Her Immortal Mate (Brides of the Vrakken #3)

12. Eike

12

EIKE

I settle Mae on the bedroll she brought, the cave floor hard beneath but the bed soft enough to cushion her. She shivers, not from cold but anticipation, her eyes never leaving mine.

I lean in, my mouth finding hers, a distraction and a promise. She responds instantly, pulling me against her, her fingers digging into my shoulders. Good, I want to help her relax, and the tension coming off her makes me wary to Change her out at all.

"Eike," she whispers against my lips, her voice a soft plea. I deepen the kiss, my tongue exploring her mouth, tasting her. Her body arches against mine, fitting perfectly despite our size difference.

I trail kisses down her neck, her pulse racing under my lips. My hands find the hem of her shirt, slowly lifting it, exposing her inch by inch. She helps me, her arms raising above her head, her eyes never leaving mine. I toss the shirt aside and she rips her bra off, my gaze dropping to her breasts, her nipples hardening under my scrutiny.

"You're beautiful," I murmur, my voice rough.

I lower my head, capturing one taut peak in my mouth. She gasps, her back arching, offering more of herself to me. I lavish attention on one breast, then the other, my hands roaming her body, learning her curves.

Her fingers tangle in my hair, guiding me lower. I comply, kissing every inch of her skin as if it were sacred ground. I settle between her legs, her scent intoxicating. I look up at her, her eyes wide, her lips parted.

"Trust me?" I say, my voice a low rumble. She nods, her fingers tightening in my hair.

Gripping her waistband, I slowly pull her pants and underwear down her legs, grinning when I see how wet she is. I lower my head, my mouth finding her center and licking firmly up to her clit. She moans, her hips bucking.

I grip her thighs, holding her in place as I explore her with my tongue. She's sweet, her taste driving me wild. I find her most sensitive spot, circling it, teasing it, until her breath comes in short gasps.

"Eike...please..." she begs, her voice ragged.

I increase the pressure, my tongue working her until she's writhing beneath me. Her orgasm hits her hard, her body convulsing, her scream echoing off the cave walls. I ride it out with her, my mouth gentle now, bringing her down slowly.

When she finally stills, I look up at her. Her eyes are closed, her chest rising and falling rapidly. I kiss her thigh, her hip, her stomach, making my way back up her body. Her eyes flutter open, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"That was..." she starts, but I cut her off with a kiss, letting her taste herself on my lips. She kisses me back, her arms wrapping around me, holding me close.

I pull away, my gaze locking with hers. "I told you I'd make it painless," I say, a smirk playing on my lips as I kiss down her neck.

I sink my teeth into the soft flesh of Mae's neck, a growl rumbling in my chest. She gasps, her body tensing briefly before the numbing agent in my saliva takes effect. Her muscles relax, her breath coming in soft sighs as pleasure courses through her veins. I seal the bite, licking the wound, tasting the sweetness of her blood.

My mouth moves lower, capturing one taut nipple between my lips. I suck hard, drawing out a moan from deep within her. Her back arches, pressing her breast further into my mouth. I graze my teeth against the sensitive peak, then bite gently. She cries out, her fingers digging into my shoulders, her hips bucking against me.

I soothe the bite with my tongue, feeling her heart racing against my lips. Her skin is flushed, her breath coming in rapid pants. I move to her other breast, giving it the same attention. She writhes beneath me, her moans echoing off the cave walls.

I lift my head, looking up at her. Her eyes are glazed over, her lips parted. Her chest heaves, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She looks wild, untamed. Beautiful.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, my voice a low rumble. I need to know she's okay, that my venom is doing its work before I start the Change.

She swallows hard, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. "I...I feel..." she stammers, her voice barely a whisper. She takes a deep breath, her eyes locking with mine, though they are clouded with the euphoria I know is singing in her veins. "I feel amazing, Eike. I can't...I can't even describe it."

I grin, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across my face. "Good," I say, my voice filled with promise.

I shift next to her, my hand sliding between her thighs. She's slick and hot, her breath hitching as I rub my fingers against her folds. I push one finger in, then two, watching her closely as she grinds against my hand. Her eyes flutter closed, her head tilting back, exposing the elegant line of her throat.

"How does that feel?" I murmur, my voice rough.

"Good," she gasps, her hips moving in sync with my hand. "So good."

I increase the pace, my fingers curling inside her, finding that sweet spot that makes her moan. Her hands grip the bedroll, her knuckles white as she writhes beneath my touch. I bring my wrist to my mouth, tearing open the skin with my teeth. Blood wells up, the scent of it filling the air.

"Drink," I command, pressing my wrist to her lips. She hesitates for a moment, her eyes flicking open, meeting mine. I see the question in her gaze, the slight tremor of fear. "Trust me, Mae," I say, my voice softening.

She nods, her lips parting. I press my wrist against her mouth, feeling her tongue dart out, tasting me. She sucks gently at first, then harder, her eyes locked onto mine. I can see the effect my blood has on her, her pupils dilating, her breath coming in short gasps.

I continue to pump my fingers in and out of her, my thumb finding her clit, circling it. She moans against my wrist, the vibration sending a jolt of pleasure through me. I can feel her growing closer, her body tensing, her muscles clamping down on my fingers.

I pull my wrist away, applying pressure to her clit, my fingers moving faster, driving her towards the edge. She cries out, her body convulsing, her orgasm crashing over her.

I bring her wrist to my mouth, biting down, letting my numbing agent fill her again. She gasps, her body trembling as she is hit with wave after wave of pleasure.

I drink heavily, her blood sweet and rich. Her taste fills me, igniting something primal within me. I growl, my fingers continuing to move inside her, drawing out her pleasure. She writhes beneath me, her moans filling the cave, echoing off the walls.

"Eike," she gasps, her voice ragged. "I...I can't...it's too much."

"You can," I say, my voice firm. "Let go, Mae. Let me see you come undone."

I increase the pressure, my fingers moving faster, my thumb circling her clit. She cries out, her body convulsing, her muscles clamping down on my fingers. Her orgasm hits her hard, her body writhing, her scream filling the cave. I ride it out with her, my mouth gentle now, bringing her down slowly.

When she finally stills, I look up at her. Her eyes are closed, her chest rising and falling rapidly. I kiss her neck, her cheek, her lips. Her eyes try to flutter open, but it's clear that her body is tired and overwhelmed.

"Sleep," I whisper, pulling her against my body and wrapping my wings around her. I hope that she will survive this.

I will never forgive myself if not.

I hold Mae through the night, feeling every twitch and whimper. Her skin burns against mine as the Change works through her system. I do everything I can to ease her, plying her with more bites and orgasms when her fangs rip through and her wings tear through her back. But she handles it well.

Dawn creeps into the cave entrance when her eyes finally snap open. She bolts upright, hands clutching at her throat.

"It burns," she gasps, her new wings unfurling instinctively. "Eike, I'm so thirsty."

"I know." I brush her hair back from her face, taking in her sharpened features, the silvery sheen to her skin. "We'll fix that. Can you stand?"

She nods, wobbling to her feet. I catch her elbow as she stumbles, adjusting to her altered center of gravity. Her wings flex and fold, responding to muscles she's never used before.

"Everything's so... bright. Clear." Her head swivels, taking in details that human eyes would miss. "I can hear water running somewhere."

"Half mile west." I guide her to the cave entrance. "Ready to hunt?"

"Yes. Please." The desperation in her voice tugs at something primal in my chest.

Not to mention the fact that she is still naked.

"Maybe you should get dressed-"

"No," she snarls. "Need to hunt."

I nod, helping her to the mouth of the cave. I don't hear anyone in the forest and clothing might overwhelm her anyway. If she wants to hunt naked, then fine.

"Trust your instincts," I say. "Your body knows what to do."

She launches forward with surprising grace, running between the trees and toward the deer — or the version of deer on Protheka, it has three horns and some other slight differences — that I could hear in the cave.

Mae's eyes lock onto the prey, her pupils dilating. She dives for it, leaping in the air and landing on it, her new strength letting her bring it down in one swift motion. Her teeth find the jugular automatically.

When she lifts her head, blood staining her chin, her eyes are bright with satisfaction. "That was... incredible."

Pride swells in my chest. "You're a natural." I land beside her, watching as she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. "How's the throat?"

"Better. Much better." She flexes her wings, still stained with dried blood from the Change. "I feel... powerful."

"You are." I squeeze her shoulder. "You survived. You're one of us now."

Her smile is fierce, predatory. Perfect.