Ceremony of claim [32]

Author's POV

It was her hand that reacted as his teeth sank into the skin of her breast, turning it into the reddest closure.

“I-I am s-sorry,” Iris’s broken whisper slipped out.

Fear was clear in her orbs as her eyes landed on his length, which bore the same scratches from her nails. Blood traced along the marks. it wasn’t intentional.

His eyes moved to her, making her breath get stuck in her throat. His face was hard as stone; she wasn't able to understand what was going inside him as his silence was dangerous.

“I don’t mea-” She couldn’t finish her words as his hand tangled hard in her hair, yanking her toward him. His face was so close to hers, fire burning through his eyes, making living fear rush through her veins as ice settled inside.

His lips crashed onto hers raw as his teeth sank deep into her flesh, making a painful whisper leave her lips and disperse into his mouth.

He pushed her back against the wall hard, his grip tightening around her trembling fingers that were wrapped around his hard length.

He moved with a rhythm that made her breath get stuck in her lungs; his lips were pure punishment on hers, making her mind spin in the worst way.

Iris’s other hand pushed against him hard, but it was no use. His hand guided her shivering one with a harsher rush, moving up and down.

The stickiness of leaking out his red tip now covered her hand, making her stomach twist in a worse way.

His hot, heavy breaths smashed against her reddened lips.

“Ahhh!” Iris screamed at the top of her lungs when he pulled her lower lip with his teeth, biting down hard and breaking the flesh.

The trace of blood disappeared into his mouth as he sucked harshly, taking complete control now, dominating her in a way that made her feel as if she had no control over her own body.

He handled her as he wanted, as if he were the sole owner of her heartbeat.

His movements held no hesitation, pure desire, lust, and something unknown, something dark and dangerous.

Iris could feel his veins standing out, hard as if they might burst. She couldn’t see them, but she felt every moment, every desperate rub of his hand.

His mouth finally left her violated lips. They were now red, blood-stained, cuts visible and burning alive, creating a cruel sensation that left her ruthless.

But it was nothing compared to what his presence and movements were doing to her.

His face buried into her hair.

“Ahh… Iris” he growled, an animalistic sound tearing from his throat, making the marble ring with it.

As he released his hot, sticky liquid into her hand, his dick twisted, alive and shaking spilled against her skin.

They were both breathing heavily now. She was hanging in his arms, supported by him if he hadn’t been holding her, she would have collapsed onto the floor.

He pulled her hair back, his eyes landing on her face, thrown to the side. Her breaths were heavy, her body shaking as if she had just returned from death. Her lips trembled, eyes fluttering closed, unaware of what her unintentional actions were doing to him.

He was painfully hard so hard that he cursed under his breath, making a mental note that one day he would fulfill every fantasy she had awakened in him.

He moved his tongue, licking her face whether it was affection or lust, he didn’t know. He just knew he couldn’t control himself around her. His hands, his lips, even the restraint of his clothes felt unbearable in her presence.

He was going mad for her. Emotions rushed through his veins feelings he had never experienced so intensely in his entire life.

How could he lose himself like this in her? How could he become so obsessed? He almost believed she must have cast some dark magic over him.

He admitted it to himself, but it didn’t matter. His desire only deepened, turning more aggressive as he continued to lose control.

A sharp knock echoed on the bathroom door, breaking her dazed state. She tapped his shoulder, but he was too lost in her to respond.

“Xavier!!” someone shouted from outside, making Iris flinch.

“Fucking come out. People have been waiting for one and a half hours,” the voice yelled.

But Xavier didn’t seem affected.

“If that old man leaves the house, you’ll have to wait another two months. If you don’t come downstairs in ten minutes, everyone’s leaving,” the voice added. Iris realized it was Ethan.

Xavier finally pulled away but not before kissing her deeply, stealing the breath from her chest. Irritation was clear on his face as he led her away from the shower area, opening the door attached to the bathroom that led to the closet.

Iris felt like she was burning alive. She was completely naked and so was he. Embarrassment consumed her, making her want to disappear. Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm her unhealthy, racing heart.

She forced herself to accept this reality, to adapt to this environment, to his harsh, lustful, shameless behavior.

Grabbing a towel from the table, Iris wrapped it tightly around herself.

The closet held every type of clothing. Xavier pulled out a shirt and pants for himself, then selected a tea-length dress from the women’s section along with innerwear.

Iris turned crimson when her eyes accidentally landed on him moving. She quickly looked away as he caught her staring.

A smirk formed on Xavier’s face as he handed her the dress. She took it and put it on without question too drained to argue, knowing he would win anyway.

He wiped his hair with a towel while Iris struggled to dry her long hair, the strands tangled together. Seeing her struggle, he stepped toward her.

His hand touched her hair, and her eyes met his as he tried to solve the tangle. Instead, he pulled it, unable to fix it, only making it worse. She whispered something under her breath.

She pulled her hair out of his hold, not wanting his help anymore; it was only making things worse. He looked at her as she wiped her hair with a towel, then clipped it in half, leaving it to dry on its own.

Iris’s heart was pounding in her chest as she walked downstairs, Xavier’s hand intertwined with her trembling one.

The thought of the dirty ritual they must have made twisted her stomach in the worst way. She knew those people with no morals were capable of anything.

As they reached the last step, they saw a group of people standing there, waiting for them. They looked the same as the men she had seen before, familiar, yet unknown.

In the middle of them all sat Declan Stone, seated in one of the strongest-looking chairs, his face carved like stone itself.

As soon as she saw him, her anxiety increased. The heat of Xavier beside her wasn’t helping either. With every second, she gulped down the fear forming in her throat as she walked where Xavier led her.

She tried to calm herself as they stood in front of a man in his late eighties, barely able to sit upright in the wheelchair. The wrinkles on his face showed that time had almost run its course.

As they stood there, the old man put on his glasses with trembling, wrinkled hands. As soon as his vision cleared and he saw Xavier, a warm smile formed on his face.

A slight shock crossed her face. The smile was something she hadn’t expected. She wasn’t used to such reactions here, not in this hell.

“Ravi,” the old man whispered.

The shock deepened when she saw Xavier smiling back at him with the same warmth.

He bent down on his knees in front of the old man, bowing slightly to him, one hand still locked with hers. He didn’t make her kneel; he didn't like her bending in front of anyone other than him.

The old man smiled as he announced, “Let the ceremony begin.” One of the men stepped forward with a knife in his hand and handed it to him.

Iris’s heart trembled as she saw the sharp blade. Xavier stood up, and they both stood in front of the man.

Another man stepped forward, handing a book to the old man seated in the wheelchair.

He read the vows from the book. After that, Xavier was instructed to step forward and extend his hand. He did as told. The man took the knife and, while voicing the same phrases, pressed it into Xavier’s palm, cutting deep into his flesh. A river of blood spilled out, hitting the floor with a sound that terrified Iris.

Now the man turned toward Iris, making her heart sink. She hesitated and it looked painful and meaningless but with trembling hands, she stepped forward.

She extended her hand. Xavier moved his wounded hand beneath hers, his blood coating her palm, and with the knife, the man made a cut on her as well.

Iris closed her eyes as the sting spread across her skin, her fingers tightening around her clothes.

Then he wrapped both their hands together with a ribbon as they stood there.

Finally, the man announced that they were husband and wife. With that, the ceremony ended but for Iris, it ended with a terrifying realization.

__________________________

Dark Past [33]

Xavier’s POV

The cold air brushed against her soft skin, making her shiver. I moved closer, wrapping her in my arms. She stirred in her sleep at my movement.

I don’t like to cuddle but I’m doing it now. If I do something stupid now, it won’t surprise me anymore.

Her lips moved, but when she felt the warmth around her, she snuggled closer into me, making me smile.…Wait. Did I smile? Fuck.

I want to sleep, but her beauty won’t let me. My hand moved across hers, where a deep cut had been made.

I applied antiseptic to it when she fell asleep. Her soft hands don’t deserve those ugly cuts. I have enough of them, I’ve lived through it but she couldn’t. I’ll never let her.

In another way, I’m satisfied, because now she was mine. I had forbidden myself from touching her before the ritual, before everyone accepted the new person in our family. She was finally part of this blood-stained world.

I was hard inside my pants, and here she was sleeping, keeping me awake all night. I wanted to undress her, part her petals, and force myself into her.

Tomorrow, I will. The thought sent a rush through my blood and straight into my veins of cock tightens him more.

I have always been selfish. I get what I want. I don’t care about the other person, even if they’re dying.

But with her, I did care. Maybe it was needed before I could grip her completely. After tomorrow, there will be only my control over her. I will have my way whenever I want.

This sick thought made my pants tighten even more. Fuck this was getting painful. I didn’t want to walk into a cold shower… my eyes landed on her face, tempting me.

How could she sleep so peacefully after tearing my sanity apart?

If I wanted, I could go downstairs to the slave chamber but I couldn’t bring myself to think of anyone else. I didn’t even like anyone touching me, not even shadows of someone rather than her.

My body, mind, and dick wanted only her. Every cell of me craved her. I couldn’t think of anything other than her.

I had tried touching other, more beautiful girls, but none of them tempted me the way she did. I couldn’t even tolerate the thought of anyone else.

I tried to ignore the tightness in my pants, forcing my eyes shut. My head fell into her hair, inhaling her scent burning, intoxicating, flooding my veins.

Fuck.

A low growl tore from my throat. She flinched at the sound but settled back into sleep.

I needed to shower. Fuck I didn’t even remember how long I stood there last time, I can't remember how many times I have to take clod shower in a day.

She was going to pay for every hard moment she was giving me.

Slowly, I pulled myself away from her body. She frowned softly as I tucked her into the blanket. After one last look at her face, I walked toward the bathroom.

I stood under the shower and turned the water to ice-cold. I needed this. I dropped my pants, my eyes closing and almost instantly, her image filled my mind in the dirtiest way.

My hand moved to my hard length as memories of earlier moments surfaced. I imagined her soft hands, her innocent eyes..

Fuck.

The curse left my mouth as the rhythm of my movements increased.

“Fuck… Iris,” I groaned.

If there was someone around, they must have woken up by now because I knew I was loud. So fucking loud, like a horny whore.

I moved faster, my hand pumping up and down, twisting around my length. Sticky warmth covered my hand as my body reacted to her alone my cock coming alive only at the thought of her.

I imagined myself inside her. With a low growl, I came into my hand, my palm slamming against the glass wall of the shower to support my weight.

I breathed heavily and turned off the water. Grabbing a towel, I wiped my hair but as the sound of water faded, a voice rang out.

Iris.

I rushed out of the bathroom, my eyes snapping to the bed.

Her body was curled in on itself, arms wrapped tight around her. Her lips trembled, her body shaking, eyes squeezed shut as she mumbled something in her sleep.

She was having a nightmare.

I walked to the bed and climbed in, pulling her into my arms. I tapped her cheek gently, trying to wake her.

“Iris… open your eyes,” I whispered into her hair.

She didn’t wake. She was too deep in her sleep.

“Please… don’t kill my child,” she murmured.

The words froze me completely.

Child.

She said child. I knew she had a dark past, but her words struck me harder than I expected.

“She will die..plea-se, open the door!!” she screamed, breaking my thoughts. I saw tears roll down her eyes, her body shaking uncontrollably.

“Shh… I’m here. No one is going to hurt you.”

I wrapped my arms around her, trying to make her feel safe but I don’t think it helped. She kept crying in her sleep. I tried to wake her by shaking her gently.

“I’m here,” I whispered into her hair, my lips brushing her forehead. Her hands tightened around my shirt as she tangled herself into me desperately.

I knew it from the start. This wasn’t the first time I had heard the word child from her mouth. I heard it the very first time I sneaked into her room. I was fucking furious back then so furious that I wanted destroy everything.

I turned into the monster almost killed everyone who comes in front of me.

To know everything. And I searched. Every point of her life.

But I found nothing. No trace of any relationship. She was always locked inside those four walls.

Still, I knew she had a little secret. She thought she was fooling me but she wasn’t. I can read a person completely with just one glance. Yet the mystery of the child… that was the only thing I couldn’t crack.

I dug into everything. I fucking destroyed everything trying to know but I still couldn’t find anything.

That doesn’t mean I’m giving up.

I will know everything about her. Every fucking detail.

I shook her harder now, trying to pull her out of the nightmare, knowing she might slip into a panic attack.

After my effort, her eyes finally opened. She looked scared and terrified as her gaze landed on me. My hand rubbed her cheek softly.

“I’m here,” I mumbled.

I might have looked pathetic to my sinner self, but it didn’t matter. I had never consoled anyone before. I didn’t know how to do it. I just did what felt right.

I didn’t want any thoughts in her mind other than me.

But this… this was deeper.

I will give them a death so brutal even monsters would step back but first, I need to know who the culprit is.

I don’t know what I'm feeling at this moment when I am around her. A bunch of emotions run through me whenever I’m near her, emotions I don’t even recognize in myself.

Her lips shivered as a sob broke free. My thumb moved, wiping it away.

I will make them shed blood tears. No one gets to make her cry except me.

Fuck… this is getting out of control.

Before I could think more, she wrapped her arms around my waist, her face buried in my stomach, freezing me in place.

I just stood there in that moment, looking at her, a strange warmth spreading through my chest as she snuggled closer into me.

My hands ran over her back as I pulled her closer. Small sobs mixed with whispers left her lips, and with time, they disappeared into the darkness of the night. After half an hour, I could feel her breathing steady, she lost in deep sleep.

But here I was unable to move my eyes away from her. I watched her sleep quietly. I never knew I wanted this.

Slowly, I lifted her I laid down on the soft mattress. I pulled her body over mine. I could feel her soft breaths against my neck, her hands gripping my hips tightly, as if she was afraid to let me go.

I moved her a little, adjusting her but her legs brushed almost hit against the wrong part, and my dick came alive in less than a second.

“Fuck!”

_____________________________

Restless [34]

Author’s POV

The woman’s heart-tearing cries echoed through the basement walls. The hard concrete floor carried the thick metallic smell of blood.

There, seated on a chair, was Declan Stone. He turned around, facing Xavier and his two sons, Ethan and Alexander.

“Now this 378 mission’s protection is your responsibility, especially yours, Xavier,” Declan warned, giving instructions, breaking Xavier from his thoughts.

“I need no carelessness in this. This mission can make, Stone empire either rise or coiled to the ground,” Declan stated, his voice was rough and low.

But his words were meant more for Xavier, who looked far away from the conversation, her eyes unsettled.

His eyes kept drifting toward the clock. He showed no interest in anything other than the girl far away from there, sleeping making him restless.

He wanted nothing but to go to her. Since morning, he had been here. When he came in the morning she was deep in sleep.

All day he had stayed here. Now, edge and restless, he wanted nothing except her.

He had never felt this way before, and the overwhelming feelings were now making him frustrated.

He had no interest in the 378 mission, but he had to because it was important for their empire, and he knew how serious Declan was about this mission.

Xavier just nodded. As their work ended, his steps didn’t stop for a second. From there, he made his way toward the car, as did Ethan and Alexander.

The three of them raced in the car, driving crazy. Ethan looked at Alexander; they both tried to control their laughter but couldn’t.

Ethan mumbled, “Someone is dying to go home today.”

“Yeah, I’m seeing the same someone who only comes home two or three times in months,” Alexander said with a massive, wicked smirk on his lips.

“The strip club is missing him. I heard from someone and his girl is waiting for him there,” Ethan added innocently, pressing his lips into a thin line. “Xavier, aren’t you going there?”

“If you both don’t stop, I will fucking shoot you between your legs,” Xavier said frustratedly. His craving was killing him, and he wasn’t in the mood to take their shit talk.

They couldn’t help it. Both Ethan and Alexander burst out in laughter, filling the car with their sound as Xavier angrily looked at them.

Seeing his expression, they tried to control their laughter.

“Stop,” Alexander snapped, making Xavier turn toward him.

With a smirk, Xavier rolled the car at high speed.

“Stop! I said stop!” Alexander shouted as he saw the flower shop disappearing from his vision. They all knew about Alexander’s flower shop connection.

“Now someone is dying,” Xavier teased.

Xavier pressed the brakes, stopping the car. He turned toward Alexander and said, “Get your ass out of the car.”

Alexander got out and walked toward the flower shop. Xavier’s eyes followed him. He knew Alexander was going to buy flowers, and as the thought emerged in his mind, another followed.

Does she also like flowers?

Should I…

He questioned himself.

He pushed his side door open and walked toward the flower shop. The woman there looked scared, seeing the guns on their waistbands and the blood-stained shirts.

The woman hesitated before asking, “Sir, how can I help you?”

Alexander was already picking flowers, and when he saw Xavier, a smile formed on his lips.

Xavier stood there, looking confused about which flowers to take. He didn’t know which ones she liked.

Alexander paid the woman after taking the flower bouquet. Seeing the confusion on Xavier’s face, he mumbled, “Choose the one she smells like on perfume.”

Xavier heard him, but his eyes didn’t move from the flowers.

He remembered she didn’t use any perfume. She smelled natural fucking so good and he was never going to allow her to wear one, because he was obsessed with her intoxicating scent.

As the shopkeeper looked at the men whose eyes burned into the flowers, the woman only wanted those disgusting creatures to walk away. She even wondered who must be unfortunate enough to be tied to such creatures for life.

“Girls like roses,” she said, forwarding a fresh red rose bouquet toward Xavier.

Xavier looked at them, then pulled out a single rose from the bouquet. He randomly pulled out some money and handed it to the woman far more than the bouquet was worth.

They both walked back toward the car, where Ethan sat alone, bored by their cringe actions.

The car rolled on, stopping in front of the mansion. It was almost nighttime. He doubted whether she was awake or not, but he made a mental note to wake her even if she was sleeping.

He hesitated while picking up the flower from the car. He felt like a teenager in love, and it felt pathetic to him.

But in the end, he walked inside with the flower, ignoring the shocked and confused glances thrown at him as he passed through the mansion.

His hand hovered over the handle. Xavier’s heart pounded inside his chest. Fuck he cursed at the thought of feeling like a teenager who was getting all the taste for the first time.

He pushed the door open, his eyes desperately searching for her. But she wasn’t on the bed as he had expected.

His brows furrowed as his eyes ran around the room, stopping at the gallery door, which was open. His gaze moved there without a second thought.

His heart made a thump as he saw her sitting on the swing bed. He had seen her sitting like that many times at her old home, so he had especially made one for her.

She was reading something, with a coffee mug placed beside her. He didn’t know what emotion rushed through him dopamine, adrenaline giving a tingling sensation that ran through his heart.

He walked toward her. Sensing his presence, she turned around. Her hand tightened around the book as she got up from the swing bed.

He moved toward her in swift motion, his hand wrapping around her waist as he sat back on the swing, pulling her onto his lap.

His face buried into her hair, tangling deep in it, filling his lungs with her scent and sending a shiver through her.

“I fucking missed you so much,” he mumbled into her hair.

His lips traveled from her hair down to her neck, leaving torturous kisses, his lips sucking and biting slowly.

She took a shaky breath. Her hand landed on his hand, which was wrapped around her waist and had slipped inside her shirt, meeting her warm skin with his rough, cold hand.

He took the flower that he had placed on the swing and brought it in front of her eyes, giving it to her. She looked stunned, her eyes stuck on the rose.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

She looked at him. She didn’t say anything, just nodded at his question.

His hand tangled in her hair as his lips moved. “Have you eaten?” he mumbled into her hair, sending chills through her. She hummed at his question, her eyes closing as deep breaths left her lips.

“Do you remember, your time has ended,” he said. His tone was soft, almost calm, but dripping with danger for the one that was coming for her.

“I fucking need you,” he growled, animalistic, his skin filled with desire, and more dangerously, his lust laced with it.

His hand wrapped around her hair, turning her around as his lips crashed onto hers, making her grip his shirt in fear. His lips moved against hers dangerously, desperately, stealing the air from her lungs.

He sucked hard on her lips, his teeth sinking into her flesh as she hissed. His mouth sucked the blood from her lips as he sucked harder on her tongue. His hand slipped into her pants as he cupped her entire pussy in his big, rough hand. His growl left his lips, disappearing between them.

His finger circled her heat as he pushed a finger inside her, making her gasp into the kiss. His lips tortured hers as he wanted to suck out all the moisture from her lips.

He moved his finger inside her, lost in the kiss, not noticing at first. As he added one more finger and gave a deep thrust with them, a painful whisper left her lips, her hand tightening on his shirt.

His eyes opened as the realization struck him. He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes.

“You are a virgin.”