Blacken by Alandra Rankin (i love reading books txt) 📕

what I hoped for… Owen will be going away to get proper help from professionals, also serving time for what he did afterwards. They made the verdict today.”

“That is wonderful news, he may not recognize it now, but you have taken the steps to give himself back!”

“That’s my wish for the future, but it may be that he won’t forgive me entirely instead. I don’t really know what could happen, but I don’t think I will ever see Owen again.”

Avie held out her hand, palm facing up for Rhulle to take, “Darling, I have seen stranger things happen, he seems to be one of the few that fall into the category of his own shortcomings are projected onto others. No matter how he is, he will want to shape a false story to weave you as the one in the wrong, even in knowing the truth. And once he is much, much older, he may finally admit it.”

Using the sharp end of his talon, Rhulle punctured the pad resting under her thumb where a vein could be visible as he spoke.

She winced, watching a few droplets float away from the puncture as Rhulle brought her palm to his face, mouth latching onto the cavity he had just created. The small burn of pain eased away, the intimacy of the action causing a stirring sensation instead.

“Ah!”

Avie couldn’t help it, a small moan slipping from her lips causing Rhulle’s eyes to peak open, catching hers. He smirked on her palm, still connected there.

He broke away, getting his fill, lapping at the few remaining strands that fell from the vein, “You have talked so much about the trial, now that it is over, should we discuss other matters?”

The redhead’s mind cleared, his need for blood fading from her body. All the stress and anxieties she had over the past few days would no longer have to take their hold on her, Avie could finally put that chapter to rest. And as much as she wanted to continue chasing the feeling Rhulle gave her, she still wanted to express her worries over townsfolk attempting to locate him.

“Rhulle, I—actually I’m worried about people trying to find you here, Owen had mentioned—”

With the hand he still held in his, the feathered truxen pulled her forward to him, locking his lips with her own before she could finish, tasting the copper of her blood still lingering on his mouth.

“I have told you,” he said as he broke away, placing a single finger over her lips, “I am not concerned, if the worst came to worst, I can still manage inside of the forest and not just in this dwelling.”

Grabbing the offending hand, she laced it with her own, “I just want you to be safe, how am I supposed to sneak off to see you when others are looking for you?”

He laughed at her facetious question, moving to allow her to stop the blood beading at the surface of her skin, “Have you ever hosted a creature of the night?”

Cherry eyebrows raised, “My love… I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. It’s still in town and surrounded by others.”

“A perfect hideaway. They would never expect it. And I would feel better about being able to see you, if those do decide to drive me into hiding for a while.”

“If you’re sure, I can accommodate as best as I can,” she spoke, running digits through coiffed plumage at the back of his head, excited to hear that he could be beside her. Somewhere that could be, for all intents and purposes, safe. Where she didn’t have to worry for him.

“It would be a new experience,” he chuckled, “and I could use some more knowledge on human culture through immersion.”

“Thank you,” she expressed genuine gratitude, Avie knew it was something he struggled with, yet he would do it to place her at ease.

“The weather will turn and I will build you your very own house soon,” Rhulle leaned in, kissing while pushing her back into a lying position, smiling as he spoke close to her lips, “far away from everyone, no one could bother you, bother me, bother us. We could live without worry, yes, very soon, dear Avie.”

He hovered over top of her, a tongue tracing over her lips before playing with her own. Rhulle’s words dripped out like honey, seducing her with only his tone of voice, it caused a shiver to course through her body. It had been far too long since they had been intimate.

A dark hand snaked up, skilfully unclasping buttons and peeling away layers while a gentle purr radiated from the body above her. She panted as they separated, only for a moment, to completely strip the fabric from her upper body. His mouth moved down, licking and nipping the flesh of her neck with hot breath ghosting over the motions.

“Going to have you every day. Just like this, all to myself. My vovii, all mine.” Rhulle’s words rolled out in Truxen, the woman finally able to translate his language after weeks of learning it alongside him.

He kissed down her scars, shifting back on the couch until the lips met her pants. Rhulle’s eyes flicked up to hers, the red outlines of them giving off a predatory look, matching perfectly with the desire igniting within them.

“All yours. I am all yours, Rhulle.”

His bottom lip was caught in his teeth briefly before it was released with a shaky breath and coy grin. She had given him permission, her desire matching his to be together as he grasped at her jeans, slipping them off along with the panties underneath.

Rhulle stared down at her as she lay exposed, looking to be considering all types of thoughts racing behind those eyes. They locked once again with hers, keeping direct contact as his face lowered, and lowered. Avie’s heart rate picked up.

He’s not going to…?!

The dark tongue poked out, lapping at her most sensitive spot, drawing out an audible gasp as her head arched back. The muscle swirled,