Page 30 of Dark Souls

On Your Knees

I glanced across the immaculate grounds of my grandparents’ castle from my attic window, tapping a rhythm against my thigh to keep the nerves at bay. I hated that he had the power to make me nervous. Not the jittery kind of nerves but the giddy kind, which was even worse. Urgh, when did I become this girl?

No man had ever made me feel like this. I was always the unattached one. The one who never fell hard or fast. In fact, I was the one in control when it came to the opposite sex, but somehow, this man had fucked me, chucked me, tried to intimidate me and scare me away, and I’d still let him keep his balls. I admit, I’ve been off my game. Add the whole soulmate and Ruler of The Underground into the equation, and I’ve been thoroughly shook. Every time I’m near him, it’s like my brain turns to slush, and I yield to my twisted desires. Well, no more.

Luka had been calling the shots for our dynamic but all that was about to change. I was taking back control, just like the night we met. But this time, I wouldn’t be distracted by a devilishly handsome face, that crimson hair I just wanted to delve my fingers into, or an exquisite pierced dick… No. I was stronger than that.

I hoped.

So what if he was the picture-perfect image of my every fantasy? That didn’t mean he could get away with treating me worse than the dirt under his shoe.

’He’s here. I can sense him. What are we waiting for? ’ Rue hissed, impatient to see him again.

‘We aren’t waiting for anything. He is. And we are going to make him sweat.’

’He said to meet him when the sun set. That was over an hour ago! We’ve kept him waiting long enough. ’

‘You know? You’ve changed. Where’s the bad bitch you’ve been all our life? You meet your soulmate and suddenly you have no backbone. And who even speaks like that? When the sun sets? Why not give an actual time like a normal person?’

‘Pfft, whatever. I just think we can do a better job of making him grovel if we are actually face-to-face with him.’

She had a point. My red-painted lips stretched wide as I turned to look at my reflection in the mirror and ran my hands down the very see-through black lace dress, which not only made my thong visible but also, by going braless my pierced nipples. The dress was one of my mum’s designs and used to be floor length but I’d taken a pair of scissors to it to make it my own style. Cutting across my thighs and with a deep plunge V down my chest held together by metal clasps, it was definitely one of the most revealing outfits I owned. Would this have him losing his damn mind? I bloody hoped so.

I checked my attic door was locked from the inside, and I’d already told my family I was resting for the night, so I knew they’d leave me in peace. Picturing the woodland just outside the border of the Romano village, I transported myself there and glanced around with narrowed eyes. There was no one in sight, but just like Rue had said, I could sense he was close. I stepped over fallen logs, twigs and leaves crunching under my clumpy goth boots and followed my instincts, which were drawing me deeper into the woods. A broad figure cloaked in black became visible through the crowded trees and caused me to come to a halt, inhaling sharply. He had his back to me, leaning one shoulder against a tree as smoke billowed around his head, evaporating into the air above. A twig crunched beneath my foot when I took one step forward and reminded myself that nothing he said or did was going to deter me from getting what I wanted. I had a plan and nothing was going to get in my way. I would gain a membership at The Underground.

With a sharp movement, he turned around and threw whatever he was smoking away. Clearly, his senses were just as alert as mine. Our eyes locked despite the distance between us, and before I could blink, he’d closed the gap using his vampire speed. Dammit, he was fast. As much as I hated to admit it, perhaps even faster than me.

‘Now that’s a game I’d like to play… chase…’ Rue lost all train of thought the moment his hand plunged through our hair and gripped the nape of my neck in a move that was so unexpected and sexy, I forgot how to breathe.

Before I could understand what was happening, his lips crashed against mine and his other arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush against his hard body. His mouth demanded every inch of my submission. Gaining access with such dominance and possession, I surrendered immediately when I felt his tongue against mine. Sparks erupted. Damn . This. This was what passion felt like. Raw, untamed passion. This kiss was fierce and all-consuming. He growled into my mouth as he pushed me against a tree, his muscular thigh finding its way between mine and putting delicious pressure against my clit that was tingling with excitement and need. His hands were everywhere, my hair, my body, gripping, tugging, claiming me and making me lose my goddamn mind. What good were brain cells anyway when your body was on fire?

‘Pah, you lasted what? Two seconds?’ Rue jeered in my mind.

“Did you wear this for me?” Luka murmured against my mouth, his hands wandering over the lace. I snapped out of the lustful spell he’d just had me under. Fuck, how did he do it? I shoved his chest so hard he stumbled back, nearly tripping on the exposed tree roots. He narrowed those blood-red eyes into slits as a confused expression took over his sharp features. His red hair was tousled and messy, falling slightly into his face because, yes, my fingers had been tugging it seconds ago in a moment of weakness.

“No. I did not. You arrogant prick. I wore this because I wanted to know if this is the kind of outfit I would need for the next event. The Pleasure Den, right? And don’t you dare, ever, kiss me without my permission again. In fact, you don’t get to touch what you can’t handle, so take another step back and put your hands in your pockets.”

His dark eyebrows drew down into the bridge of his nose.

“You are joking?”

“Do I look like a stand-up comedian?” I folded my arms over my chest, causing his eyes to dip to my cleavage and dropped a hip with sass. He licked his lips with a pained expression. Yeah, you can look, but you can’t touch. This outfit was just the beginning of what I had in store for him. I could feel the power slowly transferring and damn, it felt fucking fantastic. “Hands. Pockets. Now.”

He groaned, throwing his head back and staring up at the darkening sky. Reluctantly, he shoved his hands in his jeans pockets and gave me a cocky smirk. “There.”

“Good start. Take a step back.”

He stared at me like I was insane, but when I didn’t budge, he huffed and took a large step backwards, widening the distance between us.

I smiled with triumph. “Much better. Now. Talk.”

“Talk?” he spat out the word with an edge of disgust like it was the most outlandish request ever made. I rolled my eyes.

“Yes. You know, the natural thing that happens between people who have a lot to say. And I know you must have so much to get off your chest because why else would you have come here every night just to see if I was home yet if you didn’t want to speak to me?”

He removed one hand from his pocket and scratched the back of his head, which seemed to be a habit to avoid looking at me. Was it just me, or were his cheeks darkening? Oh my god, was he…

“Are you blushing?” I gasped, and his head snapped up, anger and disbelief on his face, which made me laugh.

“No. Fuck no. I just… I don’t do well at talking. I… er… never seem to say the right thing.”

“No shit,” I scoffed. He scowled deeper and I sighed. “Look. I’m not good at this talking stuff either. But I deserve to know… something. Anything about you.” He looked increasingly more stressed by the minute. “Okay, let’s start with why you are here right now.”

“ I told you. I can’t stay away.” His eyes burned into mine and my heart flipped as those stupid, giddy flutters ignited inside me. I shifted my weight to my other hip and tried to look nonchalant at the confession.

“And why can’t you stay away? Because I’m your soulmate? Is that the only reason?” I narrowed my eyes at him, demanding the truth. I knew the bond was strong and only deepened the chemistry and need to claim, but if that was all this was, it wasn’t enough.

He shook his head. “I couldn’t stay away from you before I even knew you were my soulmate. I haven’t been able to get you out of my fucking head since the moment I saw you demand entry into The Underground on the club’s CCTV.”

“Wait? Were you there that night?”

“No. I wasn’t. But I saw the footage afterwards. And I wanted you. I wanted to know you. I wanted you before I knew anything about you, but the more I know, the more I want.”

He held my gaze as I tried to keep my horny demon under control. He was saying all the right things, but pretty words were just that. I wanted facts. I needed to know more about him.

“How did you know who I was?”

“Heathen. He left a file on you in my office. And then I did some…research. Found out about the party you were going to, and I couldn’t stop myself from going. I never intended for you to see me. But you did and, well, we both know what happened next.” He shoved his hand back in his trouser pocket, which drew attention to the thick outline of his hardening cock. I couldn’t stop staring, remembering exactly what that thing looked like as my mouth watered. “Hey. If I have to be well-behaved, so do you. Eyes up here, love. I’m not a piece of meat.”

My eyes darted up to his face and his lips twitched into a cocky smirk. I couldn’t help but scoff. He had me there. And for the first time, I saw a glimmer of playfulness in him I really liked.

I tilted my head to the side, eyeing him from head to toe in all his bad boy sexiness and didn’t even try to hide the way I was unashamedly fucking him in my head.

“You don’t play fair,” he growled. His own eyes darkened with lust as I lifted my finger to my mouth flirtatiously, looking him up and down as if I was about to eat him alive. “Are you trying to break a man? Because, love, I’m so far beyond broken, and I won’t hesitate to come back over there and take you up against that tree.”

“But you won’t. Will you? Because I haven’t said you can.” I stepped forwards, smiling mischievously as his throat moved with the vibration when he swallowed. “Why are you here, Luka?”

He closed his eyes and groaned. My heart thundered and tingles rushed to my vagina. Just calling him his name for the first time had us both hot and bothered. But I was prepared for that. In order to torture him, I was going to have to torture myself, too.

“My name has never sounded so good.” He laughed with a deep rumble, shaking his head and opening his eyes. “Do me a favour. Don’t say it again unless you want me to rip your clothes off because I don’t think I am strong enough to hear it twice.”

“Rather egotistic, don’t you think? You love your name that much, huh?” I teased, walking around him in a slow circle but still keeping a safe distance. Even from here, the musky scent of him threatened to derail my plan. Why did he smell so goddamn good? It wasn’t just him who was struggling to keep his hands to himself, but I was determined to make a point.

“No. I just love it from your lips.”

“Why are you here…” I paused as his gaze narrowed, daring me to say it. I smiled. “Red? I want more of an explanation than ‘you can’t stay away’ after that shit you pulled at the club. Try harder.”

The corner of his lips lifted before his expression became serious again. “I was an asshole. I am an asshole. I don’t know how not to be an asshole. But what I did to you and said to you was wrong.”

“Is that an apology?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Do you want an apology?” He remained still when I stopped behind his back. His hands remained in his pockets as I stepped forward and pressed myself against his body to see how far I could test him.

Placing my hands on his shoulders, I leaned up on my tiptoes and whispered in his ear from behind. “Words mean little to me. Actions are what I pay attention to.”

He clicked his neck to the side, exposing his tattooed skin and throbbing jugular vein to me as my fangs elongated with the need to sink into it. My god, I had never wanted anyone’s blood so much before, except for when… The memory of drinking from Heathen flashed in my mind and I stepped back, feeling uncharacteristically flustered.

I took a second to compose myself before walking around to face him. His dangerous eyes were delving into my soul, and my heart was racing when he dropped onto his knees before me and said, “I bow to no one. But I’ll get on my knees for you and beg if that is what it takes. I’d stay here all night. I’ll try, but I don’t know how to be good for you. I am not sure that I am even capable of it.”

“Then don’t be. I don’t need you to be good. Just don’t be such a…”

“Asshole? Douchebag? Arrogant prick?” He smirked cheekily and looked so hot that my knees nearly buckled to join him.

“Yeah. Take your pick.” I stepped forward. “Get up.” He stood up, and I walked into his chest, glaring up at him so he could see the relentless desire but also the steadfast determination and anger. “I don’t forgive you. You’ve treated me like shit. And I don’t trust that you won’t do it again. You haven’t given me a single reason to forgive you, and just because you’ve been camped out in these woods for the last few nights doesn’t mean everything is forgiven. If you want my forgiveness or any chance with me, you’ll need to work for it. You may be my soulmate, but I will live without you if I have to. I will forget you exist if you give me no other choice. I know my worth and I know what I deserve. I don’t need some perfect man who abides by the laws or morals that others set. But I do need to know you. Who you are. Not The Dealer. But this guy.” I lifted my hand and placed it on his chest, causing his muscles to tense at my touch. “I can handle the darkness. As long as I get to know the man behind it.”

“What if there is no light left? What if you don’t like what you find?” His jaw clenched as he fought to keep his hands in his pockets when I caressed my fingers across his pecs.

“I think the bigger problem is… what if I do?” I whispered, drawing my face closer to his until our noses brushed. He held my gaze, and it felt like time had paused just for us to hold on to this moment. This connection. I was seconds away from caving into my desire to feel those lips again, so I turned away, breaking the spell. I took a deep breath before I faced him. “You’re going to show me exactly who you are. All of it. The good, the bad, the terrifying. I want it all. I need to take the plunge into your darkness so I know who you really are. I’m not easily scared, so don’t try to shield me from anything.”

“Why? Why do you want to do this?”

“Because only then will we both know what this is. I’m under no illusion that it will be pretty. We will argue, fight, test each other along the way. We will probably want to kill each other multiple times, but we need to do this. I need to do this. I know that you don’t trust me. You don’t trust that I won’t leave at the first sign of horror or things that make me uncomfortable. You think I can’t handle whatever it is you are hiding about yourself, but I know I can. I know I am strong enough. So just let me prove it.”

He stared at me for what felt like an eternity before he replied, “How?”

I inhaled deeply, bracing myself for this next part. This was it. If he refused this, there was nowhere for us to go.

“Make me a member of The Underground. Help me to help Heathen—” Before I had even finished my sentence, he’d ripped his hands out of his pockets and delved them into his hair as he paced the forest floor, muttering under his breath in another language. “Will you just hear me out?”

“So, this is just about him? About Heathen? You are using me to help him?” he shouted, his red eyes blazing. Ah shit.

“No! Don’t be ridiculous. This is about all of us. Yes, I made Heathen a promise I would help him. But the only way I can do it is if me and you work together. If you meet me halfway. And we need to spend time together to get to know each other. To see if this thing between us has a—”

“Has a what?” he growled. Anger was the only emotion he was capable of as he stormed towards me. “A future? We don’t need a crystal ball to figure that one out, Ilaria. Right now, we have no future. Because I am—” He growled with frustration when the words seemed unable to leave his lips. “What you are asking me to do could put your life in danger. Do you not understand? You could die just by being associated with me, let alone being my mate. And I won’t do it.” He started running his hand down his face in exasperation.

“No,” I shouted, losing my calm and collected persona and letting the real fiery vixen inside free. “I don’t understand shit! You are so fucking vague about everything. How the hell am I supposed to know what you mean? You are The Dealer. You run The Underground, don’t you? From what I’ve seen and heard, everyone is terrified of you, so why would I be in any danger if I was by your side?”

“It’s not that simple, Ilaria.”

“Then just tell me! Spell it out! Write it in a letter. Send it in your shouty caps messages. I don’t care, just tell me what you aren’t saying. Why would I be in any danger being with you? Who are you scared of? Is it The Devil? The man who owns the club who you work for?”

“No one. I am scared of fucking no one,” he roared, pushing me up against the tree and caging me in. The lethal aggression that was radiating from him had fear spike through my veins, as well as arousal. There really was something wrong with me. “Do you hear me? I will never fear another soul as long as I breathe. I don’t care what they do to me. I will never give them my fear. But fearing for someone else’s life is a weakness that I know all too well. And I can’t do it again. Not with you.” He seemed to calm down as he placed his forehead against mine. “No one can know who you are to me. No one. Because I trust no one. Do you understand that?”

I nodded, finally getting it. He’d lost someone. Someone he loved. Maybe more than one person. And his fear was about it happening again. Whatever haunted his past was still very much tormenting his present.

“Then we’ll hide it.”

“What?”

“We will hide who we are to each other. In public, at the club, we will act as if we don’t know each other. You don’t even need to help me with Heathen. Just get me a membership in the club and I’ll do the rest. All I need is a few hours at each event, so I can read people’s minds and try to figure out how to help him and—”

“You can read people’s minds?” He jumped back away from me in alarm as I blinked rapidly.

“Yeah. It’s a gift I was born with. Or sometimes a curse.”

“Can you read mine?” He grabbed my arms almost desperately, his eyes searching mine.

“No. My soulmate is immune to it, as well as anyone blood-related to me or related through a mate bond.” I said softly, already knowing he’d be disappointed, but I wasn’t prepared for the broken look on his face as he stepped back. My heart nearly shattered for him. And then realisation dawned. The same frustration and pain was on Heathen’s face when I couldn’t read his. “Wait. Can you not tell me things about yourself or your past?”

He stared at me blankly. His nostrils flared.

“Oh my gods.” I slammed my hand over my mouth. “You said in that video that you weren’t free. Heathen said something similar. You both work for The Underground . You are The Dealer and he is The Pet. Are you both being controlled by the same person? Is it because of what you do at The Underground? ”

He closed his eyes and rubbed his face aggressively with his hands. “Ilaria. The more you know, the more danger you put yourself in.”

“I don’t care, goddammit!” I yelled, grabbing his wrists and yanking them down. “Why don’t you get it? You are my soulmate! Let’s try the reverse here. If I was the one that needed help, would you help me?”

“That’s not even the same thing. Of course, I would but—”

“No buts! I am involved in this, whether you like it or not. Working with me will make me safer because you know the ins and outs of The Underground but believe me when I say I will be figuring this out with or without your help.”

“ Jebote. You are a stubborn woman!”

“Oh, you have no idea. So what’s it to be? Are we doing this together? Or am I doing this alone?”

He turned and punched a tree trunk, denting the bark with his strength and causing the tree to shed some of its leaves. I tried not to be distracted by how fucking hot it was when he lost his temper.

“I’ll take that as a yes, then.”

He turned around to face me, defeated. “Fine. But when it comes to your safety, you fucking listen to me. I mean it. None of this stubborn bullshit. When you’re in The Underground , you do what I say because I know what will keep you off the radar and safe. Got it?”

“It will hurt my soul, but yes, believe it or not, I can compromise,” I replied sarcastically.

“And no one can know we are mates. Don’t tell a soul. I know your Grandma knows but don’t tell anyone else because you don’t know who you can trust—”

I scoffed, folding my arms. “I can trust my family.”

“I mean it, Ilaria. The fewer people who know about us, the better.”

“Okay. I get it. I won’t tell a soul. Except Sienna knows. She’s my aunt. But that was your fault. You outed yourself on that hidden camera on my necklace.” His eyes widened. “But she won’t tell anyone. Unless my uncle asks her directly, in which case she will tell him, and then he will tell my parents, who will tell my grandparents, and then my brothers will find out and—”

“Ilaria!”

“But I am sure that won’t happen. I mean, what are the chances my uncle will ask that very specific question?” He didn’t look convinced. “It will be fine. No one will know.”

“I don’t think you realise just how important this is. I agree to this on this basis alone.”

“Hang on, I don’t think it’s me we should be worried about ’ Mr I ripped a man’s head off for touching what’s mine ’. You do realise you can’t go around killing every man who pisses me off?”

“Wanna bet? That isn’t out of character for me, love. No one would even bat an eyelid if I made up a reason they should die. Just remember that.” Pure maliciousness took over his features and my mouth fell open.

“You are imagining it right now, aren’t you? Killing someone who touches me?”

“You want to get to know my darkness, love? This is just the beginning.”

I smirked, stepping up to him. “Bring it on. Black is my favourite colour.”

“Damn, and here I was thinking it was red.”

“That’s Rue’s.”

“Rue?” He raised his eyebrow.

“My vampire side. Cruella.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “You named your vampire alter ego Cruella?”

“Come on then, what did you name yours?”

“I…” He frowned, closing his eyes.

“You can’t say,” I answered for him. “Don’t worry. One day, I will know every little thing about you, Luka.”

His hands found my hips, yanking me into his embrace. “You said my name again. I warned you what would happen if you said it twice.”

“You did.” I bit my bottom lip between my teeth as I locked my hands around his neck. “Unfortunately for you, I still haven’t forgiven you yet. So my clothes will be staying on for now.”

“You just want to see me on my knees begging again, don’t you?” he husked, sliding his lips down my throat, setting my whole body on fire. Rue was threatening to take control and say to hell with our plan to make him work for it. Luckily, I was far too stubborn to let her.

“I’ll admit, you do look so good on your knees for me,” I moaned as he licked up the length of my throbbing pulse in my neck. I felt my dagger in the back of his pocket and while he was distracted, I pulled it out. None the wiser, he dropped to his knees before me, his face diving under my skirt as he groaned against my underwear, licking over the lace that covered my clit. I allowed myself the pleasurable shudder of that one lick before I grabbed a handful of his hair harshly and ripped him away. He fell back, sitting on his heels as I pressed my blade to his throat. His eyes hooded with lust and an expression so sinful I knew I’d break if I didn’t get away from him.

“I’ll be waiting for that membership card. I look forward to starting a healthy, respectful and mutually beneficial working relationship between us.” I smirked before removing the dagger and walking away. A sadistic grin spread across my face when I heard him swearing under his breath.

“There will be nothing healthy about this!“ he called. “We are toxic as fuck.”

“All the more fun,” I shouted over my shoulder.

“Don’t you want your phone back?”

“Keep it. I’ll get a new one. How else are you going to keep sending me shouty texts?”

I chanced one last glance over my shoulder to find him still kneeling in the mud, beaming at me from ear to ear, his red eyes illuminated against the blackness of the night. I took a mental picture in my mind before I zoomed away and transported myself back to my attic room.

Falling back onto my bed, I had never felt so proud of myself. I did it. I resisted him. Kinda. And I got him to agree to help me. To help Heathen. And maybe to even help himself. It was a huge step in the right direction and hope swelled in my chest.

Grandma’s phone pinged on my bedside table. I really needed to give it back to her, but she hadn’t even asked me to return it yet. I grabbed it to find my name appearing on the messages.

GET A NEW WIG AND CONTACTS. TAKE A PHOTO AND SEND IT TO ME. I’LL CREATE A NEW MEMBERSHIP WITH A FAKE ID FOR YOU. BUT DO NOT WEAR THAT OUTFIT TO THE PLEASURE DEN UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO MURDER EVERY MAN WHO SEES YOU IN IT.

I smiled.

Not a problem. I think my new ID is along the lines of a full dominatrix, anyway. PVC bodysuit? Whips? Bondage?

SEND ME PICTURES. IN CHARACTER.

Kinky. But I don’t think we are there yet.

I HAVE HAD MY DICK DOWN YOUR THROAT AND IN YOUR PUSSY. WE ARE THERE.

Deleting all these messages before my Grandma sees how romantic you are.

YOU WANT ROMANCE? I’LL LIGHT CANDLES NEXT TIME WE FUCK.

Please don’t. I’ll throw up. And also, next time? You’ll be waiting on your knees for a while before that happens.

SO BE IT.

Good night, Luka.

SLATKI SNOVI, MOJA BEYHA MYKA.

I sat bolt upright as I read the foreign words. Quickly, I copied and pasted them into the internet to find out what language it was and what it meant. My heart flipped.

Sweet dreams, my eternal torment.

I smiled so widely, knowing I was one, albeit small, step closer to finding out who he really was. My mate was from Serbia.