, I won’t let you take it back—I won’t let you go.”
I won’t let you go…
I didn’t want him to. Ever.
“Yes,” I whispered, holding his gaze. “I want…I need that.”
Victory shone in his expression as he released my throat and sat back, his fingers tracing the back of my thighs before lightly teasing over my wet pussy, exposed fully to his gaze. I whimpered as his large hand came to my upper back and pressed down, his words rough. “Spread your legs and put your head down. Now.”
I did exactly that, as much as I could with my legs being trapped, and the minute his tongue speared my slit—a primal sound escaping him—I let out a cry of relief. My hands gripped the bed underneath us, and I trembled at the sensation of his tongue circling my clit, causing my eyes to nearly roll back in my head. Despite the intense pleasure it was causing, though, my frustration was only growing at the absence of his length inside of me. I wanted—needed—to feel him pulsing in and out of me, claiming me.
“Lazaro, I need more.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” He pulled back, his hot breath against my center. “You’ll take exactly what I give you until you’re ready for my cock.”
“I am ready,” I groaned, then gasped in surprise at the feeling of two thick fingers sliding inside of me, my center clutching around him. I heard his pants being unzipped as he pumped his fingers in and out of me, the sound of my wet heat echoing around us as his other hand guided his cock so that it slid right against my clit.
“Holy shit.” I moaned at how good the mixture of the two felt, the feeling replaced by momentary panic as his fingers suddenly retreated, thinking he was going to continue to tease me, only to be replaced by his cock right at my entrance. One hand gripped my hip and the other smoothed over the back of my neck, completely dominating my body.
“I hope you really are ready, little thief.”
Lazaro punched forward and buried his full length inside of me all at once.
I cried out at the sensation of his entire length buried inside of me right as his lunar magic ran over my skin and toyed with my body like electric shocks targeting my nerves. I felt my eyes water as he groaned, his cock flexing inside of me as I tightened around him, damn near close to coming after all of his torturous teasing.
“Fuck, you were ready,” he hissed. “Shit. You are so damn tight. You’re squeezing around me like a fucking vise. Press your ass back further and grip the headboard.”
I did exactly that, and in reward he began to fuck me hard. Really hard. I didn’t think he would slow down if I asked him, and I sure as hell didn’t. His pace was deep and intense, causing my head to spin as I slowly began to forget about…everything. All I could do was feel. I could feel him inside of me, feel his magic rolling over my skin, feel the way our connection lit up, fucking loving that he was dominating me so completely—that I had given him control. This was how it was supposed to be between the two of us. I didn’t understand it completely, but it both grounded me and had me feeling like I was fucking high on euphoric pleasure.
“Fuck!” I cried out as he slammed in particularly hard, a white-hot sensation of pleasure—nearly pain—causing me to shudder and climax around him. I could feel myself milking his length, and I whimpered at the way the tension from earlier just left my body, leaving me in a puddle of bliss at being used by him.
I fucking loved it.
“I’m going to need way more than just once,” he growled as he leaned forward so that his chest pressed against my back, my body flattening so he could push even deeper. I cried out as his teeth tugged on my ear, one hand tangling in my hair.
“You’re so deep,” I gasped as he again began to pulse in and out of me.
“So deep,” he agreed, his voice rough and uneven. “And you’re going to let me stay this deep, aren’t you? You won’t tell me to stop because you know I’ll give you what you need.”
He wasn’t fucking lying, and after coming around his cock two more times, my eyes were streaming with tears, my body a live wire of euphoria and relief. I had no idea how he was continuing without stopping. His body was like a force of nature, purely focused on bringing me pleasure by his own hand. My vision started to grow spotty, and I knew I was reaching my limit. But somehow Lazaro knew that as well—somehow he knew my body far too fucking well despite this being our first time together.
“Tell me where you want me to come, Deva.” His command was sharp and jolted me, demanding I answer. “Do you want me to come inside of you? On your fantastic ass? Or across your perfect fucking face? What do you need?”
“Inside of me,” I said immediately. “Please, inside of me.”
“Fuck. Absolutely,” he groaned, slamming into me with one final thrust.
Our lunar magic clashed together, and the moonstone inside of my chest fused with his, the magic blinding as it formed a bond that I could have never expected. My eyes snapped open in surprise as Lazaro flipped me over, reentering me. I stared up into his face, framed by silver-streaked hair, in awe before he seared his lips against mine in an intense kiss. The shadow space around us crackled with energy, making me tremble.
“You took me so fucking good. I’m proud of you,” he whispered, pressing his forehead against my own. His cock was still hard inside of me, but he wasn’t moving, just holding me against him.
“Lazaro.” I let out a shaky breath, holding his gaze as I let my walls down completely, “I…I don’t know what I’m doing right now. I feel so out of control when it comes to this.”
“You are going to let me carry you back to the suite, get some sleep after your nightmares last night, and then we’ll figure this shit out. What you aren’t going to do is leave. Do you promise me?”
Staring up at him, I nodded slowly. “I won’t leave without you guys.”
His eyes darkened as he nodded. “Good. Now let’s get you back, little thief.”
14
LAZARO
My gaze ran over Deva’s peaceful but exhausted expression, her dark lashes brushing against her cheeks as she laid against my chest. I kept her tucked against me as her shadow magic’s walls fell and my own magic retreated back under my skin, the natural excess having been absorbed by my little thief—along with every ounce of my fucking soul.
My cum as well. I groaned at that thought, standing as I pressed my lips against her forehead. I closed my eyes to gather some level of self-control, glad I’d already fixed our garments so I couldn’t see the remnants of what we’d just done. I was bound to fucking lose it if I saw my cum leaking out of her or thought about the way her insides were now painted with me—
No. I needed to get her out of this cold, cavernous space. I had no idea how she even made it so deeply into the Nyx estate when it was guarded so heavily by wards. After all, these caverns and tunnels were far from empty. Around every bend and corner, I could feel the creatures the family kept here. None of them had tried to bother Deva, though.
None of them had even tried to approach her in curiosity, like they respected the isolation she’d so desperately craved. I couldn’t say the same for myself.
Part of it had been an instinctual response to my panic, the fear that she’d finally hit her limit and was going to leave us…leave me. Even if it was to find Astaroth to exact her revenge—something I wouldn’t have blamed her for in theory, if I were being honest—I couldn’t handle the possibility of losing her. I couldn’t lose her.
The insanity of the situation had me shaking my head. The bastard was her father—I didn’t even know what the hell to make of that.
Cradling her in my arms, unsurprised she’d fallen asleep so easily, I began the trek to the foyer of the basement. I let out a low rumble as I looked down at Deva’s puffy lips and messed up hair. She looked fucking glorious, and I wasn’t sure I wanted anyone else outside of us seeing her like this.
A small part of me worried about how hard I’d taken her, combined with our magic’s interaction—it had been a lot. At the same time, I don’t think she minded one damn bit.
Deva didn’t even realize the trust she’d truly placed in me. She trusted me to know what she needed and when she needed it. I didn’t take that lightly, and that included a part of our dynamic I hadn’t considered before, one I had been in denial of when I first met her—this obsessive urge I had to take care of Deva. I wasn’t a caring or considerate individual. In fact, I was an asshole.
But with Deva it was different, and I found myself worrying about things I never thought I would, from how much she had eaten today to what was on her mind. Hell, from the start I’d been worried about her. Worried that Grim would push her too much, worried we were interrupting the peace she was trying to find…
But of course that was countered by the raw need I had for Deva, which was impossibly intensified now that I’d been inside of her.
When I reached up the stairs, I could tell that everyone had already gone up, with the exception of the two men waiting on a landing halfway up, watching both of us with interest. I was surprised Cage and Grim hadn’t joined them yet, but maybe Alek and Oz hadn’t even gone to find them. The first looked noticeably annoyed with me upon seeing Deva’s state.
“It wasn’t the time—”
“I am not having this discussion with you,” I said, keeping my voice level and firm. “Not now. I just want to get her back to the room.”
“Fucking selfish.” Alek shook his head, but I could tell he wouldn’t push it.
“Is she okay?” Oz asked quietly, his gaze dark and filled with concern. I knew he wasn’t asking about her physical health, and my brow furrowed as I thought about the state I’d found Deva in.
“I don’t think so,” I answered honestly.
When we reached Grim’s suite, I found Cage and him engaged in an in-depth discussion—until they saw our expressions and took in Deva’s unconscious form.
I ignored their questions, knowing the other two would fill them in as I took Deva to the bedroom. I immediately removed her shoes and brushed some dirt from clothes before laying her down on top of the sheets. Covering her in a blanket, I brushed my fingers over her forehead and whispered an incantation that would make sure she stayed in a peaceful meditative state until her body was fully rested.
“Did you just do a sleeping spell?” Cage asked curiously, appearing near the bed.
“She needs it—trust me.”
“Sounds like it. Fuck, I mean I’m glad we know, but to just throw that on her…”
I turned sharply, allowing my anger to seep through now that I wasn’t worried about waking her up. “To throw that on her was absolutely idiotic and exactly what I’m going to handle right now.”
“Do you need someone to come with you?” Cage asked, his eyes flashing with darkness. I considered his offer before shaking my head. This conversation was between my family and me.
Walking past him and through the main room, I said nothing to the others, not wanting to be derailed, and headed towards the guest suite where my parents were staying. When I got there, I knocked sharply in warning before letting myself in.
I could tell immediately that they were discussing the incident, my grandmother drinking tea and staring out the window in thought. I let the door fall shut as I looked over my mother’s concerned expression, my father’s indifferent one, and my grandmother’s…well, I didn’t even know what to call her expression.
Mournful? Regretful? It didn’t quell my anger in the least.
“Why?” I demanded, my magic crackling through the space as I tried to keep some level of control on my temper. “Why the fuck would you just tell her that?”
“Do not talk to your grandmother—”
“It’s fine,” my grandmother said calmly, holding my gaze. “She deserves to know the truth, Lazaro. She deserves to know why someone like Astaroth would value her and start a war over her.”
My jaw clenched. “There were a million fucking ways to tell her that didn’t include dropping that shit on her out of nowhere.”
My mother spoke up then. “She is more than capable of handling herself. In fact, I think she’s one of the most powerful witches I’ve met. It makes sense that she was trained so closely under Astaroth because he recognized that she could be useful. It also makes me question how he just let her go.”
“He didn’t just let her go,” I hissed in frustration. “She ran.”
“I was curious why you picked someone that was already in the process of being claimed by others,” my father suddenly said, “but I can’t deny that you chose a worthy partner. Your magic paired with hers would probably create children that wouldn’t require our family’s unique—”
“Shut. Up,” I said quietly, leveling him with a look that had him paling. “I don’t want to hear another fucking word from you. Especially not about why you think Deva is a good partner for me—your opinion doesn’t matter in this. And I sure as fuck don’t want to hear about you bringing any of your family’s toxic shit around any kids we may have.”
