Page 12 of Reign of The Beast (Immortal Passions #2)

12

~Lucian~

“Swallow every drop.”

Ryker trembled excitedly at my deep, uncompromising command.

I was snarling in the next moment as that glorious mouth of his propelled me into ecstasy.

I came hard, filling him up with violent spurts of my thick, ropey cum.

He eased off my cock and I watched in satisfaction as he made a show of gulping down my cum.

He grinned when he was done and licked his lips seductively.

My cock jerked in response, ready for another round or two, a delicious perk of vampirism.

Ryker made a grab for my shaft, but I evaded his touch with a brief burst of speed, putting a couple of feet of distance between us.

Just enough breathing room to allow me to think straight.

Not understanding me turning him down, he started toward me, his eyes hooded. “Ah, you want me to chase you this time. As you wish.”

I held up my hand and took another step back, needing to ensure there was a physical distance between us. I was still worked up and enthralled in our sexual spell. It was beyond trying to hold off on going in for another round.

Once was never enough with him.

People thought I was the seducer, yet Ryker was one in his own right without even trying.

He was naturally charming, extremely captivating. Irresistible, in truth.

But I had to resist at this point in time, much to both our regrets.

I’d noticed that he always had his defenses lowered right after one of our sessions , so it was the best chance to have the sort of difficult discussion that we needed to have now.

It was already long overdue.

A lot of that had been down to my mind not being clear with the powerful scent of Immortal blood in the air. My focus had been on fighting to overcome the awful urge that came with that. But a couple of days ago, Mia had managed to re-erect the veil that concealed the scent. Her magic had stabilized. Shortly after she’d allowed Jaxon to take her actually. Accepting him physically had served to calm her and comfort her, a benefit of the mating bond.

And now I was back to my levelheaded and astute self.

It was time to see to my beloved.

It couldn’t wait any longer.

Thinking it would taper off and that he’d calm down had been a mistake.

“We need to talk.”

He tensed, his heart rate spiking noticeably.

I held up my hand, realizing where his mind had gone .

The last time someone had uttered those words to him had been the night Mia had unceremoniously broken things off between them. I cringed inwardly at my choice of phrasing. “Calm, my beloved. It is not about us. We are solid, now and forevermore. I apologize. I should have worded it differently.”

He calmed a little at my assurances. “What’s wrong, Lucian?”

I tucked myself back into my dress pants. “I am concerned.”

“With everything that’s happening, you’re going to have to be way more specific.”

Touché. “You’re insatiable.”

He cocked his head to the side, perplexed. “Something of mutual benefit, no?”

“Of course. Under normal circumstances, I would be reveling in every moment of it,” I said, as I took a seat on the foot of our bed. “As it is, circumstances are not normal.”

“What are you saying?” he asked, coming toward the bed.

I shook my head. “No closer.”

He chuckled. “Come on, Lucian.”

“I’m serious. I’m still… affected by our tryst.”

“Our tryst , huh? You mean you reaming my ass and making me come all over myself, then you fucking my face with your cock until I swallowed every drop?”

Hell! “Ryker,” I growled in warning. “This is a conversation we need to have. Your attempt to avoid it is not only ridiculously transparent, but it’s serving to intensify my concerns.”

He rolled his eyes. “That’s all well and good, except I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I doubted that, but I’d spell it out clearly nevertheless. “ You are using the rush of sex to numb yourself to certain distasteful and painful things. Not only is that not sustainable, given that you don’t possess the stamina of a vampire, but it also won’t end well. Burying things never does. You need to acknowledge the truth, your hurt. I understand why you can’t to the others. You need to project stability and infallible leadership at this tumultuous point in time. But that’s why I’m here.” I shot him a look. “Not just to give you that sexual high you’re currently craving without respite.”

“I… I don’t think of you as a thing to use just for that, a dick to ride, or whatever. I love you, Lucian. We’re partners.”

I didn’t believe for a single moment that he saw me as something to use. However, he did need a push, so I challenged, “Then live up to that. Share the burden with me.”

He turned away, muttering, “Fuck.”

“I’m not here to judge you, Ryker.”

“I know. I know! Because you’re amazing like that. Actually, you’re perfect.” He threw his hands up in the air. “And I’m not, okay? I’m not!”

“Perfection is an illusion. I’m certainly nowhere close to that. All too recently, if you recall, I lost complete control and almost drained Mia dry, the key to destroying Draco and saving the supernatural world. Millions at stake and I almost sentenced them to death in one fell swoop.”

“That wasn’t your fault,” he murmured.

“Debatable.”

“It wasn’t,” he said, sullenly. In the next moment, he spun back to me. “Besides, I meant you’re perfect with me . Opening my world up, accepting my bullshit with Mia and this heavy fucking Covenant duty, taking care of me, loving me. And I… I…” he winced, and shook his head.

“And you what ?” I pressed .

His eyes swam with emotion. “You nearly died,” he uttered on a broken whisper, like he couldn’t bear to give the words full volume. “Right in front of me. In that moment that Jaxon staked you, I really thought you had. When I saw it was a gut wound, relief like I’d never felt before flooded through me. Until… until I realized it was no ordinary stake.”

I frowned. “I don’t understand. Yes, the stake took me longer to heal, but—”

“It was killing you!” he blurted out, emotion getting the best of him. “The holy water and the infused sunlight was working its way through your bloodstream. I stopped it with my next-level magic. It was forged by magic, meaning the effects could be destroyed by magic.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“You were dealing with enough as it was.”

“So, the stake can kill an Ancient no matter where the wound is inflicted? It doesn’t need to penetrate the heart?”

He nodded regrettably. “It only needs to pierce your skin deep enough to enter your bloodstream.”

It was a great deal to absorb.

“I’m working on a way to protect you.” He came to me and took my hand, his brutal revelation nullifying the heat that had been raging through me for him. “I almost lost you,” he uttered on a pained choke.

“Ryker, I—”

“I can’t . I can’t lose you. It took me long enough to open myself up to what we have. Now that I have, I don’t want to imagine an existence without you in it, without you being a part of me.”

I gave his hand a squeeze. “I feel the same way.”

He released me and blew out an exasperated breath. “Shit. Part of me wants to take us far away from all of this, to walk away while we know that we still can, just so that we don’t tempt fate, so that we don’t risk it.”

I shook my head. “Ryker—”

“I know, I know. We can’t do that. And I never really would. It’s just… fantasy. Another life, with options, without this dark cloud of despair, pain, and death hanging over us all.”

Stepping into him, I cupped his face in my hands, urging his gaze to mine as I spoke, “Death comes for all of us in time. But that time isn’t yet, Ryker.”

“How do you know?”

“We have just found one another, brought together by fate. Why on earth would it tear us from one another so soon? The logic doesn’t hold up well at all, now, does it?”

I saw my explanation impact him, my words taking hold. I strode onward, adding, “Let’s also not overlook the fact that you had the means to cure me of the affliction from that stake at just the right time. I refuse to believe that was just a coincidence. It was meant to be. I was meant to live. As are you. We won’t be taken from each other any time soon.” I stroked my thumbs over the rough stubble plaguing his jaw. “Regardless, though, we cannot live in fear of losing what we hold dear. If that were the case, then fear would rule our lives, and we’d never appreciate and revel in what we have in the here in and now. And, believe me, what we have is something I wish to revel in.”

Tears spilled down his cheeks.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

And then he sank against me.

I wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder. “Even when a problem seems insurmountable, you can find solace in unburdening yourself to another, sharing the load. It can offer a flicker of light even when all else had previously been steeped in darkness. ”

A weak chuckle escaped him. “Professional persuader indeed.”

I smiled to myself.

“So, is this what has been weighing on you?”

“That and the pressure of holding everything together.”

“I see. Well, Mia’s magic has stabilized now, so the pressure will ease very soon.”

“If she can rise to the occasion, yeah.”

“She will.”

He pulled back a little to look up at me. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because there is no choice.”

He gave a nod. “True.”

“What can I do to ease things for you in the time being?”

“Bond with her.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “What?”

“Her connection with me was established years ago. She’s just strengthened hers with Jaxon. For the Covenant to work, the two of you need one as well. Soon, Lucian.”

“I will see to it.”

“You will? No hesitancy, no argument?”

“You forget that I am already fond of her and it has only grown since our forced proximity.”

“I’d suspected, but I wasn’t sure. You brought her up vividly during our dirty liaison in your office. You also gave her your blood without reservation to heal her after Draco’s attack on the pack lands, and I know you don’t take that lightly.” He eyed me pointedly. “ She doesn’t know that about you, though.”

I nodded my understanding. “I will make it clear, however, the resistance to us connecting is on her end, Ryker. I can’t control that . ”

“She’s just nervous, because you’re a hell of a sexually-intimidating force. But she’s gotten over that with Jaxon.”

“He is her mate. It took some light coaxing, but that was all.”

“Then ask him to facilitate your connection with her. Having him there will put her at ease.”

“All right, my beloved.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled and tightened my hold on him. “We’ll get through this tumultuous time and overcome these hurdles. And then we will prevail. All will be well.”

He murmured his agreement against my chest. “I believe you.”