Bay sprang up, throwing the tattered covers from the bed. She was gone. He knew it like he knew his own name. The fact didn’t stop him from checking anyway. From searching the room, as well as the adjoining bathroom. From pulling open the closet and cursing when he found it empty.
The vampire was gone. The sun wasn’t up yet. His internal clock told him it would be soon but not yet. She’d up and left before he could talk to her. Find out how this was possible. If it would happen again.
He looked down at his flaccid cock. It was hardly surprising. They’d fucked many, many times. So many times his balls actually ached. He felt weak and tired and in the best possible way. She had bitten him several times. The marks were already gone. Healed up. If it weren’t for his achy body and the fact that he was in a strange hotel room, he would never say any of it had happened.
But it had.
The vampire was real.
Only he didn’t know her real name or where to find her. He couldn’t exactly walk into her coven. He knew she wouldn’t want that, knew she would turn him away. Would be angry with him even. Dragons and vampires didn’t mix.
He was a leader now. In charge of the Water Warriors. His king was counting on him to lead effectively. Flying into vampire territory was not the way to go about things. Demanding to speak to a nameless female. No! He couldn’t do it.
Bay picked up the phone next to the bed and pushed the button that had ‘Reception’ written under it. Two rings later and a male answered.
What the hell did he say? “I’m calling from room…” He read the number on the phone, “516 ‒ I was wondering where the female went. The one who—”
“Oh, yes, Miss Carmine. She checked out. Said you…um…Mr Bay, is that correct?”
“Yes, it is,” he said, feeling disappointment so acute it had him almost reeling. Bay sat down on the bed, landing hard.
He had to work to actually comprehend what the male was saying. “She said you might want to stay in the room. You would be most welcome. All charges for her account. She mentioned an accident with the comforter.”
Bay looked down at the bed. The comforter was on the floor and ripped to shreds. So were the sheets, and the mattress was a mess as well.
“The sheets might—”
“It’s all to be charged to Miss Carmine’s account. The room is fully paid for until 10 am on Tuesday morning.”
“Did Miss Carmine leave a note or her contact details?”
“No note and I’m afraid we can’t give out any personal information.”
“I understand.”
“We hope you enjoy your stay, Mr Bay.” His tone was upbeat.
“Thank you.” He held the receiver to his ear even though he heard a click telling him the other male was off the line.
He finally allowed it to land on the cradle. Bay scrubbed a hand over his face and puffed out a breath. Why hadn’t he asked the vampire for more information when he had the chance?
Like, how? How had taking his blood brought life back to his body? Would the effect be lasting? It was too soon to tell. He didn’t want to know right then. Was too afraid of what the outcome would be.
He looked down at himself, cringing. There was no way he could leave this room looking like this, which meant one thing.
Chapter 4
“You have got to be shitting me?” Beck’s eyes were wide. “Completely shitting me! I mean I can scent you rutted, so I know you aren’t talking through your ass, but …” He walked around the room. “I can scent it in here.” He choked out a laugh. “Definitely on that bed which looks like it went to war. Go you!” He did a fist pump. “I can scent female all over you…you didn’t hold back, by the way, did you?” The male chuckled, infuriating him.
“Stop!” Bay shook his head. “This is no laughing matter.”
“What are you talking about? It’s a great reason for celebration.” Beck grinned. “You fucked a female.” He made a yowling noise. “Went all out on her. I can tell.” He sniffed the air. “Hey, I would have too if I’d been celibate for…how many years has it been again?”
“I didn’t ask you to come here so that you could goad—”
“Come on!” Beck all but yelled. “You look like someone died. You should be celebrating. You’re not impotent.”
“I could still be. We don’t know whether she cured me or not.”
“Even if you are, at least you figured out something that gets things to work, right?”
“No, I haven’t. Having sex with a vampire is not a solution.” Bay shook his head. “You know how crazy that sounds, right? I can’t just walk into a coven and announce myself. What would I say? Don’t mind me, I’m here for a quick hook-up.” With one certain female. I’ll take the one with the big green eyes, please. He gave a quick shake of the head to banish the thought. It was plain stupid!
“Well, I guess you couldn’t just walk in, but—”
“There are no buts! It can’t happen. End of story!”
“You might be cured though. You haven’t tested it out.” Beck glanced down, in the general direction of his cock, making Bay want to cover himself up, especially considering he was only wearing a towel around his hips.
“I rutted a multitude of times, I doubt,” Bay shook his head, “I’d have much luck if I tried now,” he mumbled the last.
Beck made a face. “What are you talking about? You’re a shifter. A dragon at that. If I can go all night and still wake up for a last round, so can you.”
“I don’t want to try right now. I’ll—”
“Bullshit! You need to know. No use putting it off. Maybe you don’t need a vampire female. Maybe you’re cured. How amazing would that be?”
“I doubt it!” It couldn’t be that simple, could it?
“Don’t be so negative. You never know until you try.” Beck pushed a bag into Bay’s hands. “I bought the biggest sizes they had but I’m sure it’s still going to be a bit tight.”
Bay took the bag and mumbled his thanks.
“Now, go in there and make sure you test the equipment before you come back out.” He pointed at the bathroom door.
Bay held the other male’s stare for a few seconds before nodding. Beck was right. He went in, closing and locking the door behind him.
He heard Beck chuckle. “I won’t come in or anything. It’s not like I want to watch you whack off.” He laughed some more. Jackass!
Bay wouldn’t put it past the male. Beck being a bit of an asshole and all. The male had been there for him on many occasions though. Heck, he’d rutted enough for the both of them. Bay couldn’t help but smile. His humor quickly evaporated when he removed the towel and stared down at his dick.
Shit! He didn’t want to know. No! He did. Then again, he would find out soon enough, wouldn’t he? Bay looked at the closed door. Beck would give him hell if he walked out of there without an answer. The male was right. He needed to bite the bullet, so to speak, and find out.
Bay spotted a small bottle of hotel lotion on the counter. He poured a generous amount onto his palm and rubbed the lotion onto his member.
Bay fisted his cock. He paused for a moment, considering not going through with it all over again. Fuck it! He had to know. With a sigh, he began to work his dick using slow, easy strokes.
He closed his eyes and pictured the vampire. So damned sexy. Bay stroked a little quicker. He’d taken her in a multitude of different positions. With her tight as fuck ass in the air. Watching her ride him was certainly something to behold. Her breasts could not be considered big, but they still jiggled and bounced each time she sat on his cock. Her pink nipples tight. Her moans like music to his ears. Her pussy had been tight and the prettiest pink. She—
Bay looked down. There was a tightness in his belly. Need coursing through his veins. He knew the feeling well. His dick was no longer completely flaccid but it was a long way from being hard. He knew if he carried on, it would bring him nothing but frustration. Somehow, he had known this would be the cas
e. He’d known. How had it been possible with the vampire? Would it be possible with any vampire or just her? Frustration and disappointment ate at him.
He washed his hands, brushed his teeth and then hurriedly dressed into the undersized garments. Thankfully, he’d showered earlier. The jeans fit him around his waist but fell to well above his ankles. The t-shirt was snug around his chest and biceps. Bay didn’t give a shit. It wasn’t important.
He pulled in a deep breath and walked out into the other room. Beck jumped up off the sofa, his brows raised, a look of expectation on his face.
Bay shook his head and watched it turn to one of pity.
Chapter 5
One month later…
“You need to be sure to take these every day.” Ceri handed the medication to the female.
Chantel nodded and took the box. “I will.”
“You can’t forget, not even once.”
Chantel swallowed thickly, her eyes wide. “I know.”
“You are now sexually active. If you forget to take your birth control, if you skip even one pill, then you will need to use condoms…human coverings. Here…” She dug in her drawer, taking out two boxes.
Chantel smiled. “I have a ton of those things at home. And a couple in my purse.” She rooted around in the leather bag, pulling out a strip of condoms. “See?”
“You can never have enough,” Ceri warned. “Abstinence is the best prevention…” Ceri saw the look on the other woman’s face. “If you are unable to do that then you need to be careful. Ideally, double up on contraceptives.”
“The males don’t like it when you insist they wear a condom.”
“Tough shit!” Ceri felt her blood boil. “They don’t have to deal with the consequences. Trust me, if they want to rut, they’ll be willing to do what it takes.”
Chantel nodded. “You’re right.”
“Of course I am.” Ceri pushed out a breath. She reached out and took the other female’s arm. “I’ve seen females die. I’ve been there and felt helpless to stop it. Out of the seven females, we only managed to save one. Her baby died in the end, they all did.” She felt a lump rise in her throat.
Chantel nodded, looking shell-shocked.
“I’m not telling you this to shock you…okay, maybe I am and to scare you a little. You have to remember to take your birth control every day, and you can’t let these males bully you. Your life is at stake here. Either you refrain, or you be responsible, there is no other option.”
“There is one.” Chantel held up a finger and cocked her head. “I could have the surgery.”
“You would need to think long and hard before going that route. It isn’t reversible.” Ceri felt her chest tighten. “You are too young to be contemplating something so life-changing.”
“Did you have the surgery? I heard somewhere in passing that you had.”
Ceri was just on the cusp age-wise. Some females were clearly old enough to have definitely gone under the knife while others were far too young. Ceri was at that questionable age. The coven was big, but not big enough. Everyone was in everyone else’s business. It was at times like this that she was acutely aware of that fact. She nodded. “Yes, I had the surgery and I’m going to urge you to think carefully before doing something so drastic.”
“Do you regret it?”
“I didn’t have a choice so,” she shrugged, “there is nothing to regret.”
“Yeah, but do you wish things could be different?”
Ceri pushed out a breath. It was hard talking about this. The last time she had, she’d been with the dragon shifter. What a night that had been. Again, not something to think on right then. She nodded. “I do regret it. I would give anything to be able to go back and change things. You are lucky you have a choice.”
“I do have a choice but like you said, having sex is risky.” She shrugged. “Maybe I should consider—”
“No!” Ceri held up a hand. “You are far too young to even consider it. You would never be able to have young. Never ever, can you comprehend that?”
“I couldn’t have young now, so what’s the point?” Chantel blurted.
“You can’t have a child with a vampire male, no,” Ceri shook her head, “but possibly with one of the shifters.” She raised her brows.
Chantel pushed out a breath. “I don’t think that is something that would interest me.”
“You say that now, but things might change. You change as you get older, trust me. Not being able to have children never used to bug me much. It does now. Very much so. Give it a couple of years and you might change your mind.”
“The kings keep talking of a program to bring our females and the shifter males together and yet it hasn’t happened. It might never happen. There is too much animosity between the alphas and the kings.”
“Far too much testosterone.” Ceri smiled. “It could happen at some point though. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but sometime in the future. Point being, you could have young one day. It is in your grasp.” Unlike her. Pain blossomed in her chest but she pushed it away, concentrating on the conversation.
Chantel nodded. “You’re right.”
“Be careful, that’s all.”
Chantel nodded again. She picked up the box of pills and then looked back at Ceri. “I will. I’ll make them wear condoms as well.”
“Good.” Ceri smiled at the young female. “You do that.”
“Thank you, healer. I appreciate it.”
“You are most welcome,” Ceri said, standing as the female did the same. “I will see you in a couple of months, unless you need help with anything.”
Chantel turned to leave.
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Drago stuck his head around the jamb, a grin plastered to his face. He sobered when he saw Chantel. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were still busy.” He turned his wrist, looking at his watch. “I thought you would be done by now.”
“I am, Chantel was just leaving.” Ceri glanced at the female who was blushing profusely. A reaction to Drago, for sure. The male was too good-looking for his own good. Females fell over their feet whenever he was near.
Thank fang she was immune, on account of them growing up together. He was more of a brother to her. Seeing him as anything other than that would be just plain nasty. It was funny watching Chantel though. The female knocked into Ceri’s desk as she headed to the door, then giggled, finally waving as she left. Her cheeks a bright red.
“What’s up?” Ceri asked, stacking some files. Trying to neaten her disaster of a desk.
“Thought you might want to,” he shrugged, “head to Aorta this evening.”
Ceri slumped her shoulders, feeling tired at the mere thought of going to the nightclub.
“Really? You’re going to drop me again. You never want to do anything anymore. It’s all work, work, work.”
“And with you, it’s all play, play, play.” She laughed at the look on Drago’s face.
“Bullshit! I work plenty hard enough.”
She nodded, having to concede. Not only was Drago handsome, he had brains and plenty of brawn too. Not nearly as much as the dragon— Why did she keep thinking about the shifter? Sure, they’d had a fun night together, but it was done and dusted. It should never have happened in the first place. Chantel had been right, the rifts between the species were still solidly in place. They didn’t even know much about the dragon shifters, save that they were strong beyond measure. That they lived somewhere remote and unknown. That they didn’t mix with other species as a rule. That was it. She had been right to leave the way she did, instead of finding out more about him. Ceri had wanted to know more. There had been questions buzzing around in her head. She’d even told him about not being able to have children. Ceri didn’t normally talk about that. She’d been tempted to tell him her real name as well.
“Hello!” Drago waved a hand in front of her face. “Are you still in there?”
Oh shit!
She had totally zoned out. “Yes.” She nodded. “I’m just a little tired.” Ceri yawned. Just talking about being tired made her feel tired.
“You need to get out and you need a good rut,” Drago stated, quite matter-of-factly.
She shook her head. “Don’t start on me.” He’d been at her the whole of last week.
“I mean it.” Drago narrowed his eyes into hers. “You need sex and blood and lots of them both.”
She hadn’t felt much like drinking from anyone. Blood was bland and tasteless after…him…the dragon…Bay. Not that she had been able to actually consume much of his blood. It had been too much. An overload to her system. Addictive it would seem. Since blood didn’t hold appeal now, neither did sex. What was the point? “I’m fine,” she announced.
“You are not fine.” He narrowed his eyes. “I mean, look at you.” He waved a hand in her general direction. “You’ve lost weight. You hardly drink, you haven’t rutted since you got back from vacation. You have dark circles under your eyes. You look like shit.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Drago chuckled. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re still gorgeous. You could have your pick of the males tonight. Come with me, dammit. Have some fun! Let your hair down. You’ll get a whole lot further in breaking this depression you’re in.”
“I’m not depressed!” How absurd! Ceri just felt tired. She wanted blood alright but not from anyone in the coven. She wanted dragon blood. She needed to stop this! Going out with Drago would be the perfect way to do just that. What was one night? She was on the verge of agreeing to go when she realized she was being silly. She’d hate it at Aorta. Ceri didn’t want to go. She shook her head. “No, thanks! Maybe next time.” She was sure that given time, she would get over herself.
“You said that last time.”
“I mean it this time.”
“Why don’t I believe you?” He pushed his hands into his pockets.
“No idea.”
“Because you keep saying ‘next time’. You say it all the time lately. What the heck happened to you?” He took a seat, placing his foot on her desk.
The Water Dragons Box Set: Books 1 - 4 (Complete) Page 42
