Seduced by the Fae

by Laxmi Hariharan

  She doesn’t reply. Another beam of energy reaches out to me on the psychic plane, a ray of green, another and another, all of it hooks onto me, fusing with mine, until there is a thick, blue-green mass connecting us, enveloping the both of us.

  The first man reaches us only to be yanked back.

  “The fuck?” I stare.

  I can’t take my gaze off of him as his body is twirled around and around.

  The man screeches and wriggles, and just as suddenly, he's let go.

  He flies through the air, arcing over the stage many rows into the audience, and crashes down.

  There are screams from the audience, and the impact ripples through the ground. People fall over, scatter away, the stage trembles, and the people on the platform stumble.

  The men in the row closest to me fall to their knees in front of a new arrival standing with his back to me. He's wearing a white shirt, black jacket formal pants, all tailormade for his build. I shake my head to clear it. Who is this guy?

  He raises his hand, the tips glowing.

  Sparks of light shoot from them as he drags his hand over the ground, creating a margin that separates us from the crowd. The row in front pulls back; some of them jump off of the stage.

  I growl and the suit clad man shoots me a look over his shoulder. “Leave.”

  “Who the fuck are you?”

  41

  Alice

  I sense the energy ripple over Doc. The telekinetic energy vibrates up his chest, seeping out of his pores, cocooning me and pulling me close. It pulses over me, and the oxygen in the space thins. He’s trying to teleport me out, and no way am I going without him.

  “Get out of here.” Gabriel snarls.

  Danger rolls off of him in waves.

  Doc stiffens above me; he growls and moves forward. I pat his arm and he stops. His muscles vibrate with unleashed energy, but at least he's not snarling anymore. I narrow my gaze on Gabriel, who stands unmoving.

  Those green eyes, bore into me. In their depths something flashes: pain, fear, a plea to get the hell out of here? He jerks his chin and I nod.

  I turn to Doc, rise up to tip-toe, then pinch his chin, forcing him to look down at me.

  “I will not leave without you.”

  I drop my head and bury my teeth into the curve where his neck meets his shoulder.

  The taste of blood fills my mouth; the scent of him fills my senses. His energy screeches through the mating bond and infuses me with his essence. Blue, gray, white—the colors surge over me. My breath catches. My chest squeezes. Then, a wave of green and purple rises from me to meet the bond. The connection snaps into place. The bond barrels down my rib cage to embed in my womb, and I scream.

  The pain…oh, the pain…it sweeps through me.

  White and red and so hot. Sweat slides down my back; my entire body shakes.

  “Alice, what have you done? You sealed the mating bond?” Doc’s voice is anguished.

  My head falls back; I don’t think I can hold myself up. My body crumples, and my forehead hits his shoulder. “I need you, Doc.”

  A shudder grips his big body, rumbling up his chest, spilling over me. The air in the space thins.

  The fine hair on my neck rises. Geometric designs blur past, and we teleport. The psychic breeze buffets my face, my skin, tugs at my hair, and I huddle close to him. His big body shields me, his heat cocoons me, and his scent envelops me. If I were to die now, I’d be happy. I close my eyes and let the darkness pull me under.

  When I open my eyes, all I see is white.

  White walls, white floor, white light that shines through the window and into my eyes. I move my lips but my throat is so dry. No words emerge. I cough and my lungs burn.

  "You're back?"

  A figure moves into my line of sight, blocking out the light. I can't see his features, but those shoulders, that voice—harsh and soft, smooth and grating over my nerves. My body begins to tremble. "Nolan." My voice emerges on a croak.

  "I'm here Red."

  I raise my hand and he grips it. His palm is big, warm; it dwarfs mine. My fingers tremble and he leans in closer. There are dark circles around his eyes. He seems to have lost weight; his build is leaner. His hair stands on end as if he's been running his fingers through it? "You're alive." I gasp out on a breath, then cough again.

  "Let me get you some water." He starts to tug his hand from my grasp and I cling to it. Hating my weakness, hating that I can't let go of him again. Hating that I feel so vulnerable right now. And a part of me doesn't care anymore. Maybe being near death does that to you? Makes you want to throw everything you knew to the winds and race for the one thing you want. The only thing that makes my life worth living—him. "I love you Doc." I wheeze out on my next breath.

  His fingers still over mine. His muscles tense. Anger vibrates off of him and my gaze darts to his face. Those blue eyes burn at me, flecks of gold in them hinting at the turmoil inside.

  He loves me too. I heard him say so earlier. So why doesn't he say it now that we are back home and safe?

  I wriggle around, trying to make myself more comfortable.

  His grip tightens and a pulse of pain darts up my arm.

  I wince and his gaze falls to our joined hands. I look down and find the skin stretched white over his knuckles. Huh? Who'd have thought. He's as nervous as me? Or angry? Or both.

  He lets go of my hand and I lower it to the bed, then tuck it under the cover. Stupid tears burn my eyes.

  "How long have I been out?"

  "You've been asleep for three days." He rubs his chin and the rasping sound of his fingernails raking over his rough whiskers shivers over me. My nerve-endings spark and a burst of heat flares low in my belly.

  That entire unshaved and hollow-eyed look only adds to his potent sex appeal. My sex quivers. Nope. Not going there. Not now.

  "You didn't change?" I jerk my chin toward his torn clothes.

  "Nah." He rubs the back of his neck.

  "You didn't leave my side all this time?"

  He doesn't reply. Just leans back and his massive frame dwarfs the chair.

  "You brought me here to the infirmary and stayed with me?" I know it, but I want him to confirm it to me. Just blame it on my insecurities okay? I want to know that this man wants to be near me as much as I crave his proximity.

  "Mmm hmm." He dangles his hands loosely between his legs.

  My gaze drops to his crotch and the bulge that tents his pants. I've seen him aroused, felt the beauty of his cock throb in my palm, shared his pain when he was hurt in a fight, sensed how much he cares for me, seen him put his life on the line to protect me...so why is he still holding back?

  Damn the stubborn man, he knows more about me than any living person. He's the only person I have been this intimate with, and I don't plan on having this...this feeling with anyone else.

  He shifts again, then winces.

  "Are you hurt?"

  "It's nothing." He leans over to reach for the jug of water, and I gasp. "Your poor back." I can't take my gaze off the tattered remains of his shirt. Pale pink flesh peers through it. Fae's heal quickly, so whatever Boris had hit him with again, must have burned through all of the layers of skin.

  "I'll survive," he holds out the glass, "thanks to you."

  I try to sit up but my entire body protests. My breath catches in my chest and I fall back against the sheets. "What do you mean?"

  "How do you feel?" The heavy ridge of his eyebrows flexes. He answers my question with one of his own.

  Typical Doc. He can rip me of all my barriers and expose me until I am physically and emotionally naked but god forbid if he were to share any of his true feelings.

  "I feel..." I examine the different parts of my body—my shoulders, arms, legs—all of it seems whole. My limbs feel a little heavy, my muscles a little sore but other than that I feel, "fine."

  He tilts his head and I square my shoulders, "Honestly, my muscles are sore but other than that, I am fine." />
  He nods.

  "Shouldn’t I take longer to recover?" I frown.

  He hesitates, something coils in the depths of his eyes and I watch, riveted. What is he thinking? "You are more resilient that you realize. Besides your body is changing." He firms his lips.

  "What do you mean?" A ripple of apprehension skates over my skin.

  He fixes me with a penetrating stare. Okay not reassuring at all, that look.

  "Are you thirsty?"

  Hmm, and he's changing the subject. My lips throb, and my throat feels too tight and I let the thought escape. "Water would be nice."

  He picks up the glass of water on the side table, then slides his arm under my neck and props me up. He holds the glass to my lips and I drink from it. Some of the water slides down my chin and he wipes it off with his fingers. His touch raises goosebumps on my skin.

  Even in this recovering state, I am so damn aware of him. I look at the jug and he fills up the glass again, then holds it up to my mouth. I drink it, the water sliding down my throat. He lifts the glass from my lips, "Enough, or you'll be sick."

  The whiff of dominance in his tone ripples over my skin. The fine hair on the nape of my neck rises. Only when I catch myself nodding, do I realize what I've done. I've obeyed him without hesitation. When he's around, the force of his personality seduces me, giving him the leeway to have his way with me. "You can't help it, can you?"

  He frowns.

  I raise my chin, "This entire telling me what to do thing, it's just in you. You can't stop yourself from being dominant anymore than—"

  "Your wanting to submit completely and yet denying yourself?" His voice is hard. His gaze narrows and a tinge of dragon smoke seeps into the air. Why does that turn me on?

  Goosebumps pop on my skin.

  I wrap my arms around my waist, then look down to find I am wearing a hospital gown. The material is rough and gray in color. Awesome. It couldn't be any uglier, eh? If only I was on a stronger footing, in a space where I could hold my own with a dominant alpha Fae. All I have are my words. "So you know better than me what I want?"

  He smirks.

  Damn. I gave him an opening.

  "You said it Red," He leans forward until his eyes are on level with mine, "Only I know what you want. Only I can give you what you need. Only I can sink my dick into your pussy and strum your cunt and drive you to madness...again and again."

  I have felt the edge of his palm, felt his thick fingers in my cunt. Been helpless to stop my pussy from clamping down around his throbbing dick but...hearing him elaborate it all out in that harsh voice of his adds an edge of darkness to it all.

  He tilts his head and I gulp.

  His gaze holds mine. His presence anchors me. Every cell of my body is captive to him. All he needs to do is flick his gaze to me and I'll do anything he wants. No words. No need to tell me. I know what he needs. Me.

  His lips thin. "Do you understand?"

  "Yes, Alpha." I lick my lips.

  "Good girl."

  The blood roars at my temples. Heat stabs between my legs. His approval sets my skin on fire.

  "There's just one thing." His jaw firms and my pulse begins to race.

  A sense of foreboding tugs at my subconscious mind. Whatever he's going to say next, I am not sure I want to hear it.

  Don't say it. Don't say it. I tilt my head, "Wh...what?"

  "You made a mistake."

  42

  Doc

  She worries her lower lip with her teeth, and I can't tear my gaze from her mouth. I should have brought her here and left. Should have left her to my team and gone straight to Dante and debriefed him on what I had seen and heard, but one look at her helpless, unconscious, and no way could I have torn myself from her side.

  I feather my knuckles over the wound at the curve of where my neck meets my shoulders. "You shouldn't have done it, Red."

  Her gaze widens and she swallows. She knows exactly what it means.

  "You took control." I purse my lips.

  "I was trying to save your life."

  "You went against everything I have tried to teach you, you bit me and claimed me. You took the initiative and completed the mating bond."

  "You bit me first." She squeezes her fingers together, "You initiated the bond."

  "Exactly. I started it; it was mine to complete."

  "I only did what anyone else would have in my place."

  "Is that right?" Anger laces my blood. The pulse thuds at my temples, at the base of my throat, at my wrists. Fuck, every part of me seems to be coming alive, stirring, stretching, yearning for her. The ball of fire in my chest flares to life and I gasp.

  Her gaze lowers to my chest and I realize that I am massaging the skin over my heart.

  "You feel it too, don’t you?" She raises her chin. "You can sense the intensity of whatever it is that stretches between us."

  "You completed the bond, so yeah, no surprise there." I raise my eyebrows in an expression that's meant to be casual. The exact opposite of everything I am feeling inside.

  She sits up and the cover dips. Don’t look down, don't. My gaze drops to her chest. To the beautiful curves of her breasts outlined by the fabric.

  My throat closes. I only have to close the distance between us, shove down the covers and all that trembling flesh will be bared to my gaze.

  It was a bad idea to have stayed on. My dick twitches, insisting otherwise. My fingertips tingle to reach out and cup her swollen flesh. To drag my tongue around her pebbled nipples and take them in my mouth and suck on them.

  "You want me Doc."

  Her voice is breathless and her chest heaves.

  "You can't always get what you want."

  "This...this you can." She brings her hands up to cup her breasts, then squeezes them. "All this is yours." She moans and blood rushes to my groin.

  Fuck me. I had barely managed to get her out of there with both of our lives, but a few seconds in her presence, and all I can think of is turning her over on my lap and teaching her a lesson for having taken matters into her own hands. "It wasn't your place to lead and complete what I started."

  I fold my palms over my chest. Best to keep them in front of me where I can have control over my arms. Because when it comes to Red, my body has a mind of its own.

  The scent of her teases my nostrils and my pulse begins to thud.

  The intensity of those green eyes that bore into my soul, the heavy bond that throbs between us... all of it crowds in on my mind. I surge to my feet and she cowers back against the bed. My shoulders jerk. I raise my hands, "I am not going to hurt you, Red."

  "I know." She wets her lips. "But I am still not used to how big you are."

  "Oh?" A smirk tugs at my lips.

  She pouts, "That's not what I mean."

  I angle my head.

  "I wasn't implying the size of your...ah, cock." Her cheeks redden.

  "Love it when you talk dirty, Red."

  She grips her hair and pulls at it, "You're so annoying." She huffs.

  "And you are still not recovered from our earlier interlude." I half angle my body away. Get out of here while you can. Give yourself some space. Some time to work this out.

  I move toward the door and the bond twinges in my chest. Her uncertainty shudders down our shared connection. I curl my fingers into fists and keep going.

  "I can't do this without you Doc."

  I almost come to a stop, then force myself to take one step. Then another. "You are better off without me."

  "That's not true." I turn to find her swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

  "Stop." My words ring out in the space between us.

  She pauses. Her head lowers, that thick hair of hers flowing down over her chest to cover the sight of her breasts.

  I want to go back and close the distance between us and shove it aside.

  She peers up at me from under her eyelashes, "Why are you doing this?"

  "I can't accept what you gave me.
I can't take you for my mate. I am all wrong for you Alice. If you are with me, I'll only hurt you, and you deserve better."

  "But you love me." She wrings her fingers together in front of her.

  I draw myself up to my full height. "Do I look like I am capable of love?"

  "Yes." She takes a step forward and I stiffen.

  If she comes closer, if she touches me, I won't be able to stop myself from taking her.

  She's right, I do love her.

  But I can't give her what she wants.

  It's because I love her that I cannot give in completely to the animal inside of me. I'd almost choked her the last time. What if I can't stop myself from going further?

  What if the combination of my newly awakened dragon blood combined with the Fae in me pushes me over completely?

  Her sealing the mating bond had forced me to acknowledge the last missing pieces of me. The next time I make love to her, I won't be able to stop in time.

  What if I endanger her life because of it? I couldn't bear that.

  That's why I am going to put distance between us. I can't kill myself, for that will hurt her, but if I am gone long enough, maybe she'll forget me. Maybe she'll find someone else who can protect her and give her everything I can't. The band around my chest tightens. What the fuck? Not the time for emotions now, asshole. Turn around and leave now.

  I set my jaw. "Get back into bed."

  She juts out her lower lip, and I am sure she is going to protest and then...I am not sure what I'll do. March across and tie her to the bed? Probably. I just want her to give me a reason to do so. So I can have her restrained and at my disposal. Mine to command, to do with as I want. Sick fuck that I am. She's better off without me. I ball my fists at my side, "I won't repeat myself."

  She pales. Then she scoots back and slides under the covers.

  Thank fuck.

  "You will stay in bed and concentrate on healing. You will cooperate with the doctor I am going to send to take care of you."

  I infuse enough dominance in my voice that the color fades from her cheeks. She has no choice but to obey me.