Chapter 23- Fallen and Found

Partial NSFW: Trapped in Paradise

Author Note: This chapter includes a NSFW section, which you can hide and skip without missing plot details.

Kate’s POV

I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck – in the best way possible. My body was sore, but it was a good kind of sore, the kind that reminded me of the wild night I had just had with Liam. Turns out, the only thing more exhausting than running a marathon is apparently sleeping with a Fae. Who knew?

Waking up next to a sleeping Fae is great… until you try to move. Suddenly, you’re acutely aware of every muscle you never knew you had. Note to self: if a Fae ever whispers sweet nothings about “unleashing your inner wildness” – run. Or at least stretch beforehand. I shifted in his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. His arm was still tightly wrapped around my shoulder, and his heartbeat was a slow, steady drum against my ear.

I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I thought about how Liam had been anything but all “bark and no bite”. Boy, had he shown me things. Things I didn’t even know existed outside of really creative fan fiction. I was still in awe of the things he had done to me, even a bit dazed, if I was being honest. I mean, I knew Fae were different, but damn…

I glanced over at him, taking in his handsome face. He was still asleep, his lips curled up in a blissful smile. I couldn’t resist nestling closer to him, enjoying the scent of pine and moss that clung to him. His hair was tousled, and his chest was bare (as the rest of his body), giving me a perfect view of his toned muscles. I could feel the heat radiating off of him, and it made me want to press myself even closer.

Unlike Cyrus, who resembled a walking brick wall, Liam’s body was more akin to a finely crafted blade – sharp, agile, and oh-so-dangerous. It was the difference between a linebacker and a fencer, both powerful in their own right, but with vastly different approaches to combat. I traced the line of his hip, remembering how effortlessly he’d moved above me, and a shiver of anticipation coursed through me. Clearly, this Fae knew exactly how to wield his body as a weapon of mass seduction.

As I lay there, I started to think about what I should do next. Should I stay here with Liam and the Iele for a while, or try to contact my mom’s friend in Italy to find out more about her research? Did they even have cell service here? Wi-Fi? Does Amazon deliver to the realm of Iele?

I ran my fingers through Liam’s hair, admiring how silky and soft it felt between my fingers. I didn’t know much about him, besides his name and the fact that he was a Fae, but I didn’t really care. Our relationship wasn’t love, just pure lust, and I was quite happy with that for now if that’s all he wanted in exchange for his help.

He had also been asleep when we first met. Maybe that was his secret weapon – luring women in with his unconscious hotness. I had to admit, it was a pretty effective tactic – he really was a very handsome sleeper after all. I leaned in to kiss him tenderly, feeling his lips respond to mine. His face was surprisingly smooth, as if he was freshly shaven and I could tell that he was already getting excited again. I couldn’t help but smirk.

“You’re terrible,” I whispered, my voice full of amusement. “Don’t you ever stop?”

His eyes fluttered open as I pulled away, and he smirked back at me, pulling me even closer and on top of himself. “You know you like it,” he said, his voice a low and seductive hum. A familiar warmth spread through me as his hand slid onto my hip. “Morning already?” he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep. “Someone’s eager.”

I straddled his hips with my legs, feeling the heat of his body against mine and leaned down to nibble on his neck, inhaling his scent deeply. “I do have to agree,” I admitted, my voice husky.

I couldn’t deny it. I did like it. I liked the way he made me feel, the way he seemed to know exactly what I wanted before I even knew it myself. I liked the way he looked at me, like I was the only woman in the world.

As I teased the spot above his collarbone with my tongue, I felt his hands roam my body, reawakening the desire that still simmered beneath the surface. I arched my back, pressing myself against him, feeling his arousal press against my thigh.

I traced a path down his sculpted chest with my lips, each kiss a teasing spark that ignited a trail of fire across his skin. Liam groaned softly, his body sinking deeper into the cool grass with a lazy smirk.  He laid there, one hand rested behind his head, the picture of relaxed arrogance, while the other tangled in my hair, a silent invitation for me to continue my delicious exploration. I could feel him getting harder beneath me as I slid down his body and couldn’t help but grind against him as I moved past his hardening arousal.

He let out a soft purr, his voice full of desire. “Someone’s feeling frisky this morning,” he said, his eyes gleaming.

I smirked up at him, my hands exploring his body like an uncharted map. “You have no idea,” I replied, my voice full of promise.

My fingertips danced across his stomach, teasing out a trail of goosebumps that rippled across his skin. He tried to play it cool, pretending to be unaffected, but a subtle tremor in his muscles gave him away. A smirk tugged at my lips as I made a mental note to further use that to my advantage later.

“Oh, you’re ticklish,” I purred, zeroing in on a particularly sensitive spot low on his abdomen. A sharp hiss of air escaped between his teeth as he fought to suppress the involuntary reaction to my touch, trying to disguise the shiver that ran through him. I leaned in, my lips ghosting over the spot before I playfully nibbled at his skin. Another sharp intake of breath, a startled laugh, and his hands instinctively flew to grab mine.

Liam’s eyes darkened as he caught my hand, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Careful, sweetheart,” he warned, a playful glint in his eyes, “you’re playing with fire.”

I met his gaze with a sultry smile, my eyes twinkling with mischief. “Isn’t that the point?” I whispered, tilting my head. “Besides, I thought Fae loved to burn.”

A mischievous smile curved his lips as he surrendered to my touch. “You win this round,” he murmured, his voice a low growl. “But don’t think for a second that I won’t get my revenge later.”

Liam looked at me with a mixture of desire and amusement as I continued my exploration.

Warning: NSFW Section

I could feel his cock twitching against my skin, begging for attention. I smirked, one hand sliding down to cup his balls as I obliged, before taking him in my other hand and closing my palm around his throbbing shaft. I looked up at Liam’s face with a teasing smile, gently swirling my thumb around the tip.

He groaned, his hips bucking against me. “You’re going to be the death of me, woman,” he muttered, his voice strained.

I chuckled, moving further down to leave a trail of kisses from his hip bone to his shaft, before taking his cock in my mouth and swirling my tongue around the tip. I could taste the light saltiness of him, and it made me want more. He flinched, his whole body tensing as I began my torment as he dug his fingers deeper into my hair. I began to suck on him, letting his head roll around my tongue like a plump cherry before sliding my head and hand further down to take more of him in.

He groaned loudly, stretching his leg and pushing it against the ground while further arching his hips against me. I could feel his cock twitching and pulsing under my teasing hands and moaned lightly as I sucked on him, bopping my head up and down while gently fondling his balls.

His balls tightened under my hands, his breath coming in ragged breaths as he groaned my name in a pained, almost pleading tone. I smirked against his dick as I could tell he was about to cum, and contemplated whether I should let him do so or withhold him from the sweet release, as he had done to me as we started yesterday. His hips suddenly bucked against me, shoving himself even deeper into my mouth.

I tightened my grip on his balls and decided that it would be more fun to tease him with how quickly he came instead, so I began to suck harder, swirling my tongue around him as I did so. “FUCK!” Liam gasped sharply, his fingers clawing into the grass above his head as he succumbed to the intense pleasure. He pushed his toes harder against the ground as he came in my mouth, a hot stream of bitter and salty release.

I swallowed, not a big fan of the taste but reveling in his disheveled, breathless appearance.

Crawling back up to his chest, a satisfied smile spread on my face.

“Too quick,” I teased lightly, brushing a kiss against his lips as he caught his breath.

He cursed, desire still evident in his eyes, his voice a husky whisper against my skin. “You’re a monster,” he murmured, the word a mix of accusation and admiration.

I chuckled, leaning down to press another kiss to his lips, this one lingering. “Maybe,” I purred, “but I learned from the best.”

His eyes darkened, a flicker of amusement dancing in their depths. “Don’t get too cocky, little minx,” he warned, his voice low and seductive. “I could teach you a thing or two about being a monster.”

“Oh, I’m counting on it,” I breathed, my fingers tracing the lines of his chest. “But I’m a quick learner, aren’t I?”

He didn’t reply, but his actions spoke volumes. In a swift motion, he flipped us over, pinning me beneath him with a playful grin. His lips crashed onto mine in a kiss that was both demanding and intoxicating. As his hands roamed my body, igniting fires everywhere they touched, a mischievous glint entered his eyes.

Showoff, I thought with a smirk, reveling in the intensity of his touch.

“Let’s see how quick you learn this,” he murmured against my mouth, his fingers finding a ticklish spot on my ribs.

I erupted in giggles, squirming beneath him as his touch sent shivers down my spine. “Liam, stop!” I squealed, trying to wriggle free. But he was relentless, his fingers dancing across my skin, finding every sensitive spot.

“Not so cocky now, are you, little minx?” he teased, his lips curving into a seductive smirk that made my toes curl.

I bucked against him, laughing and gasping for breath. One hand flailed out, grasping blindly for anything to anchor me, and my fingers closed around something sharp. A jolt of pain shot through my hand, and a cry escaped my lips.

Liam froze, his expression instantly morphing into concern. “What happened?” He gently pried my fingers open, revealing a thorn embedded in my skin, blood welling up around it.

“Oh, shit,” he muttered, his brow furrowed with a mix of concern and self-reproach. He carefully extracted the thorn, then brought my injured finger to his lips. His tongue swirled around the tiny puncture, drawing out the sting and replacing it with a warmth that radiated through my entire body. I watched, mesmerized, as he lapped up the single drop of blood that welled up, his eyes never leaving mine.

“All better?” he asked, his voice a soft murmur that resonated in my chest. His eyes searched mine, a flicker of something primal lurking in their depths.

I nodded, speechless, my heart thrumming against my ribs like a hummingbird’s wings. His gaze lingered on my lips for a moment, a silent question hanging in the air. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he lowered his head and continued his ministrations, his lips tracing a fiery path down my arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. As he reached my chest, his eyes glazed over, a strange intensity burning in their depths.

He began to murmur words against my skin, sweet nothings at first, but then the language shifted into the melodic singsong of the Iele. The words flowed from his lips like a melody, a haunting song that resonated deep within me. His kisses became more fervent, each one searing my skin, igniting a heat that spread through my veins like wildfire. The air around us seemed to crackle with energy, and I felt a strange buzzing sensation deep within me.

Then, a wave of electricity surged through us, leaving me breathless and disoriented. Liam snapped out of his trance, his eyes wide with surprise. “What was that?” he asked, his voice laced with wonder and a hint of fear.

I shook my head, my mind reeling. “I… I don’t know,” I breathed, my voice barely a whisper. I had no idea what had just happened.

A hush fell over the clearing as a dozen Iele materialized from the surrounding trees, their eyes glowing with an eerie light. Their expressions were a mixture of fury and disgust, directed squarely at Liam.

“Liam,” their leader hissed, her voice sharp enough to cut through the tension, “what have you done?”

Heat flooded my cheeks as I realized we were both completely naked, exposed to the judgmental gazes of a dozen fairies. My eyes darted around the clearing, nervously searching for my discarded clothing. A wave of irrational embarrassment washed over me as I spotted my white dress crumpled near a cluster of wildflowers. With a swift movement I lunged forward, my fingers brushing against the soft petals as I snatched up the fabric. Clutching the delicate material to my chest, I felt relief wash over me, as if the flimsy material could somehow protect me from their disapproving stares.

Liam looked bewildered, his brow furrowed as he struggled to process the scene unfolding before him. He blinked rapidly, as if trying to clear his vision, his gaze darting between me and the Iele like a trapped animal. “I… I don’t know,” he stammered, his voice rough and disoriented.

The leader’s lip curled in disdain. “You don’t know?” she sneered. “You reckless fool! We should never trusted you… with her!”

A chill ran down my spine. “What’s going on?” I stammered, my voice high with a hint of hysteria as I struggled to comprehend the situation.

The Iele turned their cold gaze on me, their eyes piercing through the thin fabric of my dress as if to assess the damage done. The leader’s voice, once melodic and soothing, now dripped with venom as she delivered the devastating news.

“He bound you to our realm,” she declared, each word a hammer blow to my heart. “You can never return to human world!”

I stared blankly at her, my mind struggling to grasp what she had just said, the reality of her words sinking in like a stone. A wave of nausea suddenly washed over me, my knees threatening to buckle beneath me. I clutched the dress tighter, my knuckles turning white.

The Iele watched my reaction with a mixture of emotions. Anger blazed in their eyes as they glared at Liam, their disgust palpable. Yet, when they turned to me, their expressions softened, a hint of pity mingling with their condemnation. I could feel their sorrow, their empathy for the innocent victim caught in Liam’s reckless act.

My breath hitched. “But… how?” I whispered, my eyes wide with disbelief.

“He performed ritual of Binding,” the leader explained, her voice dripping with contempt. “You are now one of us.”

My mind reeled. The ritual of Binding? What were they talking about? My eyes darted between the leader and Liam, confusion and panic swirling within me.

“But I didn’t mean to!” Liam protested, his voice almost desperate. “We were just… it was an accident.”

The leader scoffed. “Accident? Stupid child! Did you not think to control your impulses?”

I glanced at Liam, who was staring at the ground, his face pale and stricken. His eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and confusion, his body tense as if bracing for a blow. It was clear he had no idea what had just happened or why the Iele were so furious. He seemed utterly lost, caught in a whirlwind of emotions he couldn’t comprehend.

I felt a surge of anger on Liam’s behalf. It was clear they held him in low regard, but I wouldn’t let them berate him like this. “I don’t think he knew what he was doing,” I interjected, my voice stronger than I felt. “It wasn’t intentional.”

The leader turned back to me, her expression a mix of exasperation and pity. She sighed, as if dealing with two clueless children. “Did you give any of your blood?” she asked, her tone sharp, but with a hint of underlying sadness.

I hesitated, then nodded slowly. “I pricked my finger on a thorn. He… he cleaned the wound.” I could guess what she was implying. My blood, the blood of a saint, was clearly powerful. Could it have interacted with Fae magic in some way?

A flicker of understanding passed between the Iele, as if they had seen this all before. The leader’s expression softened, replaced by a look of deep concern. She looked at me with a mix of pity and disappointment, as if I were a child who had broken a precious heirloom.

She shook her head, as if coming to terms with the situation, her voice softening as she addressed me. “Your blood and power must have triggered… something in him. Awoken instinct…. subconscious urge.”

“My power?” I repeated, though I knew exactly what she meant.

“Yes,” the leader replied. “Your magic… strong. Called to him.”

A wave of dread washed over me. I never imagined my saintly powers could lead to something like this. It seemed my blood had a will of its own, a hidden power that had ensnared Liam and triggered the Binding.

A flicker of panic crossed Liam’s face as our eyes met. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but no words came out. It was as if he was drowning in a sea of regret, unable to find his way back to the surface. I scanned his expression for any hint of a smirk, any indication that this was all part of some twisted plan, but there was nothing but raw, unfiltered terror. It was clear he was just as blindsided by this as I was.

If what they said was true, the consequences were clear: I was trapped here, in this magical realm, forever bound to the Iele.