The Lady Smut Book of Dark Desires (An Anthology) Page 25
All at once, she felt her body alter, a seismic shift like a chrysalis emerging from its cocoon, transformed to a butterfly. She became hyperaware of her beating heart, the roar of blood in her veins, the sinuous strength of her muscles. Her limbs were smooth and supple, drenched in the limitless perfection of youth. With unequivocal certainty she knew her human existence was no more, replaced by eternal life. An absolute metamorphosis.
As their heated passion calmed, Dionysus collapsed upon the bed beside her. As they lay panting, the six nymphs chosen to witness the event climbed down from the bed to stand upon the dais, facing the crowd.
"It is done!" one of the male nymphs declared.
"La nostra regina! La nostra regina! Ti adorare!" Over and over the euphoric nymphs cried out their response. Inexplicably, though she'd never studied a foreign language, Faith understood every word. Our queen! Our queen! We worship you! And at that moment, she knew the truth. Her transformation was complete.
Dionysus rolled to the end of the bed and slid off. Turning, he held his hand toward Faith and helped her down. As she stepped onto the dais to greet her followers, she was infused with the most perfect sense of harmonious wellbeing, her body a vessel that would last forever.
Through eyes that were sharper and more clear, she looked out at the adoring crowd, smiling down upon them like a leader to her faithful flock. They waved to her from their places on the soft forest ground, their flawless skin still stained with the heated blush of passion. Already they venerated her, welcoming her into the fold with the profound certainly that she was meant to be their leader. Faith met their gazes, gripped by a deep and abiding sense of love. The feeling was so potent as to nearly be tangible. She also knew her feeling was not exclusively for the nymphs alone.
"Return to me." Perhaps once again reading her thoughts, Dionysus issued the quiet command from behind her. Faith looked back, struck by the beauty of his perfect, masculine frame casually reclining against the pillows. She smiled and climbed across the bed to lay beside her beautiful god, resting her head in the crook of his arm as he trailed fingers along her bare skin. With heartbreaking tenderness he dotted soft butterfly kisses across her face, his breath drifting over her like a warm summer breeze.
She sighed with contentment, tilting her head to one side as he gently caressed her cheek. She looked around through sated eyes, realizing to her amazement that the forest was suddenly teeming with gold. Glittering dust swirled in the air like a fantastical blizzard and showered everything in its wake: the nymphs, the animals, the forest trees and streams. Jubilant nymphs scooped up handfuls of the sparkling dust and tossed it back in the air, laughing and dancing as it drifted downward and covered their naked bodies.
Dionysus rose to a sitting position upon the bed, drawing Faith up beside him. "Bevete vino!" he shouted, drawing joyous cries from their followers. Like a crowd of drunken revelers they flocked to the stream, all suddenly in possession of shiny gold chalices. As Faith's gaze followed their path, she realized with a shock that the stream no longer ran crystal clear but was instead a deep blood red. Dionysus had converted the water to wine. The happy nymphs filled their cups from the magical stream, splashing and playing, the wine streaking rivulets of red through their gold-covered bodies, like rain on a dusty window.
Faith turned back toward Dionysus as he drew her closer to his side. "I thought you emitted gold only when aroused," she whispered.
"I produce gold when I am happy," he clarified, "whether that happiness is from desire for my queen" — he gently kissed her lips, then finished in a breathy whisper — "or when I am filled with love for her."
Her heart surged at his declaration, realizing she felt the same. Her gaze turned watery as her eyes filled with tears of happiness. With a gentle finger Dionysus reached out to swipe them away.
"My beautiful queen," he whispered. "You are now mine forever."
"And you are mine," she replied, desire for her mate stirring anew. Her gaze flicked downward, seeing evidence that she was not alone in her rising lust. She reached between their bodies, stroking his rigid cock as he sucked in a sharp breath.
"Tell me one thing before I take you," she demanded, already feeling empowered in her new role as his queen.
"Anything." His breath stirred. Beads of sweat were forming on his brow. He reached out to caress her breast, his touch not quite tender as he pinched her nipples. Faith moaned in response.
"Dana," she panted, needing to ensure her friend was unharmed and safe before she mounted Dionysus.
"Already free," he whispered. "As promised."
She straddled his thighs and then slowly impaled herself on his thick cock, gasping as she was deliciously stretched. Setting her palms atop his chest, she leaned forward, bringing her lips close to his ear.
"And now, so are you."
"Thanks to my beautiful queen." His breath was little more than a ragged whisper. In one smooth motion he flipped her onto her back and spread her legs wide. His eyes were stained ink black with lust as his sultry gaze seared its place on her heart.
"Mine forever," he growled, and then they spoke no more as Dionysus buried himself into his welcoming queen.
* * *
Three months later
All eyes in the small projection room were glued to the screen. The final shot was a wide pan of the abandoned psychiatric facility before the screen went dark and credits began to roll. It was without musical accompaniment as Faith felt that anything less than total silence would take away from the stark moodiness they'd achieved in the film. When the last few feet of the sixteen millimeter film had played and the screen went black, the only sound in the room were Dana's sniffles.
Faith turned behind her. "Brings up the lights, would you, Cam?"
"Got it." Seconds later the room brightened.
"Absolutely brilliant, Faith," Dana said, wiping her teary eyes. "It's the best you've ever done."
"The best we've ever done," Faith corrected. She looked around at her faithful crew all gathered in the projection room for the viewing. "This never could've been done without you guys." She grabbed the champagne she'd brought along to celebrate. Easily untwisting the coiled metal around the top, she uncorked the bottle and raised it to the gathered group.
"To the best film crew anywhere," she said. "You guys rock."
She filled their glasses and they all clinked them together before drinking deeply.
"Damn, there really is something to the expensive stuff," Tyler said. He took another long sip and added, "I still can't believe we have the money for this."
"That and everything else," Dana added. "It's like Faith uncovered a gold mine or something."
Faith shrugged and raised her glass. "Here's to rich uncles."
"It's just so weird that your family never talked about him," Cam said, frowning. "But then you're the one he left all his money to when he died."
"Who cares?" Kelly laughed. "Besides, isn't there a saying about fortune smiling on the brave and frowning on the coward? If anyone is brave it's Faith, and she deserves every penny for it."
His twenty-something youthful exuberance still stirred fires of lust within her. An amused voice chuckled in her head. If you want him, take him. Perhaps I'll even join you. She smiled. God of ecstasy indeed. Dionysus had never met a sexual encounter he refused. And lately, nor had she. Never in her life had she felt more alive. It was all part of the frenzied, joyous, perpetual world she now inhabited, and the showering of divine love from her perfect ancient god.
Lady Smut is a blog for intelligent women who like to read smut. On this blog we talk about our writing, the erotic romance industry, masculinity, femininity, sexuality, and whatever makes our pulses race.
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About Us
LIZ EVERLY writes the sexy culinary-themed romantic suspense SAFFRON NIGHTS SERIES for e-Kensington. The SAFFRON NIGHTS series explores food and passion on an international sca
le. Think truffle hunting in Tuscany, exotic mushroom gathering in Hawaii, and open-air markets in Mexico. She also publishes her own erotic short stories on Amazon. Writing about Xander the sexy vampire in this collection gave her a chance to explore her dark side. In her other life, she pens a mystery series, has written cookbooks, and works as a freelance food writer. She's a member of RWA and of the Kiss of Death chapter. Contact her at Lizeverly@rocketmail.com; @lizeverly1, Facebook, or lizeverly.com.
MADELINE IVA enjoys writing and reading erotic romances with kinky-lite sex. Her books focus on whip-smart heroines, brooding heroes. Whether fantasy or paranormal, she always includes big whollop of comedy. She's a member of RWA, and Washington Romance Writers. She organizes romance panels for LOVE FEST at Virginia Festival of the Book. You can find out more about her, her books, and LOVE FEST by visiting her website at madelineiva.com. Follow her on Twitter: @madelineiva. Friend her on Facebook.
C. MARGERY KEMPE is a writer of erotic romance distinguished by its humour, intelligence and fearless sensual pleasures. Her stories range from contemporary thrillers to medieval era fairy tales. An English professor by day, she also writes on medieval literature, film, creative writing and New Media, as well as humor, drama, mainstream and genre fiction under her real name, noir as Graham Wynd and non-explicit romance as Kit Marlowe. Follow her on Twitter: @cmkempe or friend her on Facebook.
One of ELIZABETH SHORE'S great passions is writing historical and contemporary erotic romance - the hotter, the better. She's never met a bad boy she didn't love and she's swept off her feet by complex, tortured heroes, smart and sexy heroines, and conflicts that seem unresolvable. In addition to her zest for romance, she freely admits to being Stephen King's #1 fan (despite what Kathy Bates might have you think), is a devoted animal lover, and has never seen a bag of potato chips she couldn't conquer. In addition to Harper Impulse, she's published with the Wild Rose Press and Kensington. You can follow her comings and goings on Facebook, at her website, lizshore.com, via Twitter @renaissance11, or contact her directly: elizabeth@lizshore.com.
About HarperImpulse
HarperImpulse is an exciting new range of romance fiction brought to you from the women’s fiction team at HarperCollins. Our aim is to break new talent from debut authors and import the hottest trends from the US, bringing you the very best in romance. Whether that is through short reads for your mobile phone or epic sagas that span the generations we want to proudly publish romance fiction that gets everybody talking.
Romance readers, come and meet the team at our website www.harperimpulseromance.com, our Facebook page www.facebook.com/HarperImpulse or follow us @HarperImpulse!
Writers, we are simply looking for good stories! So, what are you waiting for? To submit, e-mail us at romance@harpercollins.co.uk.
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