Page 15 of Dormeo

ROSE

“ H ow long was I out this time?” I ask, walking out into the dimly lit living area and glancing toward the darkened sky outside.

Not that it ever gets bright here. Just less dark.

Ash swirls the glass of amber liquid in his hand and looks up from his spot on the couch, eyeing me curiously.

“About a day. Just less. How are you feeling?”

My eyes dart to the new door, which somehow looks even more solid and impenetrable than the last one. At least, I hope it is.

“Glad to see we have a door again.”

Ash regards me curiously. I’m surprised at how steady I feel.

“I’m fine. After what I saw, I’m quietly confident that the three of you have this handled.” Swallowing, I’m struggling to admit the real reason, but he deserves to hear it for keeping me safe. “I know you can protect me. I’m not worried once you’re here.”

One side of his mouth quirks up into a smug smile, and there’s something familiar about it.

I stop moving toward him, nerves suddenly bubbling up inside me, as I glance at the couch where he’s lounging so casually.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this relaxed, except…

I freeze, images of our bodies writhing together on this very piece of furniture bombarding me.

It feels as if it happened just minutes ago.

There’s no stopping the shocked gasp that falls from my lips as I recall, in vivid technicolour, how his lips met my sex and brought me to heights I never knew possible.

It was just a dream, but it feels so real.

Blushing, I grip the front of my gown as though holding it a little tighter will erase the sight and taste of my dripping pussy from his memory.

“Something wrong, little Rose?” he asks, a wicked gleam in his eye as though he can tell the tawdry turn my mind has taken. “Sleeping well these days?”

Forcing my shoulders back and some air into my lungs, I will my racing heart to calm down and continue forward.

Don’t be ridiculous, I chastise myself. He has no way of knowing about a silly dream. He can just see you’re acting weird.

“Yes. Quite well,” I say primly, once again, panicking when he pats the end of the sofa near him.

“Sit. You must be famished after going so long without something to eat.” His heated gaze falls to my lips, and I swear, I hear a low rumble coming from his chest as he continues to stare at my mouth.

As I sit, I run my palm along the fabric, remembering the feel of it against my bare back as he spread me wide and devoured me, teasing and playing with me until I shattered, completely at his mercy.

Even now, my core feels tight, and I still have a few butterflies dancing around in my belly.

I can’t stop staring at him.

When he leans forward to place his glass on the table, an uncontrollable urge comes over me to touch his horns, to see if it really does elicit the same reaction I imagined in my dreams.

“Something you want to ask me?” His voice is low and husky as he notices my fixation on the curved black protrusions.

“I… can you feel them? Or are they like nails, where they’re just there but don’t provide any feeling?”

A knowing smile spreads across his face, and I get a flashback of his proud features looking down at me after I came on his mouth.

I stifle a moan, stunned at the visceral reaction my body has to the memory, even though it’s a fake one.

“Touch them, if you want.”

My eyes lock onto his, shocked by his willingness to let me touch him.

“But yes, they’re very sensitive. You might not enjoy the experience as much as I will.”

So, I’m right. I didn’t imagine that part, at least. They are sexual to him. They could give me power over him.

My fingers twitch, but I ball them into fists.

I can’t touch him that way. He’s a demon, my captor, for goodness’ sake.

“Too shy?” Ash goads, standing to his full height and moving to stand in front of me. “I bet you’re not too shy in your dreams. I bet you go after what you want. Take it with both hands.”

Freezing, my eyes dart to meet his.

Is he alluding to how I took his cock in my mouth? He couldn’t be. Those were my dreams, my most secret desires. And yet, as he stands and moves to the kitchen, looking greatly amused, I stare at my surroundings.

Maybe he does know. This isn’t the human realm, after all.

A feeling of Deja vu washes over me as he returns, plate in hand, and kneels at my feet, pushing my knees slightly apart, so he can crouch between them and hold a cracker with cheese out to me, meaning for me to take it from his fingers.

“I can feed myself.”

He nods, expression serious, but keeps the cracker extended toward me.

When I arrived, I was afraid of this man, terrified by his sheer size and intimidating demeanour.

Not now, I think to myself, as I wrap my lips around the cracker and bite, taking the rest from his fingers.

Although just because I imagined him making me come, that doesn’t mean he’s no longer dangerous.

He hums approvingly, and I smile, loving any hint of praise from him, pathetic as that might be.

“Of course you can, but if you’re going to keep sleeping for so long, you need to eat while you’re awake. Especially when your sleep is so vigorous .”

Pulse racing, I stare at him, looking for some hint that he knows what I dreamt of. Maybe I was talking in my sleep. Maybe I said his name. Please , let that be all.

But Ash says nothing, just holds out another tasty morsel for me to take.

“Where I’m from, it’s not normal for a man to wait on a woman.”

Ash grunts and brushes one hand over a horn. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a human male. Not that it matters.” Shifting slightly, so his arm brushes against my thigh, he moves closer.

“And these so-called men, your father will choose one for you? And you’ll be forced to go along with whoever he picks?” The muscles in Ash’s jaw clench, though he tries to hide his disgust.

“If it was just me, I’d try to fight it, but I have two sisters, and I need to ensure they’re provided for.

Father has made some poor… investments… lately.

If I marry well, their futures are secure.

If not, and if everyone finds out what little we have left…

Well, the girls could be left with very few options.

My world is not one where women have much power. ”

“And they say we're animals.” Ash scoffs. “It sounds like all of you would be better off alone.” Ash shakes his head.

“It’s not that simple. Nobody would employ me, give me lodgings, or marry me. It would be a lonely, destitute life.”

Ash hums. “You don’t even believe that. A woman like you would never be lonely. Your men are fools. And weak.”

He sounds more annoyed by my situation than I am.

Of course, I wish it were different, but I’ve been raised to expect nothing more.

Maybe the people that live here get love and laughter to balance out the harshness of their world, but not me.

The best I can hope for is someone stupid enough not to notice how different I am.

“Maybe one of them will prove himself by coming here to rescue me.”

“Attempt to rescue you,” Ash corrects, confident in his ability to thwart any such plans. “And even still, if their motivation is not honourable, they still won’t deserve your hand.”

Stunned, I stare at his handsome side profile as he takes a big gulp of his drink, setting the glass down so hard, I’m surprised it doesn’t crack.

“It’s better than some lord who sits at home and counts his pennies.”

As Ash considers my words, he reaches over the side table and pours a second glass of amber liquid.

“So, this future husband of yours, that you expect so little of. What will he have to do to earn your affection?”

Earn it? If he has enough money, my father will deem him suitable to join our family, no matter how odious his personality is.

“If he was kind to my family and was a good father to our children, that would please me.”

Ash rests a hand on my knee to keep his balance as he waits for the rest. The heat from his fingers spreads across my skin, and I squirm, my lust steadily rising again. When I don’t add any more to the list of requirements, he tilts his head, confused.

“Neither of those are for you. What about gifts? Pampering. Clothing. Jewellery. Loyalty to your mating.”

Blinking, I stare back at Ash. “Do men do such things?”

He frowns, picking up another cracker and moving it toward me.

“Do I seem any less masculine to you because I’m choosing to meet this need of yours?”

Again, I watch his expression closely, unsure if he’s hinting at the other needs of mine that he’s been satisfying. More than satisfying.

“Definitely not,” I whisper, struggling to speak as I relive the way his tongue thrust inside me, and his fingers stroked my clit.

My body craves more. I want more, before I have to go back to the monotony of my life.

“Do you want me to stop, or would you like another taste?” Ash waits, his hand suspended in the air, just inches from my mouth.

Lips already parted, I meet his heated gaze. We’re definitely not talking about food anymore.

His eyes blaze as I lean forward and steal the food from his fingers, letting my tongue touch his dark skin, all the while, holding eye contact.

When I lick my lips and hum, his eyes blaze, two fiery flames glowing in the gloom.

“Yes, please.”