Page 19 of Dark Souls

Her eyes scanned the room, seeing the mess I had made, and her nostrils flared as she placed her hands on her dainty hips. “Did you do this? You went through my shit? What is it with you men and your lack of boundaries?”

I slouched back in the chair, raising my hand to my jaw to rub my stubble as she stepped over the shards of glass and closed the door behind her. She flicked the latch down to lock it and I raised my eyebrow in surprise.

“Expecting someone else to be going through your shit?” I asked, and she visibly swallowed upon hearing my voice for the first time.

“Not really.”

Well, that was ambiguous. I shoved my body up and out of the chair, taking slow, calculated steps towards her. As I approached, I couldn’t help but let my intense gaze take a teasing stroll over her gorgeous body.

“I hope you broke in to return my underwear. And you had better pay for the door. This is a nice place, and a friend of my family owns it,” she stated, folding her arms over her chest in an attempt to look stern. It was cute.

“I won’t be paying for the door. Or returning your underwear.”

She frowned. Deeply. “You broke it. You pay for it.”

“You think every criminal who forces entry leaves some cash to pay for the damage? What a wondrous world you must live in, love.”

A flash of irritation replaced the desire in her eyes as I loomed over her, using my size to intimidate her into submission. The quicker I worked out just how much she knew about Heathen, the quicker I could get out of here and away from her. Because I was realising being this close to her again was a dangerous distraction. For us both.

“You’re a criminal then?” She narrowed her eyes into slits of distrust, not taking the bait of my attempt to make her uncomfortable. Instead, her gaze roamed my face and I saw the burning desire behind that fiery disposition.

“Did I not just commit a crime?” I tilted my head to the side, lifting my hand to touch a strand of her hair. My actions were instinctual, my body working on its own accord because I knew I shouldn’t touch her, yet I did it anyway.

“Smart ass.” She smirked, her dilated eyes twinkling with mischief. Was she… enjoying this? “Who are you? How did you find me?” she questioned, watching my fingers play with a strand of her hair with apprehension. “I still can’t believe this happened tonight. I actually thought I was hallucinating. I’m still not convinced that I’m not. This is just… insane. I never thought—”

Her words trailed off and her breathing hitched as my fingers dropped her hair and caressed the skin of her shoulder unexpectedly. It was the first physical contact between us and the action took us both by surprise. I became fixated on how soft her skin was and how the feel of her beneath my hands sent an inexplicable surge of raw want through my veins. Hands that had done unspeakable things time and time again.

Like a punch to the gut, I dropped my arm in shock and stepped back, putting some distance between us. I’d never felt this drawn to a woman before. I purposely never let anyone close. My guard was always up. But there was something about this girl that had me forgetting myself. She had no idea who I was or what I was capable of. If she did, she’d hate me. Turn on me.

“Interesting drawing in your journal.” I kept my tone low and calm, giving nothing away, but I didn’t miss the brief panic flash in her eyes as she glanced at her book over my shoulder.

“You read my journal? That’s private! Christ, what is this? Do I just appeal to deranged sociopaths or something?”

“What can I say? You intrigued me. I wanted a glimpse inside that mind,” I said, lifting my finger and pointing at her head with squinted eyes.

“Yeah? I’ll show you exactly what is on my mind right now.” She lifted her middle finger at me before strutting over to the journal and slamming it closed.

“So, are you going to tell me why you are drawing pictures of extinct Demonski Upirs?”

“No. Are you going to tell me how you knew where you’d find me tonight? Or we could start with you telling me your name.”

“It seems we are at an impasse.”

“Whatever shall we do?” She folded her arms across her chest, but humour danced in her eyes. The tension in the air thickened, turning into something dark and delicious as we held each other’s gaze. Her confidence and bravery were damn attractive but also foolish. I wasn’t someone she should be sparing with.

“Didn’t your mother ever warn you not to talk to strangers? Let alone lock yourself in a cabin with one. I could be anyone. About to do anything to you.” My voice deepened with gravel as the thought of her being so careless with her life made my blood boil.

She rolled her eyes. She rolled her fucking pink eyes. I couldn’t believe it. Has anyone rolled their eyes at me before? Not for a long time. Not since I became the Devil’s Dealer. No one dared.

“You are hardly a stranger. Or at least you won’t be soon,” she stated, as if the meaning behind her words was obvious. She stepped past me into the kitchen and opened the fridge, pulling out a bottle of wine. “I hope you like red. That’s all that’s here. I drank the white earlier.” She paused, peering around the fridge door to look at me as I scowled at her, trying to understand what the fuck was going on. “And let’s get one thing straight before we go any further. I am not into controlling men. In fact, I am a controlling man’s worst nightmare. If you tell me I can’t do something, I’m fucking doing it, just to spite you. So, think twice before you tell me I’ve probably had enough to drink to drown a sailor. Because yes, that might be true, but I’m having another, anyway.”

I stared at her, bewildered. She had me in a fucking chokehold. Who was this girl? She was unlike anyone I had ever met in my life.

“What?” she asked as she placed two wine glasses on the table and poured. “Didn’t your mother ever warn you that it’s rude to stare?”

“Maybe. I don’t remember. She died a long time ago.”

She paused. “Shit. Sorry. Now I feel like a total asshole. How’d she die?”

“Do you always talk this much?”

She made a scoffing noise that could have almost been a laugh. “No. I don’t, actually. I rarely talk to anyone, only people I like, and even then people have described a conversation with me as hard fucking work. I guess being high as a kite helps but I don’t know… maybe I just feel comfortable around you already.”

Okay. She was high? That would explain a lot. Especially the fact she had me completely wrong. I wasn’t a man anyone felt comfortable around. She held out the glass to me and shook it a little; the wine sloshing over the rim when I didn’t take it.

“I don’t drink wine.”

She placed it down, keeping her curious eyes on me as she took a sip of her own. It was only now that she’d pointed out how wasted she was that I noticed her slightly swaying as she stood. Her hand leaned down on the table to steady herself.

“I guessed it wouldn’t be your first choice of beverage.” She smiled, lifting her finger to point at my face. “Your eyes. Red. You need blood.”

I kept my jaw clamped shut. I could have told her that my eyes were permanently red because I was always in my vampire form no matter what, but then she might freak out, and I needed her calm. Without my humanity, I never stopped feeling hungry. I lived with the thirst. It was just another form of pain but one that at least I could control.

“I don’t have any blood bags, I’m afraid,” she said, walking around the table towards me with a seductive prowl. “But if you are really thirsty, you can bite me. As long as you’re willing to fuck me after.”

My eyes bulged, fangs tingled and cock throbbed. Was that not the sexiest proposition I’d ever had? Fuck. This woman.

“I’m not biting you.” I didn’t trust myself.

She took a slow sip of her wine, studying me with those unearthly eyes over the rim of her glass. “But you’re thinking about fucking me?”

“I’ve thought about fucking you at least five times in the last five minutes. It’s a tempting offer, but you have no idea what you are signing up for.”

“Don’t I?” She smiled sweetly, faking the innocence that she clearly lacked.

In a split second, she was right in front of me, grabbing the front of my top and pulling me into her. She leaned up on her tiptoes, brushing her nose against the hollow dip in my throat and I screwed my eyes shut, fighting the urge to push her away and pull her close at the same time. I never let anyone touch me like this. And even though she was only holding onto my top, she was treading a very thin line.

“You smell fantastic.” She inhaled deeply and moaned. The sound went straight to my dick. “Dark and sinful. Is that what I’m signing up for, Red?”

I groaned, dropping my head back to stare up at the ceiling and fighting for control. Control that I had very little of. Whether it was whatever she was high on or she was always this forward, I wasn’t sure, but my body reacted. My cock was painfully hard against my jeans, throbbing with its own heartbeat. I should go. I should leave her alone. The wild viciousness inside me was threatening to break free, and I couldn’t trust myself to keep it under control. It wanted her. It wanted to own her. To break her. I’d end up hurting her. Scaring her. Traumatising her. I couldn’t be gentle. I didn’t know how. They always think they can handle my darkness, but they never can. And she wasn’t a nobody. She was a royal. Someone I needed to stay away from.

“Look at me,” she ordered. The command coming from such a tiny person was hot as fuck. I glanced down, staring deep into her eyes and seeing only determination. Her gaze dropped to my lips and she licked her own. If she was trying to seduce me, she needn’t bother. I was already hard as a rock for her. “Let me try something.”

Before I knew what was happening, she grabbed the back of my neck and tugged my head down to hers, pressing her soft lips against mine. I stood frozen. My body turned rigid, my arms dangling at my sides as my breath caught in my throat. Her lips were the sweetest sin I’d ever tasted and I couldn’t breathe. I wrenched away, breaking the kiss and grabbing her wrist to pry her off my neck. She blinked up at me in a daze before a deep frown painted her stunning face. I could tell she wasn’t sure if she wanted to slap me for refusing her or try to kiss me again.

“I didn’t come here for this,” I said, my voice thick with painful restraint.

“And I don’t kiss just anyone,” she replied with that feisty attitude. “So you should count yourself lucky and kiss me back, idiot.”

I released a bark of laughter, which caused her to snatch her arm out of my grip, stumbling unsteadily on her feet. My hands caught her hips, holding her upright as my laughter died away and I pulled her in closer again. The feel of her small body up against mine was the final straw. A gasp tore through her as I gave in to my primal urges and sunk my face into the crook of her neck, brushing her skin with my fangs before burying my nose in her hair and breathing her in. I felt her melting against me, her fingers fisting the front of my top as her head fell back on a moan.

My voice dropped low and dangerous as I whispered, “I’m not the kind of man that kisses. I’m the kind of man that fucks. And when I fuck, I’m merciless.” My nose drew a path along her cheek until our foreheads were just inches away, her stunning eyes staring up into mine without an ounce of fear. Only damning desire.

“Good. Because I’m not the kind of girl who begs for mercy.”

She dropped to her knees in a flash and tugged down my zipper. I watched her under hooded eyes, making no attempt to stop her. I knew if I had any morals or sensible cells in my body, I should stop this now. She was fucking wasted and would no doubt regret this once she sobered up. But the darkness in me was in charge and it didn’t give a fuck. It wanted to take advantage of this situation. It demanded that I give her what she thought she wanted, just to prove she wasn’t as perfect as she seemed. It demanded that I find out what it felt like to have her body squirming beneath me. To feel the way I’d fit inside her tight pussy and feisty mouth. The need to bury myself inside her, push every fucking limit she had until tears were rolling down her pretty face was an urge I didn’t want to ignore.

When her small hands reached into my boxers and wrapped around my thick cock, pulling it out, my mouth opened and my fangs ached as they elongated. But that wasn’t the only part of my body demanding to be used. Those pink eyes widened and filled with arousal as she took in my size. I waited for the fear to spark in her eyes. But it never came.

“Of course you have a huge, pierced dick.”

She looked elated. Like all her birthdays at come at once. Allowing her tongue to dart out and swirl around my crown before licking up the three frenum ladder piercings on the underside of my cock caused a shiver to race down my spine. A deep throaty groan ripped through my chest, the carnal sound echoing around the room as my need for this little spitfire’s lips wrapped around me became unbearable. I let her take a few more tortuous licks, wetting my length and teasing me with her tongue before my patience and control finally snapped. Fisting the back of her hair, I pulled her off my dick, forcing her to meet my lethal gaze, knowing she’d be looking into the eyes of the true monster within.

“You want me to fuck you? You think you can handle it?” I growled. She grinned, showing her own pearly white teeth and nodded, my fist tightening in her hair. “Then open that pretty little mouth for me and prove it.”

She did as I asked eagerly, leaning up on her knees and placing her hands on my thighs, bracing herself. With one hand wrapped around the base of my cock and the other in her hair, I guided myself into her mouth as she widened for me. Her eyes held mine with defiance that made me groan as I thrust myself deep, hitting the back of her throat with punishing force. I held myself there, narrowing my eyes at her, looking for any sign of her limits. There were none. Instead, she fucking moaned. The sound vibrated around my cock and I threw my head back and hissed. When I finally pulled back, she took a sharp inhale of breath, knowing what was coming before I thrashed my hips forward and choked her once more. She took me deeper, opening her throat for me and I swore into the night. No one had taken me like this before. Allowing the lustful haze to take control, I fucked her mouth relentlessly. Long, hard thrusts caused her eyes to water, smearing that make-up even more as her sharp nails dug into my jeans. But she kept her word. She never asked for mercy. I grabbed the ends of the feather boa and wrapped it twice around her throat before using it like reins to fuck her harder, deeper, choke her until she couldn’t breathe. Instead of panic in her eyes, there was only desire. She reached down, one hand disappearing under her skirt and started playing with herself, causing more moans to vibrate in her throat. I felt my balls tighten and my breathing became ragged as the pleasure overwhelmed me. What the hell was happening? Normally, I felt nothing but rage during sex, unable to ever give into the release. But shit, was I going to come? Before I could comprehend it, my hips jolted, slamming my cock deep down her throat as I released myself inside her with a grunt. She swallowed all of me, causing me to hiss and drop the feather boa in surprise, stepping back from her. I stared down at her tear-stained face as she licked her lips, looking like she was only just getting started. Those stubborn eyes shone with triumph and arousal as my chest rose and fell rapidly.

“Is that all you got, Red? Disappointing,” she taunted, her voice hoarse, giving away just how deep I had been inside her. She was a brat and I fucking loved it.

With that one remark, she’d just awoken the beast. In a flash, I’d grabbed her body off the floor and zoomed us to the bed, throwing her down aggressively and looming over her. She smirked, biting her lower lip as she attempted to lean up on her elbows but I grabbed her boots and yanked her down the bed towards me. My hand disappeared under her skirt to find her pussy bare. Oh shit, how did I forget I had her underwear?

“Choking on my pierced cock has you fucking soaked,” I growled, plunging my fingers inside her. She threw her head back, moaning loudly as my thumb circled her clit and my fingers worked her tight pussy. It would be a mission to force myself to fit in here and I couldn’t fucking wait.

“Is this the part where you're supposed to make me scream?” She breathed through harsh pants, her hips moving against my hand, seeking more friction. I pulled my fingers free, leaving her pussy pulsing and I couldn’t stop the sly grin on my face when a low hiss of frustration escaped her lips as she glared at me.

“Fuck making you scream, love. I’m going to make you forget how to breathe.”

Before she had time to run that mouth again, I flipped her body over, grabbed her hips and pulled her back to me. My dick was still poking out of my jeans, hard as fuck and more than ready for her, as I pushed her skirt up to her waist, exposing that sweet ass and soaking pussy. Her breathing was rapid, showing her excitement as she glanced back over her shoulder at me. I held her gaze, and without warning, yanked her hips back, spearing her on my dick. She gasped and then hissed at the obvious pain taking all of me in one go caused her. Her body attempted to shift forwards when I was met with resistance. Holy fuck. She was soaking but it was still a tight squeeze, feeling her walls clenching down around me, tight enough that it had my cock spasming at just that one thrust.

“Fuck, that hurts so good,” she gasped. My fingers dug into her hips, hating and loving how perfect she was at taking my cock in equal measures. “I’m not trying to be dramatic, but if you don’t start moving, I think I’m going to die.”

A dark chuckle rumbled out of me as the last of my control splintered and gave way to the crazed monster. I pulled out, leaving the head of my dick inside her before shoving back in without mercy, hitting something so deep inside her that had her yelp and tense. I paused, breathing hard.

“Don’t you dare stop,” she panted. I growled, losing my fucking mind. This woman would be my undoing. As I slammed into her, I fisted the feather boa that was still wrapped around her throat, yanking her back. She choked on a gasp as my speed went from hard and deep to rapid and relentless. Clearly, she had a thing for danger. I choked the life out of her while pounding her tight pussy and felt her walls clenching around me. The sinful temptation of sinking my fangs into her neck and drinking her sweet blood was more than I had ever experienced before. I wanted her. I wanted her so fucking badly. Even with my dick buried to the hilt, it wasn’t enough.

Dread mixed with the raw desire pulsed through my veins when reality hit me like a lightning bolt. I wanted to smother my scent all over so no other male would ever dare to come near her. I wanted to mark every inch of her smooth skin in bruises, bites and my cum, so there would be no question who she belonged to. They would fear for their lives if they even thought about coming close to her. The realisation had my head swimming and my heart racing. Violent anger took hold of me. My hips slammed into hers with brutal force. I choked her harder with the makeshift noose. My fangs throbbed and my eyes blazed. I was losing control.

Her hand snapped back behind her, grabbing the back of my neck as she struggled, on the verge of passing out, and something inside me shifted, dragging me back from the edge of sadistic evil. I let go of the feather boa and wrapped my arms around her body, holding her to me as she gasped for an overdue breath. The moment my fingers found her swollen clit, she shattered in my arms, screaming out her orgasm as it tore her apart. Her walls choked my dick in payback, and I lost my fight to hold out any longer, filling her with my cum.

The moment my arms released her, she fell forwards on the bed, completely boneless. I crashed down next to her, rolling onto my back. I stared at the wooden beams above, trying to catch my breath and control the torrent of war raging within me. We were both still fully dressed, our lust for each other too demented to bother with our clothes. What the fuck just happened? I just came. Twice. Why did being inside her make me… feel? Why had it made me feel alive when I shouldn’t feel a thing? There was only one explanation for it, but I couldn’t accept that it was possible.

“Thank the Gods, all my prayers have been answered.” She sighed blissfully next to me as she yanked the feathered string off her throat. I turned my head to face her, finding her eyes already closed. After the amount of alcohol and that rampant fuck, she was close to passing out. My body tensed at her words. I was the last person on Earth she should be praying for. Why wasn’t this woman running for the hills? I’d shown her a glimpse of my darkness and she’d fucking loved it.

“Why would you thank the Gods when it was my dick rocking your damn world,” I grumbled, feeling an uneasiness tightening in my chest from out of nowhere.

She scoffed sleepily. “I always knew my soulmate would be an arrogant asshole.”

I stopped breathing. Every muscle in my body turned to ice. I knew it. Deep down in my bones, I think I had known it the moment I saw her. I shouldn’t have felt anything with no connection to my emotions, but I had. I’d felt so many things since I first saw her over a week ago on that tape. And a million more tonight.

I stood up quickly, putting space between us, but it was pointless because she was already asleep.

“Fuck!”

Dropping into the armchair, I ran my hands through my hair, wanting to rip it out for allowing this to happen. I’d just fucked my soulmate and I had no intention of sticking around. I lifted my head to look at her. She was so beautiful it physically hurt and I had no choice but to walk away from her.

I wasn’t the man she thought I was and definitely not the man she deserved. That man died along with his humanity. After centuries on this planet, I’d given up on ever finding her. The one who had the potential to save me. And now it was too late. Because I had nothing to offer her. Nothing left but hate and anger. I was a phantom, barely existing.

Hours passed, and I was still unable to move, knowing once I did, it would be the last time I saw her. I sat there watching the slow rise and fall of her chest from the corner of the room. Now and again, she’d release a soft, ragged sigh of bliss that tightened my chest. She looked so content. I wondered what that was like. To sleep so peacefully.

I needed to get out of here. Pick a fight. Kill. Feed. I needed to be anywhere but here. But I just couldn’t find the strength to leave. I was so fucking tired. Tiredness was my constant companion, but tonight, I had no energy left. For the first time in years, emotions stronger than just hate had broken through those cement walls and left me drained. In another lifetime, before my life was destroyed, we might have had a chance. This might have been something. I might have been a better man. But I wasn’t. And this could never work.

Forcing myself to stand, I walked over to her sleeping form on the bed and tugged the bedspread over her. I leaned over to take one more deep inhale of her scent and picked up the pink feather boa. Lifting it to my nose, the scent of her on it was so strong that I knew I couldn’t part with it. I’d be taking this as a memento of our short time together.

Picking up her deep crimson lipstick that had fallen on the floor, I walked into the bathroom and wrote the only two words I could think of as the icy depths of my heart froze a little more. This was what was best for her. She’d hate me for it, but that was good. Hating me was better than the alternative.

Making my way to the door, I paused as I stared at the journal. As for Heathen, I’d have to deal with him. Because whatever the hell his plans were for her, I wasn’t about to stand by and let him put her life in danger. She already knew too much. Keeping her safe and alive was now my new priority and the only way that was possible was to keep her as far away from the fucked up world we lived in. Thank gods my blackened heart was already made of stone. Otherwise, I was sure I’d have felt it shatter as I closed the door behind me.