“Fine by me, brother.” Zachary wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and let out a loud belch. “She’s a pain in the ass, so I’m happy to share her sparkling personality with these two.”
“You’re a pig.” Daniella rolled her eyes and turned her chair back to the table.
“Sorry, baby.” He winked. “I’m all Lion Clan.”
Daniella made a sound of disgust, but Dominic didn’t miss the amused look on Tatiana’s face.
“I have to go back to my cabin for a little while,” Dominic said, ignoring his sister’s attitude and focusing on his mate. “Tatiana and I have some things to take care of before I leave for the exchange this evening. We’ll see you in the Council meeting later.”
Keep an eye on him. Dominic telepathed to Dante through a protected mental link. I still have a hard time believing he’s involved with the Purists, but… He didn’t need to finish the thought because Dante knew as well as he did—it could be anyone.
I’m on it. By the way, I filled Malcolm in on the situation, and he’s patrolling with Eric as we speak. They’re still picking up a phantom energy signature around the edges of the ranch, but he can’t nail it down.
Understood.
As Dominic and Tatiana left the house and headed to his cabin, he couldn’t get his sister’s face out of his mind. He had gotten good at hating her for what she did. However, seeing her again brought back a multitude of conflicting emotions. Daniella may be a traitor, but underneath it all, she was still his baby sister. As the dark emotions threatened to swallow him, he knew there was only one thing that could ease his pain.
As they walked down the gravel drive toward the cabins, Dominic stole a glance at Tatiana, and a funny feeling settled in his chest. He reached out and tangled her hand in his, linking their fingers and squeezing her palm tightly. It wasn’t simply that he wanted to touch her—he had to.
Suddenly, he had an urgent, all consuming need to feel her skin rushing along his, to blaze a trail of kisses down her throat, to bury himself inside her, and to lose himself in the calm, natural beauty of her.
Tatiana smiled at him and squinted against the sun. Her eyes crinkled at the corners, making her even more gorgeous. Images of her naked body writhing beneath him filled his mind, igniting the carnal desire that always smoldered just beneath the surface. The craving slammed into him hard and fast, and in that instant he knew he couldn’t wait until they got back to the cabin.
Dominic stopped and tugged her to him. He cradled her face with both hands, and as he stared into those gorgeous brown eyes, he knew he was lost.
“I have to have you, Tatiana.” He dragged one hand down her back and held her against him, his erection pressing into her belly. “Right now.”
***
Tatiana’s eyes snapped to their clan form, and her lips parted on a sigh. She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of his pants, and her eyes twinkled with mischief as she ground herself against him. She wanted him too and not just for the physical connection. Ever since Steven’s revelation, she’d felt uneasy, and she needed Dominic’s soothing caress—the whisper of flesh brushing against flesh that made her feel safe.
“Then I suggest you use that blinky thing, and get us somewhere private.” Tatiana licked and nipped at his lower lip. “I’m sure if I get nauseous you can figure out something that will make me feel better.”
“Verto,” Dominic growled as he scooped her into his arms and kissed her.
The funny feeling of displacement and a rush of static were barely felt as his lips melded with hers, and their tongues collided. Tatiana held him close as she dove deep and took all that he had to offer. When he broke the kiss and came up for air, Tatiana looked around and saw they stood next to the freshwater pool in the field behind their cabins.
“I thought you might like to go for swim,” Dominic murmured between kisses along her throat. “Besides, I’ve been thinking about making love to you in the pool ever since you asked me about it the other day on the deck.”
Dominic placed her on her feet but didn’t release her. Tatiana untucked his shirt while she held his gaze.
“It’s right out in the open,” she whispered as she pushed the fabric up, exposing his gorgeous washboard abs. “Someone could see us.”
Dominic grinned as he tore off his shirt and tossed it aside. He whispered the ancient language again, and in a burst of warm, prickling static, an enormous glass dome appeared. Tatiana gasped and spun around in awe.
“Okay.” She giggled as she leaned back in his embrace. “That’s totally awesome, but since its see-through, doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”
“No.”
Dominic snagged her tank top and whisked it from her body in one fluid motion. She sighed with pleasure as the heated skin of his chest pressed enticingly against her back. Dominic kissed her cheek and splayed both hands over her flat belly, which quivered in anticipation.
“We can see out.” He released the button on her shorts and drew the zipper down. “But no one can see in.” Dominic pushed her shorts and undies down past her hips, and she moaned as the fabric skimmed over her sensitized skin. “In fact, if anyone were to walk by, they would see only an empty pool.”
“Oh, that’s cool.” She was having trouble concentrating as Dominic’s hands traveled up her sides and trailed slowly along the curve of her rib cage. “Dominic,” Tatiana growled his name as his hands cupped her breasts.
“Yeah, Doc?” He licked her ear and squeezed her nipples as she arched into his touch.
“Shut up,” she rasped.
Tatiana spun around and captured his lips with hers as her fingers fumbled with his fly. She made quick work of undoing it and pushing his pants and boxers off. Dominic kicked the offending garments aside, leaving them naked and tangled up in skin.
Licking and suckling her lips, he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the pool. The warm water enveloped them, and as he paid thorough attention to her mouth, he dunked under the surface, dousing them both. Tatiana laughed as they came up for air and tilted her head back, wiping the water from her face.
Dominic tightened his grip, and the hungry look in his eye almost made her come. She shivered and cradled his scarred cheek in one hand as he watched her through the glowing eyes of his tiger.
Tatiana brushed her lips over his, gently at first, almost reverently. She adjusted her position in his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist as she kissed him. With the help of weightlessness in the water, she hoisted herself enough so the head of his thick erection was poised at her swollen entrance.
Tatiana broke the kiss but held his stare as inch by delicious inch she impaled herself on his thick shaft. They gasped in unison as her hot sheath covered him completely. Dominic braced himself against the edge of the pool with one hand as she rode him in long, unhurried passes. Her fingers linked behind his neck and her ankles hooked against his lower back, as she took him in and drew him out, again and again, in a slow, languid motion.
It was highly erotic to have this kind of control, to see the hungry, almost desperate look as she engulfed him time after time. She increased the tempo, riding him faster, but as they approached climax, he kissed her and lifted her off him, disengaging himself from the shelter of her body.
“Not yet, Tatiana.” He grinned, and his hands encircled her small waist as he hoisted her onto the edge of the pool.
The smooth stones were slippery beneath her wet bottom, and she looked around self-consciously. “Are you sure no one can see us?”
There didn’t seem to be anyone in the area, but that didn’t mean much. The Amoveo were good at hiding and sneaking around, especially in their clan form. She knew that better than anyone. That’s how she’d avoided Dominic for so long, but as she stared into his handsome face, she could barely remember why.
“Not a chance.” He stood in front of her and spread her legs as he ran his hands up and down the wet skin of her inner thighs. With every pass, Dominic’s fingertips slipp
ed closer and closer to her most sensitive spot. “Do you think I’d ever want anyone else to see you like this?”
Tatiana, taut with desire, was unable to utter a word. She bit her lip and shook her head. Grinning, he pulled her closer, and she moved with him so that her butt was on the edge of the pool.
“Will you lie down for me?” Dominic’s voice was quiet but commanding. He ran one hand up her side and kissed her breast, flicking the sensitive nipple with his tongue. “I want to see you naked and spread wide.”
Tatiana lay back and stretched her arms behind her head, anticipating what was coming next. She shivered as his arms hooked around her thighs. Dominic leaned in and kissed the tender flesh of her inner thigh, trailing butterfly kisses and licking beads of water away. He parted her lips and blew gently on the highly sensitized flesh.
Tatiana gasped and moaned as he teased, and just when she thought she’d scream with need, Dominic took a long, loving taste of her. She arched back and cried out as he licked and suckled the little bundle of nerves furiously. Sounds of pure pleasure escaped on breathy sighs, and she grabbed his head as his talented tongue fondled her to the brink. Her hips writhed, and she bucked beneath his assault, but Dominic held her down beneath his erotic assault.
I want you to come for me, Tatiana. His mind touched hers as his tongue dove inside her. Lights exploded behind her eyes, and the world shattered as the explosive orgasm rocked her to the core. Tatiana screamed his name as a second wave of pleasure ripped through her, and her body shuddered until the sensations finally ebbed, leaving her with a weak, boneless feeling.
As the fog of bliss lifted, ragged breaths wracked her as she pushed herself onto her elbows and locked eyes with Dominic. He was floating in the water, resting his chin on her thigh as he wiped beads of moisture from her hip, all while looking rather pleased with himself.
“You think you’re quite a stud, don’t you?” she teased as she attempted to catch her breath.
“I have my moments.” Dominic pushed himself away and drifted backwards, evidence of his own unsatisfied desire glaringly obvious.
“Well, you’re not the only one,” she said playfully as she hoisted herself into the water and swam after him. “It’s my turn to make you scream, but I’m getting all shriveled from being in this water.” She flicked a glance at his erection. “Although, you clearly aren’t having that problem.”
Tatiana launched herself into his arms, ready and willing to do what she promised, but his body tensed as he looked to the sky. She looked up to see what had captured his attention and swooping overhead was an enormous eagle—Malcolm.
“Is something wrong?” Tatiana asked as her fingers trailed along the back of his neck. “Did they find something else?”
“No.” His jaw clenched, and his body tensed beneath her touch. “He’s still chasing that weird energy pattern. I should really patrol the property with them.”
“Not now. You’ve done your duty, and tonight you’re going to do it again. Right now, I simply want you all to myself.” Tatiana swam around him and climbed on his back like a monkey. She wrapped her limbs around him and nibbled his ear. “Let’s take this inside.”
“Your wish is my command.” Dominic hooked his hands beneath her thighs and started walking toward the edge of the pool with her still on his back. She wiggled enticingly, the heat of her feminine core pressing against his back.
“I’ll even agree to taking the blinky way there.”
“You’ve got a deal,” he growled.
Dominic uttered the ancient language, and in a rush of static they vanished and reappeared in Dominic’s bedroom. Her head spun, and she clung to him as she waited for the dizziness to pass. She slid from his back and let out a sound of relief as her feet hit the cool, wood floor. Before she even had time to say anything, he spun around and kissed her.
It wasn’t the ravishing, urgent kisses he usually gave her. It was slow and tender. His mouth moved over hers reverently, and his tongue explored her mouth in unhurried strokes, as if he wanted to memorize every bit of her.
Tatiana sighed and hooked her arms around his waist as he kissed, licked, and suckled her lips in the most tender, loving way. Still kissing her, he lifted her off her feet and placed her on the bed with heart-shattering tenderness. He ran his fingertips up her arms, over the curve of her shoulder blade and dragged them along the swell of her breast, while paying thorough attention to her mouth.
They spent the next hour simply touching and kissing one another. Exploring every inch of skin and swath of flesh, and it was the most erotic, intimate experience of Tatiana’s life. Through it all, Dominic said nothing. Not a word. Her gut feeling was that his emotions were too strong. Words would cheapen it, but that was just fine, she didn’t need him to say a thing. Every touch, stroke, and caress revealed more about his heart than any single word could.
For the first time, Tatiana understood why it was called making love.
As darkness fell, and the impending event of the night crept closer, the cold finger of dread tripped up her spine. She and Dominic showered and dressed quickly, but try as she might, the dark thoughts and fears drifted into her mind. Tatiana knew that even though Dominic would never admit it, he was scared. He was as scared of losing her as she was of losing him.
Tatiana’s heart sank as the reality of what was to come settled over her. She’d allowed herself to forget, for a little while, what Dominic was about to do. However, as they walked toward the house, and the other Amoveo came into sight with guns at the ready, reality came crashing back.
Dominic squeezed her hand, and even though that tiny gesture steeled her strength, she couldn’t drown out the voice of doubt. Their little afternoon together may well have been their last. If the Purists had their way, Dominic would never survive the exchange.
Chapter 13
Malcolm said he and Eric had been chasing the same phantom energy signature all day, but every time they got close, it vanished. They all met in the Council meeting hall to regroup before the exchange, but a couple of people were notably absent.
They wanted to move Courtney to New York with the others, but Steven wouldn’t hear of it. He felt her condition was too fragile, so they left Layla and William in the medical suite with them and armed to the teeth. If a Purist came anywhere near that room, they would get a face full of bullets as Steven visualized Courtney out of there, but he only agreed to do it as a last resort.
At least, that was the plan.
Dominic breathed deeply and savored the familiar scent of pine as it filled his head. They stood in the cavernous space of the Council meeting hall awaiting Richard’s arrival, but no one spoke. They were all wound too tight. Dante and Kerry were sticking close to Zachary as Dominic instructed. Kerry had tried to get a reading off both men but had been unsuccessful.
Daniella seemed more uncomfortable in the meeting hall than she did in the house. Dominic wanted to talk to her, to try one last time to bring her to her senses, but she wouldn’t look at him. He even tried to telepath, but she kept her mind closed to him.
Heavy silence blanketed the group. Dominic adjusted the ammo and knife belt he wore around his waist and checked his handgun one more time before slipping it into the holster. Tatiana’s nervous energy waves flickered in skittish ripples, and it took every ounce of self-control to keep from grabbing her and getting the hell out of there.
Tatiana kept her large, dark eyes on him and even offered a supportive smile, but there was no hiding her concern. To her credit, she remained calm and focused, but she’d said little since they left the cabin. She wasn’t angry, but she seemed distant, as though she was slipping away from him somehow. He knew it was probably her fear, concern over what might happen to him, but any barrier between them felt unacceptable.
Dominic was about to broach the subject with her when a crackling rush of static filled the space, and Richard appeared. He stood on the platform at the end of the arena, his eyes glowing bright blue and his face st
amped with concern. Richard jumped from the platform and stalked toward the group, his gaze fixed on Eric and Zachary.
Dominic telepathed to him earlier and told him their suspicions about Eric and Zachary. Needless to say, Richard was not taking it well. Dominic couldn’t blame him because it was yet another betrayal, another brother at arms who threatened their mates and brought violence to the ranch.
“We end this tonight,” Richard said tightly. He scanned the room, looking at each of them individually, but stopping on Dominic. “Chances are the Purists have others prepared to strike while we make the exchange with Moravian. Ladies, you will go back to New York City and wait at the vampire stronghold until this is finished.”
Kerry and Tatiana started speaking at once, but Richard raised one hand, silencing them.
“I know you feel this is a sexist decision, especially given what I said before, but things have changed.” A sad smile played at his lips, and Dominic knew he was referring to the issue with either Eric or Zachary. “I’ve already spoken with Layla, and she gave me an earful. However, she has done as I requested and left for New York with Salinda.”
Dominic linked his arm around Tatiana’s waist and pulled her into the shelter of his body, needing to feel the weight of her and the warmth of her skin against his. He kissed the top of her head and inhaled her sweet cherry scent. His heart beat in perfect sync with hers as their energy signatures merged as one and swirled through the air.
“I am also fully aware of the difficulties that can arise when mates are separated, but we cannot risk your safety.” Richard looked from Kerry to Tatiana. “You are far too important to us and to the future of our race. The Purists have made it clear that hybrid mates are the focus of their hatred and their wrath. Therefore, we need to remove you from imminent danger. If and when they attack, you will be the first ones they go after.”
Richard’s word was resolute, and while Dominic sensed the frustration from the women, Tatiana in particular, he was enormously relieved by the prince’s decision. He wanted Tatiana out of harm’s way more than anyone, but he knew if he had been the one to insist on it, she would resist. However, since the prince was commanding it, no one would argue.
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