A Grave Exchange (7 page)

“Ivy
,
you have been through too much tonight
. Y
ou need to rest now,
and
tomorrow we will talk some more.”

I tried to protest but found my eyes dropping closed of their own
accord
.
Soon
,
I curled up under the throw and noted as I drifted off Lucius’
strong
arms wrap
ped
around me.

Chapte
r
Six

I awoke suddenly, unsure of where I was or what was happening
. M
y heart thundered,
and
I felt cold and clammy
.
I turned to find Lucius asleep beside
me;
I smiled, feeling as if I were
looking at an angel in peaceful slumber
. H
is thick
,
dark eyelashes curled, his full lips
were
slightly open,
and
his beautiful
,
curly hair
had that fresh-from-the-salon, perfectly
mussed up
look, only he came by his naturally
.
Sighing
,
I
lay
back
, absently
trailing
a finger across
his bare
,
broad chest
, considering his perfect form
. A
rtists would flock to paint
him, if given an opportunity to do so. O
f
its
own vol
i
tion
, my circling fingers
travelled south,
and so I was
pleasantly
surprised
when I found him hard and ready for me
.
I slid the satin sheet
lower
and gasped
at the sight of
his swollen
cock,
standing
at attention.
My mouth watered
,
and my body hungered like never before
.
I lowered myself quietly down the bed, gaz
e locked on his face, hop
ing
he wouldn’t awaken. As I brought my face in line with his erect penis, I opened my mouth and
slid my tongue
across
the crown of his cock, slowly savoring the taste
.
I felt and heard a
low
rumble
, as if
Lucius
had moaned, and my gaze flew to his face,
but still he slept on
.
I slid my body between his open legs
, bent my head,
and
took his cock between my lips. I
plunged
downward, taking him in, growing
more aroused by the second
.
I wrapped my legs
tightly
around one of Lucius’ huge muscular thighs and
grinded
my needy clit
against him.
Harder and harder I rode his thigh,
coating
his leg with my
slick
arousal, sliding up and down furiously
.
I could not get enough of
his
tast
y cock
,
and I
suck
ed
hi
m deep, until the head hit
the back of my throat
. I longed to come,
my
pussy
throbbing with need
.

A heavy hand fell on my head, and I looked up to find Lucius staring at me,
his eyes feral
with
need, the red rings shining like fiery flames
, but I felt no fear. T
his man had drawn me in
,
and I was addicted to his love
.
I rose up on his thigh and arched back
,
riding his
leg
like a stallion was under
neath
me
. My
breast
s
bounc
ed
wildly
in time
with my raucous rhythm, my nipples stinging with
the
need to be bitten by Lucius
. I
dropped
my head
back
,
my eyes slammed shut
,
and I lost all ability to think
. M
y body’s wanton needs coursed through me like a fire
burning out of control
. M
y abdomen clenched
,
and I roared my release
. Falling forward,
I
kissed him
passionately
,
our tongues fighting for control of each other’s passionate needs
.

Neither
one
of us
were
able to control our
body’s
desires
. F
issures in our hearts had burst open
,
and flames of desire licked ou
t
,
burning our blood with need
.
Lucius gripped my hair and pulled my head back, his lips
found
my neck
, and he
bit down hard
. At the same time
, he lifted my leg and pulled me directly over his granite cock
.
Feeling the bulbous head at my entrance, I growled his name before
slamming
my ass
down
, taking him into
my
soaking wet
pussy
. I rode him as I’d rode his thigh, with
wild abandon,
and
never before had I felt so alive
.
Lucius
reached between us and
slid his fingers over my swollen
,
sensitive clit
. He
pinch
ed
hard,
and
I moaned and rode
him faster,
with no fear of recriminations or
judgment
. W
ith Lucius
,
I felt completely free, free to be me
. The sensation
was so liberating, I felt so beautiful when I was with
him
,
no longer dark and scarred,
A
ll too soon
,
my pussy clenched around
his
cock, milking him
. He
gripped my ass and arched up with one last
,
deadly thrust
. M
y breasts
bounced
with the force of his powerful thrust,
and
both of us roared our release, Lucius’ seed shot up into my
welcoming
womb
.
Dazed and sated,
I looked down at
him
, tears falling from my eyes
. A
gentle
smile
graced his
lips,
and he softly
caress
ed
my thighs
.
I
leaned forward to lay
my head down on his broad chest
.

“
I have to go,
” I told him
, a horrid thought occurring to me
. “
I have to get to work!”

“Work? Ivy, my love, you can’t be serious.” He grabbed my shoulders and lifted me so I faced him. “I’m afraid that’s impossible. You’re in entirely too much danger now.”

“Now? Why now? What’s changed?”

“Weren’t you listening? Didn’t you hear me when I told you about the curse, about how the king is coming back—no doubt to find you and kill you. You said so yourself, not three minutes ago, remember? I’m sorry, Ivy; I can’t let you leave. No job is worth your safety.”

“You
can’t
let
me?” I repeated the term he’d used. “Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?”

“I’m the one who loves you. I’m your mate, and I’m sworn to protect you. With my life, if needs be.”

“Well, if you love me, then you’ll understand why I can’t just sit here and do nothing, why I can’t allow your . . . your king to control my life. The work I do is important. I’m going to work, Lucius . . .with or without your blessing.” I stared him down, determined to have my way in this.

Lucius slowed his stroking and
returned my gaze. He remained silent for a few moments, as if he were thinking things through, and then he nodded.
“Of course you must
go to work.
I
sh
ould
have
expect
ed
no less,
and you have my blessing,
but
only under two conditions.
I shall ring you
throughout the day
to be sure you are safe
;
I do not know when King
Ca
simiro
will make his presence known. I fear it will happen very soon.
And two, you’ll allow me to take you there myself. I won’t have you walking the streets alone.
”

I shuddered and nuzzled into Lucius’ neck
.
He
groaned
, but gently eased me away and off his lap.

“S
hower
. G
et yourself ready
, and then
I shall drive you to work.”

Reluctantly
,
I left
him
and walked into an amazing bathroom
.
The floor and walls were al
l tiled a beautiful ivory color
;
the mirrors were wrapped in a beautiful
,
ornate
,
gold frame, reminiscent of Snow White’s evil step mom
. L
aughing to myself
,
I turned on the shower,
and then stepped underneath
a glorious
,
steaming cascade of
hot
water
that
drown
ed
my fears
and cleansed away the aches and pains, readying me
for the day ahead
.
I reached
for
Lucius’ shower
get, brought the bottle to me nose, and sniffed. The
rich
,
wood
s
y smell
reminded me of
him
and suited him perfectly
.
H
ands slid down my arms
, and I jumped and yelped.

“Easy. It’s just me.” Lucius nuzzled my neck from behind as he
enveloped me in a huge hug
.
He
chuckled and grabbed the gel bottle out of my hand
.
“I need to shower too
,
little Ivy.”

He
released me and I turned to watch as he
lathered up and slowly started rubbing the gel all over his exquisite body
.
My mouth went dry as I watched hi
m
.
I could have
stood there looking at
him all day, but
I had
to hurry
, now. With a heavy sigh,
I turned away from him and finished my own lathering
.
Lucius grabbed a sponge and rubbed it over my back
.
How I finished my shower
without becoming thoroughly distracted,
I will never know
, but a few minutes later,
I slowly stepped out of the shower cubicle and reached for a towel from the heated rail
.
I w
rapp
ed
it around my body
,
drinking in the warmth, but
notic
ing
it didn’t make me feel
nearly
as good as being in Lucius’ arms
.
A pile of clothes sat neatly folded on the counter, and as
I reached for
them, I realized they were mine, and someone had actually
washed
them
.
I t
urn
ed
to face Lucius
as he stepped out of the shower behind me.

“How did my clothes get cleaned? The last thing I remember, they were lying in a heap on the floor.”

“I have two people who live with me here, one is my loyal companion for nearly a century
, Fausto
.
He helps me with my day
-
to
-
day work and organizes my many charity functions
.
Gregorio is my house help; he cleans and makes meals for my guests.”