Conquer (Control) (29 page)

“Come on Daemon!  Live a little, would you?!

Paige sat on the railing of my balcony overlooking the city.  We’d just returned from dinner where she’d had way too many drinks, instantly transforming back into the stubborn and obstinate person I’d grown to love.  Apparently, based on the fact that she was precariously balanced over a railing that sat three stories high, she’d become fearless as well.  As soon as we’d arrived back at my place, her clothes had vanished from her body as she’d danced seductively around the living room of the apartment.  I won’t lie and say I tried to stop her.  With the way the light from the fire sconces bounced across her skin, I was mesmerized in my silent admiration of her body.  It was a damn good thing David wasn’t here or he’d have gotten one hell of a show.

“Damsel, I need you to come down from there, please.  You’ll fall.  Plus, you’re naked.  We are not so high up that people can’t see you.”   Even though I was freaking out on the inside, I kept my voice calm and controlled as I spoke to her.  I stood between her legs with my arms wrapped protectively around her waist. 

Her laughter echoed out through the night as she wrapped her legs around me. “Whatever, Daemon, I know you won’t let me fall.”  The city lights twinkled in her eyes as she looked down on me with absolute trust.  Her words were like a punch to the chest.  She trusted me.  The drunken confession she just made had not gone unnoticed.

I smiled up into her beautiful face.  “Took you long enough.”

Her brows creased in confusion, just as a hesitant smile broke out on her lips.  I watched her mouth as she spoke next, enjoying the sounds of her slurred words.  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Daemon.”

I locked my eyes with hers.  “You trust me.”

The night sky lit up as lightning shot through the clouds.  Her eyes widened, but I didn’t know if it was because of the sudden thunder, or because of the words I’d just spoken.  Slowly, her lips curved up into a shy smile, her cheeks reddening from some private thought.   She was bared to me completely and, at the moment, her life was technically in my hands; yet, it was the idea of
admitting
that she trusted me that made her nervous and shy.  I shook my head in amazement. 

When I heard a car honk in the distance, I was snapped back to the realization that Paige stood naked in plain view.  “Baby, we need to get you inside.  I’m the only one who should be appreciating that body of yours.”  She twisted around to look out over the city just as a bolt of lightning cracked across the sky.  Within seconds, booming thunder rolled over our heads, causing vibrations on the balcony.  The skies opened up pouring down a wall of water to the ground below. 

Paige laughed a beautiful, melodic laugh.  One full of joy and contentment; freedom from inhibition.  “I don’t think they can see me now, Daemon.  Besides, even if they could, I don’t have to hide anymore.”  Her blue eyes locked with mine.  My pants tightened even more at the look she gave me.  “You’ve brought down my walls, Daemon, opening me up in ways I never thought possible.”  Her face was taken over by a bright smile.  “I don’t care if I’m naked in front of everyone…as long as you’re there.  Because when you are around me…”  Her finger came up to tap me on the nose.  “…you’re the only person I see.”

She leaned back into the rain and my arms tightened around her, keeping her from falling.  I watched as the rain soaked her hair and ran in rivulets down her skin.   My fingers dug into the flesh of her hips as I imagined my mouth following the paths of water that ran down her body.  She was so drunk; just laughing as she allowed the rain to cover her. 
Fuck it
.  I decided to take advantage.

“Marry me, Paige.”  My voice was strong, determined as I told her what I wanted.  It wasn’t a question.  There was NO question that she would eventually be my wife…it was just a matter of getting her to accept it.

Her head sprang up, her expression one of surprise and humor.  A devious grin curved out from the corner of her mouth.  My eyes were taken captive by hers.   I could see the effects of the alcohol in her eyes.  Her eyelids were half open, but light still happily danced within the different shades of blue.  She bought her head down so that her forehead rested on mine.

“Okay.”

My body froze.   The corners of her eyes crinkled with mirth.  She smiled again, before leaning back out into the rain.  Lightning and thunder continued battering the skies as I stood motionless, my mind endlessly replaying one word…”
okay.”
   She wouldn’t remember this in the morning, but, fuck, I didn’t care.  I was holding her to her acceptance.

I pulled her down from the railing and turned to press her body against the wall that stood between both railings.  Curtains of water poured down on either side of us, the sound only serving to echo back every word that was spoken.  “You’re mine, Damsel.  I’m not letting you go.  Especially, not after what you just agreed to.”  Her head fell back onto the wall as she ground her hips against me.  My fucking dick was about to burst from my jeans so I reached down with one arm to strip them from my body.  As soon as I was free, I was going to bury myself deep inside her body.

She looked back down at me, shaking her head.  “You’re so blind, aren’t you, Daemon?  I’ve
been
yours.  Maybe not exactly like this, but in some way or another, I’ve been yours since I was five years old.”  Her hands came up to cup my cheeks as my hands continued working to relieve myself of my clothing.  “But don’t go getting all big-headed about it.  I’ll just deny it if you ever try to repeat it.”  She winked at me before her sassy mouth came down on mine.  My jeans slid to the ground and, without warning, I speared myself inside her.  Her body trembled and quaked as I slowly started to move. 

I could taste the alcohol on her tongue as she opened herself to me.  The heat of her body soaked into me as my hands explored the smooth contours of her skin.  She moaned out as I continued moving inside her, taking her body prisoner and connecting to her in a way that had always been reserved for me.  Her confessions rang inside my head as the sounds coming from her wound me even further into an absolute fucking frenzy.   My movements became more hurried, more powerful.  I wanted to invade every part of her, claiming for myself the one woman who could touch the deepest parts of me.  She drove me crazy, but that only made me want her more.

I felt her begin to pulse around me, her warmth enveloping me.  The feel of her water slick skin sliding against mine was driving me to a desperate hunger I’ve never before experienced.  I could take this woman every day, every hour, ever fucking second that I have left to live, and it would never be enough.

When she cried out my name, my head fell back as my ears bathed in the sound that echoed and was amplified by the falling rain.   I lost myself almost instantly, releasing myself within her.  My head came forward again and my eyes slowly digested the sight in front of me. Her skin was pink from her release, her chest heaving up and down from her heavy breathing.  Water continued to drip down her skin and her eyes…fuck…her eyes were heavy and sated, calling for me to take her again.     I slid down to the ground still holding myself inside her as she traveled with me.  I sat with her on my lap, our hearts slowing and our breathing once again becoming regular.

She looked up at me.   The expression on her face was unreadable.  Her lips parted as she started to speak, but she hesitated, apparently rethinking whatever it was she was going to say.   Her eyes met mine as her head lulled back and forth.  “I’m….really….drunk.”  One short laugh erupted from her before her head came down to my shoulder.  I sat there, stunned, but laughing. 

When her breathing became shallow and regular, I knew the alcohol had finally forced her to sleep.  I picked her up to carry her to bed.  After laying her head on the pillows and pulling the blanket up to cover her, I sat down and smoothed my hand over her damp hair.

I don’t know how long I sat and watched her as she slept.  Before laying down beside her, I whispered my confession.  “Forever used to feel like a long time; but then this girl walked back into my life, one I’d dreamed of and carried with me from the moment I’d thought I lost her.  Suddenly forever could never be long enough.”  My hand came to rest against her cheek. Even in her sleep she moved to nuzzle against my palm.  She belonged to me.  It was never more apparent and I couldn’t help but fucking smile down at the woman who always held my heart…the woman who owned me.

Chapter Fifteen

~~Paige~~

Another three months passed with no signs of Chris.   He’d fled Tennessee, they knew that, but most believed he traveled north to escape police investigations being conducted in the south.  The local authorities had enlisted the aid of the F.B.I. due to Chris having committed murders across state lines, but even with their assistance, nobody knew for sure where he’d run off to.  Daemon remained on edge most of the time, but I’d started to relax into the belief that Chris was gone.   Disappointment covered me like a blanket when I thought about how he’d escaped being brought to justice; however, I couldn’t help but feel relieved that the lives of my friends and myself could return to normal.

Normal.

Maybe that was a bad choice of word.  There was no normal after the damage he’d left behind him.   Alex and Ava had returned from St. Petersburg.  David was still spending most of his time at work or with Matt.  Daemon and I were still training, but more for the fun of it rather than as a necessity.  Annie was still living at The Center and had not yet reached a point where she’d felt comfortable speaking to Logan.  I didn’t push the issue, and neither did he.  It would take time, but we both knew she’d reach out eventually.  Although all of our lives had continued forward,
normal
was not the way I could describe it.  We’d been changed, altered in ways that would never quite fade from us.   We carried on, not allowing the weight of Chris’ torment to bring us to a standstill.   The battle for normal was being fought within all of us.   I had no doubt we would find
normal
again, but it would never be the same.

I watched as Daemon dressed by his closet, preparing to go to Tomb on the first night it reopened.  As he slid his dark blue jeans up his body, I admired the way his muscles moved along his arms and legs. Grabbing a black button down shirt, he pulled his arms through and turned to me as he buttoned the shirt from the bottom to the top.  His crystal blue eyes met mine as a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“You sure you don’t want to come with me?  I could be there pretty late and I hate to leave you alone.”   A dimple popped out on his cheek as his smile widened and my heart sped up at the sight of it.

“From what you tell me, I’ve apparently agreed to be your wife, Daemon.  I’m not concerned about being alone for a couple of hours. We have all the time in the world to be together…or so you say.”  A brow arched over my eye as he smiled down at me.   The day after we’d gone to the gun range, Daemon informed me of our time together on the balcony upon returning home.  I argued that I’d been inebriated and couldn’t be held accountable for anything said or agreed to at that time.  Daemon simply stated that he didn’t care.  He’d gone out the next day and bought me a ring.  I still hadn’t put it on.    It’s not because I didn’t want to, it’s just that I couldn’t let him think he’d tricked me into my acceptance.

His eyes heated as he watched me.  The seductive quality of his voice dripped with confidence.  “Oh…I say, Damsel.  You’ll realize it soon enough.  Lucky for you, I’m a patient man.”

“And if you weren’t patient…”  I looked up at him in feigned challenge.  “…What would you do then?”

His shirt tightened around him as he lowered himself to the foot of the bed.  Crawling up, he forced me onto my back, hovering above me, overpowering and claiming what was his.  My eyes couldn’t escape his as he stared down at me.  “I have a small confession, Damsel.”  His eyes searched mine as I waited for him to continue.  “I’m not actually as patient as I would have you think.  I know that I already have you, in fact, I’ve known that since before you admitted it while drunk.  In truth, I haven’t had to wait for you.  So, I’m sure you can see why I’m not too concerned about whether you wear that ring or not.  Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter if you admit it or deny it.   Your skin prickles when I get near you, your cheeks heat when I tell you that I own you.  You can hide in your head as long as you fucking please, because when I bury myself in you, your body tells me all of your secrets.”

I trembled underneath him, causing him to smile wickedly.  “I wish I had time to show you exactly what I’m talking about before I leave, but I guess that will have to wait until later.”  His lips tickled my ear as he leaned down to whisper.  “I’ll be sure to rush back.”  His warm mouth crashed against mine.  I was overtaken by the salty taste of him when he tongue invaded my mouth.  My heart sped up, my hands gripping the sheets around me.  His hands rubbed rough paths up my thighs and over my stomach before claiming my breasts, then moving up into my hair.  His lips pressed against mine with such force, that my breath was stolen from me and I became lightheaded.   He pulled away eventually, chuckling when he’d he forced me into submission.

I groaned as he pushed up from the bed to leave.  “Last chance, beautiful.  You know I don’t like leaving you here.”

I shook my head, refusing his offer.  “I’m fine, babe.  It will only be a few hours.” 

He breathed out a resigned breath before snatching his keys off the top of the bureau beside him.  “Call me if you need something.  I’ll be home when I can.”  I watched as he disappeared out of the bedroom door.  I could hear his footsteps echoing through the hall.  Soon I heard the front door open and close, then the lock as it snapped into place.

I knew Daemon was disappointed that I hadn’t gone with him, but the holidays were getting close and I needed some time alone to try to figure out a gift for him.  It was the first time we would spend a Christmas together, and the first Christmas that he would have a family.   I wanted it to be special, something that could make up for all the holidays he’d spent alone or unloved.   I grabbed my laptop from the nightstand and scrolled through different websites, searching for the perfect gift.  I grew frustrated after an hour searching.  Nothing seemed right.  Finally taking a break, I threw my laptop on the bed and walked over to the bathroom to take a long bath.