ArayasAddiction Read online

  “More?” he asked, indicating the wine bottle.

  “I think I’ve had more than enough.” She picked up her glass and tipped it toward him. “So why not have one more,” she said, laughing.

  “I like your style,” he said as he filled her glass.

  “So, my mother approached you and asked you to leave with her and you refused?” Araya asked.

  “No. She approached, introduced herself and I followed her outside. That’s the last thing I remember before waking up in the cell.”

  Araya frowned. “I don’t understand that. Usually all she has to do is ask. I mean, you’ve seen her, she’s perfect. I wonder why she didn’t present the option to you. If you didn’t agree, she could’ve approached someone else.”

  Kean no longer agreed about Talith’s perfection since experiencing her personality. He’d take Araya’s company over hers any day. Kean hadn’t really thought about it much but Araya was right. If Talith had simply asked the other men she’d brought home for Araya, why hadn’t she asked him? Why had he been important enough to kidnap?

  Was it possible? Surely not. If Talith knew Kean was part Incubus, she’d either have avoided him or killed him. She couldn’t possibly want an Incubus locked in a room with her Sempire daughter. She couldn’t possibly want her daughter to become addicted to his semen. Or could she? Maybe she was desperate enough to save her daughter she’d do it regardless of possible consequences.

  Kean wanted to help Araya now, and he would if she’d agree to it, but he feared she would become addicted. If that happened, she’d end up dying anyway. No one else’s semen would work for her once addiction set in. Being only an eighth Incubus, it was doubtful she’d become addicted but hell he didn’t know one way or the other. He needed to talk to Talith and feel her out.

  Kean jumped to his feet as a bone-rattling screech pierced his eardrums. Something large and winged flew right toward Araya. It wasn’t a bird, that was for damn sure. And it looked mean and hungry. He immediately dove and knocked Araya to the ground, falling on top of her. He didn’t have time to wonder about his instinct to protect her.

  In the next moment, he was dragged off her and flipped over. Orange eyes glared at him from a large, blue-black, furry head. The thick, elongated snout sniffed him and its mouth opened revealing a full set of pointy teeth. The thing’s wings spanned four feet. What the fuck?

  “Kiberry, no!” Araya yelled.

  Kiberry?

  The beastly creature gave Kean one last sniff then sauntered to Araya, wagged its short, furry tail and licked her face. Its wings retracted into its sides. She giggled and gave it a hug.

  “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in weeks,” she said to it. It lay down and rolled onto its back, its tiny legs straight up in the air. Araya rubbed its belly and the thing made a rumbling noise he assumed was a sound of approval.

  “What the hell is that?” Kean asked.

  “This is Kiberry. He’s a baby Tengur. My sister and I found him hiding in the orchard. We don’t know what happened to his mother but he took to us. He’s our buddy.”

  “A Teng-what? And that’s a baby?” he asked. He’d never seen such a thing.

  She laughed, still rubbing the beast’s belly. “A Tengur. And yes. He’s only a year and a half old. They usually stay with their mothers until two years of age. So technically, he’s still a baby.”

  “You have seen its teeth right?” he asked, wondering if she was oblivious to the danger.

  “Yes. He’s capable of doing damage for sure, but as long as he likes you, you’re in no danger. He wouldn’t leave my or Valia’s side for the first few months after taking him in. He saw that we favored kiwi fruit and blueberries so he ate them too. Hence the name, Kiberry.”

  “Cute. A little too cute. I swear it wanted to eat me.”

  “He, not it,” she corrected him. You might be right. He’s protective of us. When he saw you tackle me, he probably thought you were trying to hurt me.”

  “Shit. I thought I was protecting you,” Kean explained. “I’ve never seen anything like him before. Can you blame me?”

  Araya stood and Kiberry followed her lead. “You two should meet properly,” she said as she led the beast to where he stood. It took all of his willpower to stand his ground. Kean never shied away from a fight. He was no pussy but he’d never faced a fucking winged monster demon before.

  “Kiberry, this is Kean. He’s a friend. Shake his hand,” Araya said.

  Was she serious? Kiberry stood on his four-inch-long back legs and held out a front paw-claw to Kean. Kean extended his hand so as not to insult Araya or the beast, but he wasn’t all that crazy about it. Kiberry’s claws wrapped around Kean’s hand and thankfully didn’t rip the skin from his bones.

  “Kiberry, can Kean pet your head?” she asked.

  “That’s okay,” Kean said quickly. “A handshake is good.”

  Kiberry dropped to all fours and head-butted Kean’s leg. Kean looked to Araya and she nodded for him to go ahead. Kean leaned down and stroked the top of the beast’s head. The softness of the fur surprised him.

  “Okay. Now you don’t have to worry about him eating you,” she teased. “Now that’s settled, I’m thinking I need to lie down.”

  “Feeling bad?” he asked, truly concerned.

  “Not really bad, a little woozy from the wine and tired. Maybe I overdid it. This is the most energetic I’ve been in months.”

  She strolled ahead of him, back to the room, the beast following close behind her. He noticed her sway a little and he chuckled silently when she held her arms out to steady herself as if she were taking a drunk test.

  She plopped onto the bed and wrapped the covers around her. The beast spread his wings and flapped them once, lifting him high enough to reach the top of the bed. It tucked its wings in, turned around in a circle and curled into Araya’s side. She absently stroked its head. “I’m afraid I’m about to pass out,” she said. Regret stained her words.

  “That’s okay. I’ll entertain myself.”

  Her eyes fluttered closed, her voice soft and small, “Kean?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I enjoyed our picnic tonight,” she said without opening her eyes.

  “Me too,” he said. He meant it too. He’d enjoyed her company and wished she had enough energy to stay awake and spend more time with him.

  “Kean?” She called to him again.

  “Yeah?”

  “My bed is huge. You don’t have to sleep in a chair.”

  Oh how he wished that was an invitation for more, but he recognized it for what it was. She was simply being nice. “You already have a bed buddy.”

  “There’s still plenty of room. He really won’t hurt you.”

  “Okay. Sleep well.”

  Kean waited for Araya to drift off before striding to the intercom at the far end of the room. He pressed the “call” button.

  A male voice answered almost immediately. “Yes?”

  “I need to speak with Talith. Now. Privately.”

  “I’ll inform her of your request.”

  The door to Araya’s room opened five minutes after he told the voice on the intercom he wanted to see Talith. She didn’t even glance at him as she made her way to Araya’s bed. She looked at her daughter, then turned to him and crooked a finger for him to follow.

  A guard stood outside the room.

  “She looks better,” Talith said, “but she hasn’t submitted completely. She’d have more color in her face and more energy if she had. What did you do?”

  Kean shifted uncomfortably and avoided answering. “I’d like to talk to you,” he looked down at the towel that barely wrapped around his waist, “privately and preferably with some clothes on.”

  Talith stared at him for a long moment then nodded to the guard. “Balcony.”

  The guard disappeared ahead of them and Talith said, “Follow me.”

  By the time they arrived at the end of the long hallway, the guard had
reappeared. He handed Kean a blue robe. He shrugged into it and belted it around his waist. Comfy.

  “You stay here,” Talith said to the guard as she opened the door leading to a balcony off the opposite side of the mansion.

  They sat opposite one another on wrought iron chairs similar to those where he and Araya had picnicked.

  “What’s on your mind?” Talith asked.

  Kean didn’t really have a plan and picked his words carefully. “After talking to Araya tonight, I found out there have been others in my current position. However, I’m the only one who was not given a choice about being here. Why is that?”

  Talith leaned back in her chair, her cool expression didn’t falter. “Perhaps I was tired of asking and decided to simplify the process.”

  “I don’t think so. Why would you waste your time on someone who might not be interested? Had you asked and I refused, you could have simply moved on to someone else. Why me?”

  This time, her composure slipped a bit but only for a moment. “What are you getting at?”

  He leaned forward, no longer intimidated by his situation or the fact that he knew she could kill him or have him killed easily. “I think you know what I’m getting at.”

  “Perhaps I do,” she said. “Perhaps you shouldn’t concern yourself with it.”

  “What?” Kean couldn’t believe she’d said that. “I’m a prisoner here and I shouldn’t concern myself with it?”

  “I will do what I have to do to save my daughter. If you are inconvenienced in the process, that’s too goddamn bad,” Talith spat at him and her eyes turned black.

  Okay. That bitch was scary when she got angry. He still wasn’t ready to come out in case she didn’t actually know what he was so he said, “How inconvenienced will your daughter be if—” He stopped to regroup but there was no need. Talith already caught his drift confirming his suspicion was right.

  “My hope is that Araya will be fine once you’ve left. Considering your deficit it’s my assumption the effect will not be long lasting if there is any effect at all.”

  His deficit? What a bitch. She locked her daughter in a room, imprisoned him and now he knew she was willing to risk addicting her daughter to him. She knew he was part Incubus. She fucking knew and that was why she chose him, didn’t give him an option. It had to be him to tempt Araya more than any other could. Well, a full-blooded Incubus would tempt her more, but would definitely be too dangerous. Deficit? He’d show her his deficit. “And if you’re wrong? If she isn’t fine?”

  “Then,” her eyes glittered angrily, “you’ll be staying with us for a very long time, mixed-breed.”

  Holy fuck. She’d keep him here. Keep him a prisoner forever if necessary. Kean had to find a way out of this mess but he didn’t want to hurt Araya. If he could get her to submit fully to him once, the danger to her should be minimal—hopefully—and she should strengthen significantly, allowing him to get out of here. He needed an edge. She’d obviously been tempted by him but not enough to give in.

  “Since we aren’t playing games anymore, why don’t you arm me with some info? Where’s the weakness? Where’s my advantage?” he asked.

  Talith looked thoughtful. “Our kind can scent semen as if it were a cologne freshly spritzed on your skin. The more aroused you become, the more fragrant and alluring the scent. Even with your deficit, your scent is tantalizing because of the Incubus blood coursing through your veins.” She inhaled deeply and her pupils dilated slightly.

  That’s why Araya had been so focused on him in the shower. Why she’d been drawn to him and so aroused she’d let him touch her. He understood about tantalizing scents. When Araya was aroused, her smell intoxicated him. Yes, he could use this information to his advantage.

  “I’ll need a way to keep your daughter from running or hiding from me,” he said, a plan forming in his mind.

  “We’ve been over this, you cannot force her,” Talith warned.

  “I wouldn’t force her to do anything but stay in one place so she can’t avoid me.”

  Talith tapped a slender forefinger against her lips. “Ah, I believe I get your drift. Walk with me.”

  Talith whispered to the guard as they left the balcony and entered the house. He strode ahead of them while Kean and Talith made their way back to Araya’s room. The guard appeared a few seconds later and handed Kean two silk scarves.

  Talith said, “In her weakened condition, these should be sufficient.”

  “Will the collar see this as me trying to hurt her?” he asked.

  “Only if your intent is to hurt her.”

  “Wait,” Kean said, “one more request. Can you get that beast out of her bed?”

  Talith’s eyes narrowed. “Beast?”

  “The furry one with wings,” he explained.

  “Oh, Kiberry?” She laughed at him but opened the door, made a psst sound and patted her leg. The beast stood, walked to the edge of the bed, spread its wings and floated to the floor. Kean would swear it looked at him disdainfully as it walked past him into the hallway.

  “Good luck, mixed-breed,” Talith said and closed the door.

  Chapter Four

  Kean padded to the bed where Araya still slept. Her cheeks already looked slack again and her face had lost most of its earlier glow.

  He dropped the robe, surprised Talith hadn’t stripped him of it before locking him back in the room. He supposed she didn’t think it necessary considering he’d decided to do what she wanted him to do.

  Kean tried not to think of how pissed Araya would be when she woke up, and he tried to tell himself he didn’t care anyway. He had a life to get back to and this seemed the only way to do it. Besides, he would be saving her life and she might end up thanking him in the long run.

  He gently wrapped one silk scarf around her wrist. When she didn’t stir, he carefully lifted her wrist above her head and tied the loose end of the scarf to the bedpost. She grumbled and he froze but she didn’t wake. He repeated the process with her other wrist.

  Kean’s cock hardened from the mere possibility of Araya watching him, desiring him. The thought that he’d be the only one she hadn’t turned away stroked his ego.

  He sat on the bed looking at her, imagining how her mouth would feel wrapped around his cock. How her nipples would bead while she sucked him. He’d penetrate her mouth, pumping into its slickness while she sucked and lapped at him. How her delicious cunt would flood in anticipation of him fucking her. Yeah, he wanted her to want him.

  He gripped his shaft and stroked it. Pre-come had already formed at the tip. He ran his fingers over the head on the upstroke and massaged it downward. He imagined it was her wetness coating his cock.

  Araya stirred, her breathing becoming irregular.

  He stroked her cheek with his free hand. “Araya,” he said softly and her eyes fluttered open.

  “What? What are you doing?” she cried out. She struggled to move but realized her hands were tied. “Untie me!” she shrieked.

  “I’m saving us both,” Kean said, his voice raw.

  “You traitor! I thought you understood. You’ve been working against me the whole time,” she accused as she struggled against her bonds.

  The betrayal in her eyes stung him. But he had a mission. To save her. To save himself. He wouldn’t be deterred no matter how much like a cocksucker he felt.

  “It won’t work. I won’t let it.” She squeezed her eyes shut.

  “Araya, look at me. I’m hard for you. This is for you.”

  Eyes still closed, she pleaded, “Please stop, Kean. I don’t want this.”

  He hesitated. The pleading tone in her voice cut him. But what the hell was he supposed to do? Being a prisoner didn’t work for him and she still had the option to say no. It was her choice even if what he was doing made it difficult for her.

  Her breathing deepened and her nipples peaked beneath her thin robe. What he’d give to suck them into his mouth, tickle them with his tongue. To lick her sweet cunt until s
he screamed his name in ecstasy.

  “Thinking of touching you, pleasing you, is driving me crazy. I’m getting close, Araya.”

  Her eyes popped open. She licked her lips as she watched him pump his cock. Faster now. Her eyes followed his movements, he groaned as she licked her lips.

  “Do you want to taste me, Araya?”

  “Noooo,” she whined. Her dilated pupils gave away the lie.

  More droplets of pre-come oozed from the tip of his cock. Araya’s eyes bugged and she struggled to free herself from her restraints. He assumed in an effort to flee but then she groaned and said, “I-I need to taste you.”

  He almost came right then. She was giving in. She wanted him, wanted to taste him. Such sweet words.

  The gold in her eyes sparked as her chest heaved from ragged breaths, her gaze never leaving his cock. He moved closer to her, getting on his knees and positioning his cock inches from her face. She looked up at him uncertainly, for a second, then raised her head from the pillow, sticking her tongue out. She touched it to his seeping slit and growled a sound of pleasure.

  His cock jumped. He was about to fucking explode.

  “More,” she growled, an unnatural tone hitching her voice. Sexy as hell. “Now.”

  He obliged. No hesitation. He inched closer, giving her full access to his throbbing cock. She latched on with her greedy mouth. Her inexperience didn’t lessen his pleasure. Her enthusiasm as she sucked and licked, the scent of her arousal, fruity and seductive—he’d never experienced anything like it.

  His slippery cock kept sliding out of her mouth and she growled each time. He figured he could untie her hands now but she still hadn’t gotten his semen and she might find the will to stop. So, he braced one hand on the wall and grabbed the base of his cock with the other, holding it steady for her.

  She moaned her approval. His balls clenched at her vigorous slurping. “Araya, I’m-I’m going to come. Are you ready for me?”

  She mumbled around his cock and began sucking and licking more vigorously. That was it. She wanted it. She needed it. He couldn’t hold it back a second longer.

  His hips jerked forward, shoving his cock deeper as semen exploded from him into her eager mouth. The sensation racked his body, his hips thrusting of their own accord as she milked every last drop from him.