Marked by Death (The Godhunter, Book 4) (15 page)

He lathered me till I looked like a Calgon commercial, then dropped the cloth and started massaging the bubbles in. His strong hands kneaded my shoulders before sliding over my back, pushing me against him, so that he could hold me upright while he worked out my kinks. I gave up, sighed, and leaned into him.

My face nestled perfectly into his neck, and the scent of him rushed over me. Incense and magic, that's what he smelled like. The strong cords of his neck were pressed to my lips and I seemed to be having trouble breathing. I was gasping, breathing hard against his skin. He shivered, and I couldn't think anymore. I had to taste him. My tongue flicked out and licked the line of tendon before me. His erection jerked against my belly.

Then he was rubbing my bottom, kneading and sliding around to my belly where he tenderly stroked me in soothing circles, till he made his way up to my breasts. A hand on each of them, he rubbed in to their centers, finishing with a light twirl on my nipples that left me groaning.

Instead of taking advantage of the situation, he knelt in the water so he could massage both of my legs, before pulling me down to him. He rinsed me carefully, reclaimed my champagne glass, stuck it in my hand, and pulled me back against his chest where we’d started. Hadn’t I been meaning to do something… like leave?

His hands were everywhere, stroking and kneading again, and I let go of my issues as I gave in to the pleasure. I felt his lips at my neck and inhaled sharply as he first kissed and then bit me. I was a sucker for a little teeth but of course he knew that already. While I was reeling from his kiss, his hands worked their way down between my legs. I felt my thighs part as his fingers spread me and started to work delight over my center.

I threw back my head and groaned. I could feel his lips stretch into a smile against my neck before he raised them to my face, kissing his way across my chin until I turned my face to his and gave him my mouth. In moments, he was bringing me to ecstasy and I was screaming my release into him as he lapped at me and drank it down.

“
Now I know why,” I sighed as I came down from my high.

“
Why what, Miw-sher?” He nuzzled into my neck again.

“
Why abused women stay with their abusers.”

He clucked his tongue. “I’m not your abuser, I’m your god, and you have no choice in the matter. Just accept the pleasure I give you as preferable to the pain, and things will be so much easier for you.”

“Was that a threat?” I lifted my head to look at him in disbelief. “You make me come, then threaten me? Good job on the apology there, dog boy, and good job on showing me the non-sexual side of our relationship.” I started to get up but he pulled me back down.

“
The apology was genuine but it doesn’t change the facts,” he stroked a hand over my forehead and I felt my body go limp with his control. “You’re mine to do with as I please and now I want to fuck you. I can’t help it if everything with you leads to sex.”

I felt my heart race as he carried me from the tub, water splashing everywhere and extinguishing candles with little hissing sounds. He turned me around and bent me over the sink, holding one hand on my back as he grabbed a bottle from the table and poured it over me. The oil sluiced down, releasing the scent of almonds to tease my nose, and he rubbed it down my back, over my ass, and between my legs. It felt wickedly good, good enough to distract me from my anger.

The wet sound of him stroking oil over himself sent shivers along my skin. A second later, he slid into me, slick as a snake, and groaned as our bodies rubbed sensuously together. I held back my own groan but just barely.

I clung to the counter as he pounded faster into me, trying to deny the pleasure building until he finally grabbed my hair and pulled my head back, so he could see my eyes in the mirror. He stared at me with naked possession, as his oiled flesh clenched and glistened, sending me crashing into another orgasm. My thighs were being driven into the counter and I had to eventually brace myself by holding onto the faucet, but it was good. It felt so wonderful to be taken by all that strength and feel his orgasm pulse through him and into me… wonderful and humiliating.

He slid out slowly and I lowered my face to my arms and began to cry. I didn’t make a sound but I knew he knew and I was even more embarrassed. He slid his hand down my oiled back, over my ass, and between my legs, cupping me possessively before leaving me there alone.

Some apology, huh?

Chapter Seventeen

I stuck my head around the corner and peered cautiously down the hallway. It was empty, blessedly empty. I let out the breath I’d been holding and hurried down it. I was usually being watched by someone, be it Ma’at, a werejackal, or Anubis himself, so I had to take my solitude where and when I could find it.

Anubis made it clear that I couldn’t escape the Underworld but that didn’t stop him from stalking me like a wounded animal through the corridors of his palace…. which I discovered were more numerous than I’d initially thought. I started keeping to the two main hallways after I got lost down one of them and found by one of Anubis’ jackal servants. Being prodded down the hallway by sharp nails and even sharper eyes was not an experience I wanted to repeat.

Anubis had continued with a constant seesaw of moods from the night of his “apology”. Every time he showed some gentleness to me, he’d pull back immediately afterward, as if he was fighting himself, his own reactions, and I was just the fulcrum he shifted upon.

Ma’at said he was falling in love with me and trying his best to deny it. She said love made men behave strangely and I should take comfort in Anubis’ unusual conduct. Well maybe I was winning this battle but I was feeling worn out from the skirmishes and what I really needed was some R&R. Trying to figure out Anubis was exhausting.

I never knew which way his mood would go, just that it would be extreme, and so I tried to avoid him. But as much as he often pretended indifference to me, everyday he found more excuses to track me down and torment me. If it wasn’t sex, it was some other form of humiliation. I was convinced he sat around thinking up ways to torture me and as soon as he came up with a new one, he’d leap up and find me, like a scientist trying out a new theory.

But just then, he was nowhere to be seen. I had only a few more feet to the door and then the relative freedom of the garden. I could get lost in the maze for awhile. It had become a sanctuary of sorts for me, a lush spot to escape to. I’d never seen Anubis in it and his jackals stayed away unless they were trimming the hedges.

I sighed when the sun hit my face and the smell of roses pulled me forward. I rushed through the first tier of immaculate flower beds, my blue dress flowing out behind me like a flag of freedom. My soft slippers barely made a sound on the stone steps down into the second garden. I passed the peacock’s gazing pool without a single gaze and then I was through the maze’s entrance, the verdant walls rising up around me protectively. I slowed my pace and allowed my heartbeat to slow as well. I hadn’t been completely sure I was safe, until I was hidden within the tall hedges.

Then there was a soft sound, a footstep.

I spun so fast, my hair blew into my face, blinding me. I hissed and brushed it away as I heard the footsteps quicken. My heart immediately sped back up, as I picked up my skirts to run. The hedges became a blur, individual leaves lost to my panic. I ran without thought, turning corners in desperation and completely losing myself. If I wasn’t caught, it would take me all day to find my way back… and I didn’t care, as long as he didn’t catch me.

A high pitched scream broke the sound of my labored breathing.

“No,” I choked and pushed my legs to run faster. Not the jackals, I couldn’t be caught alone in the maze with the jackals. Without my magic or any weapons, I’d be a lamb for the slaughter. I raced on, all rational thought gone, never once remembering that the jackals treated me with wary respect, that they’d probably be punished if they brought any harm to me. All of that reasoning was drowned out by the sound of a howl and the confusion of the maze.

I turned a corner and there he was. It wasn’t the jackals after all. It was Anubis in all of his god glory. I drew up short and stared at him. The sun glinted off the shiny black fur covering his jackal head and flowing over to the edge of his shoulders. His ears were alert, pointed straight to the sky, and his eyes shone with the excitement of the hunt, bright jewel tones swirling over their surfaces. His golden chest heaved and his tongue licked at the glistening teeth displayed by his open jaw. He was all ebony and gold, heart-stoppingly beautiful… potentially in a literal way.

He took one step toward me and I began to tremble.

“
You’re right to fear me,” his voice was thicker, like Trevor’s was in half-form, as if the animal vocal chords had to work extra hard to form words.

“
I’m not afraid of you.”

“
You shiver,” he crept closer.

“
You’re beautiful,” I didn’t want to give him compliments but it seemed a better choice than admitting to the fear.

He stopped, his head cocked to the side. “You think I’m beautiful,” he spread his hands, “like this?”

“Yes,” I frowned. Was this another game? “You know you’re beautiful. Don’t act surprised for my benefit.”

He came closer, till he stood right before me, sniffing the air around me. “You speak the truth.”

“Stop it,” I backed up a step and shook my head in frustration. “Stop the games. You know exactly what you make me feel,” I swallowed past the horrible lump in my throat. “You’ve humiliated me enough times with it. Just get on with what you’re going to do already.”

“
As you like, Miw-sher,” Anubis’ hand shot out and pulled me against him.

I looked up at his majestic head, wondering what he’d thought up for the afternoon’s entertainment. I felt his hand rise to the clasps at my shoulders and pull them loose. All the dresses he gave me were easy to remove and that one was no exception, it fell to my feet like the flutter of doves wings.

I knew better than to try to cover myself. He’d only get mad and take control of my body. So I stood still under his glittering stare and roaming hands. When he pulled me down, I went with him, trying to react as little as possible, but then his jaw opened and closed around my breast. I sat up, pushing at him in shocked pain.

He pushed me back down easily, growling low in his throat. I felt his heat flow through me and turn my limbs to lead. I couldn’t move as he lowered his head to the other mound of tender flesh. A whimper escaped my tightly held control and his eyes shifted to look up at me before his jaw clamped slowly down. He bit down to the point of pain but stopped short of drawing blood. When he pulled back, a perfect bite mark flushed red against my skin.

“You mark well,” he lapped at the mark, swirling his long tongue around me till my nipple hardened and a low moan slipped past my lips.

“
No,” I fought the control he had on my body, drawing on anger to set me free. I was able to buck for a second before he pulled me back.

“
Yes,” he lowered his soft muzzle down my side and nipped me hard and fast.

I yelped, he’d drawn blood that time and I bit my lip to keep from crying out further. His tongue lapped at the wound and he pressed his hips against me, thrusting himself along my leg as he quivered in delight. Great, blood turned him on.

He continued down my body, alternating strong love nips with actual bites, so that I was never sure what to expect. I found myself holding my breath, shaking in fear and pleasure. One thing was certain, when Anubis said he knew how to give pleasure, he wasn’t kidding. I’d never delighted in pain before but this mix was changing my mind. His bites sent a jolt through me before turning to a sweet ache, making me start to look forward to them.

There were teeth marks down each of my legs by the time he made his way to my center. When it became obvious where he was headed, fear gave me a burst of energy and I was able to push at him until he caught my hands and held them down.

“So now you fear me,” he dipped his head and drug the full length of his tongue up me.

My whole body went into spasms, ecstasy shooting through me. My limbs went heavy again and he released my wrists to stroke my hips before sliding his hands around my thighs and spreading them further apart. His breath was hot on me and I watched in horror as his jaws opened wide and covered my entire center. He closed down, teeth digging into my delicate skin from front to back, enclosing all of it in his mouth.

The pressure increased until his teeth were just about to pierce my tender flesh. I couldn’t breathe. The air was trapped in my lungs, waiting for pain or pleasure to release it. The pain stayed steady, bearable but threatening to become more at any moment. Then his tongue started to flick out. By the time he thrust it deep into me, my legs were shaking and my orgasm was taking over.