Revenant, My Love

Myra eagerly stripped off her light peach, gossamer gown and set it on a nearby boulder before kicking off her heels and digging her toes into the grassy lakeshore. Wading into the water, under the orange and raspberry sherbet sky, she let out a sigh of contentment. When stumbling upon this small, secluded, idyllic lake during her summer sunset stroll through the forest, she couldn’t fight the urge to indulge herself in the peaceful solitude and comfort that it offered.

Stretching her arms out wide and falling into the dark water, she momentarily closed her eyes and took a deep, soothing breath as she gently floated on her back upon the rippling surface. Drifting further from shore, her emerald orbs gazed up to watch the candied clouds above while enjoying the feeling of the cool water licking at her skin. Caught up in the serene atmosphere, she didn’t notice when the golden ring, with its dazzling fire opal gemstone, slipped off her finger and plummeted to the depths below.

A pair of filmy, sunken eyes watched the ring settle into the sandy bottom from within the gloomy darkness of their owner’s underwater resting place. The undead man’s skin-covered, bony hand reached out and plucked the pretty little bauble up out of the dirt, placing it on his partially decayed thumb. His gaze then flicked upward to the pristine body of the woman lazily bobbing in the waters far above his head, nothing covering her flawless, pale skin other than a couple scraps of delicate lace fabric.

The revenant observed the beauty for several minutes, her long locks of strawberry blonde hair fanning out around her head like a heavenly halo as she began to slowly kick her feet and move her arms. He couldn’t resist the temptation to touch her—to feel her living flesh, so vibrant and warm, beneath what remained of his deteriorating palm. Like a wisp of smoke dancing along her nubile form, he traced his fingers over the curve of her hip and the dip of her waist. He withdrew his hand instantly when her body went rigid and her breathing stopped. However, when she began to move once more, he allowed himself the pleasure of gliding his palm along one of her shapely thighs.

At the first touch, Myra thought she might have just been imagining things or that a fish had merely grazed her, but there was no mistaking the very unique sensation of a hand caressing her thigh. Bolting through the water at a pace she didn’t even know she was capable of, she swam toward the shore as though her life depended on it.

Dragging herself out of the lake, she hastily snatched up her dress and pulled it on over her head. It was only when she was shoving her arms into the sheer sleeves of the gown that she noticed her ring was missing. Her heart sank to see the little white stripe around her finger where her most treasured possession should have been. That was her mother’s ring—the one and only item Myra owned that had once belonged to the woman she held so dear. Without that small weight on her finger, she felt utterly bereft, almost as if she were losing her mother all over again.

She dropped to her knees and started frantically searching the grass and dirt, around where she had initially undressed, while the soft waves lapped at the shore and soaked into the fabric around her legs. Not a single thought was wasted over the state of her dress as her fingers and eyes skimmed over the ground, her breaths becoming more difficult with the tightening of her throat and the thudding in her chest rapidly increasing with her rising panic.

Crawling toward the water’s edge, she sifted through the sandy shallows, but she already knew, in the back of her mind, the truth that her heart didn’t want to accept—that the ring was lost to the lake and would forever join the rest of the secrets stashed away beneath its shimmering facade. Only a true miracle could bring it back to her now.

“Please, please!” Myra looked to the darkening heavens above, the light retreating like a silent thief. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with the gods. “I’ll do anything, anything at all!” she yelled with all her might in hopes that her prayers would be heard. “I’ll give up everything I own! My jewels, my clothes, my wealth... Just please give me back my ring.” Her voice turned into a pathetic whisper as her sobs took over.

Myra’s eyes fell, staring into the lake that had once beckoned to her with promises of joy and pleasure but now only seemed to mock her grief with a tinkling of laughter as a trickle of tiny raindrops began to pelt its surface. A shadow of movement caught her attention, but she thought it was just a trick of the light. The longer she looked, the more she came to realize that something was indeed lurking within the water. Her body and her mind instantly recalled the distinct, ginger touch of the hand she had felt upon her tender skin.

While the rain continued to cascade down around her, cleansing the earth in a tranquil shower, her despair readily gave way to the fear that had driven her to escape from the once welcoming embrace of the lake in the first place. Wide-eyed and stone-still, she held her breath as she watched the figure draw ever closer, gasping when a head of long, stringy, green-tinted hair emerged from the depths.

Inch by inch, the water gave up one of its many hidden mysteries as the creature rose up before her. A tall corpse, with necrotic blue-black skin covering his rotting flesh and shreds of cloth clinging to his lanky frame, walked towards Myra with a determined look on his sharp face. His features, though sunken and grave, hinted at the comeliness of the man that he once was.

The terror that gripped the frightened young woman and held her in place finally released its hold on her, and Myra scurried backward in a clumsy crab walk, her feet getting caught up on the skirt of her gown. No matter how hard she tried to flee, she felt as though she were moving in slow motion, like she was caught in quicksand and sinking further and further towards her doom while the walking nightmare before her reached out his disgusting hand to pull her back. Squeezing her eyelids shut, she braced for what was to come. When she didn’t feel the thing’s icy grip as expected, she cautiously peered up, blinking away the water droplets that fell upon her face.

“Be not afraid, little one, for I will not hurt you,” the revenant’s deep, raspy voice croaked from his ruined throat. “I merely wish to make a deal with you.” He held up his hand in a placating gesture with the jewel-adorned band still placed securely around his thumb.

Myra’s eyes went wide at the sight of her mother’s ring. Recognizing it instantly, her vision fixated on the priceless heirloom. Had the gods answered her prayers, or was this gruesome being sent to her as some sort of punishment? In that moment, she didn’t really care one way or the other; she just wanted what was rightfully hers and would do or say anything to get it.

Slowly rising to her feet with a look of uncertainty on her face, she asked, “What kind of deal?”

“I have but a simple request. I wish only for your companionship. If you agree to allow me to join you, go where you go, sleep where you sleep, eat where you eat and share in your merriment, I will gladly return your ring. Cherish me as you cherish this trinket.”

The thought of having a talking bone bag following her and partaking in her daily life made chills go down Myra’s spine. Her stomach churned and her nose crinkled at the very stench of him alone. How could she eat, sleep or go anywhere with such an odious monstrosity trailing her every move? The notion was absurd. However, as she observed him, she noticed that he was still standing in water up to his knees. Surely, he couldn’t join her, no matter how badly he desired to, since he should undoubtedly be confined to his watery grave. Agreeing to such a deal would be purely to her advantage.

Trying to appear genuine and trustworthy, she held out her hand to the living corpse despite the idea of touching him making her skin crawl. “My name is Myra,” she smiled sweetly.

“Adriel,” the man replied as he took her small hand in his. “Do we have a deal, then?”

“Yes. Give me my ring and you shall be my dearest companion.” Removing the ring from his thumb, he placed it within her outstretched palm, and her innocent smile turned into a wicked grin. “Thank you, Adriel. You’ve made me happier than you could possibly know.”

With those words, Myra spun on her heel and sprinted through the forest while ignoring Adriel’s bellowing pleas. He picked up the shoes she left behind and waved them as he shouted for her attention. Rain-drenched and disheveled, she ran and ran without ever looking back, her feet splashing through muddy puddles along the wooded trail as she rejoiced in outsmarting the undead fiend. By the time she arrived home at her estate, she was breathless and worn but giddy all the same.

Practically skipping down the hall, she made her way to the opulent bathroom adjoining her bedroom to wash away the mud and filth before changing into her nightgown. After crawling into bed, she adoringly gazed at the bejeweled band that now decorated her slender finger once more, turning it to watch the little flames within the opal dance in the soft candlelight that illuminated her room. Feeling carefree and lighthearted, she blew out the candle and closed her eyes, drifting to sleep to the sound of the pouring rain and the rumble of thunder.

Adriel’s face and haunting eyes plagued her dreams with a look of longing and betrayal. She could feel his cold, clammy hands slowly pulling the straps of her thin negligee down over her shoulders, revealing her plump, bountiful breasts and fondling her tempting body. Feather-light kisses left a trail of goosebumps in their wake along her delicate neck and collarbone. Yet, the feeling of pleasure soon gave way to panic as the touches became more aggressive in their fervor—a hand moving to grip her throat with a slight squeeze that was clearly threatening her with the prospect of punishment.

New images of being chased and relentlessly pursued flashed through her mind as her dreams engulfed her in dread and despair. At every turn, stumble and branching path, the revenant was there, reminding her of the words she had so frivolously spoken in her hasty agreement to the bargain he had offered.

Tossing and turning, she awoke with a start, the night still heavy around her. Her bright, emerald eyes immediately landed on a pair of pale-colored, high-heeled shoes—sitting on the bench seat at the foot of her bed—that she was certain hadn’t been there previously. Even in the summer heat, her blood froze in her veins when it dawned on her that they were the very same ones she had left behind by the lakeside when she had made her earlier retreat.

A strike of lightning momentarily shattered the dark with its luminescence, allowing her to see Adriel’s gangly form standing amongst the shadows while silently watching her. A predatory smirk lifted the corner of his mouth when she sucked in a sharp breath. He stalked toward her, dripping water all over the hardwood floor, while she clutched her sheet to her chest.

“You made a deal with me, my little Myra, and I will hold you to your promise.” He came to a stop just next to her bed and reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face. “You will not be rid of me so easily.”

“You’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

“Hurt you? Of course not. You are the key to my salvation, my sweet. I could never hurt you. All I want is your time and your precious heart. You will be mine just as I will be yours.” His voice sounded a little less rough than it had before. “Now, help me dry off so that I may join you in bed. It’s been far too long since I last had a warm, cozy place to sleep.”

Myra wanted to gag at the vision that her mind conjured of this creature lying in bed beside her, but she knew that she couldn’t go back on her word now. It was too late for that. There was nowhere for her to hide from Adriel and the oath that she had made to him. “Alright. Just...stay there and I’ll get some towels.”

While she went to fetch the towels, the revenant began stripping off the scraps of wet fabric that hung from his partly decomposed body. By the time she returned, he was completely nude. The shocked gasp that came from her mouth was loud enough to be heard over the ongoing storm outside. Through flashes of lightning, the blush on her face was plainly visible, and Adriel couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle when he saw which part of him her lovely eyes were fixed on. He knew that, even in his current state, his length was still quite impressive.

“What are you waiting for?” he asked as she stood frozen in place, a hint of laughter continuing to color his voice. “The sooner I am dry, the sooner we can get some much-needed rest.”

Averting her stare, Myra held her head high and marched over to him, refusing to look anywhere but directly into his dead eyes. “I’m not your attendant. You can dry yourself off.” She shoved the towels at him, but he didn’t make a move to take them.

His thin lips curled into a grin at her feisty attitude. She was cute when she was mad and flustered. “I’m afraid that I’m not as agile as I once was—stiff joints and all that, you know. Besides, I want you to show me that you care about me the way a true companion should. That was part of our deal, remember?” He enjoyed toying with her and pushing her buttons just to get a rise out of the stunning young woman.

With a little huff and a pout, Myra covered his slimy hair haphazardly with one towel before using the other one to pat him down. Carefully, she made sure to avoid touching him in any sensitive places and to not disturb the parts of his skin that didn’t look particularly well-attached while also holding her breath to keep from inhaling his odor.

“You missed a few spots,” Adriel teased her as he tried to keep a straight face while taking delight in her struggle.

Putting her hands on her hips, she issued a snarky reply. “If you don’t think I’m doing a good job, you’re free to leave at any time.” She waited a moment to see if he would meet her challenge, but he didn’t say anything more. “Now, wrap yourself up and get in the bed, but make sure to stay on your side. If you come anywhere near me, you’ll find yourself sleeping on the floor.”

“I shall be the perfect gentleman for you, my dear.”

Watching him crawl onto the mattress, Myra could only think about how she would need to decontaminate all of her pretty bedding after allowing him to sleep on it. With a sigh of bitter acceptance, she walked around to the other side of her bed and laid down as well. Her body was so close to the edge that she was practically hanging off the side, and it took her quite some time to fall asleep, but she eventually gave in to her exhaustion.

Throughout the rest of the night, her petite figure gradually gravitated closer and closer to the man who now not only occupied her bed, but also her dreams. His voice filled her head with sweet and tender praises, whispers of love and devotion, and promises of pleasure and the fulfillment of her desires. By the time she awoke to the soothing, buttery light of the new day streaming through the windows, her face was only inches away from his.

He looked down at her with renewed eyes. They were no longer the blank, filmy ones she had come to know. Instead, they were the most brilliant shade of indigo she had ever seen, and the tiny flecks of gold within them caught the light, making them shimmer with depth and life. Her heart softened towards him in that moment more than she would have liked to admit.

“Good morning, my sweet. Did you sleep well?” Adriel’s voice was now even more noticeably smooth, as if he had finally cleared the frog that had lodged itself within his throat—the rich, dulcet tone like a seductive lullaby to Myra’s ears.

When she realized just how close they were and that she had been staring at him once again, she hastily turned her gaze away and rolled out of bed. “I’ve certainly had better nights before you came along to sully my sheets,” she lied, knowing full well that she had never before slept more peacefully than she had with him by her side.

A mirthful grin crept across the revenant’s face, hearing the truth behind her spiteful words and knowing that he was beginning to get under her skin. “Are you sure about that? I bet an innocent little thing like you has never had a man like me in your bed before, or any man for that matter. You might just come to enjoy it immensely.”

His flirtatious innuendo made Myra narrow her eyes at him and stiffly ball her tiny hands into fists by her sides. He could tell that she was trying to come up with a scathing retort as she stared daggers at him and clenched her jaw shut. Adriel so loved the way she looked when she was out of sorts and aggravated. It was rather endearing and so damn adorable that it took all of his willpower not to go over there and take her into his arms right then.

Pushing his luck even further, he stood up from the bed and dropped the towel that had still been wrapped around his hips. “Why don’t you be a good girl and find me some proper clothes to wear? I detest the thought of putting my old rags back on.”

Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he affected her, Myra held herself back and shoved down the heated words that threatened to erupt from her mouth. Instead, she took a deep breath to center herself. Releasing her fists and gathering her composure, she put on a genteel smile. “Of course. We can’t have you walking around looking like something the cat dragged in. I think my brother left some of his clothes here the last time he visited. I’ll see what I can find.”

Disappearing, she returned a few minutes later with a bundle of items in her arms. “You’re a bit taller than my brother, but these should do for now.” She set the stack of garments—black dress pants, white button-down shirt, white socks and black leather shoes—on the bed. “I trust that you can dress yourself.”

“I wouldn’t dream of putting such fine fabrics on my body before having a thorough bathing. What kind of heathen do you take me for?”

“Well, the bathroom is right over there.” Myra gestured toward the door of her en suite lavatory. “Knock yourself out.”

Adriel glanced at the lavish washroom before looking back at her pointedly. He didn’t say anything; he just smirked at her.

“What?” Her brows furrowed for a second before the realization of what he wanted dawned on her. “No. No way. I’m not bathing you, Adriel. That wasn’t a part of our deal.”

“Ah, but it’s your job to make me feel cherished, is it not? You said that I would be your dearest companion.”

“That’s not fair. I didn’t know exactly what I was getting myself into, and you’re just making things up now because you think you can get away with it.”

“I suppose if you prefer that I follow you around naked...” He didn’t even have to finish the sentence to get his point across.

“You’re not going to let this go until I do what you want me to, are you?”

“Nope.”

Myra let out a long, frustrated sigh while allowing her eyes to wander down Adriel’s body for the briefest of seconds. “Fine. I’ll start running the water.”

“You can pretend that you’re bothered by me all you want, sweetheart, but I think you and I both know how much you’re secretly loving our time together,” he called after her as he watched her walk into the bathroom and turn the faucet on the claw-footed tub. He lazily followed after her and peered over her shoulder. “Don’t forget to add bubbles.”

“You’re enjoying yourself far too much, and it’s all at my expense.”

“Forgive me for basking in your company, little one. It’s been so very long since I last felt the warmth and joy of having someone to speak to and care for me. I had resigned myself to the idea that I would be confined to that lake and alone for an eternity before you came along.”

His words hit Myra right in the chest. She hadn’t ever considered how lonely he must have been. “How did you end up in the lake in the first place?” she asked as she added soap to the water and observed the foamy bubbles gathering on the surface.

“Let’s just say that I was cursed for my own foolishness and greed.” The rising water splashed around his feet and calves as Adriel stepped into the bathtub.

Not wanting to press the issue, Myra silently poured shampoo into the palm of her hand and waited for him to sit down before working it into a lather in his long, algae-covered hair. Her fingers gently massaged his scalp while clearing away layers of dirt and filth to reveal silky-soft strands the color of brown toffee. By the time she was done rinsing it, the water level was only inches away from the rim of the tub, and she reached over to turn off the tap.

Grabbing a clean cloth, she began scrubbing his back, her touch tender and almost reverent. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, and I’m sorry that I’ve been treating you like a nuisance. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have gotten my mother’s ring back, and I’m truly grateful for that.”

Taking her chin into his hand and tilting her face up to meet his gaze, he gave her a charming and adoring smile. “You have nothing to apologize for, my sweet. You are making me whole again—giving me more than I could ever wish for.”

Myra’s pouty lips fell open, watching in fascination as his necrotic skin appeared to be healing right in front of her very eyes, rendering her speechless. “Now, put those delicate little hands back to work, and wash every last inch of me, my precious girl.” Adriel’s seductive and commanding tone made her face blush from the implications of his words.

She ran the soapy cloth over his rangy frame, which was still little more than bones covered in stringy bits of tendons and deteriorated muscles beneath the newly-healed, ruddy skin. After she finished with his upper body, backside and his limbs, she hesitantly reached down between his legs, taking his hardening shaft into one hand as she carefully washed his family jewels with the other.

His cock twitched under her palm, and he let out a low growl of approval. “That’s it, love. Clean me thoroughly. Don’t miss a single spot.”

Feeling emboldened by his reaction, Myra ran the washcloth along his length a couple of times before using her bare hands on him. She teased his tip with her thumb, rubbing it in slow circles while her other hand wrapped around his thick girth to firmly stroke up and down.

Adriel quickly gripped her wrists to still her movements. “As much as I appreciate your enthusiasm, I won’t allow you to bring me to completion when I’m not yet in a position to return the favor. I plan on being buried deep inside of you the first time you make me come.”

The way he spoke, and the way he was looking at her, sent a rush of desire straight to her core, and she discreetly pressed her thighs together to relieve the ache. In an effort to diffuse the tension of the moment, she pulled away from him and grabbed a nearby towel. “W-why don’t we get you dried off and into your clean clothes? Then I’ll make us some breakfast. I can only imagine that it has been quite some time since you had a decent meal.”

Her nervous withdrawal from him could have made any other man second-guess himself, thinking that he had overstepped his bounds by being too bold, but Adriel knew better. Though she tried to hide her attraction to him, he was intimately aware of exactly what effect he had on her. He could literally feel it in his flesh and bones—feel the unseen parts of his body gradually rejuvenating due to her growing emotional attachment to him. “I’m sure that a meal made by your remarkable hands will be far more exquisite than even the greatest of delicacies. I look forward to it immensely.”

Stepping out of the tub and onto the plush rug, he closely watched Myra’s every move and expression while she carefully patted him down with the thick terrycloth fabric. There was no longer the slightest bit of hesitation as she touched and cared for him. It was clear that she was much more comfortable with him now despite his still somewhat unsightly state. That fact alone made Adriel’s heart swell with even more affection for this amazing young woman who saw beyond his outward appearance and to the very depths of him.

Once he was fully dry, Myra helped him into his newly borrowed clothes without even being asked to do so. Now looking and feeling much more civilized, he took a seat on the edge of the bed and watched his angelic little temptress cross the room to the large wardrobe standing against the far wall and begin searching through the colorful garments hanging within. When she had made her selection of gown to wear for the day, Adriel’s indigo eyes focused on her intently as she stepped behind a privacy screen to get dressed.

The sunlight, shining in through the tall windows behind her, silhouetted her gorgeous form perfectly through the decorative, frosted glass panels of the screen. With rapt attention, his gaze followed the hourglass curves of her positively sinful body. From her voluminous breasts to her slim waist and down to the flare of her hips, heart-shaped ass and luscious thighs, his gaze never left her for a second. She was the epitome of feminine beauty, and he wanted nothing more than to lose himself in her completely.

His mouth went dry at the sight of her when she reappeared from behind the screen. She was an exquisite vision of loveliness ripped right out of his deepest, darkest fantasies. The pale green, off-the-shoulder, diaphanous gown—with its long gauzy sleeves, fitted bodice, plunging neckline, layered skirt and adornments of pink rosettes and trailing vines—complemented her strawberry blonde locks and ethereal looks flawlessly. Adriel had never before seen such a magnificent creature in all of his long existence.

For once, he found himself utterly speechless, and Myra merely gazed back at him with a warm, knowing smile. The appreciative, longing look in his eyes was all she needed to see to know exactly what he was thinking. Holding her small hand out to him, she simply said, “Come. Let’s go to the kitchen, and I’ll see what I can whip up for us to eat.”

As he took her hand to let her lead him through the vast manor, he managed to find his words again. “You know, I’ve been wondering... How did a darling little thing like you end up all alone in this big estate?”

“I inherited it from my grandmother just a short time ago. When she passed, she left everything to me, but only under the condition that I never let anyone from outside of the family help me in the running of it. It was her very firmly-held belief that no one could ever love and care for this place the way she could; no mere servant would ever appreciate its splendor and mystique. You see, my grandfather built this house himself as their haven—their most sacred and special sanctuary. Though there were servants here many years ago, when my grandfather died, Grandma got rid of them all. She swore that she could feel her beloved’s spirit wandering in these very halls, but his presence would disappear whenever the servants were around.”

“So, she lived a solitary life in an effort to feel her dearly departed husband’s essence—to hold onto him for as long as she possibly could. It’s really quite romantic. Sad, but romantic nonetheless.” After a thoughtful pause, Adriel asked, “Are you not afraid of being here by yourself? Does your family not worry about you?”

The pair entered the kitchen as Myra responded, “They certainly have their misgivings about me living alone, but my brother visits often to watch over me and help with the chores and maintenance of the place. With all of the work to do around here, I’m usually too busy to be scared or entertain thoughts about ghosts that might be lurking within these walls. Besides, I have you here now to protect me and keep me company,” she smiled before heading to the cupboard to pull out a cast-iron skillet.

“You do indeed have me, my sweet. Just because we made a deal with one another, don’t ever think that I do not truly wish to be by your side with every ounce of my being. You are my saving grace, my enchantress and my heart’s burning desire. Never doubt or forget that.”

His tender words made Myra’s heart skip a beat. There had been other suitors who tried to woo her in the past, but none had ever spoken to her with such feeling and total devotion. No matter what pretty turn of phrase he used, the passion and intensity in his breathtaking eyes revealed the pure honesty of it. Though she couldn’t yet bring herself to admit it out loud, she knew that her own feelings had grown for him exponentially over the very short amount of time that they had thus far shared together.

Adriel admired the pink blush that covered her cheeks while he observed her fluttering to and fro throughout the kitchen as she gathered ingredients for their breakfast, making the mundane task look like a well-practiced, elegant waltz. She diligently plopped a bit of butter into the pan, followed by some cracked eggs and maple sausages. While those began to fry, she sliced some bread to be toasted. The aroma quickly filled the room, causing his stomach to ache and his mouth to salivate with an age-old hunger he had nearly forgotten.

When the food was ready, his darling chef set a full plate, silverware and a cup of tea out in front of him before taking her own seat at the table. “I know it’s nothing fancy, but I hope you enjoy it.”

“This looks and smells amazing.” The words had barely left his lips before he eagerly took a bite out of a plump, juicy sausage.

She couldn’t help but giggle at the way he practically inhaled his meal, hardly stopping to chew between bites. “Don’t eat so fast. You’ll make yourself sick, you silly man.”

With his mouth full of eggs, he let out a grunt of laughter, a dribble of the liquid yolk running down his chin. Without a second thought, Myra reached out to wipe it from his face with her finger. Before she could pull back her hand, however, he lightly gripped her wrist and sucked the daring little digit into his mouth, licking up and savoring every last drop of the sticky mess while giving her a smoldering stare. “Mmm...delicious,” he groaned. “I bet the rest of you tastes even better.”

A sudden heat flooded her belly, and she bit her bottom lip at the feeling of his wet tongue slowly sliding along her skin while imagining all the other places he could use it on. She internally admonished herself for her wanton thoughts and hastily dropped her eyes from his gaze to land on his upper torso, noticing that he seemed to fill out his clothing far better than he had only moments ago. The once bony protrusions of his shoulders now appeared broad and strong, and the buttons of his shirt strained across his muscular chest. Wanting to run her hands over his hulking biceps, she only just barely managed to restrain herself.

In an effort to distract them both, she readily gathered up their empty plates and placed them in the sink along with the dirty skillet and utensils. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a pleasant stroll through the gardens after such a filling breakfast. Would you care to join me?” Not even waiting for a reply or glancing in his direction, she headed out into the hallway and towards the door at the back of the manor. Adriel soon followed after her just as she had known he would.

“Are you in such a hurry to get away from me?” His playful tone indicated that he was all too aware of the motivations behind her actions.

“Not at all. I merely wish to enjoy the rest of the morning before the heat of the day has time to settle upon us.” She held her head high and kept her eyes facing forward, the skirts of her gown billowing in the breeze to give tantalizing glimpses of the toned legs beneath as she walked ahead of her companion and into the center of the sprawling gardens.

Stopping to take in the beauty of the Stargazer lilies, she leaned in to inhale the fragrant scent of her favorite blossoms. Adriel reached out his hand to pluck the very flower that she was admiring from its stem, bringing her attention back to him as he tilted her head up to tuck the colorful bloom into her hair. He gazed upon her fondly while cupping her cheek and running his thumb over her supple bottom lip. “Even the most stunning of flowers pale in comparison to your heavenly radiance. You are truly exquisite, my little Myra.”

The breath was stolen from her lungs as she looked up at his face. No longer was his visage sunken and skeletal with hollow cheeks and dark circles around his eyes. Instead, she stared open-mouthed at the most devastatingly handsome man she had ever seen. The chiseled features—straight nose, high cheekbones, stern brows and full lips—made him look like the very image of a proud prince. Even a fresh growth of stubble sprouted over his lower jaw and upper lip, giving him a more debonair appearance. She had witnessed so many changes in him, but she could no longer keep her curious thoughts and utter amazement to herself. “Adriel...” she whispered his name in awe. “How is this possible?”

He didn’t need to see himself to know exactly what she meant, to know every last detail of the vision that she now beheld before her. “It’s all because of you, little one. Every time your heart beat for me just a little more, every instance you touched me with such tenderness and every moment that you allowed yourself to feel something for me, I became that much more complete. I am now whole once again and eternally free from my wretched curse because you love me. My body, heart and soul will forever belong to you, my most precious treasure.”

Gently taking hold of her waist, he pulled her close, her soft curves pressing against his firm, muscular body. With one hand possessively resting on the small of her back, the other came up to curl around her slender neck, feeling her pulse accelerate under his worshipful caress. Giving her ample time to pull away should she choose to, he slowly brought his lips down to hers. His eyes fell shut as a growl of pure pleasure rumbled from deep within his chest the instant they collided. Myra’s divine lips parted, opening herself to him and gifting him free reign to sample the delectable sweetness of her mouth and talented tongue. Adriel had been yearning for this moment even more greatly than he had realized, wanting and needing to touch and taste her with an insatiable hunger that only she could satisfy.

Moaning softly into the kiss, Myra brought her arms up around his neck, holding him so tightly that not a single gap remained between them. Their passion spread like a wildfire—a burning ember giving way to a blazing inferno that could not be tamed. What had started as a gentle exploration, now became a fervent and undeniable melding of lips that were desperate and greedy for more. Gripping her perfectly rounded rear with his strong hands, Adriel easily lifted her into his arms, prompting her to wrap her legs around him as he carried her back toward the manor.

Breaking the kiss, the words that he spoke could not do justice to the depths of the ravenous desire and undying devotion he held for this extraordinary woman who had brought him back to life in so many ways. “You’re mine, Myra—my breath, my fire, my salvation and my very reason for existing. Say it, my love. Tell me you belong to me, because I’ll never let you go.”

“You have me, Adriel. Absolutely every last part of me is yours, now and always. I couldn’t make my heart or my body deny you even if I tried. I am utterly lost to you.”

Her honey-sweet declaration and the sincerity in her voice only made his ardor grow to maddening new heights. In all haste, he swept her through the corridors of the mansion and kicked open the bedroom door while his nimble fingers tugged at the strings securing the back of her gown. Laying her in the middle of the bed, he took his time in stripping every piece of fragile fabric from her magnificent form, burning the image of her bare, smooth, creamy skin and her mouthwatering curves forever into his mind.

His lips traced along the graceful line of her neck, over her collarbone and down to the succulent peaks of her full breasts. Breathy little whimpers and moans escaped her when he latched onto one of her rosy pink nipples. Adriel’s tongue and teeth worked in unison to flick and nip the taut bud before sucking her soft, ripe mound more fully into his hot mouth while he palmed and kneaded the other. With a quiet pop, he released her only to lavish the other breast with equal attention.

Myra couldn’t take the sublime torture any longer. She needed to feel his naked flesh against hers more than anything. Reaching down, she tore open the buttons of his shirt and yanked the garment off impatiently. Her eyes raked down over the well-defined chest and abs that looked like they had been sculpted by the hands of the gods themselves.

Adriel couldn’t help but chuckle at the lecherous look in her eyes. “My, my, someone’s an eager little minx. You’ll get everything you want, I promise, but I’m not done exploring you yet, darling girl.” Despite his words, she ripped open the fastening at the front of his pants to release his steel-hard shaft from its confines. “Not so fast, my sweet.” He took both of her wrists in one hand and pinned them against the mattress above her head. “I’m going to bring you to the very brink of bliss before I sink myself deep inside you.”

“Please, Adriel...” her breathless plea trailed off as his fingers slid down along her ribs, over her flat stomach and then delved between her thighs into her slick heat.

He groaned at the wetness that he found there. “So ready for me.” Plunging two digits inside and crooking them to hit the sensitive spot that made her head swim and her toes curl, he worked his skilled fingers in and out while rubbing her clit with his thumb.

The room filled with the sounds of her pleasure as she arched her back and squirmed beneath him, her hips involuntarily bucking against his hand. He could feel her inner muscles tightening and clenching around him, signaling that she was close. Before she could find her release, he removed his fingers and shoved down his pants, kicking them off before settling back between her legs and positioning himself at her entrance. “I’m going to fuck you, claim you, cherish you and make you mine for all eternity, my precious Myra. For I am nothing without you and your transcendent love.”

With that, he thrust forward, burying himself to the hilt in one powerful stroke. They both cried out at the feeling of being so fully connected to one another. It was more than just a physical joining, but a spiritual one as well. Remaining still for a moment, Adriel gave her time to adjust to the size of him while he reveled in the sensation of her tight heat enveloping him, squeezing his thick cock like a velvet vise.

Myra’s eyes met his, holding his gaze as she professed her commitment to him in no uncertain terms. “Nothing and no one will ever take me away from you. I am yours in this life and every life hereafter, until the stars disappear from the heavens and the universe itself ceases to exist.”

Adriel’s heart swelled to bursting, and he crushed his lips down upon hers, his tongue plundering her mouth thoroughly while he began to roll his hips. He pulled out until just the tip of his shaft remained inside her before slamming forward once more, filling her completely. The pace that he set was almost punishing in its intensity, but Myra couldn’t get enough of him and the glorious way in which he made love to her.

“You feel positively divine. Such a perfect fit...as though you were made just for me,” he groaned at the euphoric sensation of being buried fully within the woman he craved and loved more than anything, his hips never faltering in their relentless rhythm as he continued to drive into her again and again.

Wrapping her legs around him, Myra’s hands traveled down over his strong back and came to a stop on his firm, muscular ass, feeling his powerful movements beneath her palms while their bodies writhed in a synchronized dance of passion. “Aaahhh!” Her moans grew louder and her pleasure more fierce when Adriel shifted his weight onto one arm to press his free hand down upon her lower abdomen, the added pressure bringing her to even greater heights of ecstasy as she felt every last inch and veiny ridge of his wondrous cock hitting her most sensitive spots.

Adriel could sense her orgasm building, her body tensing and trembling beneath his touch. Redoubling his efforts, he pounded into her harder and faster. “That’s it, my love,” he growled in encouragement, “Come for me. Let me feel you shatter apart around me while I fill you with my seed.” Screaming his name to the heavens, she was helpless but to obey his command as he used his body to expertly bring her to a mind-blowing climax.

Feeling her petite frame quiver and shudder beneath him as her orgasm consumed her, her scream of rapture was music to his ears. The sensation of her silken walls clamping down on his rock-hard shaft, rippling and fluttering wildly, pushed him over the precipice. With a roar that practically shook the bedframe, Adriel plunged himself deep inside her spasming core and erupted, eyes rolling back in his head while lost in the throes of his release.

Collapsing down upon her, his heavy breaths tickled her ear while the aftershocks of their lovemaking continued to wrack their bodies. After a minute or so, he rolled off of her, pulling her into his arms and holding her close as if he never wanted to let her go. With her head resting upon his chest, Myra listened to the beating of his heart and marveled at how it perfectly matched her own. She recalled the moment that they had first met—remembered wondering if the gods had brought him to her in answer of her prayers or as a punishment for her carelessness in losing her mother’s ring. In that instant, she knew without a doubt that he was the greatest blessing of her life.

As if reading her thoughts, Adriel took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips, kissing the brilliant fire opal gemstone that adorned her elegant finger. “I thank the gods that I was cursed, for I would never have found you otherwise. I would have continued to live my life in careless revelry, a greedy man who only ever took what he wanted and never gave anything in return. And I would have died at the end of such a fruitless existence without ever knowing how it felt to be truly loved. You have given me everything I never knew I needed and so much more than I could ever possibly deserve.”

A silent tear of joy rolled down Myra’s cheek at the beauty of his heartfelt words as she lay surrounded by his warm embrace, and she knew that she had found her destiny. Her soul had found its mate, her heart its home. Whatever the future held, whatever trials and challenges might come, she knew that they would face them together. They were bonded by a love that eclipsed the very bounds of heaven and hell, a love that would defy the grave and endure for all of eternity. And so, they lived, not merely happily ever after, but in a love so profound that even the gods themselves would envy its purity and timeless strength.