Just when I was about to give in, he moved his mouth higher up, trailing soft kisses over my stomach until he reached my breasts. Darkness nipped and licked each nipple in turn, sucking lightly before switching back.

I moaned loudly as pleasure radiated through my entire body in a way I’d never experienced before. Every nerve-ending was firing with absolute bliss. The amount of attention he gave my body was so intense I wasn’t sure if I could survive another second.

His hands glided over my skin, sending sparks through my veins. With his eyes on mine, he moved between my legs.

I sucked in a breath as he ever so slowly pressed into me. My body tensed when I felt the fullness of him inside me.

My breath escaped from between my lips as a wave of pleasure crashed over me, threatening to drown me in its depths. Darkness leaned down, brushing his lips over mine. I arched into him as I cried out with absolute pleasure, tearing through my muscles.

“Mm,” he said, pressing his head against my neck to catch his own breath.

My heart raced as he rocked into me with an ever-increasing frenzy. Darkness leaned back, looking at me with an intensity that made my stomach flutter.

I ached for him.

Every touch brought heat flooding through me like a wildfire until it felt as though I was burning alive with desire for him. He continued to feast on every inch of exposed skin as he rolled his hips.

I quivered with ecstasy, my body consumed by the raging inferno that ignited between us. I clawed at his back, trying to hold on to something as intense pleasure rippled through me in waves of agonizing bliss, intensifying until I thought my mind would shatter.

“Oh, Darkness!” I cried.

His raw, animalistic power filled me as he ruthlessly thrust into me one last time, his length digging deep until I was spinning in pleasure. My body shuddered in a frenzy as Darkness released a deep, throaty grunt.

He took several deep breaths before collapsing on the bed beside me, pressing his lips together as he stared at the canopy overhead. It looked like he was trying to harden himself into the person I’d first met.

I bit back a laugh as I watched him. “What are you doing?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, barely glancing at me.

“You’re just going to pretend like that didn’t happen?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “I’m used to it, but I didn’t expect that from you.”

Darkness rolled onto his side, flashing me a sexy grin. “Oh, no. That definitely happened, and I hope it happens again. And again.”

“Then what are you doing?” I asked.

“I… I am not sure.” Darkness averted his eyes. “It’s been some time since I… well… I don’t know how to be anything other than what I am.”

I licked my bottom lip. “And what is that?”

“Worried,” Darkness said, meeting my eyes once again. “There is a war, and I need to find a way to stop it.” He cleared his throat. “And to protect you. There is no time to be vulnerable.”

With a sigh, he rolled onto his back and pulled me into his arm. I rested my head against his icy chest, enjoying his cool skin against my sweaty body.

“How do you feel?” he asked, kissing the top of my head.

“Like a million bucks,” I said with a laugh. I hopped out of the bed, dashing to the mirror at the dresser. “The dark circles are gone.”

I no longer looked like I was dying. The color of my skin was back, and my eyes almost seemed to be glowing in the dimly lit room.

“I think I could lift the bed!” I said, my eyes widening. “Should I try?”

Darkness laughed. “No, please don’t.”

“How do you feel?” I asked, cocking my head.

“Better. Yes, much better,” he said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

I frowned. “But not ready to fight a war?”

He looked at me and shook his head. Darkness got to his feet and walked to the closet, where he pulled out fresh clothing.

“So, what do we do now?” I asked with a sigh.

He looked at my reflection in the mirror as he pulled on his pants. “I have an idea.”

Chapter

Eighteen

Ipicked up my shirt off the floor and pulled it down over my head, the fabric clung to my warm skin. “What’s your idea?”

“The Oracle,” Darkness said with concern etched into his face. He straightened his spine, glancing at himself in the mirror as he adjusted his shirt. “She will guide us on the next steps to take.”

“I hope you’re right,” I said, sinking onto the edge of the bed. Seconds later, I leaped to my feet and paced, my anxiety too great to contain. “Perhaps you need more rest first.”

All I could think about was how weak he was when we escaped Behemoth, Leviathan, and Ziz. He was not ready for another fight like that.

A faint smile played on Darkness’s lips. “Yes, more rest is needed, but I don’t think I can get that without knowing what is to come for us.”

“Are you sure, Mace?” I asked, biting my lip as I turned to him.

His eyes brightened. “You remember my name.”

“Of course,” I said, swallowing hard. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“You are not the only one that felt as though the other despised them,” Darkness said.

“Ugh,” I said, swallowing hard as I pressed my hand to my stomach. “I am not excited about traveling.”

Darkness clasped his hands together. “Still not used to it?”

“Not sure I ever will be.”

“You should stay here. Wait for my return,” Darkness said, placing his hands on my shoulders and guiding me back toward the bed. “I don’t even know if she will see us, so there is no point in making you travel.”

I gave him a nod but stood the second he stepped away from me. “No. I want to go with you. I need to help in whatever way I can.”

“It helps me greatly if I know where you are,” Darkness said.