Page 21 of Cruel Vampire King (Honeyblood Vampires #1)

The sky was bright blue. It was too bright. The light hurt my eyes. I didn’t feel any pain, but I knew I would soon. My limbs were going cold and numb. I was about to fall over. I tried to suck in a breath to steady myself, but my throat didn’t seem to work. I couldn’t breathe, only watch as Greyson was piled on by vampires. Darkness welled around the peripherals of my vision; I couldn’t tell if they were tearing him to pieces or not.

Something warm wrapped around me. I gasped as the pain lanced, spreading like a spiderweb from my chest. Even that single breath hurt. My head fell back as my strength deserted me. Everything seemed to spin as the warmth pulled me closer. Darkness crept in, turning the clear sky black.

A fresh point of pain erupted. The feeling was like two thin needles piercing right above my breast. I gasped again, my lungs burning. At the same time, something warm and wet touched my tongue. I licked it, finding the taste coppery with a tang of salt. Blood. I knew that taste. Had tasted it often enough when I was learning how to fight.

The darkening sky started to lighten. The sounds of distance cries grew closer, as though they were rushing at me. I blinked once, finding that my body responded to my commands again. The pain still lingered, but when I glanced down, it wasn’t the knife still wobbling in my chest. It had been taken away. A head of dark hair leaned over me, and I caught a glimpse of golden skin. Warmth slowly started to register. The feel of lips pressed over my skin.

Luken. He was drinking from me. I realized my lips were pursed around something that dripped that salty, coppery liquid into my mouth. One of his fingers was stuck between my lips. He was feeding me even as he drank from me. Was he changing me? Turning me into a vampire?

I didn’t have much time to consider. Because he gave a deep pull, and all of a sudden, my body was on fire. My blood had turned to lava as it sloshed through my body. My core tightened, and I could feel my clit enlarging. I arched myself to his touch, wanting more. It wasn’t enough to have his lips on me. I needed everything else.

“Luken,” I ground out, fighting the arousal, though it was more powerful than anything I’d felt before.

His lips left my skin, and he looked up, his amber eyes blazing. And knowing for certain it was him was all it took to tip me over the edge. I reached out and seized his long hair in my hands, dragging him closer. I needed him more than I needed my next breath. In that moment, he was the whole world. Nothing existed outside of the glow of his eyes.

“Luken,” I growled when he resisted my pull. “I want you.”

One of his hands came to my hip, pinning me down. “Give it a minute. Healing isn’t instantaneous.”

“Don’t deny me,” I begged. “I want you. I want you to be inside of me. I want your body pressed to mine. I need you. Now. Don’t make me wait, please.”

Nothing was as important as he was. Nothing more desirable than to have my skin fused to his. I tore open his shirt, buttons popping every which way. Luken laughed and caught my wrists. The smile on his face nearly made me weep. He was so beautiful it was impossible not to stare at him in utter awe. How could he be so magnificent and not a god himself? I wanted to give him my all, the last innocent part of myself. Only that seemed like enough of a tribute, a blood sacrifice for his might.

“Luken,” I breathed out in a prayer. “ Please .”

He scooped me into his arms, picking me off the ground. “I told you you’d be begging for it.”

I laughed in delight as he rushed from the colosseum. Giddy elation ran through me as he carried me away from this place and all the pain and bloodshed it contained. There was still a slight ache in my chest, but it was nothing compared to the heat rushing through my body. I curled myself closer to him, cupping his chin in my hand. His scent was divine and I kissed his neck, eager to get a taste of him.

Luken’s arms tightened around me. Wind rushed in my ears. Then he put me down, steadying my feet beneath me. I whimpered, hating to be separated from him.

I pressed myself to my tiptoes and caught his mouth in a kiss. I tasted the blood still on his lips, but I didn’t care. His mouth was so soft and warm, his touch igniting a fire and cooling it all at once. I needed more. My skin was too hot and too tight, and only he could cool the inferno, which was sure to make me burst into flames.

“Wait a moment,” Luken chided.

It occurred to me how ridiculously unfair it was that now he was the one telling me not to get carried away. I gripped his biceps tightly but forced myself to hold still. He’d waited for my yes. I could do the same for him.

“I need to check your injury,” he explained lightly as he carefully lifted my shirt up over my head.

“Just tear it off,” I urged. “It’s ruined anyway.”

“I want to enjoy this, Elara. We will have plenty of time for rushed, passionate sex in the future. I want our first time to last as long as possible.” He cupped my cheek with his hand, staring into my eyes. “You want that, too, don’t you?”

I nodded, suddenly breathless. First time. Did he know? Should I say something? “Luken…”

His hand had started to slip down my neck, but he paused and looked questioningly at me. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“No,” I said quickly. “It’s just… should we talk about… our histories? I’m a virgin…”

“I know,” he answered softly.

I swallowed hard. “And you are the only one to touch me, but I… there were other vampires who drank from me.”

Luken’s smirk was enough to make me grin back. “I don’t care about your history, Elara. I only care about right here and now. But if there’s anything you want to know…” He trailed off, quirking a heavy brow.

“I… do you…” I floundered, not knowing what I was meant to say now. “I don’t have experience. With others touching me. Except you at the hot springs…” I trailed off, biting my lip. “What I mean is, I’m not sure what to do. I want it to be good for you, too.”

His eyes widened slightly. One of his arms slid around my waist, and he pulled me closer. “Thank you for telling me, Elara. I will adjust my actions accordingly. I want you to be an active participant with me. Do what feels good, what feels natural. Don’t worry about being awkward, okay?”

I nodded. “And I know it’s going to hurt, so you don’t have to worry about being gentle.”

Nerves flitted in my stomach. Even though I still wanted him more than anything, I started to worry. What if my training kicked in at just the wrong time and killed my desire? What if I wasn’t good at it? What if my instincts were all wrong?

Luken pressed his mouth to mine. My worries melted away as I felt the promise in that kiss. It was safe. That was all I wanted, to feel safe again.

As his hands moved around my body, exploring softly, I let my fingers trail down the front of his shirt. The buttons were already gone, so I moved my hands to his skin. It was soft, cool beneath my fingers. The muscles beneath were hard and gently rounded, defined and strong. Luken moved his mouth from mine to kiss down my jaw. He unhooked my bra and pulled it off me, then stepped back to sweep his gaze over me.

I bit my lip, watching his expression. At the hot springs, we’d both been guarded. Now, I saw the wonder in his eyes. He cupped my breasts in his hands, and a pleasant tingling made them tighten. He leaned down and kissed the burn scar lightly.

“Does it still hurt?” he asked.

“Sometimes,” I admitted. “Mostly, though, it’s just… numb. I can’t even feel your kiss on it.”

A trace of devastation crept into my voice. Because of Greyson, I couldn’t feel Luken’s touch on all of my body. I thought I’d grieved for everything when it came to these injuries, but now something new had opened up. Because of someone else being jealous and bitter, I’d lost something I didn’t even know I could have.

Luken turned my face back to his. “I’m so sorry that you went through that.”

I nodded once, then slid my hands up his shoulder, pushing his shirt off. I watched as a crisscross of scars was brought into view as I pulled the shirt off his body. “Where are yours from?”

“Three hundred and fifty years of fighting,” he answered.

I traced my thumb over a silver scar that ran from his collarbone down over his chest. If I wasn’t this close to him, it wouldn’t even be visible. His hands rested lightly on my hips, letting me take my time as I touched him. When I unbuckled his belt, he let out a soft gasp.

Startled, I froze. “Did I hurt you?”

He laughed breathlessly. “Quite the opposite, my dear. You don’t have to worry about hurting me. I like the pain.” He winked at me.

I was suddenly seized by a boldness. As I continued to unbuckle his pants, I leaned in closer and kissed his breast. “You like it?”

“Yes,” he answered.

I scraped my teeth across his chest, settling at his nipple. I took it between my teeth and bit, following my instinct. I gauged the pressure of his skin between my teeth, not wanting to get too hard. He gasped and groaned. As he did so, I pushed his pants down to his knees. His cock was hard already, and seemed to twitch as I bit a little harder.

“Gods, Elara. You’re a natural at this.”

I couldn’t help but giggle as I pulled back and licked over the red mark I’d left behind. I reached to take him in hand, but Luken picked me up suddenly. He kicked off his pants as he carried me to a table, setting me on the edge. With a few swift movements, he’d discarded my own pants and tossed them carelessly aside.

“I am going to taste you now,” he told me.

A shiver ran through me, and I nodded eagerly. Then, I lifted my chin to give him access to my neck. To my surprise, his lips only skimmed over me and moved further down. He kissed and licked his way down my torso before settling on his knees before me. His hands gripped my thighs, spreading them as he pulled me to the edge of the table.

I gripped the edge of the table, my eyes going wide. “There?” I gasped.

He kissed my thigh and laughed. “Where else am I going to taste you?”

“I thought you’d drink from my neck.” My cheeks went warm, warmer than the rest of me.

Luken paused, then chuckled as he kissed me again. “I don’t mean tasting you that way, Elara. Haven’t you heard of oral sex?”

My blush deepened. Of course, I had. I’d even seen it, when I watched the others at the coven have their orgies. Why had it not occurred to me, even with him kneeling before me like that? “I thought men didn’t like doing that.”

“Some men don’t. I do.” Luken moved one hand to my hip. He kept his eyes on me as he slowly kissed his way to the juncture of my thighs.

I watched him, enjoying how his hair spilled out of its braid over his shoulders. He was so handsome it took my breath away. I held my breath as his tongue flicked out, finding my clit almost at once. A bolt zinged through me. My breasts tightened, and my core swelled. My hips jerked, but Luken’s hand on me kept me in place.

“You taste exactly how I thought you would,” he said, humming in pleasure.

He didn’t say much for quite some time after that. His face buried into me as his jaw worked. His tongue and lips moved over me in ways that were as intense as his fingers had been in the hot springs. My body undulated, wanting more and trying to escape the overwhelming sensations all at once. I let my head fall back and groaned. My hands remained locked on the table, afraid that if I released it, I would grab his hair and make him stop.

“Oh, no wonder women go crazy for men,” I moaned. “This is… amazing.”

It wasn’t a good enough word. It was as though I’d reached the final prize in a journey that had done its best to break me. It was as though, up until this moment, I had been lost and alone, and now there was someone who saw me. Was this what sex was, I wondered? Or was this something else? Was it about me and Luken? Would I have felt this same way if it was anyone else with their tongue driving into me?

My thighs trembled on either side of him as I gazed down, my eyes half-closed. He worked me expertly, as though he knew everything that would have me gasping out his name. It was more intense than I could have imagined. But even with this pleasure sweeping through me, a small spike of dissatisfaction crept into me.

It wasn’t enough.

It was wonderful, but I needed him closer. I needed to touch him. I needed to see his eyes darken in pleasure. There was too much space between us like this.

“Luken,” I gasped.

He redoubled his efforts, making me curl inward as I cried out.

“Luken!”

His hand left my hip and wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer.

“I need you,” I whined, rocking my hips to seek more friction even as I wanted more of him. “I want you closer. I’m ready. Take me. I need you.”

“Just a minute,” he urged me, the vibrations doing amazing things to the hardened bud he was working. “You’re close, Elara. Let me give this to you. I want this for you.”

Part of me wanted to tell him it wasn’t necessary, but his voice was deep and husky. The need in his tone left me shaking. I could hold on. I gripped the table tighter and let my gasps grow quicker. His mouth worked more wickedly, igniting the fire as it coursed through me. The tension advanced quickly, and I gasped in a single breath before he traced his tongue in a slow, languid motion, and I came undone. I fell forward, over him, as I cried out.

He caught me and shifted me down off the table, pulling me into his lap. He caught my mouth on his, and we kissed, deeply and passionately as the stars lingered throughout my body. I explored his body with mine, pressing up against him as tight as I could. I reveled in the feeling of our skin against each other.

His fingers tangled in my hair as his tongue tangled with mine in my mouth. I mimicked him, kissing him the way he kissed me. We only broke apart when he lifted me into his arms and stood fluidly.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked, a twinkle in his eye as he carried me to the bed.

“Very much,” I told him seriously.

He laid me on the bed and climbed over me. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, pulling him closer. I didn’t want him to leave me, not for anything. Burying my face in his shoulder, I inhaled his scent. He’d done everything I needed him to. He was who I thought he was four years ago. Tears burned my eyes unexpectedly, but I didn’t let them take root.

“Do I need to do anything?” I asked him, letting my hands trail down his back. He was unmoving over me, his chest heaving as he nibbled at my skin. “It’s time, right? Do I need to…”

I trailed off, not sure what I was asking.

Luken smiled as he leaned back on his elbows. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. I love how you’re touching me. Your fingers dance over my skin like spots of sunshine. Your touch is everything, Elara. It’s like I’ve never known light until I looked into your eyes.”

I melted against him, pulling him closer again. I traced down to his ass and cupped it in my hands, enjoying the softness and firmness of his body. He watched me watching him as I moved one hand to comb through his long hair, the other going to his cock. I wrapped my hand around it, my fingertips barely touching, and a shiver moved through me.

“Is something wrong?” he asked as I bit my lip.

“I… I’m worried that you won’t fit. And then you’ll be upset,” I confessed, blushing. I knew he would. He had to, right? That’s what my body was designed for, to be the perfect fit for his. At least, that’s what I felt like it should be.

But I knew all too well that reality wasn’t the same as ’should be.’

“Don’t be worried,” he told me. “I’m not going to be upset.”

“So you’re worried it won’t fit, too?” I asked, giggling.

He kissed me. “There are plenty of other ways to have pleasure if it doesn’t. But I do need to do more to prepare you.”

Amazingly, disappointment rushed through me. I wanted him inside of me now. I wanted to feel that connection, that closeness.

However, the disappointment and impatience was short-lived when his hand found me. He teased and stretched and worked me with his fingers, bringing me to orgasm several more times. I was helpless beneath his touch; everything was too much and not enough. And I loved it. I begged him for more. Every time he brought me to climax, it just deepened the sensations. I needed more . I stroked his cock when I could, amazed that he could stay hard for so long. His self-discipline was better than mine. He must have been going crazy with desire, but he held back, wanting to make sure I was ready enough.

Finally, both of our bodies coated in sweat, he lay over me and pressed against my entrance. He met my eyes and kissed me tenderly as he started to enter me. I braced myself, my hands on my shoulders.

There was no pain until he was fully inside of me. At first, it was only pressure and pleasure. Then, as he started to move, pain pierced through me. I winced, gasping, but the pain only enhanced my arousal. Luken gasped, too, but didn’t change his rhythm. Our eyes were locked together as he moved inside of me. The intensity I’d felt to this point paled in comparison as we moved together. I matched him, rocking my body in time with his.

We could have been like that for minutes or hours. The world disappeared and all that existed was him and me, linked together. My orgasm hit me suddenly, making my back arch and a gasp escape my throat. Luken tenderly kissed my throat and released himself as well. His movement grew jerky, the pistoning of his hips losing their rhythm. A new heat flared inside of me, and I held him closer, tighter, until I knew we’d both be bruised from it.

It was only then that I became aware that the pain was still there. Only, it wasn’t inside of me as I expected. It sat on my skin, a faint burning on my belly and chest. I ignored it as long as I could, but when Luken shifted backward, I glanced down.

And gasped.

A spiderweb full of swirls and whorls had crept over my skin. Intricate patterns covered my torso, from my hips all the way up my chest to my collarbone. They were a faint amber-gold pattern, but when Luken traced the pattern with his finger, they turned to a solid black. The same pattern was mirrored on his stomach and chest. I touched the tattoo that had appeared on him, and it shifted to black as well.

“What is this?” I asked, confused.

“It’s proof of our connection.” Luken eased out of me, and I winced. I was more raw than I’d realized. He kissed me lightly as he shifted his weight to lay next to me. His fingers continued to trace the patterns, a satisfied look on his face.

“You’re special to me, Elara. I don’t think you realize how special,” he said musingly. “I’ve met hundred of people in my lifetime. And I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

Warmth started to spread through me. Luken’s hands cupped my face. His gaze grew intense as he gripped me tightly.

“Never forget this. It will be true whatever happens,” he breathed.

A shiver broke through the perfect fairytale that had been building in my mind. “What’s going to happen?”

“Plenty before this is over,” he answered, his tone grim.

I swallowed hard, not liking the look in his eye. All of a sudden, I realized that this wasn’t the ending of a story. It wasn’t the moment when everything else would just fall together and allow me to sink into his arms, safe and warm forever. A creeping unease stole over me. It was just the beginning.

I didn’t want to dwell there, but the question came out before I could stop it. “You said that you couldn’t save Thessa. So why did you?”

“You found a workaround,” he answered. “So I could after you made your request.”

“I thought… I thought you were the one that implemented the Blood Trials,” I said hesitantly.

A humorless grin stretched his lips. “I did. But it wasn’t by my choice. The Gods told me what to do. They said they would send famine and plague on the kingdom if I didn't. A few dozen sacrifices every year for the safety of the rest of the kingdom was worth it. So I set it up, let people think I was using the gods as an excuse to have my bloodsport.”

“The Gods… speak to you? Personally?” I asked, going still.

He smiled back. “Sometimes, yes. I’ve been working to loosen their power and their hold on our world for many hundreds of years. Always keeping to the shadows so they wouldn’t know. But now?” He pressed his lips to my palm. “Now, everything is about to change.”