Lexi couldn’t get enough of the taste and feel of him. His allspice aroma mixed with the musky scent he emitted only turned her on more. She wasn’t sure what was happening to her. Her skin tingled as if little electrical currents were running through her, and her body begged for more.
She was always aroused by him; being with him was one of the greatest pleasures of her life, but this was different somehow. She felt more alive and more… powerful?
She wasn’t quite sure if that was the right way to describe it, and she didn’t care as her entire body begged for more of him. Releasing his cock, she made her way further down as she used her hands to explore all the ciphers covering the rest of his body to his toes.
The amount of power he exuded caused the air to crackle between them. It hadn’t done this when he first revealed his ciphers to her. But he hadn’t uncovered all his ciphers until after they made love before, and he’d covered them quickly again afterward.
Now, they were on full display, his barriers were down, and power pulsated out of him.
Her mouth watered as the hair on her arms rose. The power in the air intensified until it caused strands of her hair to float around her face. When Cole growled, her attention shifted to his striking face and silver eyes.
The thud of her heart was so fast and loud, she was certain he could hear it. Then his hands settled on her hips, and he lifted her. Lexi started to protest, but as he rose, he turned and set her on the bed in a move so fluid and effortless she could have been a pixie for all her size mattered to him.
When his weight came down on top of her, she reacted like a bolt of lightning hit her soul. The heat of their connection sizzled between them as she lay staring up at him while his gaze remained locked on hers.
When she reached for him, he caught her wrists and brought them down to pin them on either side of her head.
“You’ll be the death of me, and I’ll welcome it with open arms,” he said.
Then he claimed her mouth in a kiss that not only left her breathless and aching for more but it touched her to the very center of her being. In that kiss, she felt all his love and desire for her.
With his kiss, he made it clear he would never let her go.
And she welcomed his claim and possession of her because he was hers too, and nothing would ever change that. She hoped she was conveying that to him as her fingers threaded into his hair to pull him closer.
His hands slid down her body, tracing her curves before one of them slid between her legs. She arched into his touch as he fucked her with his fingers until she was panting and on the verge of begging for more, but she couldn’t break their kiss.
When he finally entered her, every one of her nerve endings begged for release. But he wasn’t going to give it to her as they touched and explored each other.
She felt the tug of his power when he started feeding on her. Felt him drawing strength from the energy they created as they remained entwined. She sought to give him more and offered it to him as she locked her legs around his waist and urged him faster.
When she came, it was with her fingers entwined in his hair and their mouths still joined as she cried out. With one final thrust, he buried himself deep inside her.
His body shuddered against hers, and his cock pulsed deep inside her. She felt every single pulsation as his seed filled her.
Her heart swelled, and she cleaved to him as their kiss eased before finally ending. She ran her hands over the carved muscles of his back as she sought to catch her breath and return to reality. It was difficult to do when her body was still hungry for more.
When he buried his face in the hollow of her shoulder, she felt the scrape of his fangs a second before he bit deep, renewing his claim on his mate. And when he started moving inside her again, she eagerly welcomed it.
When he released his bite, she turned her mouth into his neck and rested her lips against his vein. Closing her eyes, she bit deep, and his blood filled her mouth. It had been too long, and she hadn’t realized how much she’d needed to feed until it started to sate her hunger.
She’d always thought it was the vampire half of her that thirsted for blood, but it never was. Instead, it was the arach who craved blood and sighed with pleasure.
Chapter Fifty-One
“I’ll get us some food,” Cole said sometime later when they finally parted. “Why don’t you run a hot bath for yourself while I’m gone.”
Lexi could only nod in agreement. She was far too sated after the events of earlier to speak right now. A bath sounded good, but she also wouldn’t mind going back to sleep.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t do that. They had far too much to do for that to be an option.
Sunlight streamed around the edges of the drawn curtains as dawn gave way to early morning. Outside, the jingle of horse harnesses and bridles filled the air as travelers left the inn in a cart. The wheels of the cart rattled over the dirt road.
Along the hall, a door opened and closed. The thudding footsteps of guests heading toward the stairs followed it.
As quiet descended, so did all the responsibilities she and Cole had to handle. They had to return to the human realm and the manor soon to learn how everything was going with Sahira and the others. Had her aunt already cast the spell?
She was both eager to see how it would go and dreaded it. If the spell worked, then Cole would have to face the Lord again soon. She suppressed a shiver.
Cole kissed her forehead before sliding out from under her. Since she wasn’t going to find the sleep she so desperately craved anytime soon, Lexi pushed herself up on the bed.
She stifled a yawn as he gathered his clothes from where he’d left them on the wooden rocking chair in the corner. As he walked, the ciphers he’d revealed to her vanished until all that remained were the ones he allowed the world to see.
She missed seeing them but understood why he hid them. He was already a big enough target without all their countless enemies realizing how much power he truly contained. Many would find taking him down to be an enticing challenge.
The thick muscles in his thighs flexed as he pulled on his brown pants. He tugged on his socks before shoving his feet into his boots.
When he pulled the tunic over his head, she sighed in disappointment and hugged her legs to her chest. The smile tugging at the corner of his lips revealed he’d heard her as he slipped his father’s sword onto his back.
He walked over to the bed, planted his hands on the mattress, and leaned down to kiss her. “I have to talk to the men, but I’ll be back with some food soon.”
“I’ll be here.”
When he opened the door, voices and the clattering of dishes and pans drifted into the room. The closing of the door drowned out most of the noise, but some still seeped through the thick wood.
The key clicked as it turned in the lock, but another one sat on top of the dresser. Her gaze traveled over the empty dark, wood walls. Besides the bed and the chair, a dresser was the only other piece of furniture in the room.
Despite its barren appearance, the comfort of the mattress, the fluffy pillows, the baby blue curtains surrounding the windows, and the periwinkle blue comforter made the room cozy. Tossing aside the blanket, she revealed the white sheets beneath. They were the softest she’d ever slept on.
They may not be much for decorating in Underhill, but they were all about comfort, as emphasized by the bathroom she padded into. She’d used it briefly last night, but her eyes hadn’t been open enough to notice the gold faucets in the sink and shower, the gleaming white surfaces, and the large tub that might be big enough for her and Cole.