The Sorrow of Shadows (Crimson & Shadows #1)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

brEYLA

T he warm kisses working down my spine are the first sensation I’m aware of as consciousness slowly greets me. The second is the growing erection pressing against my ass. We fell asleep naked and tangled together, but waking up this way is even better.

I’m on my side, his muscled form tightly pressed against my back. I moan softly and arch my back into his hard length. A low chuckle greets me, but he says nothing, continuing to kiss up and down my spine while pressing himself against my ass. Calloused hands trail up my side and massage my breasts. He bites down on the spot where my neck meets my shoulder, sending shivers of pleasure down my spine.

Whimpers leave my lips as I rock my hips back into him in a clear demand for more. The hand playing with my hardened nipple trails down my side to lift my top leg and swipe a finger through the liquid arousal pooling between my thighs.

“Please,” I beg, my voice breathy .

He says nothing but gives into my plea and drives his dick into me in one smooth thrust.

I let out something between a sigh and moan at the feeling of fullness, of rightness, of home I get from being connected to him. We both let out moans as he rocks into me, filling me over and over until I’m panting.

His thrusts become punishing as long fingers tangle in my hair, and he jerks my head back to kiss me. The kiss is nearly as punishing and brutal as his fucking, demanding and hot as his tongue explores every inch of my mouth.

Something feels different about this joining than our first. Everything feels more intense and simultaneously hazy. “This is a dream,” I moan. He just grunts in confirmation and increases his pace, retaking my mouth.

I feel my orgasm growing, and my inner walls squeeze around his length. He moans into my mouth as his free hand reaches down for my clit and begins massaging in quick, delicious circles.

I scream my release into his kiss, and he follows me over the edge just moments later.

Our breathing is shallow and fast as we both fight to come down from our combined high. His hand releases my hair at last and the other reaches up to caress my cheek.

“Well, that was one hell of a first kiss, love.” I hear his voice for the first time since waking. It’s rough with sleep, but it’s the use of the endearment that has me freezing. Something doesn’t feel right. I twist and take a look at the male behind me.

I’m greeted not by the inky black locks that belong to Aurelius, but by the amber eyes and deep brown curls that are uniquely Ayden.

“What the fuck? Why are you in my dream?

“I don’t know, love. It’s your dream; you tell me.” He smirks before taking my lips in another kiss. Something in the back of mind screams that I should be fighting, but I can’t find it in me to care.

“Little demon, wake up.”

I shoot straight up in bed, panting and gasping for breath.

Aurelius sits up next to me, his hair mussed from sleep and eyes growing more alert as he scans me for clues to my distress.

“Aurelius?” I question, still not sure what to believe. The dream was so vivid, it felt real.

“Of course, Princess. Who else?” he questions curiously.

“N-no one. I was just confused,” I mumble.

He brushes a lock behind my ear as his lips turn downward. “What’s going on, Breyla? You were moaning in your sleep. I only woke you to help make your dreams become reality but found your shadows out thrashing wildly.” What would have normally come off as cocky is now concern.

“I—I was having a dream.”

“And?” he prods, encouraging me to continue.

“I thought it was really happening; I thought you were really fucking me. I—” I’m having trouble finishing my sentence, fully feeling embarrassed and guilty.

He grabs me by my chin and turns me to look him directly in the eyes. “Who was fucking you, Breyla?” His tone is dangerous, but not threatening.

I try to force my chin out of his grasp, but his grip tightens as I mumble “Ayden.”

Before I can fully process what’s happening, Aurelius is across the room, pants already hanging loosely off his hips as he reaches my door.

“Aurelius, where the hell are you going?” I demand as I throw on my robe and follow him out of my bed chambers.

He says nothing to me but pounds his fist on the door across from mine—Ayden’s.

“Open the fucking door, bastard!” he yells as he continues pounding .

I’m too stunned to speak when Ayden finally opens his door, full smirk in place.

“Can I help you, Lord Aurelius?” he asks.

“Fuck you,” Aurelius spits and wraps his hand around Ayden’s throat, throwing him against the closest wall.

Ayden doesn’t even look surprised or angry. He looks amused, proud of himself even. What the fuck am I missing?

He doesn’t fight Aurelius, instead laughing and grinning maniacally.

“Whatever is the problem, My Lord?” he mocks.

“Stay out of her fucking head.” That has my attention.

“Excuse me? What the fuck do you mean by that?” I ask, my eyes darting between the two males. They’re both wearing nothing but sleep pants, full chiseled chests on display. In any other situation I would be feeling a completely different way.

“Yeah, you lost your right to be pissed when you fucked her across the hall from me and dropped your sound shield right as she climaxed and screamed your name. We both knew what we were doing, Aurelius.” He’s still looking at him in that cocky way, but he’s no longer laughing.

I feel my anger rising that no one will explain what’s going on, but even more so at hearing what Aurelius did.

“You. Did. What?!” I grit out, turning my glare at Aurelius.

“Don’t look at me like that, Princess. I told you that you were mine and I was done pretending otherwise. The prince just needed that message as well.” He doesn’t even flinch under my gaze.

“We’ll circle back to why you found it necessary to broadcast my screams to the castle?—”

“Not the castle, just the prince here,” he interrupts to clarify.

“And why the fuck would he care?”

Neither of them says a word, their gazes locked in a battle of wills.

“To answer your earlier question—Ayden is a dream weaver, Breyla. He can manipulate and cast dreams, infiltrate them at will. He did it to fuck with you, to fuck with both of us.”

I turn my glare to Ayden. “Is that true?”

He winks at me and shrugs but says nothing. He’s still pinned to the wall, but he’s about to be on the receiving end of Aurelius's anger if I don’t do something.

I feel shadows creeping from my fingers, flaring with my anger. With great effort, I manage to wrestle them back. “Why would you do that? How could you do that? My mental shields are nearly impenetrable.”

“The how is simple—your shields mean nothing to me, love.”

I know I’ve lost control of the situation when Aurelius's fist lands on Ayden’s jaw, his head snapping back. “Stop calling her that.”

The crazy bastard lets out a laugh, like the pain means nothing.

“The why, darling, is much more interesting. Aurelius here needed to be reminded that you aren’t actually his.”

My stomach clenches in understanding of what he’s saying. The one thing I’ve struggled with the most since our first encounter—his betrothal to my mother. I open my mouth to speak, but Ayden beats me to it.

“Don’t worry, darling. I won’t be telling mommy dearest about your transgressions. But you’d do well to remember who you’re dealing with.”

There’s a thinly veiled threat in that statement, but there’s not much Aurelius or I can do in this situation.

Finally, Aurelius drops his hold on Ayden and steps back.

“Stay the fuck out of her dreams,” he demands and pulls me to him, kissing me deeply as if to show Ayden he’s wrong.

I stiffen in Aurelius's hold at Ayden’s next revelation. “In all fairness—Breyla was already having the dream; I just decided to make her partner more... interesting . It’s also worth noting that I didn't hear any complaints when she figured out it was me. ”

“We’re done with this conversation,” I growl, resisting the urge to punch the prince.

As Aurelius pushes me from Ayden’s chambers, I hear him call out, “Oh, and Breyla?”

I stop mid-step and glance back at him but say nothing.

“You sound so beautiful when you come,” he purrs and winks at me one last time.

This time I’m the one pulling Aurelius back to my room, trying to keep him from killing the prince.

“What the fuck was that?” I demand as the door closes.

“You’ll need to be more specific.”

“Let’s start with, oh I don’t know, you dropping the sound shield as I screamed your name?!” I’m damn near shrieking by the time I finish.

He smirks. “Like I said,” he starts, backing me against the wall with a glint in his eyes, “I’m done pretending you aren’t mine. I just needed him to get the message.”

“You insufferable male,” I seethe.

“Maybe,” he grins at me, “but I won’t apologize for it. At least I’m your insufferable male.”

“Are you teasing me right now?” I tilt my head, trying to understand what’s happening.

He steps closer to me, my back fully pressing against the stone of the castle wall. “Maybe just a bit,” he whispers, and I feel his hands trail up my stomach, pushing aside the robe, so he can access my bare skin.

I’m at a loss for words when he grips my hips and rolls his into mine, his cock hard and ready for me. He trails his nose up my neck, his hair tickling me just slightly as it trails over my sensitive naked flesh. He peppers light kisses up the column of my neck until he reaches my face.

“You can’t end this conversation early by...distracting me.” My protests sound weak to even me.

“No? I’m going to try anyway. I need to feel you, Breyla. ”

Goosebumps dance over my flesh at his words, and I notice myself warm in need to feel him the same.

He grabs my left leg and pulls it up so that I’m wrapped around his waist. My robe falls to the side, leaving me completely exposed below the waist. His fingers trail the space where my thighs meet, and I shiver in anticipation.

I moan loudly as he wraps a hand around my throat, tilting my head back and leaning in to whisper, “Tell me, Princess. How did he fuck you in your dream?”

“From behind. Rough.” I don’t even try to keep the answer from him.

The next moment I’m being ripped from my spot against the wall and thrown on the bed, face first. Before I can try to flip around, he has a hand on the middle of my back, pushing me down into the mattress.

The crown of his dick rubs up and down my pussy, gathering the slickness already forming for him.

“I suggest you find something to cover your mouth if you want the prince to not hear you scream my name again. I already told you I’m done pretending, so you better brace yourself for what comes next.” The next moment I’m filled completely in one thrust, and I find I don’t care if Ayden can hear right now—not when it feels so glorious to be claimed by this male. Because there is no doubt in my mind, I am his.

“And in case you were wondering, you’ll be what’s coming next,” he growls as he begins thrusting in and out of me. The pressure from having him behind me is exquisite, probably my favorite angle so far.

There’s nothing I can do but take every ounce of pleasure he gives me as he drags his dick in and out in a seamless motion that leaves me gasping. I’m suddenly pulled up flush against his chest as he continues his motions in and out. The new position has me moaning loudly as I meet his thrusts with my own. He pinches and rolls my nipple with one hand and bites down on my neck as I scream his name for the second time tonight, my orgasm crashing through me without warning.

“Fucking beautiful, and all mine.” He claims me as his thrusts grow erratic, his own release nearing. It hits him moments later as he moans my name then bites the same spot on my neck. I have no doubt it’s enough to mark me, at least for a few hours. Long enough that I’m sure he’ll find some way to flaunt it in front of Ayden.

We both collapse in a sweaty mess of limbs on the bed, thoroughly exhausted from our combined release. I don’t even bother cleaning myself before I drift off into a deep sleep. This time I’m unbothered by any dreams of mischievous dark-haired males.