Page 24 of Beyond Your Darkness, I'm Your Light

“Okay, dear, I will get to work and come back to find you as soon as I have answers, or I’m able to find them.” She says, and I watch as she disappears.

“That’s it?” I ask in total disbelief.

“For now. Is it not to your liking, Aryas?” She asks, and I can hear the distaste in her words. She feels insulted and quite frankly, that’s exactly how it came out.

“I just thought there would be more to it. There are a lot of souls here that seem like they could use your help. Why can’t you help them? Why can’t they help you?

“Of course, I can help them. The question is, why can you see them all?”

“I already told you that I’m a seer.” I grunt.

“No, you didn’t. You haven’t told me much of anything besides the fact that you're a Gargoyle. What else are you?” She questions, full of accusation. “You practically jumped my bones the day we met, but you’ve been pretty secretive this entire time… So?” She says, hunching her shoulders.

“Look, I’m not going to stand here and argue with you over this.” I start, but she sliences me with the flick of her wrist.

“You see, that’s the difference between you and me. You think you have some sort of power or rule over me because you ‘claimed’ me, but you listen and you listen well. I am no one’s property and whether or not this claim of yours is real, I could care fucking less.” She growls at me. Like a caged animal, this woman just growled at me, and nowI’mthe one instantly turned on.

“Look, I won’t apologize for being the way I am.” I say, getting up from the table and making my way over to her. I grab her chin and pull it towards me, making her look at me whether she wants to or not. “But what I said earlier today in that waiting room still stands. No matter how cheesy this summoning was or not. I claimed you, fair and square, but your scent has changed which means you are no longer a virgin.” I state. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

Her eyes begin to water as she whispers, “I didn’t ask for it to happen.”

“What do you mean?”

“He comes to me in my dreams. Threatening to kill me.” She hiccups. “At first, I thought nothing of it. Then, that morning, I woke up with his hand prints etched into my skin. Then, hours before you arrived, he took my virginity.” She cries.

“Did he give you his name?”

“No, but he knows mine.” She sniffs, pulling her face from my hands. “I don’t know who he is, but clearly when he finds me, he’s going to kill me. That is, if he isn’t trying to fuck me, too.” She backs her chair up and stands.

“What are you not telling me, Juniper?”

“Everything.” She runs from the hut and disappears. She doesn't know that I’ve broken the ward over her home, and I’ve seen the entrance, so I head in that direction. Plus, I follow her Heavenly scent. Vanilla and pine mixed together is very intoxicating.

“Juniper?” I call out from the porch. When she doesn’t answer, I cross the threshold and step inside. From the outside, you wouldn’t expect it to look the way it does inside.

Everything is white, from the floor to the walls, and most of her furniture. There are splashes of color here and there, but it’s mostly white. It’s very pristine, and I feel like I’m going to get something dirty, so I take my shoes off and leave them at the door. I don’t have time to snoop around like I want, because I hear her cries coming from above. Looking around, I see a staircase. I take them two at a time until I come to the top of the landing, I follow her cries to the bedroom down the hall. I knock softly on the door letting her know I’m there, as I step inside.

“Juniper?”“You shouldn’t be able to get into my house, Aryas.” She sniffs, looking over at me from lying in her bed. “What areyounot tellingme?” She asks, giving me her back.

“Please, don’t cry. I’m sorry, I once again insulted your talent. I want to promise that I won’t do it again, but I’m a bit of an asshole.” I confess, drawing a small chuckle from her.

“Stop ignoring my questions. I thought since we claimed each other, we shouldn’t be able to lie to one another.” She whispers, and it’s adorable. She has no idea how the claiming of one another works.

“We aren’t mates, Little Doe. I just claimed you as my own for selfish reasons.”

“What selfish reasons was that?” She asks, turning around to look at me when I sit on the bed next to her. I can’t help but reach out and wipe away the tears I or the other guy put there.

“Because I want you for myself.” I declare, leaning down to kiss her full lips. The moment they touch, I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. She has me so wrapped up in this kiss that if she asked me anything, I fear I would spill everything to her.

With our lips still connected, I crawl on top of her and deepen the kiss. She moans into my mouth as I catch and swallow it, just like I’m going to do to her.

“If you don’t want this, all you have to do is tell me to stop.” I rasp, breaking the kiss with a pop.

“I want this.” She moans, pulling my lips back to hers.

“Fuck me.” I mumble, sliding down her body. “Take these fucking clothes off…Now!” For a split second, I get off of her and stand. Mere seconds later, my clothes are a pile at my feet. I look up and notice she is up and out of bed, slowly stripping out of her clothes. “That won’t do.” I say, walking to her and ripping them off.

“Hey!” She squeals as she stands naked before me.

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