“We need to wash with this…all over and quick.” She glanced at the door. “Before someone comes.” Then she glanced over at Cooper. The male was still unconscious.
“This is going to work at removing the scent of our rutting?” He looked skeptical.
“Yes. I’ve never tried it myself, but it apparently works. Someone I know used it a couple of times. The shifters know about it.”
“Shifters?” He frowned, shaking his head. “What do shifters have to do with anything?”
“Long story, but one of our males mated a wolf shifter. They used it to keep their relationship a secret. It works! At least,” she raised her brows, “I think it does. It should.” She shrugged.
“Okay, let’s try it. It’s not like we have anything to lose.”
“You go first.” She handed him the bowl.
Bay took it. “You said you’re worried someone might come. Let’s get this over with. I’ll wash your back and you can wash mine.” The one side of his mouth quirked up. Why was he trying so hard to be nice to her?
Ceri was still painfully aware of how attracted to him she was. She shook her head. “No, I need to finish putting salve on Cooper’s wounds.”
Bay glanced over at the downed shifter. “It looks like you took care of the worst of them already.” He probably knew she was making excuses.
His face was dressed in gauze and bandages that had been soaked in the salve. There was a thick layer beneath the bandages. She had applied the ointment to the wounds on his neck and chest, but she still wanted to dress them as well. At the same time, she was worried someone might come. That one of the shifters or, heaven forbid, her cousin might ignore her earlier request and come by anyway.
“We’ve rutted on two occasions now,” the dragon said. “I’ve seen you naked. I’ve been inside you, for claw’s sake. Let’s do this thing.”
Ceri nodded. “Fine! Let’s make it quick. I can wash my own back,” she snapped.
“Fine,” he growled, following behind her.
Ceri started the shower, adjusting the temperature. She was lucky there was even a shower at her offices. She often worked late and washed there before heading out. Back in the days when she still actually went out, that is.
She pulled off the coat and peeled off the torn dress, placing the garments neatly on the closed toilet lid. She prayed she had a spare white coat in the cupboard in her office. One thing at a time. They needed to get clean.
When she glanced back at Bay, she noticed his mouth hung open, his eyes glued on her ass.
He seemed to snap out of it as soon as he caught her gaze, quickly pulling his cotton pants down his thighs. His thick member sprang free, jutting proudly from his body. His eyes were heated, his gaze stern.
Her nipples tightened and her mouth felt dry as a bone. It didn’t help that she couldn’t take as much as she would have liked from him. What was she saying? She shouldn’t have taken any. His blood tasted better. Richer, headier, more decadent. It had hurt to drink it, even though there had been slightly less burn this time. The experience had been better. Her fangs had finally retracted. She swallowed down, trying to quell her thirst. Ceri turned her back on him and entered the stall. The sooner they got this over and done with, the sooner she could get rid of him. For good! She looked up at the spray, the hot water hitting her face, wetting her hair.
She yelped when he touched the side of her arm. Just a brush of the fingers.
“You don’t have to be so jumpy,” he said, his voice right behind her. There was a clicking noise as the stall door shut. “Let me help.” Despite the hot water, she could still feel his warmth. She could hear his heart beating, the rate elevated and strong.
She held back a sigh as his fingers began to work her back. She could feel the slimy texture of the plant gel. Ceri knew she should tell him to stop. That she could take care of it herself, but his hands felt too good. Her fangs throbbed and her tongue felt like it was sticking to the roof of her mouth. She was tempted to take in a mouthful of water. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t help. Blood! She’d taken so little from him earlier. A taste really. Enough to whet her appetite but not nearly enough to quench her thirst. She was starving. Her breathing turned choppy, like she’d just run around the block.
“Here.” His deep voice enveloped her and goosebumps rose up on her arms. Her already tight nipples hardened some more. It took her a moment to realize he was holding the bowl out to her. “Unless you want me to wash the rest of you as well.” His brows arched and the side of his mouth twitched. Why was he being so nice to her when she’d been so bitchy to him?
“I’ll do it.” She moved out of the spray and took the bowl with shaky hands, hoping he wouldn’t notice. Hoping her eyes were normal even if her fangs were not. Long and throbbing.
Oh, good lord!
She watched as Bay stepped under the spray. Watched the water cascade down his skin. His beautiful, warm, sun-kissed skin. He put his head under the stream of water, turning around and leaning back. His cock was still at full alert. Thick and ready. She could hear his heart. Could see a vein throbbing at the base of his neck. Her mouth dropped open. Her teeth, her throat, her—
A low growl left her. Hunger coursed through her. Need like she’d never felt before. She gripped his arm and sank her fangs into his wrist.
Bay growled, his eyes snapping open. She held his gaze as she sucked. So delicious. So amazing.
Pain.
Like before, it hurt to drink from him. Not as much but it still hurt. Her mouth, her throat, her insides were on fire. Like he had lava mixed in with his blood. Her need was greater than her pain though and she sucked again. With a growl, she was forced to pull back after the third mouthful, unable to keep going even though she was still hungry. Not as ravenous as before but nowhere near sated either.
Bay was frowning heavily. His chest heaved. “You need to,” he swallowed thickly, his eyes moving down to her chest, which was heaving as well, “stop doing that.”
She still had his arm in her grip. “I can’t! That’s why you need to go.” She didn’t want him to leave just then. Didn’t want anything except him. Didn’t care if they were found out. Didn’t care about Brant. That they were different species. About feuds and wars and arguments. None of that mattered.
“Go?” He shook his head. “I can’t!” he growled. “What are you doing to me?” He gripped her hips. “Tell me to stop.”
She couldn’t. Ceri shook her head.
“Do it! Tell me.” He turned her around, using his knee to open her legs. Her eyes fluttered closed. Her hands were flat against the tiles. He snarled as he thrust into her. Hard. Like he had lost all control in that moment. She loved it. Loved the feeling of his hard cock inside her. Deep inside.
Yes!
She moaned every time he drove into her. “You’re addictive,” he moaned into her ear. “I can’t get enough.”
Her feelings exactly.
They were in deep shit. He slowed down, his hands sliding up and down her hips and sides. One moved to cup her breast. Soft grunts left his lips, his hard body was plastered against her back, which was slick from the gel. He kept thrusting into her, slow and easy. So good!
She groaned when he kissed her neck. If he nipped her, she was going to come. If his teeth so much as scraped against her. His hands palmed her breasts, tweaked her nipples. She whimpered, pushed back against him with every drive of his cock.
Bay sucked on her earlobe and then…he nipped her there, dragging his teeth along her sensitive flesh.
Her head fell back as her body bowed. Her orgasm was instant and intense, blowing through her like a raging storm. Destroying everything in its wake.
He groaned, clutching her tighter, his body crouching over hers as his movements turned jerky. His thrusts were hard and quick. He groaned again, softer this time as he slowed down, his hips circling. His shaft still drawing out the last of her orgasm.
Ceri was shivering. Vibrating was a better word. Her legs f
“No, we shouldn’t,” he agreed. His hands circled her, holding her. His chest against her back. He made no move to pull out or to let her go.
“We need to clean up,” she said, noticing that the water was no longer as hot as it had been. “We’re out of time. I have to make more herb tea for Cooper. Need to.”
He pulled out just then, making a noise like it pained him to do so. Bay turned her around, he wiped the water dripping from her forehead and smiled at her. “I’d like to see you again before I go.”
“No!” She shook her head, feeling shocked to her core.
“Just to talk.”
She looked at him like he’d lost his mind and he chuckled. “Okay, well, maybe to do a little more than talk. Our meeting commences in the morning. I have some free time until then.”
“I don’t,” she countered, shaking her head some more. “I’m nursing a shifter.” So much for going out tonight. It had been a bad idea to begin with.
“He will be mostly healed within a few hours. There was no silver involved. Come on!” He took her hand, squeezing. “We need to talk about this.”
She was still thirsty. Maybe if she got her fill of him, she’d be in a better position to get over him. It wasn’t true of course. Ceri realized she was talking herself into it. “There is nothing to talk about.”
“I think there is, and I think you know it.”
“We are attracted to one another and I enjoy drinking your blood.” Understatement of the year. “It doesn’t mean anything. It can’t mean anything. End of discussion. Shit!” She noticed that the bowl was on its side on the floor, half the contents had spilled out and was swirling down the drain. She picked it up before more of the gel could run out.
“There is something important I have to ask you and now is not the time or the place. Please.” He looked at her with such pleading eyes.
“Fine! Where should we meet?” She shook her head. “Nowhere is safe. This is a crazy idea.”
“Nowhere on these actual grounds is safe but maybe we could meet in the wooded area behind the castle. Shall we say ten o’clock?”
"Yes." She nodded, lathering the gel onto herself, concentrating on a particular area the most.
She handed what was left to Bay. “That should be enough. I can make some more if you need it?” Thankfully she’d made too much to begin with.
Bay shook his head. “This will be fine.” He got to work as well.
Then she washed quickly, using the shower gel and opened the stall door to leave.
Bay took her wrist. “Tonight at ten. Be there.” He used a commanding tone she hadn’t heard before. “Don’t make me come looking for you, because I will.”
She could see he meant it. What was so important that he was willing to risk so much for? Ceri nodded and he let her go.
Chapter 12
Ceri opened another window. She was tempted to spray some air freshener around her office but that might be too obvious.
“I can’t believe you rutted a dragon,” Drago chuckled. He’d been laughing his ass off since she’d told him.
“Shut up!” Ceri said. “I don’t want anyone finding out. We’d both be in big trouble. It’s clear things are still heated between the species.” She pointed at the shifter on the bed. She’d given him more tea and finished dressing his wounds, which had already begun to heal. His new skin and eyes would be sensitive for a few days, but he’d be just fine and was already over the worst of it.
“You’re right, you do scent…strange, and it is a scent that needs masking.” He crinkled his nose. “You say you drank his blood. How was it?”
Divine. Glorious. The best thing she had ever tasted. All of those things ‒ along with addictive. Since she couldn’t say any of those things she said, “This is no time for chatting. Give me your arm.”
Drago did as she said, still grinning. Ceri sank her fangs into his skin. Drago winced. “Easy does it,” he groaned.
Her fangs hadn’t properly descended and sharpened. Why? When the dragon was near, her fangs were so sharp they could slice through freaking steel mesh. Right then, she had very little to work with. Drago deserved the pinch of pain he would have felt. Asshole! He was loving this far too much for her liking, when there was nothing to like about this whole sorry situation.
Ceri drank his blood, hoping it would mask the scent of Bay’s blood. She would scent a little off for the next day but hopefully not so much that others would know something was up. Ceri shouldn’t meet Bay again tonight. She really shouldn’t. Firstly, because it would be harder to shake his scent and secondly because she felt like her addiction had worsened. Not good! Not good at all! Then thirdly, there was something he wanted to ask her; what could it be? Did the dragon have feelings for her? Was that it? Her heart beat faster at the thought.
Drago’s blood was like water to her now. It tasted bland. Like it contained no sustenance. It held zero appeal. She had to force herself to keep drinking.
“I guess that’s what happens when you starve yourself of blood and sex. You end up jumping a dragon shifter.” Drago chuckled again.
Ceri forced herself to take a few more pulls before letting Drago go. It didn’t feel like she’d eaten anything. Then she thought about what he had just said. Drago still didn’t know that this wasn’t her first encounter with a dragon shifter. With this particular dragon shifter. The only reason she’d had to come clean with him was so that he would let her drink from him before anyone else caught her scent. “Um…I might need more blood first thing tomorrow morning.”
Drago frowned. “You shouldn’t still be hungry.” Then his eyes widened and he choked out a laugh. “Oh, my fuck! You’re meeting him again, aren’t you?” He chuckled some more, even slapping the side of his leg. “Has someone developed a taste for dragon?” he joked, hitting a nerve, only because it was true.
“Keep your voice down,” she whispered, glancing at the sleeping shifter and then at the door. “Those alphas will be here any minute. It’s almost been two hours to the minute since I sent them away. They will want to make sure Cooper is okay. Brant might come through as well.” She hoped that wasn’t the case.
Drago rolled down the sleeve of his shirt, doing up the button on the cuff. “I think it’s great. So what? You needed a bit of excitement in your life. Go meet that shifter. Have your way with him.” He was grinning. “You can use that plant gel again. It works like a charm. I’ll meet you at your place in the morning. I will want to hear all about it.”
“Hear all about what?” Brant asked, sauntering into her office like he owned the place.
Ceri cringed inwardly, waiting for Brant’s nostrils to flare, waiting for him to explode. It didn’t happen.
She pushed out a heavy breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
“Oh, I want to know how things go with the poor shifter,” Drago said, still grinning. “I can’t believe he got his face fried. He must have said something really offensive to get—”
“This is no laughing matter,” Brant growled, narrowing his eyes on Drago. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at training?”
Shit! Now she was getting poor Drago into trouble.
“What, and miss seeing this?’ He pointed at the downed male, who looked like a mummy from the chest up, he was swathed in so many bandages.
“You shouldn’t have told anyone.” Brant turned hard eyes on her.
“I’m sorry. Drago is my best friend.” She shrugged. “He called and asked me what I was doing and I told him. Next minute he was here to see for himself.”
Brant frowned.
“You,” Brant pointed at Drago, “get to training. Not a word to anyone about this.”
Drago nodded. “See you in the morning.” He winked at her as he left.
“And you,” Brant turned to Ceri, “you should have known better. I don’t want word of this getting out. I’m hoping there are no more complications. We need to try to heal the rifts, although, there are times when I’m not sure why I bother.” He shook his head.
“I won’t say anything, I swear,” she mumbled.
Just then, the two alphas walked in. The bear still looked pissed. “How is Cooper? He had better be doing well or I’m going to find that dragon—”
“Calm down, Gage.” The wolf alpha placed a hand on the other male’s chest. “There has been enough violence.”
The bear clenched his jaw, he looked like he disagreed. Ceri had a feeling things might get worse before they got better.
She needed to cancel with Bay. It needed to end. There was no way of reaching him though. No safe way. That meant she had to meet him. She’d say what needed to be said and then she was out of there.
No blood.
No sex.
She could be strong. She had to be! There was no other way.
Bay paced back and forth. Maybe she wasn’t coming. Maybe he had walked too far into the forest. No, she would be able to scent the path he had taken. Just as he could scent that she hadn’t arrived before him. Maybe—
There was a crack of a twig. An almost silent footfall, followed by another. He couldn’t believe the level of relief he felt when he saw her approach.
She wore another tiny slip of a dress. He’d noticed that vampire females didn’t wear much. They didn’t always wear underwear. Never any breast coverings. Ceri was no different. The dress was green. Almost the same vibrant color as her eyes. You could make out her nipples and areolas through the fabric if you really tried, and he did. Did he ever. Like plump ripe peaches tipped with succulent cherries. Ripe for the plucking. Her legs seemed to go on for miles under the short dress. “Don’t look at me like that,” she whispered, stopping on the other side of the clearing. It was like she was afraid of him. He didn’t understand it. It had been the same earlier in her office. From fear and apprehension to jumping him ‒ literally.
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