Scanning the room, she searched for him. She saw almost everyone else. Ben and Nate were talking to some high school friends at their table, Kate and Nikos raced to finish as many shots as they could by the bar, and Sybil and Riva were laughing with a group of other women. But, where was he?
Ah, there he was. She spotted the familiar, tall figure in the middle of the dance floor. When he swung around, that knot in her stomach grew even tighter.
Jason had his arms around another woman. The same brunette from the bar, she realized. The woman had her long, lean body pressed up against his, arms would tight, and the skirts of her red dress swished around them as they danced. He had his hand spread over her bare lower back and he dipped her low, twisting her body as she threw her head back and laughed.
Her blood pounded in her ears, and a knife-like pain stabbed her in the gut. She turned away, whipping around so she didn’t have to watch that anymore.
“Christina,” Sybil’s voice broke through the clouded haze of her mind. “Thank God I’ve found you. Kate’s been looking for you. Said she’s going to drag you to the bar for some shots.”
The idea sounded great right about now.
Sybil frowned when a high-pitched giggle rang over the din of the room. “Ugh,” she said in a disgusted tone. “I can’t believe Jason invited that … person to be his date.”
“Who?” she managed to choke out.
“Jessica What-ser-name,” she sneered. “She’s so crass. All she wants to talk about is how much this painting or that rug cost. I think I see dollar signs in her eyes. But it’s not surprising with the caliber of women Jason hangs around with.” She sighed. “Mom and I were talking. We were saying how we just wished he would settle down, you know? Someone nice. And classy. Like Catherine. Or you.”
She let out a nervous laugh. “What?”
“I mean, not that I would wish the disaster that is my brother on you.”
“Right.” She cleared her throat. “Well, thanks for the heads-up on Kate. I think I’ll go and powder my nose.”
“No prob. I’ll try to keep her distracted.”
“Thanks.” As Sybil strode back to the bar, Christina headed in the opposite direction. Where, she wasn’t sure, but the atmosphere in the reception was choking her. The air suddenly felt hot and thick and she was dying for a breath of fresh air.
She managed to traverse the crowd of people and found the exit out into the anteroom. There were a few people lingering outside, and she quickly walked past them. She turned a few hallways, but realized she was lost. Who the hell needed a thirty-room castle?
Christina collected her thoughts, trying to figure out where the hell she was. Pivoting on her feet, she decided to trace her way back. As she made her way down the darkened hallways, the air suddenly grew cold. She stopped short and peered ahead at the looming shadow that was coming closer.
“Jason.”
He walked toward her slowly, the sound of his shoes pounding on the hardwood floor echoing in her ears with each step. As he came closer, the single chandelier overhead lit his handsome face. He had discarded his coat and tie, and the top buttons of his shirt were open, exposing his tanned throat.
The hallway suddenly felt small as he towered over her. He had shaved that morning, the stubble gone from his jaw. His eyes glowed, like two silvery moons on a dark night. “Did you get lost?”
She let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Yeah. Silly me, huh?”
He jerked his thumb behind him. “Front door’s that way.”
“Huh?”
“What? Isn’t your hot deputy waiting for you now?”
What was he talking about? “Who?”
“Cole.” Hatred dripped in his voice. “Isn’t that why you were talking to him today?”
“Oh please,” she said. “Don’t even pretend you care.”
He gripped her arm. “And don’t you deny it. I overhead Kate and Sybil talking. They said you and the good deputy were going to get to know each other.”
She tried to wrench away from him, but his grip was too strong. “It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like?” He dragged her over to the wall and pushed her back up against one of the doors.
“None of your business!” she hissed. He was so big and broad, she couldn’t even see around him. She wiggled to get free, but he wouldn’t budge. “Besides,” she said. “What about you and your date? Will you be getting to know each other more tonight?”
His eyes glimmered with danger. “Are you jealous?”
“What? I am not.”
“I wanted to kill Cole when you were touching him,” he whispered, his voice almost a growl. “I don’t want you to touch him. I don’t want you near any man but me.”
“Jason—”
He cut her off with a savage kiss. She tried to resist his cruel lips, but when he pinned her lower body with his, his hardness pressing against her, she let out a moan. His tongue, warm and tasting of whiskey, slipped into her mouth and she melted against him. His mouth was rough, claiming, taking, and she feared he’d devour her until there was nothing left.
She should have pushed him away. Stopped the whole thing and ran. But no. She moved her hands behind her, fumbling for the knob, turning it so the door opened, and they tumbled inside the room.
Their mouths broke free of one another for a moment, but his strong arms caught her and brought her back to him. He walked her back, his mouth never leaving hers, until she bumped into something hard and solid.
Hands slipped down her back and under her, lifting her up and planting her on the surface behind her. He spread her legs so he could move between them. He looked down at her, the heat in his eyes setting fire to her core. His fingers reached behind her and began to unzip her dress, then shoved her top down, exposing her breasts to the cool air. He groaned then leaned down to draw a nipple into his mouth. The sensation of his tongue swirling around her hardened bud made her burn even more, and her panties flooded with the wetness that signaled her desire for him.
She fumbled at the buttons of his shirt and when she finally opened them all, pushed the fabric aside so she could feel him. The muscles under his hot, taut skin rippled as her hands touched him everywhere. God, had she ever wanted someone as much as she craved him? Never in her life.
He pulled away from her breasts, moving up her neck, then back to capture her mouth. This time, his kisses were drugging and slow, but just as passionate. She needed him so bad, and she reached down toward the front of his pants, moving her palm over his substantial erection.
“Jason!” she cried out when he shoved his hands under her skirt. His fingers found her lacy underwear, and ripped them to shreds, then pushed her skirt up to her waist. “Yes.”
“Christina,” he whispered against her mouth. “I didn’t bring any protection.
“I’m safe,” she said, drawing his zipper down. She’d been taking birth control since she was eighteen to control her terrible cramps. It was a good thing, because she didn’t want to feel anything between them.
He shoved his pants and underwear down, his rock-hard cock jutting forward. She prayed she was wet enough to take him. Not that she cared. She needed him inside her now. “Please, Jason.”
He growled, and pushed her legs further apart. She threw her head back, waiting, feeling the tip of his cock press against her folds. His shaft slid into her, slowly, letting her adjust to his girth. She rolled her hips, urging him on and caught his mouth in another desperate kiss.
He lifted the back of her knee, wrapping her leg around him as he shoved deeper into her. Inch by inch, stretching her, moving in until he was fully seated inside. It felt incredible, unlike any sensation she’d felt before.
Jason eased back halfway then pushed into her again. He repeated it, getting faster and faster each time. She let out an urgent noise with each thrust, which only seemed to spur him on.
An animalistic growl and a rumble emanated from deep in his ches
t and he buried his face in her neck, moving lower to suck on the flesh just above her breasts. She gasped at the slight pain of his teeth grazing her skin. The pain mixed with pleasure was too much and she grabbed onto his shoulders. He changed the angle of his hips, moving with shallow, short thrusts, hitting her clit just right with every stroke.
The pleasure was mind-numbing, and as he drove deeper into her, she cried out as an orgasm exploded through her. He didn’t stop, pushing and driving faster. He throbbed inside of her—she could feel every pulse as his warmth filled her. She shuddered with a smaller orgasm, the wave of pleasure making her sex pulse as she milked him. He grunted with one final thrust then relaxed, his body pressing back into hers.
How long they stood like that, she wasn’t sure. Her mind was still reeling at what they’d done. Her body felt boneless from the pleasure, and she let out a sigh.
His body froze and stiffened against her then he moved back, drawing out of her. The silence between them hung in the air. She didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know what he would say. But she didn’t expect his next words.
“I’m sorry…” he rasped as he staggered back. “I can’t.”
The shock of his words held her immobile. He didn’t even look at her; instead, he backed away as he righted himself. She was still staring at him, but not really seeing him or anything for that matter, as her vision darkened. He must have left because she distinctly heard the door close.
She didn’t know how long she sat there. The numbness that had spread through her seemed to have impaired her sense of time. She got off the table, pulled up her dress and let the skirt of her gown fall around her. She walked out of the room, following the path she had taken to get there, and back to the east wing to the guest room. She opened the door and crept in as quietly as she could.
“Christina?” a sleepy voice called from the bed.
“Cordy?”
Her sister sat up from the bed, rubbing her eyes. “Are you coming to bed?”
“Yes, I’m coming.” She closed the door behind her. “I just need to change.” She went to the bathroom and stripped off her gown, then stepped into the glass shower. Turning the knob, she let the hot water lash over her.
I’m sorry. I can’t.
The emotions seemed to unfreeze as the scalding water hit her body. Anger and humiliation coursed through her. Anger for letting things go too far. Humiliation because despite what he said, her sex still pulsed with need for him even as she washed his seed from her thighs.
A cry ripped from her throat and she smothered a sob. No, she wouldn’t weep for that bastard. She would never set foot in Blackstone for the rest of her life. She didn’t care if she hardly saw Catherine, because the only way to get rid of the pain in her heart was to never see Jason Lennox ever again.
Chapter 13
“Get up.”
The voice was muffled, like he was hearing it from under water.
“I said, get up.”
The kick to his side wasn’t particularly painful, but it was annoying. “Fuck off,” Jason groused.
“It’s almost noon, asshole.” Luke’s voice was much clearer now.
Light blinded his vision when he tried to open his eyes. He turned to his side. “Owww…” The pounding in his head was relentless. Jesus, he hadn’t had a hangover since he was a teenager. It took a lot of alcohol to get a shifter wasted. “How much did I have to drink?” He sat up. Looking around, he saw that he was on Luke’s couch in his cabin.
“Way too much.” Luke sat down beside him and handed him a bottle of water.
Jason grabbed the bottle and chugged it in one go, letting the cool liquid quench his parched throat. He slammed the bottle down. “What happ—” The events of last night came flooding back in his mind. The wedding. The bomb. Christina.
Bitter jealousy had been boiling in him all day since he saw her approach Cole. He had been professional enough, but she had been flirting with him, giving him touches here and there. He tried to forget about it, even going as far as using Jessica as a distraction. Then he overheard Kate and Sybil talking about how Christina and Cole were going to get to know each other and the jealous rage took over. He saw her sneak out of the reception, and his imagination had gotten the best of him. Then he lost control and took what he wanted.
It was the most intense sexual experience of his life. Everything and everyone else faded away. And then his dragon spoke up.
Mine. Mate.
No.
His words came back to him. He didn’t want a mate. He didn’t deserve a mate. And he certainly didn’t deserve Christina, not after what he did to her. Practically forced himself on her because of his jealousy. Lost control.
He told her he was sorry and walked out. He ran into Jessica, who had offered to go home with him, but he couldn’t. Christina’s sweet scent was still all over him, and he didn’t want Jessica’s stink anywhere near him. So he walked out, drove like mad to The Den and drank until he blacked out.
“Fuck.” He slammed a fist on Luke’s coffee table. “Did I do anything? Hurt anyone?”
Luke shook his head. “You didn’t want to leave after closing. Tim called me.”
He made a mental note to apologize to Tim. “You brought me here?” He looked around Luke’s cabin. It was sparse, but clean. It was also in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere, deep in the mountains.
“You tore out of the reception without your wallet or house keys. Where the fuck else was I supposed to bring you?” Luke towered over him, staring him down with those golden eyes. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s the matter?”
“What the hell do you care,” he countered. “You’re the one who pushed us away. You know. Your family.”
“Don’t make this about me,” Luke growled. “I’m not the one trying to drink himself to death and acting like a damn fool.”
“What do you know?”
“I know you haven’t been the same since you met Christina. She’s the one, isn’t she? Your mate.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. “Who told you?”
“You did.”
Fucking asshole.
“What the hell happened between the two of you?” Luke asked.
“I don’t need a damn mate.” He was too ashamed to tell him what happened. That he took what he wanted and acted like a bastard afterwards. Because that was what he was. A pussy-chasing bastard who would just break her heart.
“You know, Jason, some of us aren’t meant for mates. But you are.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
Luke sat down next to him. “For someone who’s always in tune with what others feel and want, you never once show your true feelings. You put on this playboy facade and pretend that you don’t need anyone. Tell me, why do you screw all those women? What hole are you trying to fill inside you? What’s been missing in your life?”
His brother’s words rang over and over again in his ears. And then, it was like something in him answered.
Christina. That’s what had been missing.
“Fuck.” He turned to Luke. “When the hell did you start talking this much?”
He shrugged.
Jason shot to his feet. “I need to get back to the castle.” He ran for the door then realized he probably didn’t drive his truck here. “Shit.”
Luke huffed. “I’ll take you.”
“Thanks, bro.”
Luke grabbed his keys, and soon they were driving out of his property and making their way to Blackstone Castle. The engine had barely shut off before Jason raced to the front door. He threw it open, and nearly collided into Meg.
“Jason!” she exclaimed. “Where’s the fire, young man?”
“Christina. Where is she?”
“She left,” Meg said. “They all left for the airport about an hour ago. Matthew and Catherine for their honeymoon, Ari and his family back to Lykos.”
Despair crept into him. Lykos was the Ari Stavros’ secret island retre
at. No one knew where it was. Once the plane took off, he wouldn’t have any way to contact Christina. He supposed he could wait for two weeks when Catherine came back, so he could ask her how to contact Christina. That was, assuming his new sister-in-law would even talk to him when she found out what happened.
“Shit!” Meg raised a brow at him. “Er, sorry Meg,” he apologized. “You can wash my mouth out with soap another time, okay?” He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
Jason sprinted back to the truck. He had to catch up to her now. “Airport,” he said to Luke.
The regional airport where the Stavros private jet was parked was an hour away, but Luke made it in forty-five minutes. Luke drove right onto the runway, ignoring the guard screaming obscenities at them when his truck pummeled through the barrier. But the runway was empty and so was the hangar. They were too late.
“Dammit!” Jason slammed his palms on the dash. “Fuck!” He buried his face in his hands. The spark of hope he had that he’d get there in time had been extinguished. He’d lost her. She was perfect and his, and he drove her away.
A heavy hand landed on his shoulders. “Let’s get you back home,” Luke said. “Get you cleaned up.”
* * *
The shower had felt refreshing, though it did nothing to get rid of the numbness that was creeping in. He had lost her. Over and over again, the words rang in his head.
His dragon was surprisingly quiet. Nothing—not a peep. Had it given up, too? Maybe they had truly lost Christina and now, only the hollow pain in his heart remained.
He didn’t want to feel this way anymore. He drew the blackout curtains in his bedroom together then crept into bed. Fatigue seeped into his bones, and thankfully, the darkness of sleep took over.
Jason awoke with a jolt. Looking at the clock, he realized he had slept most of the day and night. It was already the next morning.
The Blackstone Bad Dragon Page 10
