The Darkest Crown (The Eternal Darkness Duet #2)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

T he second I walked through her door, Allie bombarded me with questions about the ball. I grimaced, and she frowned.

“That bad?” she asked.

“Worse,” I groaned, flopping down on the bed. I told her about Marius’ surprise announcement, and she gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

I went on to tell her about Natalia and Julian, and how I’d consumed nectar and made an ass of myself, but I left out what happened after, in the bedroom. My feelings about that were still too raw.

“I can’t believe Julian got over you so fast,” Allie said, shaking her head. Then she scrunched her face. “Actually, I don’t believe it.” She looked at me. “What if it's an act? Like he’s trying to throw Marius off, so he can rescue you?”

I sighed heavily. “I wish it was, but Marius read Natalia’s mind. He’d know if she was lying.”

Allie frowned and chewed her lip. “I still don’t believe it. Julian was obsessed with you.”

I stared up at the ceiling, trying not to cry. It felt like crying was all I’d done since becoming a vampire. “Can we talk about something else?”

Allie huffed. “Yeah, like how you're about to become the queen of vampires?”

I clenched my hands into fists. “Not if I can help it.”

M arius never came to collect me for our nightly talk, which made me feel both relieved and nervous. Why the sudden change in behavior? When I felt dawn approaching, I went to my room and got ready for bed. I was just sliding beneath the covers when Marius appeared beside the bed.

“I don’t think so,” he said, grabbing my wrist. There was a moment of darkness, and then I found myself on his bed.

“Would you stop doing that!” I shouted angrily, yanking out of his grasp.

His eyes glowed. “Take it off. ” He nodded towards me, and I glanced down at my nightgown.

I raised my chin. “No.”

“Take it off, or I’ll rip it off.” His voice was calm when he spoke. Too calm.

I shook my head. “Marius, please .”

“Please?” he repeated, raising his eyebrows. “Will you beg me now? You do it so prettily.”

My eyes narrowed. “Fuck you.”

In an instant he was on top of me, pushing me down against the mattress with his body. He crushed his mouth to mine, and I tried to shove him away, even as desire began to spread through my traitorous body. I wanted him to stop, but my body was remembering the pleasure he’d given me the night before.

As he kissed me, he cupped my breast with his hand, rubbing his thumb across my hard nipple. I arched against him, wishing my nightgown wasn’t in the way. Was I really giving in that easily? He gently pinched my nipple, and I cried out. He pulled my nightgown over one shoulder, stretching the fabric to free my breast, then he broke our kiss and moved lower to take my nipple in his mouth.

“Yess.” I hissed, grabbing his head. He teased my nipple with his tongue for a moment before reclaiming my mouth. I kissed him hungrily as he lifted my nightgown to pull my underwear down. I lifted my hips off the bed so he could pull them off easier, and he groaned against my mouth.

“ Phaedra.”

I froze, then shoved him with all my strength. Surprised, he rolled off me.

“Are you fucking kidding me!” I screeched, shoving him again. “If your gonna try to fuck a girl, you could at least call her by the right name!”

His expression went from surprised to regretful in an instant. “Sarah.”

I sat up, shaking my head angrily. “Its too fucking late for that!” I pointed to the door. “Get out!"

His eyebrows shot up, and I screamed, “Get out!” My chest was heaving with every breath, and it took all my strength not to hit him. But even in my fury I knew not to push him too far.

He stared at me for a moment, then got off the bed and walked out of the room. When the door closed, my anger at him deflated, and all that was left was anger at myself. I shouldn't be upset that he called me the wrong name! I should be upset that he was touching me to begin with! I hated him!

I punched the mattress with frustration. Then I punched it again, and again. A sob escaped me, and I squeezed my eyes shut. What was wrong with me?

It took hours to fall asleep, and when I finally managed it, I was tormented by dreams of Marius. We were standing in a dining room, arguing about something. Then our arguing turned to kissing, and before I knew it I was laid across the table with my dress bunched around my waist. My legs dangled over the side, and Marius stood between them with his cock inside of me. I moaned and gasped with every thrust, watching his face as he fucked me.

I jerked awake. Marius was laying behind me, his naked body spooning mine. His arm was draped over my hip, and his hand was in my crotch, rubbing me. I jerked back, trying to get away from his hand, but that only pushed my ass harder against his erection.

“Stop.” I tried to sound angry, but it came out as a sigh.

He nuzzled my neck. “You started it.”

“I did not!” I exclaimed, then he rubbed his fingertips over my swollen clit and I gasped, my hips jerking.

“You did,” he murmured against my skin. “How am I supposed to resist, when you’re moaning my name in your sleep?” He continued to rub me as he spoke, and my hips started to rock. I pressed forward against his hand, then back against his cock, my breath coming faster with each swipe of his hand.

“I didn’t,” I breathed, feeling my body tighten.

He ground his hips against my ass. “You did.”

“You made me do it,” I gasped. “You used your powers to put those thoughts in my head.”

He chuckled against my neck, and a shiver of pleasure shot down my spine. “You give me too much credit. Your dreams are your own doing, and it pleases me greatly to hear you moan my name in your sleep- to smell your desire.”

I was so far gone, his words barely registered. I grabbed his hand and pressed his fingertips hard against my clit, crying out as my orgasm finally hit me. He pulled his hand away, and I voiced my displeasure. Then he bent my leg forward and slid into me from behind.

I gasped as his cock filled me. My orgasm instantly started up again, and it was all I could do not to scream. His fingers dug into my hip as he thrust against me. I arched my back, pushing my ass towards him, wanting him deeper.

I was gasping his name, over and over until he finally stiffened and I felt his cock pulse inside of me. He remained inside of me for several moments before pulling out, then he pressed his face to the back of my head, kissing my hair.

My pleasure subsided slowly, and my body gradually relaxed as my heartbeat slowed. Behind me, Marius was so quiet I thought he’d fallen asleep. Then he spoke, startling me.

“I can’t read your mind,” he said quietly. His words shocked me, making me instantly alert. “When I try, pain lashes through me like a hot knife. I’ve pushed past it several times, only to have your thoughts fly at me in a chaotic tangle I can make no sense of.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I whispered, not understanding why he’d admit such a thing.

He exhaled, his breath warm against my hair. “Because I know it bothers you, thinking I can do it, and I hope knowing the truth will bring you comfort. Your thoughts are your own, Sarah. Though I hope someday you’ll share them with me.”

I lay there in shock, staring at the far wall, until Marius’ breathing deepened telling me he was asleep. How could he just fall asleep after saying that? He'd laid himself bare to me, confessing his weaknesses, not caring that I might tell someone, or use the knowledge to escape. I didn’t understand him at all. But his embrace was warm, and the feel of his heartbeat against my back was comforting. Before long I joined him in sleep.