Page 34 of Sins of the Stone

Clearly not satisfied with her lack of response, he gripped her hair, pulling her head back, his lips to her ear as he increased his thrusts. As he did, her legs gave out once again, her body completely drained. Yet she continued to climax, her thighs sticky, their bodies slapping together, causing her to scream.

“Yes, I do,” she cried, her eyes dotting with tears. His swollen head throbbed inside her, using her hair as leverage to force himself deeper.

“Good,” he growled, pulling on her hair, then stopping his movement, his cock buried so deep that she swore she could feel him in her stomach, though she knew it was just the fog of pleasure. With his member throbbing, she could feel herself get filled, finally allowing her to catch her breath.

Panting, her body relaxed once again, Ramuz not releasing his grip on her hair until she had drained every drop of his hot seed into her. Each pulse made her jolt again, and soon after he had finished, his hand letting go of her mane, causing her head to drop to the bed with a groan.

He chuckled, holding her limp body up by her hips and slowly sliding himself out of her, each ridge making her gasp again. He paused once it was time to remove his head, muttering something about her relaxing again. His words barely registered.

Ramuz set his hand on her back, rubbing her lovingly, then pulled himself out. The little pop was more aggressive this time. As soon as he was removed, she felt herself leak, face turning pink again. Yet, being so exhausted, she could do nothing but groan.

Her actions made him laugh again as he lifted her legs and slid her onto the bed. He left the room and returned with a set of rags from the kitchen. When he came back, he set one between her legs, just like before.

With a deep breath, she saw him wipe himself off with the other rag before tossing it to the floor beside them. Ursulette was already halfway betweenwake and sleep as Ramuz pulled the blanket over her nude body, curling up next to her, his hand atop her back.

Something like this would be worth leaving everything behind for. Not just the lust but all aspects of him. How he enjoyed her for who she was and thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. And of course, how he called her his treasure. She could hear him call her that for the rest of her days and never got tired of it. She hoped he wouldn’t get tired of saying it.

Chapter 23

Ramuz

Despite the passionate evening they had, the following morning, Ramuz noticed Ursulette slip deep into thought, pondering the critical decision she would have to make very soon. This was a time-sensitive matter—the longer she stayed away, the more of a facade she would have to maintain. And, of course, he knew she was never good at lying.

Certain things came naturally to her—talents and kindness were as difficult as blinking, but spinning a tale was not one of them. And he was sure thinking of the consequences of lacking such a skill was a whole new breed of torture. It ached his heart to think of what was going through her head.

Ursulette was sprawled in bed, her hands folded behind her head, staring at the ceiling. Her gaze barely avoided the candle fixture above her. With a small sigh, he sat beside her and placed his hand on her stomach. Her warmth made him shudder.

“You know I do not like when you are quiet,” he said. Ursulette’s steady gaze fell from the ceiling. She unfolded her hands from beneath her head and set them atop his, taking a breath before speaking.

“I know. It’s just—” She paused, the words feeling scrambled in her mouth. “I don’t like leaving Giles there, and almost everyone is injured. Not to mention being led by Omar… That must be hell in itself.” She sucked in another breath and sat up. Ramuz slipped his hand from her and set it on her shoulder, giving her a stern expression. The mere mention ofhisnamemade him want to seek him out and destroy him. The only thing holding him back was Ursulette.

“As much as it displeases me to bring you back there with that—” he clenched his fist, “—worm, I understand your pain. If you wish to return, I will take you.” She breathed a sigh of relief, probably thinking there were no stipulations. If only it were that simple, but her safety was his only priority.

“Thank you—”

“But,” he continued. “If he touches a single hair on your head, I will not hesitate to step in.” She released a breath like she had been holding it her entire life. Even if she was panicking about the reaction from her fellow humans, he couldn’t bring himself to share the same concern when she could be at risk.

Though he couldn’t help but think about what was going through her head. Gruesome visions of death, dismemberment, and horror were probably flashing in her mind, not unlike the carnage she saw in the ruins of her village, only this time it was the two of them.

“T-that’s not a good idea. I can defend myself, just like before.”

Ramuz nodded. “I know you have, and you can, but keeping the peace and associating with one who does not have your best interest in mind has worn you down, Ursulette,” he said. She let out a sigh.

Knowing what he knew, in the past, Ursulette would’ve fought back when he put his hand on her or confronted her in the woods. Desperation and trauma had eaten away at her once strong personality. Even if she wasn’t the most proud, at least she wouldn’t have put up with such treatment. Now, she didn’t have to worry about that. He was here to protect her, even if she thought she could handle it herself.

“Nothing will happen, I promise. And if something does, I will defend myself,” she vowed. “I made a mistake last time. I will not repeat that, I promise you.” Ramuz nodded, sliding his claws through her hair. His eyes fixed on her silky locks, watching as they shone in the candlelight.

“I need to do this for myself. Don’t intervene if something happens. I need you safe, and I need to prove to myself that all this does not break me,” she said. The word made his chest hollow out. If only she knew how not brokenshe was. Ramuz made an indiscernible sound and plucked his claws from her hair, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her towards him.

Ursulette’s bottom lip trembled, which only made him feel worse. He knew she was sick of crying and feeling powerless. Now was the time to take her power back, and it wouldn’t be so difficult with him by her side. With a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder.

“You are not broken, Ursulette,” he said. “You are the strongest woman I have ever seen.” Her face bloomed with her signature blush. Thankfully, this time, it was not because of tears. He placed his hands on either side of her face and pulled her gaze to his. Her sky-blue eyes connected with his yellow leer, making his heart flutter.

“And if you ever think otherwise, Iwillprove you wrong.” Her face deepened as he threaded his hand through her hair once more. “Whatever my precious human wants, she will get. And if you wish to return, I will not deny you.”

* * *

Relentless rain came soon after they left. It should’ve been relaxing, but once more, it fed into their worries. Multiple times on their journey back, they had to stop under a large tree or in a cave because of the chatter in Ursulette’s teeth. She had to pry her shoes out of the viscous liquid a time or two. As they departed, their feet left imprints, hopefully to be washed away in the torrential weather.

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