A Light in the Dark (Banish the Dark Book 1)

by Miranda Sapphire

He wondered when he’d stop falling in love with Claire. When would he find the limit of how much love could fit inside himself?

Or would it always be this way: her working her way deeper inside him and filling him up, showing him against his will that there was more to him, that he was more,

making it so that everything he was, everything he had, was served by no greater pu...

Claire was the blood in his veins, the air in his lungs, the light in his dark, and he hoped that ...

Her dreams were filled with strong gray arms and sharp-toothed smiles, and she didn’t think she could keep ignoring it.

That his control would snap and he’d reach for her, pull her close, run his big hands all over her body and bury his broad face in her throat. Thinking about it now made her sex clench so hard she gasped and paused.

It was only the thought that Claire wouldn’t like it, would be disappointed to find Kiernan ripped to shreds at Beast’s hands, that stopped him from giving into the wild, rasping voices urging him to maim.

he pulled her in tighter, wishing he could take her hurt from her, make it so that she never had reason to cry ever again. It was absolutely wrecking him, seeing his bright beautiful sun clogged with shadow and rain.

He felt her brush against his aching shaft as she moved, and though he tried his best he couldn’t suppress the way it surged against her, as if it was trying to get closer to her, to press tighter against her soft warm flesh, and he saw on her face when she felt it.

she’d fled like it terrified her anyway. She’d been about to kiss him when she felt that hard, thick bar against the backs of her thighs, and it had made her go half out of her mind with lust. He’d just been so big.

She’d been blasted with arousal so intense it had taken her breath away as her mind had conjured what was waiting for her on the other side of that fabric, how it would feel in her hands, on her tongue, pumping in and out of her.

she hadn’t been able to stop, to say anything.

Ugh girl get yo shit together cause this hot and cold is kinda cruel

Why was Beast so different? It was like something inside her was desperate to connect with him, to slip him into her skin and absorb him into her very bones, and the more she fought it the harder it pushed back. She’d never felt attraction like that before, and its intensity scared her.

But that didn’t sit right with her; she wanted him to know her rage, to know the pain he’d caused her, and to feel bad about it. But beyond that, she couldn’t quite give up on Beast yet, even if that made her as much of a fool as him.

Now who’s being a petty brat

She was starting to figure out where what had happened with Kiernan fit into her, where it could live inside her without hurting her anymore.

What a interesting and beautiful way to think of healing and dealing with an assault

Had he pushed her away because he was ashamed? Because he was hurt and didn’t know what to do with it? It didn’t excuse his behavior, but it did make her want to go back in there and try talking to him again.

Nope just like it doesn’t excuse you’re behavior. You didn’t have the words to verbalize why what happened made you run so don’t expect him to

A strange tingling started trailing over her arm, making her skin jump and shiver. Claire shook her hand out, wondering what in the world could be causing it. Luckily it was brief.

Oh so that’s not his imagination

she could swoop in and be a guiding light for souls trapped in the darkness. She could be strong for the weak, brave for the fearful, warmth for the cold.

This is safe, I know. And your life has made safe the most attractive thing. But I want to see you happy, and that will only come with change and risk.

Claire protected herself, yes? She did not need someone to protect her. She herself is all the shield she needs. But she did need someone to hold her through her tears, and that you did beautifully, my dear.”

Oh, that was all? He just had to rebuild himself from the ground up? Yes, that was so easy, Tully really knew how to ease him into a project.

Could he admit it? Could he slice into himself that deep to show her what dwelled there?

They think she was foolish, that she’d lost her mind.

Fuck them

“I don’t want to be improper.” “Then don’t be. Please come here and warm me, little furnace man.”

“We are, but you’d have to be an awfully good friend to get these goods for free.”

“Cruel man, absolutely heartless. You’ll have no one but yourself to blame if I hogtie you and hold you prisoner here.”

he had noticed because every time it happened he felt faint; both from the intoxication of her closeness and the way blood tended to rush away from his brain and into his pants.

How had other men been in this position, with Claire soft and warm and vulnerable in their bed, in their arms, and decided to just toss her away? He didn’t consider himself all that bright, but at least he wasn’t that stupid.

Obviously, in real life it would be different, but there were certain constants that seemed worth trying at least once. Like using his mouth on her. Like licking and sucking at the sensitive bud of her clit. Like using his hands and lips all over her body, finding those places that made her shiver and moan. Surely that was at least a good place to start, even if Claire’s personal preferences leaned elsewhere.

Smart man!

With nearly two hundred years of practice, Beast could stroke himself to completion in less than a minute, but today he wanted to savor it.

“Like you said, it was a bonding experience. It allowed me to…really see what fuels you.” She peeked at him from between her fingers. “Did you really just make a puke joke?”

A wave of feeling surged in her chest, and she willed herself to melt into him so that he would never have to be alone again, so that she might soak up some of that chill loneliness and take it away from him. If they were one then they could shoulder the ache together, and suddenly it was all she ever wanted.

“Sweet man,” she murmured, “always tell me what you need.” “I’ve never done this before,” he admitted softly.

“I just want to be with you. I don’t care what we do or don’t do. I just…I just want to love you. Can you let me do that?”

Let. Me. Love. You,” she repeated, punctuating each word with another little kiss. “I’m going to start screaming if you don’t.” “How bad will this screaming be? Because I don’t know if I can promise anything.” “Beast!” she groaned, gently smacking his chest.

very long time to think of myself as one way. It’s going to take time for me to change. But I promise I’ll try. I trust you. I…I love you, Claire.”

“You really do? Since when?” He returned her smile shyly. “Since I first saw you, I think.”

“You are so sweet and precious I want to scream all over again.” “You do a lot of screaming when your emotions run high,

“You’ll learn to love it,” she assured him, easing up on her death grip. He pulled back and kissed her gently. “I already do.”

She wanted to burn to ash in his fire and be remade, like a glorious phoenix, as something whole and unmarred by the cold and the loneliness of her old life.

She wanted to burn so hot with him that they both melted, melded, became something new and powerful and great. Together.

You talk to her, you put her first, you treat yourself better so you can give her everything you’ve got.” He swallowed, shocked to find tears prickling in his eyes. “You can’t let the darkness win,” he whispered,

Awww sweet boy. It’s like dating someone with PTSD

“She’s decided she wants you, and she deserves the best you’ve got.”

And he would let her in. He’d give all of himself to her from here on out: mind, body, and soul. He’d give her his best. He’d try and heal himself, if only to give her more.

You didn't enter into a relationship necessarily as your best self, but there was nothing stopping you from becoming your best self, putting in the work to become what your partner might need,

Now there was about a foot of space between his knees and the table, and Claire wedged herself in, forcing his knees apart a little more, and sat herself down on one of his massive thighs.

Ugh more of this in books please.

"I want this," he breathed. "I want you." She sighed, feeling like her veins were filled with light,

Here, in his arms, melting under his attentions, was the first time she’d experienced arousal so intense it ached.

She wanted more. Her sex had never been so slick and achy before in her life.