A/N: Thank you to everyone for reading. Please be warned that this story is rated M for a reason, and that reason begins now!

Part Two is dedicated to the wonderful Cerulean Grace. I gave her several of my secrets for safe keeping, and in return she gave me the greatest title ever written, and I thank her for that.


Part Two

Living with the Vampire Clan was tedious. There were only a few dozen that lived in the castle, and they moved silently through the rooms and hallways, barely speaking. The king sat on his throne day after day, listening to reports of how many humans had been turned, and debating about where they should strike next. Those humans that were made into vampires lacked the magic power that their race possessed, but would be useful in battle. Zeldris would inspect the newest crop each day, making a note of how many the Vampires had acquired, but other than that, there was nothing else for him to do.

Meliodas was afraid that the Vampires could not be trusted, and wanted him to report if they did anything suspicious. But he could not do that because they did not do anything.

He was uninterested in their hunting parties, finding their thirst for human blood disgusting. Humans were the lowest form of life in Britannia, and he looked forward to their extermination in the coming wars. If the Vampires would help that along, then he supposed this sentence of his would end up being worth it.

In the meanwhile, Zeldris was bored. He was a soldier, a fighter, and standing around listening to numbers or hearing the king barking orders was driving him mad. That's why he would follow Gelda out to her hiding spot every evening, he told himself. It was a relief to get outside, breathe new air after being shut inside the castle all day. He needed to hear something other than whispers and footfalls, even if it was just the wind blowing. He had to look at something other than dusty, dimly lit rooms filled with emptiness.

For the first few days, he simply watched her with curiosity. His original plan to take possession of Gelda had faded with his anger, although he still wanted to do something to pay the king back for his insult. Every time he thought of Izraf's insinuation—that he wasn't good enough for her, that he was somehow beneath a Vampire—his blood would boil.

Zeldris was unsure if she knew he was there. She had figured out he was following her the first day, after all. He almost found it impressive. But like the other Vampires, Gelda would not do anything. She simply sat, watching nothing. Her face and her posture gave away nothing about who she was or what she was doing. Even observing her as she sat or stood in her place in the throne room, she was exactly like the stone that surrounded them: hard, cold, and stark.

When he spied her this evening, she was in her usual place, sitting on a large stone that served as a bench, nearly right up against the wall of the castle. It had been nearly a week since Meliodas had left him in this accursed place, and his agitation with the Vampires was growing. He decided to forget watching her, and leave her to whatever strange enjoyment she must get from her hours out here, when she unexpectedly stood. She looked around, scanning for something, and then turned away, her shoulders bent.

He heard her voice, and he crept closer, burning with an intense curiosity. Her voice blew by him again, and there was a flash of light that erupted from the ground. Zeldris stepped back, startled. From what he had gathered, Gelda had no powers.

He hoisted himself over his perch and easily landed just outside the alcove. He watched as Gelda's shoulders heaved as she took a deep breath. "Sacred Inferno," she hissed, and this time, Zeldris saw that the flash erupted from her hands, not the ground. The white light flared up and out, and he raised a hand to protect his eyes from the glare. He could feel the intense heat even from where he stood.

Gelda snuffed out the flame by pressing her hands together, and she gave a sigh. Clutching her hands to her chest, she stumbled and sank down on the bench. He could tell she was weary, and remembered his own trials to harness and direct his powers before he had come into his position. For some reason he could not completely understand, he found this incredibly amusing. He chuckled to himself and strode forward.

As his boots shuffled on the ground, the sound caused her head to snap up, her mouth to widen in horror and surprise. "What—what are you doing here?" she gasped. Gelda went to stand, but he moved in a flash, blocking her way.

"The question is, what are you doing here?" he bit out. He observed her shudder as she sucked in a deep breath, and an unfamiliar twinge of guilt twisted inside him. Zeldris ignored it and moved closer, leaning forward in an attempt to intimidate her.

"Nothing," she answered. It was obvious she was trying to seem completely unemotional, but the slight tremble in her voice gave her away. "Will you go now?"

Zeldris frowned. "I'm here to find any unusual behaviors among the Vampire Clan, you know," he said in a low tone. "If you are hiding some kind of secret from me… a weapon perhaps… then this could go very, very badly."

He observed with pleasure the slight flush on her chest and the way her mouth curved down. "I—I'm not doing—it's not like that!"

"Really?" Zeldris leaned down to meet her at eye level, forcing her to lean backwards. Her face tilted up sharply at his. On the inside, he was delighted to see the blush creeping up to her pale cheeks, the tiny hitch in her throat as her breath caught, the way her mouth parted slightly as she swallowed a gasp. On the outside, however, he scowled at her, pressing against her threateningly. "So what was that flash of fire that I saw in your hands?" he growled.

Gelda's eyes went wide as she choked on her breath. They locked eyes and Zeldris smiled. Finally, a reaction out of this indifferent princess! He chuckled in satisfaction to see her swallow slowly, thickly. Although, somewhere in the back of his mind, the idea that this was wrong somehow scratched at him. He didn't want to see her frightened, or even bent to his will… did he? That would be too easy, and this girl had already shown there was more to her than the demure, obedient daughter. The daughter of my enemy, he reminded himself. He pushed the little voice away and decided that yes, he did want to see her daunted.

She opened her mouth to speak, but then hesitated, her teeth catching her bottom lip for a moment. Suddenly Zeldris was filled with a surge of desire, wanting to taste her beautiful mouth himself. His eyes traveled down, remaining trained on the plump lips that parted with each of her shaking breaths.

"It's not a weapon," she finally whispered, pulling him out of his trance.

"Then what is it?" he asked, genuinely curious now in spite of himself.

Gelda closed her eyes for a moment as her hands gripped the edge of the bench. Zeldris' jaw twitched with the fluttering of her eyelashes. His eyes continued to travel downwards to her chest, rising and falling as she attempted some calm. He could not help but take in the creaminess of her skin, and he wondered if it was as soft as it looked, if she would be burning hot to the touch or as cold as one of their stones.

He took a step backwards to give them both some room. Zeldris was irritated by his own reaction to her. He wanted her, certainly; even if she wasn't the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on, the fact that his brother had forbidden him to go near her had elevated her allure to an unmeasurable amount. But this seemed a bit too much… She was invading him, instead of the other way around.

Gelda raised her chin and drew in a steadying breath. "No one knows this, but I have… I have the power to draw forth fire. I just discovered it not long ago." Suddenly her words began to tumble out of her, shocking him as the confession spilled from her mouth. "I never had any power before, and my father—I think he hates me for it—but I don't know why I never had this before. But fire—vampires fear it, because it can harm us… If they found out I can do this…" Her eyes were steady on his, pleading. Slowly, she rose to stand, taking a step towards him. "I'm begging you, please, don't tell anyone. I'm not a threat to you, I swear it."

Her earnestness hit Zeldris hard. His muscles tensed as he saw the frightened look in her eyes. What exactly would they do to her? Normally he would be curious, and even purposely reveal her secret simply to enjoy the aftermath. But this time, his only thought was… to assure her? But that was ludicrous. She was a Vampire, the daughter of a pathetic king he wanted to see suffer for his slight. He needed to use her, not protect her.

In an attempt to get a hold of himself, get control of the situation, he took another step backwards. "I will grant you my silence in exchange for information," he said slowly.

"Information?" she said in a tiny voice, and once again he felt a wave of annoyance at her. He did not like this frightened Gelda. He preferred when she was bold, as she was when he first arrived in the alcove.

"Yes, information," he snapped at her. He had the sudden urge to go. His mind insisted he get out of there, now. "I'll be back tomorrow. Keep your eyes and ears open for any treachery. I expect a report from you." His skin was hot and uncomfortable under his cloak, and he turned to leave as fast as he could. But before he could exit, her voice stopped him. "Wait!"

Zeldris clenched his fists in exasperation. "What?" he said harshly.

"You are really going to keep my secret?" The change in tone, questioning him, made him look over his shoulder. Her face was back to the mask, all traces of her vulnerability gone. But this mask was one of distrust, imbued with determination. "You won't tell anyone?"

Zeldris fought the urge to reassure her, and instead, chose to turn back to her halfway. In what he hoped was a nonchalant tone, he said, "Not until you give me a reason otherwise."

He smirked at his own cleverness, but then his bravado was knocked aside as she rushed towards him. With a happy gasp she closed the space between them, reaching up with her hands to grip the sides of his face and pull him into a kiss. The shock of her bold move kept him immobile for several seconds, as her soft mouth pressed against his. His eyes remained open, looking at her closed ones, and her fingers felt soft and smooth against his cheeks.

Too soon, she was pulling away, the pressure of her mouth easing as she murmured "Thank you" against his lips. Before she could even finish her whisper he surged forward. His hands circled her, one holding her waist tightly as he pulled her back against him, the other plunging into her hair to hold her head in place. He swallowed her gasp and crushed his mouth against hers, struggling not to moan as he finally got to taste her. His mouth slanted to the side, and he kissed her hard, punishing her lips, determined to take her breath away.

Her hands had slid down to his shoulders, and as he worked her mouth he tightened the fist in her hair and held her waist steady so he could move his hips against hers. This cued the gasp that he wanted, and the sound made the pulse in his head drum. Her mouth opened and his tongue surged forward, sampling her mouth as he stroked it, wanting to make it his.

The taste of her was overwhelming, and he let go of her mouth before he could lose himself, choosing instead to take her bottom lip in his teeth. He nibbled on the sensitive flesh and she squirmed against him. Zeldris smiled against her mouth in satisfaction.

But then, again, she surprised him by yanking her lip away and kissing him boldly, her hands moving up to grip and pull the back of his hair. She held his mouth on hers, and her tongue soon sought his own as it was her turn to now deepen the kiss. Zeldris allowed her to do as she wanted, nearly too stunned to even react. It was only when a breathy moan escaped her into his throat that he pulled the hand in her hair backwards, breaking the kiss.

The two stared at each other, trying to each catch their breath. Zeldris inhaled and exhaled slowly, his eyes focused only on Gelda's lips, now swollen and dark from his roughness. He wanted to kiss her again—needed her again—but even through the haze in his mind he knew that would be a mistake. If he was going to use this girl, then he needed to proceed with caution, or risk getting wrapped up in her.

"Tomorrow," he said darkly, releasing her roughly. She caught herself as she was suddenly responsible for keeping herself upright, but she did not show any regret or fear as she met his eyes. Her eyes showed only desire, and shock, and even a bit of disappointment.

Not wanting to betray his own churning feelings, he turned and took off. For the first time he left the grounds of the Vampire Clan's castle, needing to get some much needed space from Gelda and the rest of them. He needed to regroup before he would do something he'd regret forever.

.o0o.

Gelda sat in the alcove, trying to keep herself calm. She was nearly trembling with anticipation, waiting for Zeldris to appear. She was certain he was making her wait on purpose, but knowing that did nothing to calm her nerves.

It had been a week since their encounter, and she still had no idea what to expect from him. Her confession had shocked her, and she could not even guess what he thought of it. There was fear, certainly, that he would reveal her secret. Demons were known to be treacherous, and it would not surprise her if he betrayed her trust; but, somehow she knew that he would not.

And that kiss… what had she been thinking? The relief of his promise had overwhelmed her; his intensity and boldness drew her in, and continued to do so every time they were together. Gelda would sneak glances at him during the day, as he stood in the corner of the throne room, seemingly observing the Vampire Clan… but she knew better. He was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her, burning on her like fire. Standing in that room with him day after day was becoming the most exquisite torture.

Then, at night, he would arrive. His demeanor when they were alone would change so rapidly sometimes her head would spin. His quiet contempt for the Vampire Clan—and she was certain that he did feel nothing but contempt for her kind—was replaced with a sudden vitality. He demanded information from her, but of course she had none to give. How could she, when she was ignored by everyone? Regardless, she was certain that the Vampires were not doing anything that violated their agreement. They were shoring up their numbers with human victims, nothing more. Zeldris knew this, and she would tell him so.

When he was finally satisfied that she was not withholding information, he would barrage her with questions about them. He wanted to know everyone's name, their positions in the kingdom, how they were all related. Who made which decisions, and why. Gelda would answer his questions succinctly, afraid of angering him and sending him straight to the king with her secret. It was sometimes exhausting to be under his narrow scrutiny, and she wondered why he could possibly want all of this information.

Then a thought had struck her: maybe he was looking for an excuse to stay, to talk to her? Gelda treated this idea gently, afraid of it shattering if she prodded too much. It kept her own temper in check, especially when he would demand to know things she had already answered over and over. Zeldris seemed to love pushing her, that infuriating smirk on his face, and Gelda was determined not to break under the pressure.

Finally, he appeared, and Gelda kept her breathing even as she watched him approach, the familiar grin plastered across his mouth. She wished they could do anything but continue this nightly interrogation, but it was too much of a risk for her to refuse. If her father discovered her ability, it would be the end of her, she was certain. But there was something else she refused to admit to herself: if Zeldris got bored of her, or if she refused to answer him, then he might stop coming to see her altogether.

Tonight he was curious how they turned the humans, so she started describing the process. He made an offhand comment finding the process disgusting, and in her frustration she had retaliated that it was because, as a demon, he could not possibly understand something so complex.

Gelda suddenly found herself caught up against him, one hand gripping the back of her neck, the other biting almost painfully into her hip. It was so fast, she barely registered her shock as he pressed against her. "I couldn't possibly understand, hmm?" he said menacingly, squeezing the fingers against her neck. "Please, enlighten me."

She swallowed, pushing aside the bite of fear and letting her exasperation and fury take over. She flexed her hands, preparing to summon her fire, but the hand at her hip caught her wrist as he anticipated her move. "None of that now," he said sweetly, pulling her wrist behind her and pinning it against her back.

Gelda was caught now, and no amount of struggling would allow her to wiggle from his iron grip. She grit her teeth and kept her eyes steady on him, determined not to show him anything.

His smile was soft, and he slowly moved his hand on her neck upwards, grabbing her hair. He pulled back to display her neck, and he pressed the hand covering her wrist forward, forcing her to push herself even closer. "Let me go," she said in a low, commanding voice.

Zeldris chuckled as he leaned his head down. His face skimmed along her exposed neck. "But I'm being enlightened," he joked, irking her further. His mouth slipped over her skin, and Gelda shuddered. Her eyes closed briefly, willing herself to stop shaking. Feeling his lips graze her was so enticing she thought she would go mad with the anticipation. She forgot about the indignation of his insults and focused solely on keeping herself breathing.

There was a moment's quiet as he stilled against her. Then he said, "Is it something like this?" He bit her, right in the apex of where her neck met her shoulder, and Gelda cried out. It didn't hurt, not really, but it was unexpected and maddening and so damn thrilling she could not help herself. Her anger flared, first at herself, then at him for putting her in this position, and her free hand went flying, striking him against the side of his neck.

He jerked back, not releasing her, but relaxing his grip enough that he could look down at her. She met his eyes with her own glare, and was surprised to see no anger there. Just shock, and could that be… chagrin?

Then his eyes went cold, his entire expression hardened. Gelda took a deep breath, waiting for his reaction, when there was a shout from above. Instantly he released her, and they both moved at the same time, putting space between them. For a moment, she panicked, thinking they had been discovered. But then there was another shout, and Zeldris was moving, standing on a boulder to scan the grounds around the castle.

"It's humans, I think," he said. "They are coming to launch an attack. Why would they do it now, in the middle of the night?"

"They know that there is no one here," Gelda breathed. She started for the path that led back to the castle. "We need to hurry. They'll close the doors to the castle, and we'll be stuck out here when the sun rises." He started to huff, ready to make some joke at her expense, she was sure, but she ignored it and grabbed his arm as she flew by, pulling him after her.

Zeldris growled and grabbed her, carrying her as he sped back towards the castle. Gelda was breathless from the speed, and she clung to his longcoat as she tried to get her bearings. He jolted to a stop and released her. Her legs slipped to the ground and she followed his gaze to the stone doors, where the humans, led by a handful of Holy Knights, had already advanced. The knights were using their powers to try to keep the doors from shutting, and a few Vampires stood at the entrance, keeping them at bay with magic attacks.

"Stay here," Zeldris said. His voice was cold and direct, but she noticed the hint of amusement that tinged the command. He pulled his sword from his sheath and she watched him walk forward.

The humans spotted him and called to attack, but none were a match for the demon. Gelda could barely track his movements as he slaughtered them one by one. After he hewed down the first group with ease, the others began to run, shouting about a demon at the gates. She was amazed at the speed and efficiency with which he killed them. He had no hesitation, no fear.

The Holy Knights turned their attention to him next. Zeldris did not wait for them to come to him, but sent his own attack straight for them. Three fell instantly, but the others regrouped, not to be intimidated like the other human soldiers. She watched as he fought back against their attacks, and when one sliced him on his side, Gelda caught herself from crying out to him. She looked down at her hands, wondering if she should help. She could use her enchanted fire to strike down these knights, but that would mean revealing herself to the Vampires who surely watched from inside the castle. Why weren't they coming out to help him?

"Gelda!" Zeldris' shout snapped her attention back to him. He was looking at her in fury. Two more knights lay dead on the ground, and there was one left, wounded but determined to keep fighting. "Go," he yelled to her, and Gelda moved towards the stone doors.

The Holy Knight followed Zeldris' eyes and spotted her. He whirled around to send an attack at her, but suddenly he crumpled, blood shooting out from where Zeldris' sword had torn straight through his center. Gelda pulled up in shock. Even with all the humans she had seen turned, the humans she herself had killed, she had never witnessed a fight such as this. This was truly an extermination, and she could only look in dazed wonder at the one who was responsible for such a bloodbath.

Zeldris was moving, reaching her in moments. He grabbed her arm and pulled her inside the stone doors, shouting a command to close them. Gelda could do nothing but watch him as he pulled her along the silent, dark hallways, and she stumbled to keep up. She realized they reached her chambers a moment before he pushed the door open. He pulled her inside, kicking the door shut behind them, and released her before walking to the large window.

Gelda was still catching her breath as he looked outside. He sheathed his sword and said with amusement, "The humans are scattering. It looks like the rest of your clan is returning and taking care of them. It's refreshing to see that you Vampires aren't completely dead." Zeldris laughed and looked at her.

She stilled at his harsh criticism. Everything had happened in such a blur, from him grabbing and biting her, to his clash with the humans, and now he was here, here in her room, having probably just saved her life. Her chest heaved and her heart stuttered at the flush of excitement still on his cheeks from his victory, and his latest insult just inflamed the emotion that was already warring inside her. He crossed towards her, and a bolt of heated thrill went through her.

"What the hell were you thinking, anyway?" he snapped out, the excitement from battle melting into an anger that he seemed determined to take out on her. "You were going to use your powers, I know you were. I saw you," he bit out as he reached for her. "Do you realize what you could have done, if they had seen you?"

She gasped, shocked at his words. The concern was so unexpected, Gelda found herself overcome with emotion. As he grabbed her, she reached for him too, catching the back of his head with her hands and pulling him down into a furious kiss. There was just a split second hesitation before his arms wrapped around her back, and they each struggled for control of the kiss, both of their mouths moving roughly against one another, both determined to get the upper hand.

His tongue invaded her mouth, and she groaned against it, welcoming the sensuousness of feeling him stroke over every inch of her mouth. His hands moved down, traveling from her waist to her rear, squeezing hard as they roamed over her hips. Gelda slid her hands to grip his upper arms as she tried to keep herself from getting lost in the incredible feeling of his mouth on hers, his hands on her. Heat flared on her neck when she heard a noise escape his throat, moments before he drew her tongue into his mouth. She gasped as he slowly sucked, and she pushed her body against him, suddenly desperate to get as close as possible.

Zeldris released her mouth and her head dropped back, panting. "Did you not think I could take those pathetic knights myself?" His mouth assaulted her neck, biting and scraping and pulling the skin. Gelda shuddered, the heat inside her flaring again, coiling deep inside her. "No," she whispered in answer to his question, her chest heaving as his teeth bit her shoulder. Fresh desire flushed over her, and as his tongue swiped over her skin, the heat flared downwards between her legs.

"Gelda," he breathed. It sounded like a warning, but she did not care. She turned her face to capture his mouth again, and she moved her hands to grab his coat. She pushed it back, opening it to pull it over his shoulders and down his arms. Zeldris accommodated her, helping to shrug it off and flicking his arms so it fell back to the floor. She hummed in appreciation as she moved her hands down his chest, finally able to trace against the sculpted muscle there now that there was only a thin shirt covering him.

Her hands reached his sides, and when her fingers encountered something wet she pulled back from the kiss and looked down. There was red on her fingertips, but she could not tell whether or not it was his blood, or one of the fallen humans'. As his mouth moved down her neck again, she pushed his shirt up to examine the wound he had received, and was thrilled to see that it had already healed.

It reminded her of what he had done, how he had gotten her back to the castle, and of his unexpected irritation at her for almost showing her powers to aid him. She was filled with a complete and utterly undeniable desire for him.

Her hands went to the clasp on his belt, opening it and letting the scabbard fall to the floor with a clang. Then she pushed him back towards the bed, and he pulled her hips to follow. Gelda reached behind to untie the knot that held her skirt in place. A few steps later, Zeldris stopped as he bumped against the bed, and Gelda pressed against his chest, pressing him to sit.

She went back to untying her skirt, her eyes closing as his hands went to her blouse. The ties finally gave way and she let the skirt fall to the floor, pooling around her. Zeldris was not so gentle as he pulled her blouse open, fabric ripping and buttons popping. Gelda squeezed her eyes shut, shivering as the air met her heated skin. She felt herself blush, now only in a long slip, suddenly self-conscious standing in front of him.

Then his hands were on her, running over her sides, and Gelda gave a sharp gasp as she felt him grip the straps of the slip and pull them down, exposing her body. As the thin fabric was yanked down to her hips, she risked a glance down at him. To her thrill, she saw Zeldris' eyes devouring her, completely clouded with lust. His hands traveled over her smooth stomach and up to cup her breasts. A hungry sound escaped him, and the salacious way he looked at her, betraying his need and his desire, took her breath away.

Now emboldened, Gelda straddled him. Her knees pressed into the bed on either side of his hips as she lowered herself onto his lap. Zeldris looked up at her, his need absolutely clear on his face, and one hand snaked under the fabric gathered at her hips, tracing along her thigh. She braced herself on his shoulders and lifted her hips, allowing him access to every inch of her.

The absolute carnality of feeling his fingers sweep between her legs made Gelda let out a low moan. She had never, ever been touched this way, and she thought she would be consumed by the passion that now engulfed her. Her core was throbbing, and he murmured in approval when he found the slick heat with his hand. Gelda tilted forward, wanting something she could not name, all understanding and thought gone as her own desire took complete control of her. She registered that smirk that she had grown to both love and hate as he gazed up at her flushed face, but before she had even a moment to react, his fingers were inside her.

Gelda cried out, shaking as he slowly stroked her insides. The palm of his hand pressed up, and she rocked her hips, grinding against him instinctively. The pleasure was intense, and her mouth dropped open as she panted hotly, her body rocking as she sought relief. His other hand, which had held steady on her waist, slid upwards. It grazed her breast lightly, sweeping in a circle around against her skin that mimicked the achingly slow movement of his hand between her legs. Then, he pressed his thumb harshly against her nipple, causing it to harden instantly and drawing another cry from her.

Zeldris laughed, but Gelda was beyond caring. She only wanted him, and her mind was lost to the sensual waves of pleasure and the pure instinct of her movements. She felt the coil inside her start to tighten, and she knew she was close to falling over the edge of whatever this passion was.

She realized her nails were digging into Zeldris' shoulders. She loosened her grip and looked down, rocking her hips back and forth to meet the thrust and grind of his fingers. He grinned lasciviously at her, and this time, his expression registered through her passionate haze. Suddenly she wanted him to feel just as crazed with desire as he was making her. She wanted to hear him moan her name. She wanted to see him come undone.

Gelda gave him a push, and he went a bit off balance, his fingers slipping from her wet heat as the other hand reached back to stop him from falling back on the bed. Without a word she grabbed at his trousers, pulling them open against the straining bulge between his legs. With a growl he reached down and pulled the fabric down his hips, freeing his erection.

She did not let herself even think as she rose up and pressed her hips forward. Her already throbbing center pressed against him, and they both groaned as she flooded him with a new wave of slickness. Gelda rocked her hips, grinding hard against him, thrilled by how he felt like the softest velvet and hard as a rock at the same time. Then he took her by the hips and pulled her down, sheathing himself within her in one thrust.

Gelda screamed, feeling as though her sensitive flesh was being torn in two. Her eyes squeezed shut as her hands found his chest, and she braced herself as the burn between her legs quickly melted into a new level of pleasure. Zeldris still gripped her by the hips, and his fingers squeezed into her as he began to move her, using her body as she had wanted to use his. But none of that mattered to her now as she tried to keep herself steady, tried to hold onto the last thread of her control that seemed to be rapidly slipping through her fingers.

She heard Zeldris groan and he arched against her, thrusting his hips upward as he pulled her down. He was deeper inside her than ever, and Gelda bit her lip to keep herself from calling his name, from begging him not to stop.

But then his pace quickened, and the added friction sent her toppling into her orgasm. Her body pulsed around him, her mind lost to the pleasure that completely filled her. Somewhere in the thundering in her head she heard him say something, and then he was emptying inside her. The new sensations took her breath away, her head dropping forward as she panted and gasped for air. His hands held her stable as his own hips slowed to a leisurely movement, stroking the last of their pleasure before going still.