Tightening my hair around his throat, I watched his eyes for any sign of fear or anger to spark. I couldn’t hear anything but endless pain in his bond to know if he was enjoying the bondage or not.
Tlacel cuddled against my side. Nevarre behind him, arms wrapped around him, leaning against the chaise’s leg. Rik came around to sit behind me, his body cradling mine. Close, ready to crack skulls if he needed to, but he wasn’t concerned about this new Blood. Not like when we’d fucked Mehen the first time.
Vore was very aware of the danger inherent in taking him to my bed. He wanted, as he said, but he feared too. He was terrified of hurting me. Even though he wanted what I offered enough to crawl to me. Shaking with dread, even though his eyes were dark with lust, he settled back on his heels. Hands on his knees, gripping his thighs so hard his shoulders strained beneath the dress shirt.
The reluctance I read on his face gave me pause. Even though I knew why, I didn’t like that look on his face. His pulse thundered in his throat, his breathing short and rapid. Sweat trickled down his face, darkening the front of his shirt.
“Take me,” he ground out. His jaw flexing, tendons standing out on his neck.
I wrapped another section of hair around his upper body, pinning his arms to his sides. Involuntarily, his muscles swelled and bulged. Resisting the restraint—even though that’s what he asked me to do. Straining, he struggled harder. His mouth twisted in a furious grimace, his eyes flashing red. Buttons popped on his shirt. His pants tore.
But he didn’t shift. He couldn’t.
Because I didn’t allow it. I was too strong for him to break free.
He needed to prove it. Not to me, but himself.
I watched the torrent of emotions flickering in his eyes. Rage, shock, lust…
But not fear. Not once.
And then, finally, sweet surrender.
I watched the sharpness fade in his eyes like a misty fog creeping across a meadow. His body softened, his shoulders dropped, and his fierce grip on his thighs eased. Slumped on his knees, he stared at me, still sinking like a stone, searching for the bottom of a well. Only to realize there was no bottom.
“I’m here,” I whispered gently, cupping his cheek. “You’re not alone.”
A tremor rocked through his body. A hot tear splashed on the back of my hand. More tears. Streams of pain that broke my fucking heart. I pressed both of my palms to his face and leaned closer, holding his gaze. Stroking his cheeks softly. “It’s alright, Vore. You’re safe. You’re safe with me. Always.”
He tore at his bottom lip with his teeth. Fighting to contain the emotions swelling with him. The rage at what he’d endured. The endless agony of his life. Chained, feared, silenced, with no end in sight. Just like the bottomless well.
A raw, horrible sound came out of his mouth. I fought the urge to flinch because he would immediately assume I was terrified. But the hopeless, broken sound wrecked me.
I’d made the same sound when I watched the monsters kill Mom, and all I could do was stand there and scream through the broken window.
“Scream, Vore. Let it out. I can take it. I can take anything you give me.”
“Take. EVERYTHING,” he roared.
His eyes blazed red hot. Tendons and muscles strained, his entire body shaking. He sucked in another breath and bellowed again, on and on, and endless roar of pain. Rattling the windows. A car alarm started blaring outside.
I reached for Guillaume’s bond. :Please reassure the humans I’m not killing him.:
My knight huffed a soft laugh in my head. :They hear the car alarm and dogs howling outside but not the new Blood.:
Maybe Esetta had put up some noise canceling paneling between the floors. Or maybe the frequency of Vore’s screams didn’t register on the human hearing range. Though how they couldn’t hear the soul-rending cries, I had no idea.
He screamed until he was hoarse. Until he sagged against me, unable to hold himself upright. His face touched my throat, and he fucking whimpered.
Because he never dared to dream that I would allow him to touch me. Especially for me to trust him at my vulnerable throat. His mouth so near unprotected skin and flesh. Wrapped in my hair, he finally fell over the edge of the abyss of pain he’d been drowning in.
Straight into my arms. Where I could hold him and keep him safe.
“Please,” he whispered, tipping his head back. Letting me see his eyes. Blasted wide open, every barrier down, all chains unlocked, every secret unburied. “Take me. Make me yours.”
Braced, I touched his bond, and found only stillness. Silence, finally. Acceptance. Relief. Awe.
Love.