Marie Harte - Aftershocks

Ethim was used to command and thought he could simply order his daughter to love and respect him. Had Ellie’s mother not been so stubborn, the poor girl wouldn’t be so dead-set against her Djinn heritage. Her connection to Jonas made perfect sense. The Djinn had his own scars to bear and was a warrior through and through. Compassionate though strong, he’d learned much among the short-lived humans.

He treated Ellie with a respect and care her father might have tried, had the autocratic Djinn ruler been allowed more time with his daughter.

Ethim glowered, and Lexa suppressed a smile. He and Ellie looked so alike it was uncanny. It was no wonder Cadmus had fallen for the girl. She had a Dark passion that matched his own, the inner strength of true integrity and the looks of an otherworldly Djinn.

“Don’t worry, Ethim. I’ve seen happiness in Elliara’s future.”

He relaxed and made polite small talk before leaving for Foreia. Left standing in the shadows, Lexa felt as alone as she’d ever been. Dark yet not, orphaned with a family who hated her. Lexa had never really fit in, and it was with some envy that she watched fellow women of the Dark find true love. That those women found a future with creatures of Light gave Lexa a perverse sense of pleasure that she—a Dark Lord—was helping to shape Tanselm’s future.

And if anticipation licked at her core at thoughts of finally meeting Arim face to face in a no-holds battle to the end, so be it. She was honest enough with herself to admit they’d never resolved the past. Until that happened, she had no future.

“ Sister dear, where are you?” A dark voice mocked her through space and time . “I’m looking for you, sweet Lexa. I have a message from B’alen that really can’t wait much longer. Come find me and we’ll…talk.” Husky laughter trailed in the recesses of the between , and Lexa shivered. ‘Sin Garu knew . He knew what she’d done. If he found her, the Next would be a welcome respite from the pain sure to follow.

Ellie felt a warmth flutter up her spine, the gentle touch of callused hands caressing her awake. Snuggling into her pillow, she smiled contentedly. She’d been dreaming about Cadmus again, experiencing mindless pleasure—

Firm hands spread her thighs wide, then pressed against the small of her back to keep her still.

“Cadmus?” she rasped, wakening fully when his hand slipped between her legs to cup her exposed cleft.

Smoothing through her folds, his fingers primed her, making her body deliciously wet and eager. Dear lord, but what a way to greet the morning . She couldn’t help the gasp that left her when he propped up her pelvis using elemental magic, a ripple of energy that reverberated through her entire being.

“You are so sexy,” he murmured in a throaty voice. Magic poured through her in waves of riotous sensation as he encouraged her response. Those rough hands fanned the flames of desire, his fingers bringing her body to life. He continued to torment her, allowing her to grow steadily closer to climax while balancing her body on a desperate edge of need.

She couldn’t help riding his hands, needing more of him, wanting everything. And then he buried his mouth between her thighs and she wailed his name.

“Cadmus!”

Driving his tongue deep in her channel, he gripped her thighs hard and drew on her clitoris. She bucked uncontrollably, awash in ecstasy as she exploded. Even as her body shook and her nerves screamed with pleasure, he refused to relent, stirring her to a higher plane of bliss.

She couldn’t help thrusting back into his mouth. His tongue licked at her cream while his hands teased and toyed with her belly, her thighs and every other area of taut flesh he could reach. Ellie was truly, hopelessly lost in his dark, erotic web.

Tense, her body strung out like a bow, she shuddered, needing Cadmus to finish her. As if sensing her desperation, he quickly knelt behind her and prodded with his hot, steely cock. Dipping himself in her come, he teased at her entrance.

“Ah, Ellie. I’ve really missed you.” His deep voice made her shiver, his presence behind her a solid reminder that she had never really been rid of him, as much as she’d wished it. Even knowing how much a mistake this intimacy might prove, she couldn’t refuse him, couldn’t resist the temptation of being one with him again.

“Please, Cadmus. Put yourself inside me.” She tried to squirm, but he wouldn’t allow her to shift.

“Where? Here?” He slid between her thighs, teasing at her sensitive clit before pulling back to position himself at her small, puckered hole. “Or here?”

He rested at her anus, letting her feel him strong and hard. Excitement took hold. “We never quite reached this point in our relationship,” he said thickly, his body tense as he forced himself to hold still. “You have no idea how much I want this, how much I want you.”

He teased, prodding her the tiniest bit. She gasped, nervous of the unknown.

“Later, Ellie, when I have the time and patience to prepare you,” he breathed and repositioned himself at her wet sex once more. “I can’t wait.” He thrust hard, his position from behind causing him to surge so far inside her pussy that it felt as if he touched her womb.

“Oh, yes,” she gasped, relieved and finally full of what she’d been craving.

Thick and hard, he shoved repeatedly through her tight walls, reaching that hidden spot inside her no one but he had ever managed. Darkness stole through her, wrapping around Cadmus’ powerful pleasure until she felt consumed by the sexual heat surrounding her.

“That’s it, baby. Come for me. Let it take you over until you feel nothing but me inside you.”

As his excitement built, he thrust harder, adding vibrations to her clit that threw her into a blazing symphony of desire, a mingling of her cries and his moans that lit their passion into an unforgettable moment. She cried out and came hard.

Throbbing around him, she could actually feel him pulsing within her as he continued to press deeper before he stilled and shuddered inside her. Dear God, but if it weren’t for his hold on her body she’d have fallen on her face a while ago.

“By the Light, Ellie,” he rasped, resting his heavy weight over her back. His breath kissed her neck, and his stubbled cheek rubbed her shoulder in an erotic caress. “I can’t believe what you do to me.”

“Me?” She tried to catch her breath, dazed and wary at how easily he’d mastered her, taking her back to a time when they’d shared such joinings regularly and with an eager expectancy. Affection and something more took root as she heard him sigh her name.

No, no, no.

This had not been on her agenda when she’d agreed to allow him to stay with her. Sure, she’d fantasised about sex again with the great Cadmus Storm, if for no other reason than to verify the accuracy of her memories.

Check. She had not exaggerated. He really was that good in bed.

That said, she needed to remain in control, to distance herself from the pesky emotions seething within her. She’d needed to get laid. It was as simple as that. If a man could do it, so could a woman. She’d simply had sex with an available man and satisfied her itch. No sense in wrapping her heart around a physical attraction.

Ignoring the emptiness sweltering all too near, she slowly disengaged from Cadmus, pasted a false smile on her face and slid out of bed.

“Ellie?”

“Thanks, Cadmus. I really needed that.” She forced herself not to run to the bathroom, conscious to keep her back to him, her face a tell-tale mask of confusion, need and worry. Stopping in front of the door, she stretched and sighed, as if pleased by the physical attention and not completely unnerved by the power he held over her. “I’ll try not to use all the hot water.”