Craving Her (The Bloodlust Duet Book 1)

by Kay Maree

  “Fuck,” I rumble rubbing my chest.

  “Draven, are you alright,” Crowna, my Regent leader, asks coming to stand next to me. But with the feeling pulling me in all directions, all I can do is nod, incapable of words in this second. Crowna and I met centuries ago when I first became an elder and he has become like a brother to me as we created our own Coven together. His title as Regent leader is like second in command and his job is to take over any business that involves what we have created together if I am ever incapable of being there to do it myself, and I trust him as if we shared the same creator.

  “Geez, brother, take a seat before you die on me,” he chuckles when I shoot him a hard look. Fucking idiot, we are already dead what more could happen to us? Taking his suggestion, I take a seat. Leaning back, I try to stretch out the feeling but whatever it is, it seems tethered to my very darkened soul.

  “Fuck,” I grit out again finally feeling the sensation loosen a little.

  “Did you get any sleep today?” he asks and I shake my head in answer, not up for twenty fucking questions right now. The tightening feeling slowly begins fading away but a rush of sadness pushes forward in its place and I don’t know if it’s all mine. There is something else there, lifting my head as the sound of the double doors opening from the club entry. My eyes zero in on the female that seems frozen in place. The sadness is coming in waves off her as her eyes glass over and I see her fighting them not to fall. A need so strong pushes through me, wanting to calm her. Pushing everything inside me that’s fighting for release to comfort her, I let go, unleashing the power and Iet it cocoon around her, soothing the heartache that seems to splinter through me at the sight of her emotions.

  “Son of a bitch,” I grit out barely holding myself back from rushing toward her and throwing her over my shoulder. The curve of her neck has my baser instincts kicking in but instead of just pure hunger splitting through me, it’s laced with something else, something possessive. Is she the one I have been waiting for all these years? All the decades fade away as the one thing I have longed for since I was created stands mere meters away. All this time searching for my Queen never prepared me for when I actually did see her in full living, breathing color. She is the reason I was put on this earth and now she is mine.

  “What?” Crowna comes to stand next to my chair to see what I’m looking at and I can’t stop the low growl rumbling up my chest.

  “It’s her.”

  “Woah, Draven.” He places a hard hand on my shoulder holding me down as I go to push up from my seat ready to claim my mate. ”You may scare her, boss. She looks like a scared little kitten. One wrong move may have her running scared.” His words line with truth but it doesn’t mean I like it.

  Marco slides two Bloodlust daiquiris across the bar, and my sensitive hearing picks up his words as he goes to look at my little mate. Raw anger slices through me at his thoughts of sinking his teeth into what's mine. Telepathically, I push out to everyone in my coven that this little bit is mine and I will not hesitate to kill them for even thinking of touching what’s mine.

  Hisses ring out over the music and their heads bow a little toward the future Queen in respect. Nudging Marco’s mind again, I make sure he knows not to give my mate that drink that’s swirling with someone else's blood. My mate will only know my taste, no other fucker will ever have the opportunity to say she tasted them.

  I crave everything that is her, the warmth of her touch, the beating of her heart, her heated breath— it’s all thick ambrosia running through me and I can’t get enough. I’m addicted and I don’t want to kick the rush I get just by being in the same room as her. Innocence coats her every move but there is a spark of something else darker, wilder there which only draws me in more. My body hums with electric energy when my eyes stalk her around the room, black silk wraps around every curve of that hourglass figure, my teeth ache, wanting a taste.

  Something divides inside of me and for the first time since I was created, I’m powerless to stop it. Energy pushes out of me and flows across the room. I wait for the moment she feels it and right on cue, her nostrils flare as she senses me reaching out to her. Crystal clear stormy gray eyes connect with mine and her innocence shines straight through me, calling me in, sucking me dry and I want it— I want to harness it, savior every inch, every curve, and every single drop of blood that will surely be my undoing. I want it all. Every breath, the slow seductive way she walks, every fucking heartbeat cages me a little more as the seconds tick by. The dance floor parts knowing the Queen is walking through. A smirk curls my lips as a smile kisses hers, and if I could breathe, I'm sure it would get stuck in my throat as that same broken smile from my dreams washes over her lips.

  “It’s all true,” I murmur.

  “What is,” Crowna asks confusion lacing his words, and do I hear a hit of awe coating his words as well? He has been searching for his mate just as long as me and probably suffers from just the illusion, a figment of his mind has made up over the years just like I have.

  “My mate, for centuries I have dreamed about her. And everything I ever envisioned is right there on that dance floor,” I grunt chuckling as her voice comes out through a break in songs before she throws her head back laughing. I’m captivated and I can’t stop looking at her. I need her as I have never needed anything in my life. The sound of her voice is like sounds of a melody that hasn’t even been written yet and I can’t wait to have that sound all to myself for centuries to come.

  “What are you going to do about Lorna,” Marco asks coming to my side. I was so captivated by my little mate, I didn’t hear him come up beside me or realize who my little bit came with.

  “Fuck her,” Crowna growls.

  “It ain’t gonna be that easy, Crowna. You know this better than any of us,” Marco says slowly as not to piss him off even more at the mention of Lorna. That bitch thought she could get to me by going through him.

  Looking toward Lorna, distaste roils up my throat at the thought of touching her. As if sensing my eyes on her, she looks over her shoulder and winks at me before blowing me a kiss. My skin crawls just thinking of her touching me. Looking back to my little mate, Lorna bends and says something in her ear. Her face twists a little before her smile drops, fear and betrayal coat the air like a thick fog as she turns quickly, heading toward the double doors.

  “What the fuck,” I grit out between clenched teeth, a loud hiss following on my words gaining everyone’s attention in the room, but fuck it, I don’t give a shit. There is no way I’m losing her now that I finally have her after all this time. Her palm flat against one of the doors stills in her attempt to escape, her shoulders slack a little, her head dropping for a split second before looking over her shoulder at me. Tears ghost down her soft cheeks and I feel my eyes flash, my muscles tense seeing those tears.

  “Crowna,” I growl but he’s already at my side and before I can say anything, he’s marching toward Lorna. I want to know what the fuck just happened. I push at his mind and out of the corner of my eye, I see him nod at my unspoken order.

  “About time you took what I was offering,” Lorna says directing her words at me.

  “Never,” I grunt my words ringing loud and clear. She screams in outrage as I take the four steps down toward the dance floor, making my way toward my mate.

  “It’s me, you belong to me not her, my King,” Lorna calls out.

  “I am your nothing,” I throw over my shoulder not taking my eyes off my little bit.

  Her back is leaning against the door now, her eyes bouncing all around the room. I chuckle low. Crowna was right, she is scared but she isn’t a little kitten. Oh no, she is like a little lamb and I’m the monster that is going to devour every single inch of her.

  Taking measured steps as not to scare her more, not letting her break her eyes away from mine when they finally see I’m not letting her leave. Taking the last step between us, I cage her small body with mine, bracing my hands on either
side of her head. Leaning down, I run my nose up the side of her neck and her scent just about brings me to my knees. Reaching her ear, I suck the lobe between my lips, her taste explodes across my tongue, the burning craving that has always lived inside me waiting for my mate comes alive with a force so strong I have to push harder against the door to hold myself back from biting into her right here, right now.

  Just one taste of her will be enough to seal our fate and just my taste on her tongue will ensure we will be together for eternity. That is the way of our coven. We do not need the taste of humans to live forever, we only need our mates to continue our survival on this earth.

  Keeping my words low, barely above a whisper when I speak, my voice like gravel has her body shivering against mine as the thick fog of fear melts away, replaced by a longing so strong it echoes through my head. “My little prey, there is no escaping me now.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Shaya

  “My little prey, there is no escaping me now.”

  The sheer force of his words rolls over me as my core begins to pulse at the thought of being his prey. Closing my eyes against the sudden need running fast and hot through me, I try to take a few deep breaths but it’s no use. When his deep voice bounced around the room not even minutes ago, my body froze and locked up but then, when I couldn’t find anywhere to go, I got caught in his eyes. A gasp tripped up my throat as his eyes, grayer than mine, latched onto mine, refusing to let go, setting my nerves on fire. If I'm being honest, that niggle of fear from moments ago slipped away as something else, something stronger took hold, gripping me, capturing me, keeping me prisoner, refusing to let go. I don’t want to fight it. Instead, I want to hold on tighter, surrender to the power.

  Chain me, keep me, taste me. I’m yours for the taking, the irrational thought swept through my mind and again fear was the last thing on my mind. What is going on with me? I have managed to get swept up into a vortex so strange but yet so strong, I can’t stop it.

  Still locked in the storm that seems to be brewing in his dark orbs, caging me, and I want it all— everything he has to give me. Like a whirlpool, I’m caught in the rapid motion. Everything begins to spin until my body seems to tilt off-center before adjusting to the new current. The feeling is euphoric and every minute in this space with him seems to pull me in stronger and I’m worried that this feeling will always be here when I stare at him, and it will only stop when I'm drowning.

  But the scary thing is, I don’t think I’m strong enough to fight it or even if I want to. I’m off balance and somehow, I know this is where he wants me. And I crave it, I want more. Placing my hands against his hard chest, I welcome the coolness. His chest is hard as stone but yet, I still don’t pull away. But those eyes again seem to have a way of seeing deep inside me like they are searching for that hidden broken place I have never let anyone see. The scent of something wild draws me in more and I can’t stop the way my blood heats, rushing through my veins like flowing lava.

  “Why do you feel like home?” I blurt on a stuttered breath as a sexy curl hits his lips making me instinctively lick mine.

  “Because you, my Queen, have been mine since before you knew I existed.”

  “Damn,” I murmur, his words hitting me straight in the chest. Lifting strands of my hair up off my shoulder like he has been doing it forever, he begins twisting it around his fingers and something so simple, so minuscule, has my overheated body wanting to rub against his.

  “Everything,” he husks out bending toward my ear again, “everything I have ever done was with you in mind, my Queen.”

  He keeps calling me his Queen and I can’t help liking the sound of it, the way it just rolls off his tongue seems so natural like he has been doing it for eternity, but a niggle in the back of my mind pokes at me that something is off.

  “You stupid bitch, you are dead to me.” Lorna's voice breaks through my lust-filled haze and has my eyes going wide at the realization he keeps calling me Queen that means he is King. Shit, Shit. I just keep screwing up tonight.

  “I’m sorry, this can’t happen,” I breathe out removing my hands from his chest. My fingers tingle and I’m not sure if it’s ‘cause they are cold or if it’s from the loss of touching him. My eyes glass over again at the thought of pushing this man away and it’s stupid. I just met him not even five minutes ago but my heart doesn’t want to listen or keep up with my brain. It wants to be his. A strand of his dark hair falls across his forehead and my fingers twitch wanting to swipe it back in place with the rest. A deep rumble that can’t be human vibrates in his chest sending my heart echoing in my ears.

  “What do you want, my Queen,” he gruffs out lifting my chin softly till my eyes lock with his again.

  “Forever,” I fire back without thinking and with no hesitation as the truth coats my words.

  “Aw, but that’s a given,” he murmurs licking his bottom lip. Instinctively, I bite down on mine causing another rumble to vibrate through him. Pulling my lip from between my teeth, he runs his thumb over the now plump flesh making me gasp as a soft chill follows in its wake.

  “You, my Queen, will be worshipped from head to toe, and this lip is mine to bite.”

  His words run through me and I can't stop the gasp slipping from my parted lips at the thought of him devouring every single inch of me.

  “But Lorna--”

  “Lorna has been dealt with and she will never be allowed to set another foot in here again for upsetting you”

  “But--”

  “It’s already done, my Queen,” he clips before leaning down, brushing his lips over my ear, down my throat— a welcoming chill ghosts through me at the swipe of his tongue against my pulse point as another deep rumble vibrates through his chest stopping any protest that was on my tongue. When he leans back, that same feeling floods me again when we lock eyes and for all I’m worth, time keeps ticking by. My brain knows this but I can’t tell you how long we stand there staring at each other. It could have been minutes or even hours, everything seems to shake around me— well, that’s what it feels like but I stand stoke still afraid of breaking the hypnotic connection first.

  Breathing deep, straightening my shoulders, lifting my chin a little, feeling braver than I have ever been in my life. This is what's right— something deep within is telling me this is where I am supposed to be and screw anyone that has a problem with it. Something zaps through me like it’s connecting the dots from my mind and heart, and that something that’s been hidden for so long latches on and syncs up.

  Blood rushes through my veins but I keep my chin up and shoulders back. “There you are, my Queen. I knew you were in there somewhere, you just had to believe it,” he breathes out as a dark sensual curl kisses his lips, teasing me, promising me a carnal desire I could have only ever dreamed about and it sets my body on a fine edge.

  “Come have a drink with me,” he grits out as if he is trying to hold back and I just nod letting him guide me toward the stairs he came down only moments ago and again, the crowd parts letting us through.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Draven

  I had to pull her away from the door because I was two seconds away from saying fuck it, throwing her over my shoulder and taking the elevator up to my apartment that takes up the top level of my club. The violet in her eyes shined brighter than I ever imagined when everything clicked into place inside her sexy little body.

  Her scent became stronger, calling out to me to taste, to devour, but I don’t want anyone to witness the euphoria her body will go through as my teeth pierce the delicate skin along her neck. Shortening my steps so she doesn’t have to run to catch up to me, I concentrate on her warm hand in mine. The simple touch of her slender hand in my cold one has my skin pulling tighter then it already is as ripples of awareness run through me.

  I give her hand a small squeeze wanting to feel it again but I’m careful not to add too much pressure. I have to keep reminding myself that she is hu
man and I could hurt her without a thought. Pulling her closer into my side, her body molds to the hard plains of my body. If the scent of her blood or the deep awareness in her eyes didn’t tell me she was mine, the way she melts around me would be a dead giveaway.

  I want to know everything there is to know about my little mate but first, I just want to hold her in my lap and let everyone know their King has finally been awoken and our coven is stronger than ever before. I long for the moment when we are truly mated. Not only will I feel her emotions but every thought she has will become mine for the taking just like mine will be for her. Two half-shattered and broken souls will finally become one.

  Crowna pulls up another high back chair next to mine but where mine is deathly black studded leather, my Queen’s is red. I nod my thanks as he holds out his hand toward my mate Shaya and I can’t stop the deep rumble vibrating up my throat at the thought of him touching her, making him smirk.

  “What’s your name? little one” I gruff out trying to mask the irritation in my voice.

  “Shaya” she murmurs.

  “Shaya, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Crowna,” he says tucking his hands in his jeans pockets and dropping his chin instead.

  “Come sit and I will explain and we can get to know each other.” I squeeze her hand a little in mine and feel it relax as I pull her over toward the chairs but instead of guiding her to sit next to me, I take my seat and pull her into my lap.

  “Hard but comfortable,” she murmurs making me chuckle. “I’m sorry.” She tucks her chin as heat creeps into her beautiful, soft skin.

  “Never be sorry.” I bury my nose in the side of her neck, letting her scent flow through me, slowly torturing myself making my mouth water and teeth ache. I have to lock my jaw as I pull every ounce of control I possess into place before I can speak again.