Wicked After Dark: 20 Steamy Paranormal Tales of Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More

by Mina Carter

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  The vision of his mate passing through the archway took Rayne’s breath away. There were no words to describe how exquisite she looked standing there ready to begin their life together.

  Her wavy auburn hair was piled on her head, curly tendrils framing her expressive face. She’d been self-conscious about the tiny bald spot and stitches at the back of her head. He was glad she’d found a way to camouflage it. The small, white flowers interspersed through the delicate design were baby’s breath. She’d told him on one of their walks that it meant ‘pure of heart’. Rayne could think of nothing better for her to wear on their mating day.

  The off-the-shoulder white gossamer gown she wore gave him a mouthwatering view of the freckles dancing across her peaches and cream shoulders. He thought of all the ways he wanted to touch and tease each of those precious little dots. The corset-like bodice fit perfectly and displayed her ample bosom as an offering he found hard to refuse. It was embroidered with small red flames in honor of his dragon, which was also being united with them today.

  A wide, red satin ribbon cinched her waist and the long skirt hugged every one of Kyndel’s luscious curves. Her bare feet peeked out the bottom of her dress. He dreamt of sucking each one of those toes between his lips while she moaned in pleasure. Working hard to hold back the growl that was building deep in his chest, he focused on her face.

  If anything, his desire for her grew stronger. They needed to get this ceremony started or he was not going to be responsible for what happened. He hadn’t been inside his mate’s body for five days, and the separation was killing him. Not to mention, she stood just out of reach, looking like an angel fallen from Heaven, and other men were looking at her. He knew it was the lack of physical contact over the last few days and the call of the Ancients to complete the mating ritual now that they were in their sacred place that drove his need for her to an all-time high, but he was almost to his breaking point.

  Thankfully, the Chief Elder’s voice rang through the chamber, “Long ago when knights and dragons fought side by side for King and Country, it became apparent that dragon kin was no longer safe from those that would expose and destroy them. They sought to join with the knights that had so valiantly fought alongside them. Thus, through magic and the will of both dragon and knight, the Golden Fire Clan of the Dragon Shifters was born.

  “We are here today in the holiest of places to honor what the Universe put into place all those many years ago. We are here to acknowledge and bless the mating of Rayne Michael MacLendon to the one the Universe made for only him, Kyndel Aislinn Masterson. Will those seeking to witness this union please step forward?”

  Out from the shadows stepped the five men Rayne held closer than blood kin, the men that had trained with him, fought with him, bled with him, and now shared the happiest moment of his life. They were all dressed in their finest. Kneeling around the Sacred Circle, they bowed their heads. Royce stood and addressed the Elders, “We, the five of the MacLendon Force, wish to witness and offer our blessing to the union of these two souls, two halves of the same whole. May they live long, fight hard, love harder, and produce many young to flourish when their souls have gone to the Heavens.” He knelt again and bowed his head again.

  Carrick began again, “Your witness and blessing have been acknowledged and accepted, MacLendon Force. Rayne MacLendon, you may go to your mate and escort her to the center of the Blessed Circle.” No sooner had the words been spoken than Rayne was standing in front of Kyndel. He took her hands in his, and because he couldn’t muster the will to stop looking at her, he walked backwards until they were in place.

  Carrick began again, “The Red Dragons were born of blood and fire. They are notoriously passionate in all areas of their lives. Red Dragons are known for their command and fierceness. The red of their scales symbolizes love and fertility. Red Dragons will lead the charge, conquer the enemy, and defend homeland and family with their very lives. To mate a Red Dragon means to accept all that they are and honor the power shared between mates.

  “Now is the time of the marking. May the Universe continue to bless you and yours all the days of your lives.” It took only a moment for everyone but Rayne and Kyndel to leave the chamber.

  Rayne stood perfectly still, looking into the eyes of the love of his life. He knew there would never come a day he would tire of looking at the gorgeous woman in his arms. Unable to take the anticipation any longer, Rayne lowered his mouth to hers. He stopped right before their lips would have touched and whispered, “Ta’ mo chroi’ istigh ionat,” and with that, he lowered his lips onto hers.

  It was the most all-encompassing, devastatingly enraptured kiss they’d ever shared. He felt her in every cell of his body. They were consumed with a heat that threatened to engulf them in the flames of their desire. His body and soul laid open to his mate. He felt it reciprocated. She was just as open to him as he was to her. He was overjoyed they were finally sharing one another’s thoughts and feelings.

  She flinched in his arms just as he felt a twinge where his neck met his shoulder. They were being marked by the Universe, as mates. Rayne left her lips and trailed kisses across her jaw and down her neck, reaching the tender spot he knew still stung from their brand. He licked and sucked the offending spot until all thoughts of anything but their naked bodies loving one another were banished from both their minds.

  Lifting his head from her neck, Rayne looked at his mate. He would spend every day of the rest of his life thanking the Universe for her. He kissed the tip of her nose, looked into her passion-fogged eyes, and whispered, “Now, for the best part. We consummate our mating, mo ghra’.”

  Lifting her into his arms, he used his enhanced speed to get them home in a matter of minutes. Rayne threw open the door and carried her across the threshold, immediately kicking it closed again with the heel of his boot. She’d never seen the inside of his home, their home, but that had to wait. He needed her naked and in his bed more than he needed to show her the guest bathroom.

  Releasing her legs, she slid down his body. Every spot their bodies touched fed the fire that caused his pulse to race and his cock to harden. He steadied her when her feet touched the floor. Together, they let out a long, slow breath. He smiled at how in sync they truly were. She was his. She bore his mark. There was nothing in Heaven or Hell that could tear them apart. Not even death.

  Running his hands through her hair, he released the pins holding her curls, careful not to touch her stitches. Baby’s breath fell like snowflakes as her auburn mane tumbled down her back. She moaned as he massaged her scalp, pushing her head further into his hands. He rubbed and kneaded down her neck and onto her shoulders, those little freckles teasing him again. This time he did not resist. He kissed and licked each little spot while his hands worked their magic on her still tense muscles.

  Kissing across her décolletage, Rayne began to undo the row of tiny pearl buttons holding the bodice of her dress. His breath caught in his throat as her breasts came into view. He untied the ribbon around her waist and her gown floated to the ground. She lifted one foot and then the other as he kicked the garment out of their way with his booted foot. He took a moment just to marvel at the miraculous creature that stood before him in nothing but a white, lace thong.

  “Commander, it seems you’re a little overdressed for the occasion.” She smiled a coy little smile as she lifted his surcoat over his head and reached for the hem of his black undershirt.

  Rayne grabbed the same hem and began to tug, but Kyndel placed her hands on top of his. “Let me. It’s only fair to return the favor.” She looked up at him through her thick dark lashes and winked.

  His hands fell to his sides. Who was he to deny his mate anything, even if it was undressing him? She made quick work of his undershirt and ran her hands over his shoulders and across his chest, lightly toying with his nipples. As she rubbed along each ridge of his six-pack and brushed through the thin line of hair leading into the waistband of his
pants, Rayne thought he might lose his mind at the sensory overload. Kyndel undid the clasp and zipper of his pants and ran the back of her fingers from one hip to the other. Goose bumps rose on Rayne’s skin and he shivered.

  She pushed his pants off his hips and followed them to the floor. On her knees in front of him, his erection was right in front of her mouth. She licked her lips and he thought he might die. She captured the small bead of moisture at the tip of his cock with the end of her tongue, and he knew that image would forever be burned into his memory, something he never wanted to forget. Kyndel tasted him again and his eyes slid shut.

  When she started to take him in her mouth, his eyes shot open and he grabbed Kyndel’s shoulders to bring her back to standing. She resisted his touch, looking up in confusion but assuring him, “No, Rayne, I want to taste you.”

  Their eyes remained locked for just a moment. He had to be sure this was truly what she wanted. Her slight nod confirmed her wishes. Rayne relaxed and laid his hands gently on her upper arms. Kyndel placed her palms on his thighs, rubbing her cheek from the tip to the base of his cock. Her tongue lavished the vein that ran his length, working her way back to the tip, then licking the swollen head like a lollipop. When she dipped her tongue into the slit at the very tip, the muscles in his thighs shook. Rayne was sure his head would blow off his shoulders if he didn’t fall flat on his ass first. His breathing sped up and for the first time in his very long life, he wondered if his kin could hyperventilate.

  Kyndel sucked as much of his length into her mouth as would fit and hollowed her cheeks. Rayne’s fingers squeezed her shoulders of their own volition as he groaned. “Mo ghra’, I’m not going to last if you keep doing that.”

  He felt her smile around his cock at his words. They seemed to spur her on as she worked him in and out of her lips for a few more strokes. He grew larger and thicker, working hard not to explode in her mouth. She moved back to the tip, increasing the suction and pulled him from her mouth with a pop. In a flash, she had sucked one, then the other of his balls into her mouth, licking and massaging with her tongue until he was able to take a long deep breath.

  But his little minx was not about to let him rest. She took his length in her mouth once again. Placing both her hands around the base, she worked him in and out of her mouth, sucking and humming until he was helpless but to release into her waiting mouth. She swallowed all he gave, continuing to work her lips up and down until he began to harden again.

  It was the most wonderful torture he’d ever endured, but now it was his turn to taste. Putting his hands under her arms, it took less than a second for him to get her on her back in the middle of his bed. One more quick maneuver and he had her legs thrown over his shoulders with his mouth just inches from her center. He rubbed his nose against the wet silk covering his prize. The scent coming from her warm, wet pussy was driving him mad. He had to taste her lest he might die. Slipping two fingers under the lace at her hip, he pulled until the offending material ripped. Throwing it over his head, he inhaled her succulent fragrance. No longer able to stand the torture, the tip of his tongue licked up and down the glistening seam of her pussy.

  He groaned deep in his throat as her taste burst upon his tongue. Unable to wait one second longer to have his mouth all over her and his tongue buried deep inside her, he placed his hands under her ass, lifted her pussy closer to his face, and began to feast. He drove his tongue in her weeping channel as far as he could go, licking every inch of her. He curled the end of his tongue and teased the bundle of nerves he knew set her on fire.

  Kyndel’s hands grabbed his hair, pulling with such force he was sure he’d be bald. He heard her gasping for breath and smiled against her skin. Using the flat of his tongue, he licked her outer lips from bottom to top, teasing circles around her clit on every pass. Her legs tightened around his head. Her heels dug into his back. She moaned and mewled to the Heavens in an unintelligible language as he sucked her swollen nub between his lips, flicking it up and down and in circles with his tongue until she came so hard and long he felt her lose consciousness for just a moment.

  Rayne was sure Kyndel had pulled out most of his hair by the roots, but he couldn’t care as he continued to drink the honey that flowed from her. He nuzzled and nipped all around her puffy lips until she released his hair and her breathing returned to normal. Carefully lifting her legs off his shoulders, he massaged the muscles in her thighs. There had never been a lovelier sight than Kyndel completely satiated from his attention, looking like a Goddess in his bed.

  He kissed her hip and made his way to her belly button where he paid extra attention with his tongue and teeth. When Kyndel started to giggle, he licked his way up her stomach to the sweet spot between her breasts, licking and sucking as he felt her heart beat in sync with his. He palmed both her breasts and gently squeezed as the already raised peaks grew harder against his palms. Kissing up her neck, he paid special attention to the flame-shaped mark. He would never tire of seeing it on her skin. Kissing her neck, he tasted until she sighed and moved her head to the side, allowing him greater access. He spent extra minutes nipping and kissing until her nails dug into his biceps.

  She surprised him by grabbing his head and slamming her mouth to his. He opened immediately for her, letting her have her way. His mate was as sassy in bed as she was everywhere else. He loved it. Her hands in his hair and her tongue working his mouth had him ready to explode. He shifted his hips slightly, pushing into her until he could go no farther. He knew he’d done as she wished when she tore her mouth from his, screaming, “Rayne! Yes! Oh God, yes!”

  He wanted to go slow this first time in her body as a mated couple, but the feel of her muscles contracting around his painfully hard cock made it impossible for him to hold still. Sliding out of her until only the tip of him rested within her opening, he commanded, “Look at me, Kyndel.” And she obeyed.

  He thrust into her and pulled right back out, starting a rhythm that she easily met stroke for stroke. They stared into one another’s eyes as their passion exploded. He pushed her knees towards her chest, lifting her bottom off the bed, allowing him deeper access to her wet, wanting pussy. He rolled his hips, the head of his cock caressing the sensitive bundle of nerves that made the walls of her vagina close tighter around him and her eyes roll back in her head. He slammed into her, bumping her clit with his pelvis. He watched her struggle to breathe, just as he had trouble drawing his next breath. Only the sound of their bodies slapping together and their heavy breathing could be heard as their frantic pace drove them to completion.

  Rayne reached between their bodies, barely touched her clit with his thumb and she was in orbit. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as she reached her climax. Her beautiful emerald eyes that held all the promise of his future locked on his and he was helpless but to follow her over the edge. He would follow her anywhere, even to the end of the earth.

  Rayne was flooded with Kyndel’s thoughts and emotions. He felt her in his heart and in his soul as he also looked into hers. Both were filled to overflowing with unconditional love and acceptance. They were complete as only true mates could be.

  Hours later they lay completely replete, her head on his chest, their legs intertwined, while their bodies cooled from their hours of lovemaking. Rayne reached under his pillow and pulled out a white, silk, drawstring pouch. He placed it in the hand she had on his chest.

  Kyndel unwound her legs from his and sat up. “What’s this?”

  “Open it and see.”

  She untied the bow and tipped the pouch. Out dropped the stunning bracelet he’d watched her admire in the jewelry store.

  “You are such a sneak.” She beamed. “I love it, Rayne.”

  “Emma explained what a bell ringing means to dragons?” Rayne smirked as he asked.

  She cocked her eyebrow at him, but the grin on her face took all the bite out of the look. “Yes, she told me.”

  He took the bracelet from her hands and fastened it around her wrist.
“These bells will always be ringing.” And with that, he kissed his way up her arm, pulling her body across his as he went.

  “Rayne?”

  “Yes, mo ghra’?”

  “I love you.”

  “And I love you, a thaisce.”

  “And this mindspeak thing isn’t bad either.”

  EPILOGUE

  6 months later

  He knew Andrew was close by, could feel him as if they were standing side-by-side. That was what made not already having him in custody such a kick in the pants. Aidan had spent the last six months following his traitorous brother, hoping to capture him… always a step behind. It was an incredible blow to the Guardsman’s ego that his younger brother could stay ahead of him. It mattered not that Andrew was tainted with black magic, or that no one, even their Elders, had any idea what the combination of that and his dragon magic could do. It was embarrassing and Aidan was fed up with it. No matter what, he should still be able to catch Andrew and bring the traitor back to the clan.

  Early in his quest, Aidan found that going back and forth between the lair and the city was wasting an incredible amount of time. Time that could be used for his search. He spoke to Rayne about camping in the wooded part of the City Park where their clan often stayed, but Kyndel had suggested he use her apartment. After all, Rayne had paid her lease for ten years and it was sitting empty. He would forever be grateful to both of them.