Chapter 103 The unfolding
Ruel's POV
One moment I'm saying the one thing I haven't even allowed myself to think about and the next, I'm kissing the lights out of Ira, pouring out my need and fury into one kiss.
Impatiently I pull her dress off her, removing her soaked panties too. My hand rubs lazy circles into her inner thighs before boldly cupping her wet lips.
Unable to stop myself, I skip two fingers in, moving with instinct.
“Uhh, yes…” Ira gasps into my mouth when my thumb begins circling her clit.
I pull back, knowing exactly how I want this to turn out.
“Ride me,” I whisper, not bothering to hide the hunger from my tone.
Like a good pup, Ira obey, climbing over me with a smile, completely, utterly ruining me for good.
She pulls my leaking cock free, the hard length twitching in her cold hand.
“Why are you always cold?” I ask, swallowing when she strokes.
“Why are you always warm?” She shoots back in a much quieter tone, too busy sinking down on me.
I grip her hips, just holding, needing something to hold on to.
She starts to move, slow at first, and I close my eyes, breathing her in, letting pleasure consume me.
Hours later, I lie on my side with one arm propped under my head. The other rests across Ira’s waist.
I watch her sleep. Her chest rises and falls in slow rhythm. Her red hair is spread across the pillow. Long lashes rest on pale cheeks, red lips parted just enough to let soft breaths escape.
She looks so peaceful, so beautiful… More than beautiful.
Something tightens in my chest when I look at her like this. Something I do not want to name.
I lean in and press a kiss to the tip of her nose.
A smile pulls at my mouth before I can stop it. I catch myself though but the warmth of my grin still lingers.
I shake my head, hoping to get rid of the silly feeling. Taking my hand away from her, I move, carefully climbing out of bed.
I gently tuck the sheets around her petite figure, hoping this keeps her warm.
“So you are admitting this is more than sex now?” Krist’s voice rumbles inside my head.
I walk to the fire hole and add a log. Silently watching the sparks flare I frown in annoyance.
“I should not fall for her.” I eventually whisper.
Krist huffs. “But you already have. You love her, Ruel.”
“No.” I keep my voice low. “I do not love her. Maybe I like her… more than I should. But love? No.”
Krist stays quiet for a second, “Keep telling yourself that.”
“No,” Ira mutters in distress and swiftly I turn back toward the bed.
She shifts as though in discomfort. A small sound slips from her throat but it quickly grows into sobs.
I cross the room in three strides, dropping to my knees beside the bed. “Ira?”
She twitches, still asleep as her hand flies to her neck, her fingers scratching hard.
I grab her wrist the moment she drags her nails over her skin.
“Hey. Stop.” I say, trying to hold her hand but with an unbelievable strength she pushes me, scratching at her neck again.
“Ira, stop!”
She does not hear me. Doesn't allow me hold her hand. Tears leak from the corners of her closed eyes, sliding down her temples and wetting the pillow instantly.
Left with no choice I grab her hand tightly in mine, lifting her head against my body as I get into bed with her.
She whimpers but I only cradle her against my chest. Stroking her hair, I frown at how cold each strand of her hair feels.
Is this a sempyr thing?
It literally feels like frost under my fingers
I keep stroking, realizing she's no longer struggling.
“It is just a dream,” I murmur against her hair. “You are safe with me. I have you.”
Slowly her eyes flutter open, her lashes heavy with tears.
Her gaze is terrified as she looks down at her own neck. Her hand brushing the bruised skin.
Fresh tears spill down her face. Carefully I reach for her wrist and hold it away.
“Ira. Stop. You are hurting yourself.”
She shakes her head fast. “The marks. They've multiplied.”
I follow her gaze. Red lines bloom across her throat, angry welts from her nail scratches… nothing else.
“They are from you scratching,” I say, trying my best to sound very calm. “You were dreaming. It is okay, nightmares happen.”
Her breathing turns uneven. “No. You don't understand. They will not go away.”
I pull her closer and tuck her head under my chin. “They will fade. Give it time.”
She weakly pushes back, looking up at me with huge and wet eyes, searching my face like she is begging me to see something she cannot explain.
“You do not see it?” she whispers.
I shake my head. “I see the red marks. But it's from your nails.”
She shakes her head again, her voice dropping into a whisper. “No. Not red... black.”
My pulse stutters. I look again, closer now. I tilt her chin up with careful fingers and study her neck in the low light. There's only red welts from her unconscious scratching.
My throat tightens as I wonder quietly, deep in my own head, if she’s seeing something else. Something that is not there.
She's a sempyr after all. Does she even know she has that ability? Maybe I should tell her what I saw?
I stroke her cheek with my thumb and wipe away her tears. “You’ll be fine Ira.”
Her lip trembles and she looks down again. “But I feel them… like… like they're alive.”
I pull her back against my chest, my arms tight around her. One hand cups the back of her head and keeps her there. “It was a dream. A bad one, but it's over now.”
“It felt real.” she whispers.
“I know.” I kiss the top of her head. “But you are safe here with me.”
She stays quiet for a long time, breathing against my skin. And as her breath slowly evens out, her fingers loosen and slide around my waist, holding me tighter than she's ever done before.