Dark Promise (13 page)

“Like that?”

He snapped his fingers. “Like that.”

She sat on the bed again and dragged her feet under her. Could she sleep with Eric?

She'd saved her virginity for the man in her dreams, but her dreams did not future a man who allowed children to be tortured or who threatened to enslave her.

She wanted to give herself to someone who loved her, accepted her and needed her. Toby’s beaten face flashed in her mind. How many times as a little girl had she prayed for someone to be her champion and save her? Now she had the power to save someone else. All she had to do was hand over her virginity to a demon. “If I do this, I’ll never have to see you again or ever come back to this forsaken place?”

“Yes.” His voice was edgy and tense. A deep scowl marred his handsome face. “Then, so be it.”

Was he already warring with the darkness, trying to stay sane or was she already too late to save the man she'd thought she loved?

Neither of them moved. Each was lost in thought, studying each other. Eric exhaled as if he had been holding his breath. He meandered across the room. He circled his fingers and lifted her chin. “Do you remember the dream?”

In sweet caress, his breath washed over her, and she trembled. Not able to speak, she stared into his passionate eyes, the same ones she’d dreamt about her whole life. With one look, he reduced her to a pile of need, but the red flecks in his eyes had grown, darker, and larger, cooling her desire.

“Let me love you, Cassandra,” he whispered.

What he had done to her in her dreams flooded her with anticipation, squashing any doubts. Confused whether she should give in or resist, she tried to sort things out, but she could not tear her eyes from his gaze. She longed to feel his lips and his hands on her skin roaming over her, awakening each sensitive spot. “Yes,” she whispered.

He caressed her face. “You have nothing to be afraid of.”

Except for selling my soul to the devil.
Cassandra’s mouth ran dry.

His slid his fingers from her chin and glided them behind her neck and. his perfect mouth lingered a mere inch above hers. She burned for him. He kissed her deeply, making her forget any doubts. Exploring every inch of her mouth, sweet strokes of his tongue possessed her, dominated her and caressed her.

He pulled away, unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it to the ground.

She admired each bulging muscle and his flattened abdomen that flexed as he bent and shed his pants.

His powerful arms were oaken, tawny and the sinews sculpting his thick thighs showed this was a man who despite being a prince embraced hard labor.

Her fingers ached to touch his smooth, sleek skin.

His flesh between his massive thighs was full and erect. She clenched her thighs tight, afraid he’d rip her apart.

“I will not hurt you, I promise. Mating is never violent, little one. Only pleasurable.”

He gave her a slow smile. His eyes turned somber and he clasped both her hands, gently pulling her to her feet. He leaned his dark head and captured her lips. He was tender at first and then his kiss grew more demanding. She pressed his sleek chest and rubbed his hard muscles.

He sucked in his breath and his erection pressed against her thigh. He slipped his hands under her sweater and she quivered.

“Take everything off,” he whispered, his voice husky and strained. “I want to see all of you.” He slid her sweater over her head and unclasped her bra with a calloused hand. Eric growled.

She was afraid he had turned into something evil and kicked off her suede boots, removed her socks and peeled off her pants. She covered her breasts with her hands. She was a harlot at a slave auction.

Eric put his hands on her shoulders.

She jumped.

“Cassandra, look at me,” he whispered.

No monster gazed at her, but a dark-haired angel, filled with hunger for her. “You’re beautiful, more beautiful than I imagined.”

Heat filled Cassandra’s cheeks. His words stirred a pool of desire in her womb.

A bit of uncertainty crossed his face. At the glimpse of vulnerability, Cassandra’s feelings for him deepened. He was as nervous as she was. She stepped forward, pressing herself against Eric’s lean body while reaching around his neck. He captured her mouth again. When he gently lowered her onto the bed, she tensed waiting for him to rip her apart. He stroked her skin and his kiss inflamed her, her fear lessened.

His mouth left hers, ravaging her throat from her ear to her shoulder, discovering every sensitive nerve. He cupped her breast, his thumb rubbing her budding nipple. And when he lowered his mouth, she arched up, eager to feel his lips on her flesh. He didn’t disappoint her. She whimpered and she clawed into his thick hair, pinning him to her breast. With his teeth, he tugged the sensitive peak of her nipple, his rough tongue licking and caressing it. Hungry for more, she marveled at his prowess.

He licked and worshipped her. Rough stubble on his jaw scraped her tender skin and his strong fingers probed and kneaded her breast. Flares of passion ignited and overwhelmed her as his hand slid down her side.

She tried to clamp her legs together, but he gently spread them apart. He pushed his finger in a smooth movement to explore her blonde curls. She jerked. “Cassandra, relax.” He licked her nipple again and she shivered. “Let yourself go.”

Cassandra struggled to obey, but tiny tingles pulses pumped through her, making it difficult to do anything but feel. She shuddered with involuntary spasms, and a surge of unexpected pleasure, more enjoyable than any dream, caught her unaware.

She clenched the soft comforter trying to hang on, frightened by her own inadequacy to manage the sweet, quaking spasms, rippling through her body, so much more intense than the dream. Another wave of liquid heat shivered through her. He inserted a second finger inside her, thrusting and she rocked her hips to his steady rhythm. Devilish strokes built a budding pressure, bursting forth and shaking her.

“This is only the beginning,” Eric said.

She tried to comprehend what he meant, helpless to stop him, but she didn’t want him to stop as long as his hot mouth sucked and kissed her body, his fingers filling her core, stretching her. Sweet pleasure swirled over her as he slipped his fingers out of her. His hot mouth left her breast and he edged down her torso, his hair brushing against her hot skin. He knelt in front of her, his possessive gaze flickering over her, igniting her passion. Strong hands parted her thighs wider as he lifted her hips off the bed and slid her thighs over his shoulders. He kissed her feminine mound and she dug her nails into the quilt, hanging on for the next onslaught of pleasure.

He gripped her hips, his fingers imprinting on her delicate flesh. She could not have pulled away if she wanted to, aching for him to linger.

Heat and pleasure plowed through her. She was an out of control snowball, gaining speed and intensity as orgasms shook her over and over again.

“You taste like cream,” Eric murmured. He lowered her quivering body and climbed up the bed. Anticipation consumed her. She wanted so much more.

A laugh escaped her.

He placed both hands on either side of her face. “What’s so funny?”

“Your hair. It tickles.”

“I’ll make you tickle,” he promised. “Spread your legs for me, Cassandra.”

Fear gripped her as he wedged his hips between her thighs, his hard flesh poking into her tender folds. His kiss deepened.

She dug her nails into his arms ready for pain.

“I promise it will only hurt a moment, love. Trust me.”

She nodded, too scared to speak and waited.

He laughed. “Love, relax.” He nestled in the crook of her neck, kissing her and nibbling her ear. He rubbed her clit. He inched his cock forward, throbbing and hard and spread her feminine folds. In one thrust, he pierced her and a sharp pain filled her, stealing her breath. She tensed, clutching his arms tighter, but he lay still. She was afraid he’d split her in two, but his kiss deepened and he moved. He rocked his hips, releasing a floodgate of passion and her womb welcomed him with warm spasms of heat.

Clinging to him, she trusted him to lead her. He moved within her, thrusting and withdrawing, in long, hard strokes. He kissed her vigorously, stealing her breath, as he moved inside her, flesh against flesh, heat into heat, sliding and probing, making her writhe in disbelief. She begged without shame for him to plunge deeper, harder as she met these thrusts with equal force. Waves of pleasure took her soaring into blissful ecstasy better than she’d ever experienced in the dream. This was real. Intense. Scorching.

Brilliant, storming torrents of raining pleasure lavished her body as her senses dissolved into a pool of orgasms. Her body shook from one orgasm to another. She barely registered Eric arching his back and crying in the grips of sweet torment.

He threw his head back and roared. Fire burst from his mouth, surrounding them in a burning aura, energizing their passion into another frenzy and sweeping them into a sizzling sensation more intense than she thought possible. Fury rumbled inside her, threatening to ignite, taking her higher than any of her previous orgasms. Fervor seized her and she took Eric deeper inside her. A burst of white filled the room and faded. She clung to him, afraid she’d die. Nothing had prepared her for the feelings pulsing through her veins, her heart propelling them to every sensitive core until her orgasm shook her, releasing waves and waves of pleasure.

Silver eyes replaced his dark ones, the exact color of Toby’s. She parted her mouth and he seized hers, his tongue delving deep inside her taking from her all she had to give. She caressed his back, his strained muscles rippling beneath her touch.

Eric slowed his pulsing, collapsed on top of her. The fire disappeared. Warmth spread over Cassandra’s sweltering skin.

“It’s done,” he whispered into her ear and kissed her neck. His heart beat savagely, mirroring hers. She stroked his thick hair, running her fingers through silky strands and rubbed his trembling back.

He stared at her with shimmering silver eyes. “You belong to me.”

She cupped his face. “Your eyes? What happened?”

“Your Light, Cassandra. It saved me.”

“You’re not growing dark?”

“No.”

She crossed her legs over his buttocks, holding him to her and he rocked inside her. “Umm, that was nice. Better than any dream.”

Lifting his head, he arched an eyebrow. “You doubted it would be?”

Heat flamed her cheeks. “Well, no.”

She quivered as he pushed a lock of hair out of her face. “I can get used to making you blush.” He ran his hand down her side, all her curves, leaving goose bumps. “All over,” he whispered.

She indulged in his kiss, relishing his manliness, his prowess. She clutched his shoulders tight, afraid to let him go. “You’re like Toby. Your father, his men, they won’t hurt you will they? I mean you're a prince.”

A shadow fell over his face. Sighing, he pulled out of her and rolled to the side. “Unfortunately they will.”

She grabbed his arm. “No.”

“Sweet Cassandra.” He brushed his fingers down her cheek and wrapped his hand in her hair, pulling her to his lips, kissing her.

Someone pounded on the door. “Prince Eric, open up,” a male demanded. “The King demands to see you at once.” The door banged open.

Five sneering guards, swords drawn, glared at them. “You’re both coming with us,” one of them commanded.

Cassandra froze.

Eric rubbed her arm and her heart pounding, she glanced back at him.

“I promised to keep you safe.” He snapped his fingers and she passed out cold.

10

Eric leaned against the cold wall deep in the bowels of Castle Basilisk’s dungeons. Shrieks bounced off the stone walls, driven by pain so immense pitch reached a crescendo of ear splitting agony before it withered and died in the futility of escape. Pitiful pleas emanated from a dozen barred cells containing demons who remained normal, including his nephew Toby, but Cassandra was safe. Eric was glad he’d had enough magic to send her back to the Galena Mountain Street Inn. Although his magic was drained, his soul mate was alive and hidden.

Keys jangled and a lock clicked. A door opened and slammed shut at the end of the corridor. Someone stomped down the long, stone corridor to the cells of the damned. Eric rolled off his freezing bench and stood with his arms across his naked chest. He shivered and his teeth chattered. He refused to show any kind of weakness.