“Yes, my love,” he answered barely intelligibly around his own huge fangs, never once stopping the gentle rise and roll of his hips in answer to her own movements.
Felicity leaned toward him, angling her head just so, and licked his neck. Then, without further warning she struck, biting down on his flesh and suckling at the same time. Enthrall growled and surged up into her body while using both his hands to slam her hips down onto him at the same time.
“Harder, Lici. Bite harder, suck harder,” he ordered, while helping her ride him.
Felicity complied.
It wasn’t clear who was taking who, both were in control, yet neither were.
Just as Felicity reached orgasm, Enthrall pulled her body closer to his and sank his teeth into the muscle between her shoulder and her neck, drinking from her as she drank from him. She screamed though it was muffled because she refused to release her hold on his neck, and the muscles of her pussy milked him as he snarled his own pleasure into the crook of her neck.
Slowly they came back to themselves. Enthrall gently withdrew his fangs and licked her new mating mark until it healed. Felicity did the same, mimicking his behavior to seal the mark she’d left on his body.
She made no move to lift herself off him. Just laid her head on him and snuggled there, reveling in the feeling of belonging that she’d never experienced before. “I feel different,” she said softly.
“Good different?” he asked, knowing exactly what she was feeling.
“I feel even closer to you than before. I can’t believe that’s even possible.”
He smiled to himself. He kissed the top of her head where it nestled under his chin. “Did you close your mating mark on my skin?” He waited while his question sank in.
Soon enough she bolted up. “I mated you? Is that why I feel so close to you?”
His face was glowing with happiness, the satisfaction he felt something he never knew existed. “It is. When you bit me, took my blood while I took yours, with me buried inside you, we finalized our bond. We are one, Lici.”
“I thought we were mated before?” she asked.
Enthrall shook his head. “I turned you. I claimed you. But we’d not finalized the bond.”
“And now we have? No more strings left to tie? No more bonds left to bind?” she asked, teasingly.
“No more. We are bound.”
“Good! Because I will never let you go. Never. You are stuck.”
Enthrall laughed, the happiness apparent in his voice.
“You laugh, go ahead. But there will come a time you question what you were ever thinking.”
“I highly doubt it,” he said, laughing openly.
“Oh, I’m sure of it. Like when I make you ghost me back and forth for work I need to do here. And when I ask you to ghost me to town, so I can shop. And to hold still so I can just get one more taste,” she finished seductively while leaning toward him to lick a path up his throat again.
The shiver of his body was enough to let her know that this male craved her just as she did him.
Enthrall sighed, pretending to be put out. “Why would I ever bring you back here to work. Just tell whoever needs you that you only work on certain days, and they will all just have to form a line on whatever day I choose and wait their turn. And as far as just one more taste… you are welcome to all I have, all I am, any time you want — that will never be a burden.”
She sat up, crossing her arms over her chest, her eyebrow raised, attitude clearly present and accounted for.
He noticed her scar, only a shade or two darker than her skin and ran his fingers across it, pleased that it had faded so much after just one feeding. The fact they’d completed their mating surely had something to do with it as well.
She swatted his hands away from her scar. “Are you saying that bringing me back and forth as I need to be brought back and forth is a burden?”
“Could be,” he answered, a sly smile on his lips.
“Could be? What happened to whatever you want, Lici? Anything you need to be happy, Lici. Just tell me what I can do, and we’ll make it happen.”
Enthrall shrugged, cocking his head to the side, wicked smile still in place. “Doesn’t seem like anything I should be doing on a regular basis, though.”
Felicity was not happy. Her eyes flashed fire, and her hands flew about, her mouth opening and closing as she searched for the words to let loose on him. Her flailing about while she searched for just the right words to put him in his place, reminded him they were still attached. He was still buried inside her, and her moving around was making him hard again. Enthrall slid his hands around her hips and held her in place while he rocked against her.
“Oh, no! None of that! You tell me ghosting me back and forth as I need it is a burden then you want to play?” she snapped, slapping at his hands.
“Well, it just seems so unnecessary, seeing as how you have the power to ghost yourself any place you’d like to go. I mean, if you want the company, that’s one thing. And I’ll gladly accompany you anywhere, at any time, my love. But you can take yourself anywhere you want to be — you don’t have to depend on me for that, unless you’d just like to.”
Felicity was full out reading him the riot act, talking over him about promises and the importance of her work to her and being supportive. She was mid-sentence when his words finally sank in. “What did you say?” she asked, a look of wonder on her face.
He was grinning. He loved teasing her. “I said, you can ghost yourself anywhere you want to be.”
“I… I can?” she asked.
“You can. I made you, love. You have all the same powers I do. Of course, you’ll need to learn to use them. But you can do everything I can, or at least will be able to.”
“Really?” she asked, looking like a little kid with a new toy.
“Yes. Really. And I was only teasing you. I love that you depend on me. I want you to depend on me. And I will happily take you everywhere, anywhere you want to go, any time. But, yes, you do have the power to take yourself as well.”
“Teach me?” she asked.
“I will,” he answered.
“NOW! Teach me now?” she asked excitedly.
“Right now?” he asked, looking down at where they were joined.
“Yes!” she shouted, lifting herself off him, and checking to make sure her skirt was falling properly, covering her body.
Grumbling, Enthrall stood, tucking himself back into his trousers and fastening them. “Alright. I’ll show you. But you owe me later.”
“I do,” she smiled, sliding her body up against his. “And I’ll make up for it, I promise.”
“Come on,” he said, taking her by the hand and leading her out into the grass toward the back of the estate.
“Wait! Do we need to let Mamaie know, so she can tell Shane if he should wake that we’ll be right back?” Felicity asked.
“No. We’re only going to try from one place to another here in the yard. Short distances, in the same place. We’re not leaving.”
“Okay,” she sing-singed excitedly, fairly dancing a happy dance as she followed him into the yard.
Coming to a stop in the middle of the expansive back yard, far from any of the trees, Enthrall stopped and turned to Felicity, reaching his arms out.
Felicity walked into his arms, a wide grin on her face. He smiled indulgently down at her, and she went up on tiptoe to kiss his lips. “Thank you,” she said, pecking his lips again.
“For what?”
“For making me like you. For showing me what it is to love. What it is to give your whole self, and to embrace what you were always destined to be.”
Enthrall hugged her, then brushed his thumbs across her cheeks, thinking of how much he loved this woman. How he’d love her more and more every single day — of that he had no doubt. “And what were you destined to be, my love?” he asked.
“Yours, Enthrall. I was always only ever meant to be yours.”
Enthrall ki
ssed her as he wrapped his arms around her and ghosted her to a spot no more than four feet behind them.
Felicity shrieked and her squealed laughter filled the early morning as he did it again and again, finally slowing down enough to explain the hows of it to her, one step at time. Until not more than thirty minutes later, she held him tightly and used her own powers to ghost them to a spot near the patio their forgotten breakfast waited on.
“I did it!” she shouted, laughing happily.
“You did!” he laughed, thoroughly enjoying the happiness she exuded.
“And now where can we ghost?” she asked.
“Anywhere you like, my Lici. The world is ours, where do you want to go?”
Felicity closed her eyes, and they were off again.
Moments later Enthrall looked around himself, realizing that Felicity had ghosted them to their bedroom. The rest of the house was still quiet except for Mamaie preparing breakfast for everyone in the kitchen.
“I believe I owe you a little something from earlier,” Felicity purred.
A rumble sounded in Enthrall’s throat as he watched her drop her skirt to the floor and lift her blouse over her head.
“Oh, yes, indeed you do.”
“Then come get it, my mate. I’m all yours.”
Epilogue
Paper lanterns were strung from poles that had been erected in the wide expanse of ground between Enthrall’s and Destroy’s homes. They encircled the entire area, clearly marking the perimeter of the party.
Gaston sat on an old stump he’d dragged up and played his accordion, singing in a mixture of English and broken French.
Lore sat with Carolena and exchanged pleasantries with any who cared to stop by and speak with him. He was slowly winning over the population of Whispers. They didn’t fear him as much as they once did and that was becoming very important to him. This was his party, he’d arranged it, invited everyone, and was sure to personally visit every single one of the people who lived within Whispers’ borders to make sure they knew they were invited. As was evidenced by the fact that some attended that Enthrall only ever saw when he made it a point to visit them to inquire about their needs.
Enthrall still wasn’t sure how Lore had pulled it off. His eyes wandered over to a wraith thin woman with streaming yellow hair and bright orange eyes standing near the perimeter of the party. She stood near a very large male, whose hair was almost as long as hers, but was dark and tangled. The hands extending from the ill-fitting shirt he wore were covered in hair as well, but it looked as though he’d taken a razor or a pair of scissors to it to cut it back. They were both uncomfortable being here, but Lore had still somehow convinced them. And here they were. But they weren’t the only ones. There were some that looked fully human, had it not been for the glow of their eyes from the lanterns. And even others that didn’t even try to appear human, little pointed ears, scales, horns, even a feather or two was easily seen as some milled about enjoying the socialization, and yet others stood to the side observing. But either way most of his people had come out tonight to celebrate with them. And he smiled at the support they all showed by coming.
He chuckled as he noticed Carnage dancing slowly despite the fast tempo of the music, Lily’s bare feet perched on top of his as he danced her around the party. Lily was happy, strong, radiant. Completely recovered from her episode of healing Felicity and then in turn being healed by the Dragon tree. She’d been sad at first, but they’d found that frequent visits to the Dragon tree took care of the sadness. She’d jabber away to the tree while she climbed its trunk and played in its branches. The last several times they’d gone to visit, they’d even noticed a few leaves beginning to sprout on the highest branches near the top of the canopy. Lily had been thrilled to see them and did a little dance all on her own to celebrate.
Aubreigne was there, watching as Deaumanique’ ran and played. Ata’halne was standing to the side, but near enough to her for any to see that he watched over her. He was speaking in depth with Murder. Murder had decided that rather than stalk the man in order to protect Aubreigne, it would better serve his needs if he would just befriend him. Then he’d be directly involved with him and know if his behavior was suddenly off. Because, though he had no doubt that Aubreigne was falling in love with Ata’halne, if Ata’halne displayed any indication of Windigo behavior, he’d not hesitate to kill him. He’d not have Aubreigne and Deaumanique’ in danger. He hoped he wouldn’t have to kill him, he rather liked the man. But if push came to shove, he’d definitely follow through. Enthrall looked at Aubreigne closely and realized that something was off. She didn’t seem as happy as he thought she’d be. She looked strained, but she was forcing a smile, putting on a strong face for all to see.
Simon, Serafina, Seth and Serena were there as well. Seth and Serena were playing with Deaumanique’ while their parents visited with Destroy.
In fact all of Whispers, those who cared to be included anyway, had come out to celebrate the arrival of Carolena and Carnage’s new little one, and to celebrate Enthrall’s mating and his own son. Enthrall looked around then grinned when he found Shane and Anton near Gaston, showing off their new-found dancing skills.
They’d been back in Whispers for several months and all were adjusting well. Shane studied with the other kids at Carolena’s house and had become fast friends with Anton. In fact, he seemed happier here than he’d ever been before.
Enthrall’s eyes caught movement over at Destroy’s house and looked up just as Felicity and Rowan came down the front steps of Rowan and Destroy’s home. He and Felicity needed to expand their home to make room for the baby. They’d given Shane Carolena’s room, and needed to add another room, either to move his office and all his books to — so the baby could have the office as a bedroom, or for use as the baby’s room and leave the office where it was. Either way, an addition to his home was unavoidable. Rowan had been showing Felicity the layout of their home, trying to talk her into a second floor addition, but Enthrall didn’t believe for one minute that Felicity would go for that. She still didn’t like to be separated from him for very long. In fact, she was heading his way now. She was beaming as her keen eyes picked him out of the crowd, and she hurried toward him. “Enthrall!”
“Hello, my love. Did you get any ideas for the addition?”
“A few. But I think I’d rather just add another room to the home we already have rather than add another floor.”
“Whatever you’d prefer. You want to keep everyone close rather than a large house to spread us all out?”
“Yes,” Felicity shrugged a little. “If that’s okay with you.”
“I prefer it, Lici.”
“Oh, good!”
“Are you hungry? Want something to eat?” Enthrall asked, his hand resting on her tummy.
“I could eat,” she said, eyeing the cake.
“You want cake?”
“Yes! Do you think we can cut it soon?” she asked, practically drooling.
Enthrall laughed. “Let’s see.” He walked them over to Carolena. “Carolena! How long until we cut the cake?”
“We can cut it anytime you’re ready,” she answered.
“Well, then, let’s get to it. My Lici needs some sugar!”
Carolena stood, her hand on her back to brace herself. “Let’s do it.”
Shane saw them heading for the cake and rallied all his friends. “They’re cutting the cake!” which brought all the kids to stand around the table they’d set up. Except Deaumanique’. She was still a bit shy. When Seth and Serena had hurried to join the others, she’d stayed where she was, before slowly making her way over to her mother to lean against her chair.
Carolena wobbled over to the table and took up the cake knife, smiling at Enthrall. “Come on. This is your party, too.”
Enthrall stepped closer to her, pulling Felicity along with him. Carnage was headed over because Lily had him by the hand, chanting, “Cake, cake, cake, cake!”
Once everyone was g
athered, Lore misted into place on Carolena’s other side.
“Thank you all for coming. I’m ever grateful for your indulgence while we celebrate the growth of our community and the impending birth of new lives to carry us forward. I have not always been the friend to all of you that I should have been, preferring to stay on the outside looking in, but that is changing, and I appreciate you welcoming me. But, this party is not about me. It’s about Carolena and Carnage’s new son, and about Enthrall’s new mate and son. And did you all know, they too have a new son on the way?”
Congratulations could be heard offered from all directions.
“Are there any names chosen yet?” someone called.
Carolena smiled at Carnage and he shouted, “Boon. Baybee, Boon,” he said very proudly.
“Boon?” Destroy asked.
“Yes,” Carolena answered. “We’re going to call him Boon. It means a blessing, a godsend. A bonus that is beneficial to all. So, we’re calling him Boon.”
“I love that. That’s a great name. And very fitting,” Enthrall said, reaching over the table to shake Carnage’s hand. “Congratulations, again, Carnage.”
Carnage nodded, shaking Enthrall’s hand and nodding his thanks to everyone patting him on the shoulder.
“And you? What will you call your new son?” Carolena asked.
Enthrall looked at Felicity. “We’ve not really discussed it much. We’ve been so busy with settling in and all.”
Felicity blushed. “I have a name for him,” she admitted quietly.
“You do? What is it?” Enthrall asked.
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to call him Ezekiel.”
Enthrall couldn’t believe it. She wanted to name their son after him. After his given name.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I am. If you don’t mind. I’d love to name him Ezekiel.”
Enthrall pulled her to him and hugged her tight. “I’d love that. Yes, let’s call him Ezekiel.”
“Zeke! We have a Zeke on the way!” Destroy yelled. “Boon and Zeke. Somehow I’m not comforted by the fact that they’ll be the same age and grow up together.”
Enthrall Page 23
