Shadow's Claim

“Oh!”

He shared her surprise. She was even wetter than before, her flesh dampening his skin. “Does that feel good, dulcea?” Another rock.

“Yes,” she moaned. As she resumed her kiss, she squeezed her thighs together and rocked all on her own, her ass moving like a dream beneath his shaking palm.

Only moments remained for him. He struggled to draw them out, withholding his seed from her. But her scent, her mouth, and her tongue were soon to defeat him.

Her moans around his shaft grew louder; she was on the edge as well.

She pulled away to cry, “Again, vampire?”

He bit out, “Yes, my sweet. Again.” When he flexed his thigh between hers, she continued her wicked kiss. Even as she moaned, she bathed his cockhead with her tongue, wrenching a groan from his chest. Then she took him between her lips once more.

She sucked; he rocked her. Sucking . . . rocking . . .

As seed climbed up his length, she ground against his leg, beginning to come . . . her throaty cries muffled by his shaft.

His throbbing cock. In his Bride’s mouth. As she orgasmed.

Over.

He knew he was about to explode, knew the pressure would pump his spend up to his chin. Her first time— and she didn’t like surprises. He had to stop her. Somehow he had to make her draw away.

With a will he hadn’t known he possessed, he grasped her face and tugged, surrendering the wet heaven of her mouth.

* * *

“Wait! I liked that.” The vampire had made her climax three times, and now he was stopping her before his own release?

“About to . . . come.” He seemed out of his head. His skin gleamed with sweat. Whipcord tendons stood out on his torso.

“I kind of figured that out.”

“Watch me this time, little Bride.” Even though his expression was anguished, his eyes seemed . . . loving. “So you know what to expect the next.”

She stroked his slick length, making him buck in her grip. “Are you sure?”

Between gnashed teeth, he said, “See what you’ve done to me.”

“Well, I had wanted to see this.” Another groan from the vampire.

When she started rubbing his erection, he wrapped his hand around hers. Their gazes met, and together they worked his flesh.

Beneath her palm, she could feel his shaft pulsating, still growing though they squeezed it so hard.

Just when she perceived it beginning to pump, he bit out, “Watch me.”

Eyes gone wide, she did.

The crown erupted with pearly seed, spurting, arcing over his torso. He threw back his head and bellowed, his body wracked with pleasure, muscles straining from it.

Beauty, form . . . function. The vampire yelled in his language, thrashing in their grip. She was awed, speechless as they wrung his semen free.

“It’s for you,” he groaned as his back bowed and his spend lashed up his chest. “Always for you.”

Chapter 34

After wiping his shirt over his torso, Trehan drew Bettina to him, tucking her body against his side. He pressed a kiss against her hair, satisfaction filling him.

Warm, sated Bride. Rain. Peace. Yes, he felt at peace when he held her.

Again, he asked himself, Why not this place? This could be his, she could be his. Together, he and Bettina would start a new house.

“I think you like it here,” she said, reading his thoughts.

“Yours is a swamp plane with frequent precipitation. I come from a cold realm with zero rain. Still, I could be so content with you here.”

“Truly?”

He lazily stroked her hair. “That’s not saying much, I’m afraid. I could be content on a hell plane with you by my side.”

He felt her smile against his chest. From his dreams of her, he knew that she’d once been quick to smile, a happy female who liked to laugh. But this tournament had disheartened her more than anyone could have guessed.

“Vampire, what else have you seen from my memories?”

He skimmed his thumb and forefinger along a glossy braid. “I saw that you fear taking the crown of this realm.”

“Shouldn’t I? I’m so different from everyone here—with no horns, no fangs, no strength. Sometimes I feel like an imposter.”

“You are precisely what Abaddon needs. Your subjects are warlike and raucous. A levelheaded, compassionate queen is the only thing that will keep your realm out of constant conflict. Especially during an Accession.”

“I never thought of it like that.” Then her tone turned contemplative. “I’m not really compassionate. I think bad things should happen to evil people.”

“If anyone is evil to you again, I guarantee they’ll meet a bad end. And that’s if you don’t get to them first. I experienced what it was like when you use your power.”

“You did? Which time?”

“When you took down two escaped ghouls. I can only imagine the pain you can inflict. Once you’re the Queen of Hearts again, I’ll pity your enemies.”

“My ability didn’t help me with the Vrekeners last time. Channeling it took a lot of concentration—which took time. My range was limited too.”

Trehan remembered that she’d had to aim her hands directly at the ghouls to affect them.

“Bett, when I first held a sword, I was too young even to swing it. You grow into a skill—you practice with it. It will become second nature.”

“And if I never get it back?”

“You will. Until then, I plan to help you steal another’s.”

She seemed startled by this.

“Did Morgana not propose the same to you?”

“Well, yes. But I could never make another Sorceri feel this way.”

“In any case, my offer stands.”

She seemed to muse over his words, then said, “You know so much about me. Won’t you tell me something about your life?”

“What do you want to know?”

“What’s Dacia like?”

“Strategically and mystically hidden. Very well defended.”

“Um, can you describe what it looks like for me?”

Her question made his lips curl. My artist halfling needs details. “Before you, I noted sights only for tactical advantages. But again, I will try,” he said, casting his mind back to the view from his balcony. “There’s a constant mist. It wisps along the cobblestone streets. Vast caverns soar above all. Fountains run with blood. The buildings are ancient, carved from the very mountain. Our black stone castle lies empty in the center of Dacia, like a bloodless heart.” A constant reminder of their failure to install a regent. Though not for much