Page 43 of Desired for Her Blood
“Where is Ember?” My chest tightens as I quickly scan the area but do not see her.
“Behind the waterfall with the bear.”
“Ah.” Glad to hear that she is safe, I use one of the extra t-shirts to dry the excess water from my body, before I dress. At least the pirate had the decency to leave my folded clothing undisturbed while I was gone.
Bending to pick up my suit trousers, I detect an unmistakable scent rising from the furs and blanket. In spite of the fact that Ember is with the bear at the moment, she and Ryker definitely fornicated while I was away—within the last few hours if I am not mistaken—which I rarely am. The fresh scents of their bodily fluids are easily detectable on the furs.
A clutch of envy overtakes me, tightening my chest for an entirely different reason.
The envious emotions are foolish. I can never begin to fulfill Ember’s emotional needs, and it’s dangerous for me to gratify her sexually—my urge to combine sex with pain is too great. Given these realities, instead of feeling envy I should feel gratitude that Ryker is able to satisfy her needs and make her happy. And perhaps Axel too. Iamgrateful, but I’d be lying to claim that I liked it.
Perhaps, with the other two men around to protect her, I will someday trust myself enough to allow my reawakened cock to enter her body again. At that thought, my offending appendage twitches, rubbing its hardness against my wool trousers and worsening the issue.
A splash diverts my attention, and a moment later, Axel and Ember appear in the water on this side of the waterfall, swimming slowly toward us.
Ryker walks to the water’s edge, and even more tension melts from his shoulders. He reaches down to help Ember from the water, and the bear man pushes out easily to land beside them.
“Did you find a way out?” Ember asks me, her eyes full of hope.
Axel fetches the woolen blanket and wraps it over Ember’s wet, naked body. She smiles up at him with obvious gratitude and he bends to kiss the top of her head. The ease with which he makes this intimate, affectionate gesture tightens my chest and belly with envy again, and further increases the need in my cock. But I do not deserve to feel envy or desire. Yearning for things I can’t have is a waste of energy.
“Yes, I did find a way out,” I tell her and the others.
Ember’s eyes light up, and she bounces toward me and then wraps her arms around my body, her naked frame pressing against mine as she holds the blanket around us both.
“That’s amazing!” she looks up into my eyes, and then turns back toward the others. “Didn’t you hear him? We’re getting out!”
She looks between Axel and Ryker. “Why aren’t you guys more excited?”
“They require more details,” I tell her. “Shall we sit?” I gesture toward the furs.
Ryker, Ember and I sit, while Axel rearranges the fire, adding another couple of logs, and soon the fire brightens the cave, making it easier for Ember to see.
“Tell us,” Ember says as the firelight licks her beautiful face and reflects in her violet eyes. “What did you find?”
“The information that Axel provided proved to be accurate.” I nod toward the bear man as he takes a seat. “Including his speculation that there is a well approximately fifty miles from here.”
“It’s still open?” Axel asks.
I nod. “Yes. And I was able to climb out.”
“You climbed out?” Ryker says with a sneer, clearly not believing me.
“Yes. The well is formed of stone and I found a sufficient number of hand and foot holds on both sides of the cylindrical opening. It is located on a property, which contained a house that appears to be abandoned. I detected no signs of life inside the home.
“I did not venture off the property, as daylight was approaching, but based on the directions and distances I swam through the aquifer, my best hypothesis is that the house is in Lancaster County.”
“Bullshit.” Ryker leans back shaking his head. “This is all total bullshit.”
“Why would you say that?” Ember asks, frowning at Ryker.
“Because, if he got out of here, why the fuck would he ever come back?”
I narrow my eyes. “Are you suggesting that I am a liar?”
“I don’t need tosuggestit,” he says. “It’s fucking obvious.”
“Retract your accusation immediately.” I leap to my feet.
