Page 207 of Eternal Craving

She pleaded with a groan.

Prolonging the intensity, controlling her, my fingers found their own pleasure as they rubbed her wetness with expert pressure, flicking her clitoris as though one with it.

I remembered the time she’d offered me eternity, the darkest gift.

Quietness loomed in the deserted courtyard. No sense of balance. Intoxicating… soothing, a woman’s scent.

Do you choose life?

My mind drifted back into the room.I chose you.

Sunaria, my supernatural maker, imperious mistress and flawless lover, the exquisite pleasure she brought was the finest escape. This one truth we shared as we rocked together in ecstasy, unraveling within timelessness itself, as I promised her, not with words but with thrusts, that I’d never leave her and that I’d always love her.

Together, we transcended into rapture.

“You may come,” I said softly.

Afterwards, we lay on the luxurious bed with both of us staring up at the ceiling knowing that soon we would have to disappear through that secret door and take our slumber not in this chamber but in a small fortress of sorts that protected us from most threats.

But not all. “You’re the only thing holding me back.” I gazed at her.

“Back from where?” she asked, her voice low.

My eyes glazed over as I considered whether to concede to its pull, seemingly full of promise. I raised my hand, declining the affection she offered.

“But you’ve felt that way before,” she uttered.

She didn’t understand.

I climbed off the bed and approached the window and stared out over the soaked rooftops. Drenched people below scurried along, unaware that on the very edge of their world lay ours. Sunaria joined me and peered out.

I gave her a crooked smile. “I’ve been thinking of going to Salisbury.”

Her aversion was instant. She slapped me.

A flash of pain on my left cheek, a residual stinging, and it felt good. She’d left a mark. I smiled and rubbed my jaw. “Did I say Salisbury? I meant Spain.”

Sunaria let out a sob. “Don’t.”

She wasn’t ready to hear my plan to wipe out the rest of the Stone Masters.

I ran my fingers affectionately through her silky locks. “I’ve been considering your idea.”

“Converting Belshazzar’s into a private club?” Her eyelids flickered in response to my touch.

“We can lure in affluent businessmen and politicians.”

She fell against me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Please tell me this isn’t another one of your games?”

“Marcus can run it. He’s expressed an interest in managing a gentleman’s club. He believes we can establish a prestigious bedrock.”

Sunaria nuzzled in further. “Keep our enemies close.”

“We’ll be at the very center of society’s advances.”

Turning this place over to Marcus would be the final step in letting Jacob go, though I was not sure that such a thing was even possible. The idea of lessening the anguish was comforting,but the notion of this inner pain dissipating brought with it guilt that I was betraying him.

“We can refurbish.” Sunaria tried to calm my rambling thoughts by changing the subject.