Page 16 of Vexed

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Vex

Okay, okay, don’t panic, Vex. Just… breathe. Except I barely breathe. Breathing is for the living. And speaking of the living, I have a very small, very alive one clinging to me as I practically drag her through the obsidian hallways of the Morta Tower.

“Keep your head down, Lily,” I muttered, tugging her closer.

We were a few corridors away from the Hall of Lost Souls when I heard it—the familiar, irritatingly cheerful whistle of Adimus. Seriously? He is one of the Arc Reapers, who usually stands guard at the door to the Human Realm. It’s just my luck that now is the time that he isn’t there.

“Vexlorn!” Adimus boomed, his crimson robes practically glowing in the dim light.

Oh, for the love of…

“Adimus!” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, even though my internal alarm bells were going off like a banshee convention. Lily had instinctively ducked behind me, clutching my shirt for dear life.

Adimus hadn’t noticed. Thank fuck. Probably because he was too busy admiring his reflection in the polished obsidian walls.

“Just heading to the dispensary. Heard they got a fresh batch of Soul-Soothers. You in?” He grinned, flashing his unnervingly white teeth.

Now or never. “Listen, Adimus, I need a favor. A big one.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Ooh, juicy. What is it?”

“I need you to… distract Ophiel.”

Adimus’ smile faltered. “Distract Ophiel? Vexlorn, you know that’s like asking me to juggle flaming souls over a pit of despair. Why? What did you do this time?” He peered around me, trying to see behind my broad shoulders. “What are you hiding?”

“Just… look, it’s complicated. Just trust me on this. Keep Ophiel occupied for, say, half an hour? Tell him…tell him you found a soul that’s refusing to cross over. Play it up. Use your dramatic flair.”

Adimus squinted. He still couldn’t see Lily, but my frantic energy seemed to be registering. “I’m not doing anything until you tell me what this is about. If you’re in trouble with Ophiel again…”

“No! I’m not in trouble! Just…do it, Adimus! Please!” I didn’t have time to explain. Not now. I needed to get Lily somewhere safe before finding another portal.

He stared at me, his grin now completely gone, replaced by a look of genuine concern. “Fine. But you owe me big time for this. And if Ophiel finds out I was covering for you…”

“Thanks, Adimus! You’re a lifesaver!” I cut him off, grabbing Lily’s hand and pulling her along.

I practically sprinted down the corridor, adrenaline coursing through my nonexistent veins. We rounded a corner, ducked under a tapestry representing the Seven Stages of Grief, and found ourselves in a small, forgotten alcove. It was dusty and filled with discarded scrolls, but it was quiet.

“Alright, in here,” I said, gently pushing her inside. The alcove was cramped, barely big enough for the two of us.

The door shuts behind me and the only sound audible is her heavy breaths.

“What the hell now?” she whispers, the fear evident in her voice.

I peer down at her and suddenly I feel like a giant. Her small body is pressed against me and the fact that she’s completely naked under that robe has my mind reeling again.

She practically begged me to fuck her just a few moments ago and now, I might just do that.

Her breath hitched, a sharp intake of air that was the only sound for a beat. I watched as her eyes flickered downwards, her gaze fixated on the point where our bodies met—or rather, collided.

More specifically, the undeniable pressure of my hips against her stomach.

Fuck. Of all the times...

Her voice, laced with amusement, cut through my internal monologue. “Any particular reason that you’re hard?” Her head tilted back, and a smirk danced on her plump lips, a silent acknowledgment of the effect she had on me.

“Keep quiet,” I muttered, the words escaping almost involuntarily.

Mortified, I dropped my head back against the cool surface of the door, seeking some kind of grounding in the unyielding wood.

My eyes stared upwards, focusing on the abstract patterns of the ceiling, anything to avoid looking at her—at it .

As much as I wanted to rip that robe off her and fuck her senselessly, this wasn’t the time nor the place.

The silence stretched before she broke it with a whispered taunt. “Make me,” and then, the undeniable, electrifying sensation of her palm rubbing against my bulge sent a jolt of raw desire through me. My breath caught in my throat. I was so fucked.

“You really want to do this here? Now ?” I ask, my voice dropping dangerously low. She peers up at me, tilting her head before nodding slowly. I don’t say a word as she unfastens my pants, sliding her hand in and wrapping her fingers around my cock.

Her smirk falters and she swallows hard, “I begged you for this and you said no,” she breathes, pumping my cock painfully slow.

Jesus. This girl is playing with fire.

I groan as I start moving my hips, fucking into her hand with more urgency before I lock my gaze on her.

“It’s still no. But I’m sure I can make a compromise,” I say before removing her hand, bending down as much as the confined space would allow, and grabbing the back of her thighs.

She wraps her legs around my waist without hesitation, the movement causing the robe to fall open, exposing her incredible naked body.

She grabs onto my shoulders for support as I use one hand to free my cock and guide it between her thighs. A soft moan slips out of her mouth as my cock rubs against her clit. Fuck.

“I’m not going to fuck you…yet. But I am going to make you cum all over my cock.” I whisper against her lips before rocking my hips back and forth, grinding against her clit that has her squirming in my hold.

I notice her eyes are glued to the sight of my cock slipping in between her thighs, glistening with how wet she is. She lets out a loud moan and I clamp my hand over her mouth.

“You have to stay quiet, darling.” I purr, rocking my hips faster, trying to resist the urge to slip my cock into her and fuck her against the wall. Her muffled moans grow more urgent before I watch her eyes roll to the back of her head, her back arching off the wall as she releases all over me.

I remove my hand before gently placing her on her feet. She stares up at me, her cheeks flushed and her breathing ragged. I reach out, closing her robe before leaving a kiss on her forehead.

“Well, that’s a first,” she breathes and I can’t help but smirk. I tucked myself away, running a hand through my hair.

“I’d love to see you cum over and over again, but first, we have to get you out of here. There is a door to the Human Realm, but it’s constantly guarded so that’s out of the question. I’m going to find a portal. Stay here,” I say, a little more serious.

She flashes me a warm smile and nods.

Portals are kind of like buses. They pop up randomly, usually when a soul’s ready to jump to the next stop on the afterlife express.

Finding one that leads back to the Human Realm was like finding a golden ticket in a universe made of cardboard.

After what felt like an eternity of dead ends—pun absolutely intended—I saw it. A shimmering tear in the fabric of reality appeared just down the hall, humming with familiar energy.

I recognized the distinct smell of rain and freshly cut grass—definitely Earth-bound.

Cursing under my breath, I sprinted for the alcove.

I yanked the door open causing Lily to yelp, “Let’s go!”

I grabbed her hand and dragged her behind me. Shielding her from being noticed by passing reapers.

We barreled down the hall, the portal shrinking with every passing second, but I could still see the blue sky flickering on the other side.

We came to a halt in front of the portal. It was barely a crack now, just a sliver of light.

“Hold your breath,” I instructed, knowing that breathing in the Between’s atmosphere could lead to some serious existential hiccups. Not fun.

Without hesitation, I shoved Lily through. She stumbled onto the other side, landing with a soft thud before I lunged, squeezing through just as the last shimmer faded.

My face met something soft and…smelly. And covered in fur.

I pulled back, coughing. Lily was sprawled on the grass, laughing her fucking ass off, and I was currently nose-to-butt with a rather large and fluffy golden retriever.

“Welcome back to Earth,” she said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

“Ha-ha, very funny.” I mumbled.

I stood up, dusting off my sleeves. We’re in a field. Looks like the one not far from Lily’s apartment.

“Thanks for bringing me back,” she softly said. I give her a genuine smile, brushing my fingers over her cheek.

“Anytime, just, please. Don’t ever do that again.” I warn and she nods her head.

“Now, go home and get some clothes on. I have a feeling that I have a lot of shit to explain back there.”

As I step through the shadows and back into the underworld, I am greeted by Adimus.

Ah fuck.

He looks at me with a smirk on his face and says, “Well, well, well, look who it is, the reaper who can’t follow the rules. I knew I’d find you here, and I have to say, I’m not surprised. And are you going to tell me why I had to distract Ophiel earlier or…”

I roll my eyes, “Come on, I was only gone for a minute. I just had to check on something. And no, false alarm, but thanks anyway.”

He crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow, “Check on what? The human you’re not allowed to visit?”

I can’t help but chuckle, “You make it sound like I’m breaking some big rule by visiting her. I just like to check in on her every now and then, make sure she’s doing alright.”

Adimus shakes his head, “You know it’s against the rules for us to interact with the living. We’re not supposed to get involved in their lives, especially not with humans. They’re too fragile, too emotional. And besides, it’s not like you can do anything for her anyway.”