Part 5 (1/2)
Come on. She was anxious to confront Chaos. Tormenting him entertained her nearly as well as s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g him senseless. Zared transmitted the energy in a narrow, concentrated stream. Delilah shook, her body resisting the influx of female energy. Heat engulfed her. Searing sensations ignited within her being, making her writhe and moan. Embracing the pain, she stabbed the sleep compulsion deep into the mortal's brain.
The woman sagged against the bed, and Zared faded from view, drawing the mortal deeper into the Dream Realm. Peeking into the hall, Delilah hesitated before emerging completely. She must be extremely careful until Zared prepared the trap.
Chaos wasn't in the small office in the front of the house. She drifted from room to room, growing more anxious as she found each one empty. If the collar rendered him powerless, he shouldn't be able to release his form.
You can lock yourself in the bathroom and test the effectiveness of the collar after you tell me about the succubus. The Dream Warrior's mocking words reminded her of one room she'd yet to check.
She pa.s.sed through the door and allowed her image to appear. Chaos stood in front of the toilet, one hand braced against the wall, the other pumping with an unmistakable rhythm. His back was to her, but the motion of his arm and his frustrated grunts left no doubt what he was attempting to do.
”So it's true? You're impotent?”
With a vicious growl, he spun to face her, frantically righting his clothes as he turned. ”You meddlesome b.i.t.c.h! This is your fault.”
He reached for her throat. Delilah blinked out and reappeared behind him. ”You'll have to do better than that.”
”What do you want from me?” He didn't bother to turn around. ”What will it take to get you out of my life permanently?”
”That's easy. Kill Persephone.”
He did turn then, his expression incredulous. ”You want me to murder my father's wife?”
”She despises you. Why would you hesitate?”
”Because she has done nothing wrong.”
”And you are neither evil nor good?” She taunted.
His gaze turned solid red, the perpetual motion gone. She smiled, remembering all the other times she had seen his eyes glow red. Pa.s.sion and fury affected him much the same.
”I will not kill Persephone.”
”Then I'll see you in your dreams.”
”The collar prevents me from falling asleep.”
She laughed. ”You were never a convincing liar. It prevents me from compelling you to sleep, but you can't stay awake forever.”
Warmth spread out from Sheri's belly, stimulating her nipples, making her core throb. What was wrong with her? She'd been fuming about her unwanted guests when this tingling lethargy had made movement impossible. Then her body began to burn.
Opening her eyes, she gasped. She was back in the tent. How had she gotten to the Dream Realm? She couldn't have fallen asleep so quickly ...
Her skin stung, her body ached, and tears filled her eyes. An oppressive presence hovered over her, enveloped her, aroused her. She struggled against the haze, but there was nothing tangible to fight, just the ever increasing need within her body.
As if of their own volition, her hands skimmed her torso beneath the linen sheet. Her nipples formed distinct peaks against her palms. Desire pulsed between her thighs, hot, wet -- demanding.
”Ryder!” She wasn't sure if she called out with her voice or her mind. Why had he done this to her? She was just starting to like him, to trust that he meant her no harm. She rolled to her side, helplessly cupping her feminine mound. G.o.d, she hurt!
”Ryder!”
The tent flap parted, and the shadow dissipated. She panted, shaking helplessly. Ryder ducked inside, dressed as he'd been in her office.
”What the h.e.l.l did you do to me? Make it stop!”
He rushed to her and knelt at her side, his hand trembling as he reached for her face. His dark gaze moved over her, filled with compa.s.sion and dread. ”I didn't do this, Sheri. How did you get here? This is not my illusion.”
”I was ...” The shadow! ”Can an incubus ... Help me.” She drew her legs up toward her chest, tears escaping the corners of her eyes.
”By the G.o.ds, I swear I did not do this.” His hand hovered over her shoulder as if he were afraid to touch her body.
Beyond modesty, beyond shame, she tossed back the sheet and raised her arms. ”Please.”
Their gazes locked, his burning with fury and compa.s.sion, hers hot with desire. He kicked aside his boots and tugged his tee s.h.i.+rt off. ”Are you sure?” He paused with his hands on the waistband of his jeans.
She closed her eyes, cupping her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and squeezing her thighs together. ”It hurts.”
”I'm sorry. This isn't how I wanted our first time --”
Scrambling to her knees, she jerked down his zipper and tugged his jeans along his powerful thighs. He pulled her to her feet and stepped out of the jeans, catching her wrist as she frantically reached for him.
”I need you inside me, hard and fast. Now!”
He framed her face with his hands, waiting until she looked into his eyes. ”I know what the incubus did. It's a powerful compulsion they use frequently. It's a vicious cycle. It makes you desperate for penetration, but the more you get, the more you will want. I can disable the spell, but you have to trust me.”
”Anything. Just make it stop.”
Wrapping his arms around her, Ryder gathered her to his chest. Fury and desire wrestled within him. He wanted to make love to her slowly, sweetly, to savor each touch, each sigh. d.a.m.n the incubus and his tricks. Why attack Sheri now?
He reached across the telepathic link and sensed Chaos's volatile mood. The demi-G.o.d was angry and humiliated, but he was in no danger.
”Kiss me, little love. Feel my body hot and hard against the softness of yours.”
She looped her arms around his neck and arched into him, grinding her mound against his aching length. He grasped her hips and held her still as his mouth found hers, determined to set the pace. She wouldn't let him be gentle. Her tongue thrust boldly. She cupped his b.u.t.t and resumed her provocative grind.
Easing his hand between their bodies, he threaded his fingers through her damp curls. She had to be going out of her mind. G.o.ds d.a.m.n the incubus! His heart constricted, forcing back his desire. He knew how this compulsion worked. If he gave her what her body demanded, it would make her need more intense. Patience and tenderness were the anecdotes.
He could not lose control!
”Do you trust me?” He whispered the question against her kiss-dampened lips.
”Yes. Hurry, take me now.”
He eased her back to the furs and covered her body with his. Raising her arms above her head and spreading her legs wide, he conjured padded leather cuffs, restraining her wrists and ankles. Long stakes drove into the ground, securing the restraints, holding her immobile so he could concentrate entirely on her pleasure.
”You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!” She twisted and jerked against the restraints. ”You did this to me, didn't you? It's all some perverted game.”
He silenced her protests with a slow, gentle kiss. Slipping one arm beneath her neck, he caressed her throat, her shoulders, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He avoided her nipples, stroked, ma.s.saged, and soothed her. ”Relax. I'll join my body with yours, but not while the compulsion still burns.”