Page 49

Ezra

Ezra laid awake long after Scarlett and Mateo had fallen asleep.

The whole day had felt like a dream, and he was too afraid to fall asleep and return to his reality.

What if all of this was just some sick joke his twisted mind had spun together?

It all felt too good to be true and he was terrified to lose this—to lose her .

Without waking her, he sat up and rubbed his hands over his face as if he could scrub the crazy thoughts away.

The wooden planks of the floor creaked, and Vince stepped into the room.

He had a tumbler of whisky in each hand, offering Ezra one of them before pulling a dagger out of his waistband.

He dropped the dagger onto the bed, then took his place in the armchair.

Ezra downed the whisky, where Vince chose to savour it.

With both hands free again, Ezra tossed the dagger between his palms. Shit, he wanted to cut so badly, but as his eyes landed on his precious princess, he just couldn’t do it.

He didn’t want her to wake up and see it, didn’t want to disappoint her.

She’d been so worried about him when she’d seen the fresh cuts.

It was enough for him to never do it again.

Despite the thoughts raging across his mind like a summer storm, he set the dagger aside and took his princess in his arms instead. He spooned her and buried his nose behind her ear, taking deep breaths and letting her orange scent calm his tumultuous mind.

When Ezra awoke again, Scarlett was unconsciously rubbing against his raging erection in her sleep. He groaned and smoothed his hand down her side and to her hip. His tight grip startled her out of her sleep, her body suddenly tense.

“If you keep trying to fuck my dick in your dream, you’ll end up with it deep inside you for real,” he growled, forcing her hips to still.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Tell me, princess, what did you dream about?”

She swallowed hard before uttering a word that did nothing to help Ezra’s situation. “You.”

“Just me?”

Scarlett shook her head against the pillow. “All of you.”

Ezra gazed around the dark room. Vince had disappeared again and Mateo was turned on his side, deeply asleep. “I have been thinking of you too,” he groaned, slipping his finger under her waistband. “About how now that you are bleeding, I can fuck you bare.”

Scarlett stiffened and Ezra fought a grimace as her nails cut into his skin. “No.”

“Oh, princess. I’ve heard wonderous things about having sex during one’s period. You’ll grow to enjoy it, I promise.” She didn’t relent, but he didn’t dare force his hand further. With Mateo’s usual softness in mind, he asked, “What scares you about it? The mess?”

“Yes.”

“I will get us a towel. Would that ease your mind?” When she didn’t answer he tried to sooth her worry even more. “I don’t mind a little blood.”

“It’s going to be gross.”

“Scarlett, nothing about you is gross. It’s just blood. I’d hardly consider myself squeamish.” His heart leapt when a soft giggle burst through her lips. “Let me feel you bare, princess.”

She took her time answering in which he ghosted his lips over her neck and sucked her earlobe between his teeth. “Okay.”

Even though her grip on his wrist was still tight, she let him push beneath her panties. “What are you using right now?”

“A pad.”

Perfection. “Don’t move. If you fall asleep, don’t be surprised when you wake up with my cock inside you.”

He kissed her cheek and rushed to fetch the towel, deciding at the last minute to grab a few washcloths before returning to the bedroom.

The second he had her back in his arms, she turned her head and asked, “Are you sure?”

“Of course.” He gently pushed the towel underneath her when she raised up to give him space to do so. “Are you hurting?”

“No. I don’t always have cramps.”

He pushed her waistband down, but she tensed again. “It’s okay.”

He found her clit and sealed his lips around the nape of her neck. She always seemed to melt when he kissed her there. His fingers circled and he patiently waited for her muscles to relax. Only then did he dare push down her pants to slip through the blood seeping from her pussy.

Her breathing was unnaturally calm, as if she focused on that rather than his fingers. He knew that if he took too long, she would reject him and his cock was so engorged that he worried it would fall off if he didn’t get a release soon.

He managed to get his pants down with his clean hand, then settled behind her. The moment his cockhead met her warm, tight pussy, he groaned. This felt so much better than that fucking condom. He knew he would count down the days every month so he could do it again.

“Ezra,” she moaned, letting her head fall back and rolling her hips into the fingers that circled her clit again.

“Shh,” he hushed. “We don’t want to wake anyone.”

His lips closed around her neck muscle again and he tenderly thrusted deeper into her.

Selfishly, he wasn’t only taking his time for her.

No, he wanted to saviour this moment: her bare pussy and the ease in which she took him.

He’d never taken a woman like this, but the thought of not just her bare cunt but also her blood lubricating him aroused him like nothing else ever had.

Scarlett began to match him thrust for thrust, and he had to fight to keep his pace.

She seemed to have other ideas, increasing her speed and forcing him to play along.

His fingers worked her clit faster and rougher, wanting her to come with him.

He would need very little effort, so he tried to focus on her pleasure.

He muffled his groans in her neck, sucking and nipping her skin and deepening the mark there.

Though he had enjoyed their little play earlier, he wanted this for himself.

In this moment, she was his and even if Mateo were to wake up, Ezra knew he wouldn’t share her.

Scarlett covered her mouth as he tapped against her clit, edging her just a little to see how she reacted.

Judging by the nails in his arm, she didn’t care for it.

He loved the sweet, delicious pain, but giving her what she craved was far more important.

Her muffled moans were like a melody in his ears as he drove her to her climax, his own release edging just inches away.

He needed to feel her come, loving how much better it felt to have her bare.

How the fuck was he supposed to go back to condoms after this?

Shit , he should’ve thought that through.

His body was on fire and the only thing that could extinguish the flames was their mutual orgasms. Her body shook and her hips slammed into him, her cunt quivering around him as she catapulted over the edge.

His balls tightened and he thrust into her, his cum spilling and his teeth sinking into her skin.

He only realised what he was doing when she whimpered out in pain.

“Shit.” He kissed her tender flesh, regret filling his heart. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

Scarlett’s breathing was heavy as she shook her head and twisted herself to look at him. “It’s okay. Just unexpected.”

“I hurt you.”

“Only a little.”

“I’m sorry.” But when he pulled his hand from her pussy to cup her cheek, he had to stop himself because of the blood covering his fingers. Instead, he reached for the cloths, careful not to smear any blood on the covers. “I’m really sorry.”

“I know you are. It’s okay. Please don’t freak out about it.”

“As you wish.” He kissed his mark again and released her so she could clean up.

He watched as she walked off on her tiptoes and cleaned himself with the remaining cloths. He discarded the towel as well and patiently waited for her return. This time he fell asleep easily, with her snuggled in his arms.

He woke up a second time to Scarlett holding his hand while she cuddled with Mateo.

She seemed sleep drunk, but she still gave him a lazy smile.

His gaze immediately shot to her neck where his teeth had left a nasty bruise.

As promised, he tried not to obsess over it and leaned in to kiss her.

Her eyes closed again, and he couldn’t help but stare at his breathtaking woman.

Even though she was in another man’s arms, he knew without a doubt that she was his.

Once Scarlett was ready to start her day, they got dressed and walked down to the restaurant in the village where she wanted to have breakfast. It was a cute place she’d seen the day before that served a buffet-style meal.

It was a busy day, but they were seated right away and piled their plates high.

Scarlett wanted to spend another day in the village, but was already looking at the trail she wanted to hike the next day.

“Maybe we can get up early and spend all day out there,” she said between bites. “I don’t want to leave too late and not be able to make it the whole way.”

Of course, they were all for it. They’d do whatever it took to make every moment with her count.

While Mateo and Vince wandered off to do some more research and talk to locals, Ezra and Scarlett found a quiet spot to enjoy the village.

She’d brought her sketchbook and for the first time, she let him observe the process of her creativity as she drew the fountain in the village square.

How was he supposed to leave her behind and go hunting now that he was used to having her around? He was stopped in his thought’s tracks as her stomach started growling at her.

“Time for a snack?” he teased. “I can grab something for you if you feel okay being alone for a few minutes?” She looked so comfortable that he didn’t want her to move. Besides, if they had to change spots it would mess up her entire drawing.

“Will you go far?”

“Not at all, princess.” He pointed across the square at a small shop. “Just there.”

“Okay.”

He took her chin between his thumb and index and stole a kiss. “I will only be gone for a few moments.”