Chapter 50 - Missed me?

EMMA

The sound of an opening door wakes me up. For a second I believe it’s Hadrian. I sit up on the bed and look around the bedroom. I blink my eyes as they adjust to the darkness of the night. The room is empty and the door is closed like it was when I went to sleep. Hadrian left two nights ago and I’ve been on edge ever since. The hollow feeling in my chest is back, it is gaping and begging to be filled.

A pang of sadness moves through me and I sit there sulking in the dark. He didn’t say when he would come back, but it must be before the festival. It is still dark outside, but it is the morning before the Blood Moon. It’s so early that the sun hasn’t risen yet, but the moon is dropping to the horizon.

I sigh and the pressure on my bladder is annoying me. I get out of bed and my bare feet touch the wooden floor. A shiver runs over my spine when I leave the warm bed.

Something strangely nags at the back of my neck and I turn my head to the closed door again. The room is as empty as it was a minute ago. I shake off my paranoia and move to the bathroom. The light hurts my eyes when I turn it on. I squint when I go to relieve myself. I blink my eyes until they stay open and are adjusted to the light.

The tiles beneath my feet are cold when I tipple through the bathroom on my way back to my warm bed. I yawn as I turn off the light. There is an energy in the room and the shiver returns. I don’t see where I walk and I nearly stumble on a flat, even spot on the floor.

Two large hands grip around my waist and keep me from falling. Fingers dig hard in my ribs and it sends bolts of electricity through my veins. My body immediately recognizes the touch of Hadrian and I nearly moan when his deep manly scent engulfs me.

He towers over me and overpowers me with his presence. “Missed me?” He asks and his voice is layered, rough and dark.

Hadrian is shirtless and his body is steady against me. I cannot see him, but I can feel the big, bare muscles of his shoulders beneath my palms. His body is hot and nearly scorching to the touch.

“I did,” I answer truthfully.

His hungry lips meet mine. His hand moves to my neck and pulls at my hair. I gasp and Hadrian uses the moment to trust his tongue in my mouth. He licks and tastes me as he pushes me to the bed. The kiss is hard and commanding. His lips are dominant and forceful. I moan and eagerly let him take the lead.

My vision is obscured by the darkness of the room. The only thing I can see is the outline of his face and body.

My body is on fire as it catches up to his intense advances. I’ve been starving for his touch and forget all my inhibitions.

I entangle my fingers through his hair and kiss him back. I let myself be consumed by him. How his weight presses on my body. How his touch electrifies my skin. How his hand moves over my thigh and hip as he spreads my legs. I wrap them around his waist. His fingers trail higher over my waist, leaving a scorching trail of heat behind. The arousal between my legs builds fast.

There is no hesitation within him when he moves one hand over my breast and squeezes over the fabric of my nightgown. I yelp but arch my back for him to get closer.

His touches are demanding and hard, but not painful. Hadrian breaks the kiss and traces his lips along the skin of my jaw, neck and chest. I moan and heat builds further in my core.

His lips close around my nipple over the satin of my nightgown and suck. I cry out when he tugs it hard with his teeth.

I can’t deny the pleasure soaring through my body, but something is off. Hadrian has never been rough in any way.

My eyes have adjusted to the darkness and I look at him.

His eyes are black, but it's different from when he communicates with Nero. This darkness gives me a chill. It’s a darkness that is sinister and vicious. His canines are bared. They’re sharp and gleam in the moonlight.

This is the ruthless prince I expected to fear. The one of rumors.

The one that is brutal, vicious and cold.

I crawl back and away from him until my back hits the headboard. Hadrian growls and pulls me back down by my ankle. My body slides over the bed and my nightgown rakes up. “Hadrian, what are you doing?”

He moves his body over mine. “I’m going to fuck that sweet pussy of yours.” He twists his hand around my panties and pulls until they snap.

I’m bare before him and he pushes one leg wider.

He takes a deep breath. “You smell soaking wet.” I notice the difference in his voice now. His normal voice is low, raspy and seductive. Now it is wicked.

I push against his chest to make him look at me. “Hadrian, slow down.”

He growls and unbuttons his trousers. He takes his heavy member in one hand. “I need that soaking pussy of yours around my cock.”

I gulp at his words and watch how he moves his hand over his hard shaft. My body is screaming for me to let him do exactly what he’s offering. I feel an aching emptiness between my legs and the fire in my core is unbearable.

He places a hand beside me and hovers over me. “I want you screaming.”

“Hadrian don’t do this.” I furtively hope that the sound of my request will break him out of whatever state he’s in.

He grumbles and moves his hand to the neckline of my gown. “Louder little mate, way louder.” He grips his hand around the thin fabric.

I cover his hand with mine and beg for him not to rip my nightgown. I pierce him with a glare. “Hadrian, listen to me!” I shout.

Hadrian is beside himself right now. Something has him consumed. I know he doesn’t want to hurt me. I believe that. I need him to snap out of it.

He rips at the fabric and it easily tears like it’s nothing. I try to stop him and he growls. He grips his hand high around my throat and my eyes widen.

I wrap a hand around his wrist. “Stop.” I croak out. I close my eyes and feel tears threaten to spill.

I take my necklace in my free hand and send him a silent apology. I press the chain around his wrist and he hisses.

Hadrian pulls his hand away and growls at me. His growl makes the tears fall down my cheeks. He squints and shakes his head. His eyes flicker to amber as he looks at his burned hand. I gasp and it turns his attention to me.

His eyes roam over me and I cover my chest. I blink away the tears from my vision.

“Hadrian,” I whisper with a sniffle. My voice breaks over his name.

His eyes completely turn light amber when he hears me. The darkness is replaced with revulsion. His eyes turn horrified by what they see and realization must dawn on him. “Fuck.”