Before Dawn

by Olivia Hutchinson

  With a low growl, he covered her mouth with his. Her lips were pliant and eager. Nails scratched his shoulders. The sweet perfume of her arousal hung heavy in the air. He stroked his thumb over her beaded nipple through the thin tank top she wore.

  He needed her out of her clothes. Breaking the kiss, he pulled back and shoved the annoying piece of material out of his way. He caught the bud between his teeth and groaned when she arched up against his mouth. His fingers clutched the waistband of her shorts and panties. He tugged them over her hips, anxious to get to her bare flesh.

  He was making a mess of things. Declan forced himself to slow down, released her breast, and stripped the shorts from her before untangling her tank top from her arms. When he finally had her naked in front of him, her thighs wide, he took a second.

  His pulse was thundering, and it took everything he had to not tear his own shorts out of his way so he could bury himself inside of her. He slid his thumb through her damp folds, watching her reaction. Declan wanted to know everything. What she liked and what she didn't.

  Her hips bucked when he lightly stroked her clit, her arms up and reaching for him. “Don’t toy.”

  She liked it. Her jumping pulse told him as much. He eased off to scoop his arm beneath her and haul her into his lap. She straddled him, her arms braced on his chest. “Fucking sexy,” he told her, cupping the back of her neck and dragging her down for a slow, hungry kiss.

  Her hand trailed over his chest and down between their bodies. She gripped him through his shorts, and he ground his dick against her hand. Natalie moaned into his mouth when he covered her breast with his palm. He released her neck to grip her bottom.

  As much as he didn't want her to stop, he pushed her hand off him and out of the way as he slid his hand between her thighs. She was soaked and swollen. Ready. He buried two fingers inside her.

  “So tight,” he growled against her mouth when a low cry tore from her throat.

  Her hips rolled over his hand, and he began meeting her movements, the heel of his hand pressing against her clit. She was going to work herself to orgasm and fast. He didn't want her coming on his hand this time. Hell no.

  Much to her chagrin, Declan withdrew his hand. Nails dug into his triceps. He leaned forward with her and snatched the comforter from the floor. He wrapped it around her shoulders as he trailed kisses over her neck and down her breast bone. Once he had it tucked, he squeezed her to his chest. One hand slipped beneath her bottom and stood, taking her with him.

  Natalie wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She kissed his shoulder as he walked into the bedroom. He shuddered when she bit down lightly, unable to contain a low snarl. The woman was playing with fucking fire. "Trying to kill me?"

  She hummed and ran her tongue over the spot where her teeth had been. “You taste good.”

  He chuckled, kicked the bedroom door shut with his foot, and set her on the bed. The room was dark, the only light was from the moon coming in through the window. She released him and sat on the edge of the bed as he ran his hands through her hair and gave her a gentle tug, pulling her head back.

  “I want to see you,” she said softly.

  He’d forgotten about her human eyes. He let her go to jerk the string on the light that was sitting on the bedside table and blinked as the low yellow glow flooded the room. “Better?”

  "Mmm…much." She scooted back into the bed as he pushed his shorts down his thighs. When his dick sprang free, her eyes widened, and a warm blush crept across her cheeks.

  He couldn’t help the crooked smile that crossed his face. Natalie knew how to stroke his ego. “I know you’re not some blushing virgin.”

  A little nervous squeak left her as she stared at him. “Hell no, but damn Declan! I don’t know where you think you’re gonna fit that thing.”

  “It’ll fit.”

  “Shit. You should’ve warned a girl.”

  "You were grabbing it in the living room just a few minutes ago. Was that not enough warning?"

  Leaning back on her hands, she smiled up at him. “Not when you had the other half hiding somewhere.”

  When she laughed and stretched out her arms to him, he grinned. Beautiful woman. Amazing woman. Funny woman. He was so screwed when it came to her. There would be no returning to Cantor in one piece. Every moment in her presence put him further under her spell.

  Natalie opened her knees, and he growled, unable to tear his gaze away from her sex. The invitation was there. He could easily crawl over her and bury himself inside her, but that would be too easy. It was what she wanted. Or what she thought she wanted.

  He pushed his shoulders against the back of her thighs, making room for himself to settle between them. Natalie slid her hands through his hair as he kissed her belly and then moved lower until his mouth was hovering above her. He wanted to do this when they were in the bathroom. The small amount of her he tasted from his fingers earlier hadn’t been nearly enough.

  Running his tongue through her slit, he devoured her. Natalie's low moans turned him on, and before long, when he impaled her soaked core with his tongue, she began thrashing beneath him. "Declan, please…oooh, there. Right there."

  Her fingers dug into his scalp as he latched onto her clit; his fingers replaced his tongue. He growled against her, loving her reactions. He gripped his dick in his hand and tugged once, twice, and then he couldn't stop himself. He tore his mouth away from her cunt, covered her with his body, and pushed the broad head of his dick against her entrance.

  Natalie sucked in a harsh breath and held it as he sank into her, one painfully slow inch at a time. He didn't want to hurt her, even though going this easy was fucking killing him. Her body stretched around him, and by the time he was fully seated, she let out a stuttered cry.

  He leaned on his elbows and pushed her hair out of her face. He stayed still, even though the need to move was nearly overwhelming, and kissed her thoroughly. Eager, her hips rolled against him, and a small whimper escaped her a moment later. Declan broke the kiss and pulled almost all the way out of her before thrusting deep.

  Her lips were swollen from his kisses and slightly parted. Small, soft moans filled the room only to be met by a rumbling that started deep in his chest. He curled over her, his hips rolling against hers. She met his thrusts, and before long, the light sounds turned into louder cries. Her fingertips dug into the meat of his ass.

  “Harder,” she begged. When he complied by slamming into her, she threw her head back and exposed her neck.

  Shit.

  Canines protruding, he squeezed his eyes shut to block out the temptation. He clamped his jaw shut and buried his face in the crook of her shoulder. The scent of her filled his senses, and he wrapped his arms around her and held her to him, gripping her shoulders to keep her where he wanted her.

  Mine. My mate. Mine.

  He was trying to hold back, but he didn't know how much longer he could keep this up without coming. Natalie was gasping, and he could feel her clench around him. When she arched into him, his name on her lips and her hands splayed on his back, he lost it.

  His orgasm tore through him, his teeth dug into the pillow that cradled her head, and his dick pulsed inside of her. His entire body shaking, he clung to her before collapsing on top of her.

  “Can’t. Breathe.”

  Fuck.

  Unwilling to dislodge himself from her body, he rolled them and kept her on top of him. Her body splayed over top of them, she breathed a long, satisfied sigh.

  "I didn't hurt you, did I?" he asked her after a minute when his heart started to slow, and he could catch his breath.

  She grunted once against his chest and tickled his side with her fingernails.

  “That’s not an answer.”

  “Don’t make me speak. I can’t.”

  “Sounds like you’re speaking just fine to me.”

  She grunted again and reached out blindly. He grabbed the comforter, lifting them up an inch to pull the co
rner out from underneath them, and then threw it over the both of them. A long content sigh escaped her.

  “Better?”

  Grunt.

  “Are you always going to be like this after sex?”

  She turned her face to look at him, her chin propped on his chest. “Satisfied?”

  “Is that what this is?” He couldn’t stop grinning at her.

  "You fucked me good, Azarov. Now you're all warm and comfy, and I want to cuddle."

  “Oh no, you’re a cuddler,” he teased.

  "Hell yes, I'm a cuddler, and if you let me, I'm going to sleep right here on top of you."

  His laughter faded “Nat, you can sleep wherever you want.” He held her face and inched up enough to meet her mouth. Kissing her softly, a slow sigh escaped her. Arousing woman already had him hardening inside her again.

  Natalie rolled off him, breaking the connection. “Jeez, Declan. You’re gonna wear me slap out.”

  She tucked herself against his side and draped her arm across his chest. She settled in, her head propped on his shoulder. He reached to the table, turned off the light, and closed his eyes, loving the feel of her body next to him. He never knew such serenity.

  “Thanks for biting the pillow,” she whispered.

  She noticed. Declan sighed. “You’re welcome.”

  The room was silent, and before long, Declan began to doze off. He was somewhere before awake and asleep when he heard Natalie murmur, "Maybe one day your fucked-up world will allow you to bite me instead."

  10

  Natalie was bored to death. They'd been sitting in the Council House, listening to people drone on and on for hours. The cases presented today weren't nearly as interesting or telling as the ones they heard the other day.

  That was until she heard two names she recognized.

  "I'm putting in a formal request for a mating contract between the witch Lila Blackburn and Gabriel Azarov, nephew to Malcolm," Celeste said just before they were supposed to break for lunch.

  Well, mostly recognized. Lila was using a fake last name. Probably wasn't a bad idea considering.

  Silence stretched throughout the room, and Declan sat a little straighter next to her. All eyes, including the other Council members and the small audience were focused on Malcolm. Much to his credit, the werewolf faction leader gave half a shrug and appeared casual about Celeste's request. "I'm fine with it."

  The single warlock sitting upon his little throne scoffed. "Is this a joke?"

  "No, it's not," Celeste said carefully. "I spoke with both of them early this morning. They have my approval." It appeared as if she was trying to dodge any possible issue as smoothly as possible.

  “What about the issue of children?” Jacqueline, one of the fae Council members, asked.

  Malcolm shrugged. “The fae may be able to procreate easily, but werewolves do not. However, I’ve already discussed it with him.”

  The dragon faction leader appeared bored with the goings-on, but even Natalie could see Collum was observing the other Council members. He seemed to catch every little tic, every annoyed sigh. "I approve."

  “Same,” one of the vampires said.

  Outnumbered, the fae and the warlock backed down, and with that, they adjourned for lunch.

  "Come on," Declan said in her ear, taking her hand, and leading her out of the room. They went into the hallway to the steps, and she followed him up to the third floor where they waited outside his father's office.

  When Malcolm came down the hall a few minutes later, a frown etched on his face, Declan’s arms were folded over his chest. “We have to talk.”

  "I knew this was coming," Malcolm said, shoving a key into the door and unlocking his office. "Come in." He glanced at Natalie. "I'm sorry, my dear, but this is werewolf business. There's a sitting room just down the hallway there to your right."

  “No, she stays with me.”

  Malcolm shot a glare at his son. “Don’t. Push. Me.”

  The heaviness in the air was almost suffocating as Declan met his father’s challenge. His grip strengthened as if he was unwilling to let her go for any reason, but she recognized his father wouldn’t say two words to him about anything important with her in the room and she really wanted to know what was going on with Gabriel and Lila.

  “It’s okay,” she told him, reaching up to lay a hand on his arm. “I’ll be fine down the hall. I need to call my sister anyway.”

  Declan glanced toward her. “You sure?”

  “I know where you are if I need you. Just come get me when you’re through.” She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling her hand from his and leaving him in the hallway with his father.

  She found the sitting room easily and thankfully, it was empty. She picked a comfy looking plush chair next to the artificially darkened window.

  Drumming her fingers on the armrest of the chair and staring out of the window, she watched people as they moved across the expansive grounds. The Council House seemed very out of place in such a bustling city. It was like being in another dimension, and part of her wondered if that's what this was. Probably.

  After a few minutes of seeing absolutely no one walking up or down the hallway, she pulled her cellphone out of her pocketbook. She had it on vibrate while the Council was in session, but she saw now she already missed a call from Nikki.

  Going more than a few days without speaking to each other was intolerable. She pressed the button to call her back and lifted the phone to her ear.

  “Hey,” Nikki said when the call connected after a single ring. “Whatcha doing?”

  “Sitting in Boston.”

  “Boston? Why are you in Boston?”

  Natalie sighed. “Long story. Remind me to tell you about it someday.”

  “It’s someday. Spill.”

  She knew as soon as she dialed her sister that she would have to confess to her. She couldn't tell her everything, of course, but Nikki didn't need to know the finer details. "I met someone."

  “Oh, lord. It’s not Stewart is it?”

  Natalie snorted. All thoughts of the doctor vanished as soon as she met her werewolf. “No. He’s nothing like Stewart.”

  “Where did you meet him then? Please don’t tell me at work.”

  “Through mutual friends. He brought me to Boston to meet his parents.” That was as close to the truth as she could get.

  “Wow. That escalated quickly. What’s his name?”

  “Declan.”

  “Last name?”

  “Azarov.” Natalie pursed her lips when the line went quiet. She knew her sister. “What are you doing?”

  “Googling him.”

  “Do you need his birthday and social security number too?”

  “You got those?”

  Natalie rolled her eyes. “Quit it.”

  “I need a face to put with a name.” Nikki clicked. “How is it that this man doesn’t exist?”

  “That’s a good thing in this day and age.”

  “No social media accounts?”

  Natalie hadn’t looked him up. “I guess not.”

  “So he’s weird then.”

  "No, not weird. Just…doesn't like a lot of attention, I guess."

  “Is he a serial killer?”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. “No. I think you’d like him actually.”

  “When are you bringing him home to meet mama and daddy? I mean since you already met his family and I’m just now hearing about him…”

  “Hush, Nikki. I’m not hiding him.”

  “Seems like it.”

  “It happened fast.”

  “Mm-hmm…so when is he popping the question then?”

  Oh, it was going to hurt when their relationship came to an end. She wasn't delusional enough to think that they would continue on once they returned to Cantor. How would that even work? Their relationship was already an issue in his world. Talking about this with her sister had been a horrible idea.

  Lila and Gabrie
l are making it work.

  “I’m not getting my hopes up,” Natalie said softly.

  “Oh, damn. You got it bad, don’t you?” Jackson Vastag chose that moment come around the corner. Natalie sat up a little straighter in her chair. “You know he has it bad, too, if he’s already introducing you to his parents. You should bring him home. You know mama and daddy are gonna be ticked if they find out this is getting serious between you two and they didn’t know about it.”

  Noooo…

  She couldn’t talk about this with her sister anymore if Jackson was around. He was able to smell her vagina yesterday without an issue for crying out loud, who knew how much he could hear or how much he already heard.

  The werewolf saw her, didn’t say anything, but decided to come into the sitting room and sit down in the chair directly across from her. He spread his long jean-clad legs out in front of him. The caked mud on his boots came off in small clumps when he crossed his ankles and regarded her curiously.

  “Hey, Nikki. I gotta go.” Get off the phone. Get off the fucking phone!

  Her sister didn't hide her displeasure. "I just got you on the phone, and besides, I want to hear more."

  “I’ll call you later.”

  “You better or I’ll have to come up to Boston and drag all the dirty details from you myself.”

  Jackson’s head tilted by a fraction of an inch and his eyes narrowed at that last statement.

  "Love you!" Nikki chirped.

  “Love you, too.”

  Natalie hit the end button before her sister could say anything else and gripped her phone in her hand, clutching it to her chest. After a long few seconds of staring at each other and neither one of them speaking, Natalie looked away from him. In fact, she looked at everything in the room from the full coffee pot to the plastic-lined trash can rather than look at Jackson Vastag’s intimidating form.

  How long of a conversation did Declan need to have with his father anyway?

  “Your family know you’re banging a werewolf?”