Page 85 of Eternal Craving

She gasped with each splash and dared to lift her head. Another sharp spank to her derrière persuaded her to resumeher pose and, with a firm hand, I eased her thighs farther apart, hinting that I may indeed take her.

I was rock hard.

With another tilt, red wax trickled onto her upper back, snaking down her sides and under her breasts, hardening, leaving fine, red lines and scarlet welts that soon dissipated. She was shaking uncontrollably.

For a long time, I waited and watched, enjoying having conquered her. Empowered, I luxuriated in the frissons that pulsed from my solar plexus down into my aching groin. The more I resisted the urge to finish this conquest, the more delectable it felt.

From the way Sunaria’s sex responded and glistened, I knew she wanted this, too. Her nails clawed the rug, revealing her need, her fingers splaying out and then curling again. With the candle still burning, I positioned it close by.

I knelt behind Sunaria and brushed my fingers up her back, and then down and around her waist, fondling between her thighs.

Answering the throbbing between my legs, I readied myself and with one thrust I entered her, hearing her respond with a husky cry. The tightness that closed in around me intensified and hardened me even more, the rush of ecstasy so great that I fought not to explode before I’d taught Sunaria her lesson.

Sunsets and sunrises were lost to me, the finest meals, the best wines, but not this last pleasure. This one rapturous thrill could never be stolen from me.

From us.

Her thighs shook vigorously, but I continued my thrusts, holding onto her hips, sticky with the wax, pounding against her.

The dead girl’s eyes were open and her jaw slack, her expression calm, our only audience, our perfect, naked witness.

With the quiver of Sunaria’s thighs, she moved with me, her sighs in time with my pumping, blended in rhythm. Both of us rocked in a perfect melding of lust. Deeper inside her now, I drove her on, feeling her spasming, and then completely surrendering.

I paused.

Sunaria’s movements begged for more and though this moment was perfectly sublime, I withdrew from her. Nearby, the flame of the candle I’d used wavered several times before going out.

I leaned down close to Sunaria’s ear and whispered, “If you ever do that to me again, I’ll neverfuckyou like this again.”

I reached round to her spray of dark curls and gently spanked her there until she sobbed with pleasure through gritted teeth.

Then I gripped her hips and thrust myself inside her, pummeling her into a frenzy.

She came, crying out, her entire body shuddering as overwhelming surges left no part of her unaffected. Spotted in perspiration, trying to catch her breath, she let her body go limp.

I pulled her up against me, holding her in my arms. “Weareequals,” I said softly.

Chapter Thirty

Nine o’clock and I felt more than ready for my confession.

Sunaria and I had stopped off at Vigo’s old parish church, a slight detour on our way back to Palos.

I’d be seeing Jacob soon. That was all I could think about – my son.

Sunaria insisted on waiting in our carriage. I’d noticed a subtle change in her demeanor, her affection being more evident now, a refreshing change to her usual austere presence.

It felt good to take back my authority.

I carried with me the small wooden box I’d found in Felipe’s secret chamber.

Inside the church, there was a rich aroma of incense and a severe chill. Churches are cold, a detail I’d forgotten. Their stone walls omit warmth, designed this way perhaps to keep the congregation awake during boring sermons.

Putting myth to the test, I took a moment to linger before the large wooden cross hanging behind the ornately decorated altar, waiting for hell to be unleashed.

But nothing bad happened. I gave a shrug, bored but pleased that there was still no aversion to religious artifacts – not for meanyway. Maybe that also meant I could find a way to face the daylight.

Yellow light flickered over the white-washed walls and peeling paint. Felipe had stolen the money for the church’s restoration.