“I never did,” she told him. “Trust me.”
“I do,” he said. “But still.” His hand reached out and he gently caressed her forearms with the back of his fingers, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “You are the only person I want touching my body, now and ever.” His eyes softened. “I know that’s a lot to take in. Maybe I sound crazy. It’s why humans and wolves don’t mate all that much – because even though the imprint locks into place for the wolf, that doesn’t guarantee it will for the human.”
“But you imprinted with me,” Avery said. “How does that work?”
Lucas shrugged. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “We don’t question why things are the way they are, just that they are. I’m just lucky enough to know that you feel the same way about me.”
“I do,” she said. Avery paused, formulating the words she wanted to say in her head before she said them. She wanted to make sure she didn’t offend him but she also wanted to be honest. “I mean, I think it’s too early to plan for the future but I don’t see myself wanting to be with anyone other than you.”
Lucas smiled. “Perhaps we should discuss our personal relationship,” he said. “I know you didn’t initially want to publically be with me because you were afraid of the perception people were going to give you regarding our partnership, both romantically and professionally. However, your speech at the Luna Debut…” He let his voice trail off and his brown eyes bronzed. “You admitted we were together.”
Avery was silent for a moment, her mother’s words twittering in her head.
“I’m not ashamed of you, Lucas,” she said. “And I’m not going to hide one of the most important parts of my life from the public. I know I’m trying to make a name for myself, outside my father and you and everything else. But I can’t pretend to be someone I’m not. So any events we attend, we attend as a couple. No more pretending.”
“Does this mean we can’t have sex in supply closets anymore?” he asked, perking his brow.
Avery threw her head back and started laughing. Real, genuine laughter. She didn’t remember the last time she did that, and it felt good.
“Of course we can still have sex in supply closets,” she said. “Let’s just try to find better timing next time.”
He pulled her closer to him, onto his lap so she was facing him. Without thinking much on it, her wrists locked behind his head. His eyes looked at her considerable cleavage, a feral look taking over his eyes and making them sparkle.
“Do you regret it?” he asked suddenly, tilting his head to the side. “What happened between us? How it happened?”
Avery pressed her lips together. “There’s nothing about our relationship I regret,” she told him.
Without warning, Lucas flipped her on her back, her legs still wrapped around his waist, and he drove his pelvis into her, hard. She threw her head back and groaned at the action, so completely contradictory to the sweetness of his question. This Lucas was all wolf – possessive, demanding, and rough. She gripped his shoulders with her fingernails and he growled.
“Your mom?” he asked, raising a brow. His hands were fiddling with the buttons of her shirt.
Her mother was the last thing Avery wanted to discuss but she knew Lucas wanted some kind of resolution to the woman he might call mother-in-law at some point in the future. She could understand. Perhaps she was lucky she didn’t have to deal with his mother. Perhaps she was missing out as well.
“She’s coming around,” she managed to get out. That wasn’t completely a lie, but it was hard to give details when his cock pressed so hard against her mound.
He bit out a grin. “Good,” he told her.
“The flowers helped,” she told him. “Make sure you lather on the charm when we go out to dinner next week. All of us. My dad, too.” She gave him a look as her body began to grind against him, without so much as a conscious thought on her end. “Can we stop talking about family?”
“I’ll do anything you tell me to, Avery,” he told her.
Her brows shot up. “Really?” she asked, surprised.
“Of course.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Do you think I only like to dominate and control? Do you think that perhaps I want someone to tell me what to do in the specific context of our bedroom?”
Her eyes darkened at the prospect of getting on top of Lucas, straddling him, and taking out all of her anger and frustration of her day onto his erect cock. She didn’t know if the tugging was her body’s response to his words or the bond the two shared. From the way his eyes darkened and dropped to her lips, she thought that perhaps it was both.
“Go to the bed,” he told her. “I have more to teach you.”
Want to know when my next book comes out?
An Education in Academics: A Somerset Novel will be released April, 2017. Get your copy - 99 pennies for a limited time!
Want updates on when my latest book comes out, exclusive giveaways, and free stuff? Sign up for my newsletter here!
Did You Like An Education in Business?
As an author, the best thing a reader can do is leave an honest review. I love gathering feedback because it shows me you care and it helps me be a better writer. If you have the time, I’d greatly appreciate any feedback you can give me. Thank you!
To Frank and Kylee
1
Danielle Darrow had no idea what she was doing here. Her hands were wrapped around a strong, vital man, more beautiful than the statues that depicted Greek gods, his mouth sucking at her neck. She was lying on sheets that had to be silk - she didn't think she had ever felt silk in her entire life - and though she knew he was a vampire and she didn't even know his name, she was letting him slaughter her throat with his lips. In fact, she was pretty positive there would be hickeys, which wasn't great considering she started her first day of her last year of college. But there was no way in hell she was going to stop him.
She needed this.
Danielle had never been this type of girl. One-night stands were for women who didn't want to settle down, who weren't looking for a relationship. Danielle had always been a relationship type of girl. She loved romance - the flowers, the chocolates, kissing in the rain, holding hands under a blanket. She had high expectations and wasn't always in a relationship due to those expectations, but she was also okay being single. She didn't need anyone else to be happy, but she certainly wouldn't have minded being with someone.
She just didn't think she would be with someone in this way. Not completely sexual. Not where just looking into his piercing blue eyes caused her pelvis to throb and she could read him like a book. There were no games, no questions. He wanted her. He wanted to take her, he wanted to possess her, he wanted to claim her as his. Just for a night, no longer than that. She knew it; he knew it, that was it. Not a problem.
She still wanted it.
They started on the dance floor. Danielle could tell he didn't like dancing. But he wanted to be near her, he wanted to feel her and she let him. She wanted to feel him as well.
Somehow, movement turned to touching. At first, it had been innocent touching; his hand on her hip, her fingers on his collarbone, their foreheads grazing. Danielle wouldn't necessarily call it romantic due to the darkness of his blue eyes and the possessive touch embedded when his hands found her body. Then, their lips were touching. Then, their tongues. Their hands found places to bury themselves and suddenly, dancing wasn't important anymore. All that she cared about was his mouth on hers and his hands gripping the back of her head, holding it to him like he was afraid she would suddenly vanish.
When they stopped dancing and their focus was solely each other, there was some voice in her head that thought perhaps they should go somewhere else. But then, she didn't particularly care where they were and who saw just as long as they were connected. However, he seemed to be on the same wavelength that she was because when they had to break for air, he murmured, "Let's go back to my place."
It wasn't a request
.
Under normal circumstances, Danielle would have said no.
Somehow, they wound up at a penthouse in the heart of Somerset, which was where the wealth of Somerset lived. Lights glittered against the black sky and the buildings stood tall and powerful like an intimidating politician. Despite the late Sunday night, there were still plenty of cabs that drove around, either dropping off people or looking for people to pick up.
Danielle had only been at the downtown area a few times in her life when her father wanted her to spend time with him at his own penthouse two streets over. She wasn't exactly fazed by the bright lights and the glitz but she always felt compelled to stop and really take it in. She didn't think she could even imagine living here on a daily basis, being rich enough to own a penthouse in a city.
He tugged her hand, bringing her out of her thoughts and interlocked his fingers with hers. It was almost as though he had to keep touching her. Danielle wasn't used to it; guys typically weren't affectionate unless they did some kind of foreplay that might lead to sex. He just wanted to touch her, to feel her, to keep one hand on her.
The doorman smiled stiffly at her lover, his eyes not even flickering to Danielle. She wasn't sure if it was because he knew he was a vampire and didn't approve of supes or if it was because he was aware that Danielle was human and didn't approve of inter-species relationships, even if they were a purely sexual nature. Danielle found she couldn't bring herself to care too much. She followed him to the gold-door elevators and the minute they stepped in, he was on her, pushing her against the wall, burying his fingers in her hair, kissing her neck, her chin, the sensitive area directly between her breasts. In the back of her mind, through the haze of the fog, a small voice reminded her that there were cameras in elevators and if she cared about her reputation at all, she would stop right now and wait until they got to his room.
But she couldn't wait. Not when he tasted like that. Not when he was making noises like that. Not when he was touching her and kissing her and doing things to her body the way he was.
Danielle couldn't control herself. And that was something she was not used to.
When the elevator doors pinged open, she realized they were on the top floor, which meant he was wealthy. Like stinking wealthy. The vampire moved her out of the elevator with skill so they still kept their lips locked. Danielle had no time to look around the room, take in what he had to offer, what sort of vampire he was based on his house decor. Instead, with expert and swift movements, he backed her up into his bedroom until the back of her knees hit the bed and she fell on her butt. He stood over her with a predatory gleam in his crystal blue eyes.
"I'm going to enjoy claiming you," he said. His voice was soft but raw, a dangerous, masculine voice that sent shivers down her spine, and not because she was afraid.
He crawled on top of her and she scooted further onto the bed, holding his gaze despite the loud beat of her heart. His stare made her pelvis throb with desire, a desire she had never felt before, even with her previous lovers. There was something different about him, something dark and mysterious and alluring and everything in between.
"I can smell it on you," he continued, lowering his face to hers. He was only a whisper away from her. "You want this."
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't." She hadn't meant to give him attitude but she was sick of the games, sick of the waiting.
He smirked and started kissing her neck and trailed down her throat to her collarbone. His hand caressed the inside of her thigh and trailed upward until he reached her mound, clad only in a lacy pair of panties, steady wet and waiting for him. She whimpered and he growled, putting more pressure on her sex as his teeth scraped her cleavage. She would certainly have marks there in the morning, but her mind was too clouded to even care.
It wasn't long before clothes were shed. He ripped those panties in half when he peeled them off, something that both aroused Danielle even more than usual and caused her to emit an audible gasp. He kissed it away as Danielle pulled his shirt over his head and threw it to the floor. Her eyes, while half-hooded, still managed to narrow in on his abdomen, his eight-pack (holy shit, he has an eight-pack), his V. Without worrying about being too aggressive, without worrying about how she might appear, Danielle managed to hook her ankle around his waist and flip him on his back.
His eyes widened, surprised at her use of force, but his grip on her tightened and he grinded against her, showing just how badly he wanted her and how much he approved of her taking the initiative. Immediately, he reached up to cup her breasts with his palms. She threw her head back and rubbed against him, loving the feeling of his cool hands on her skin.
Her hands dropped to his chest, landing on his pectoral muscles. She traced her fingers across his pale skin, eliciting a gasp from him. She reveled in the power she had over this man, this beast. In her entire sexual history, she had never felt this powerful before, and it only inspired her to further her ministrations on his body. Her mouth found his neck and without thinking about the consequences, she began to bite, nibble, and suck on his skin. If he had no qualms about leaving marks on her body, she could do the same.
Fair was fair.
He didn't stop her, either. His fingers were in her hair and his breathing hitched as she hit just the right spots, spurning her even further. When she reached his abdomen, she took her time, feeling the solid muscles, running her hands over the slopes of his stomach until she reached his V. With her index finger, she traced the shape slowly, causing him to groan.
Her eyes widened at the sight before her, at this beautiful, monstrous vampire writhing on his back, under her complete control. She swallowed as her eyes dropped to his considerable length, rock hard and pulsating with desire for her. She leaned towards it and placed her lips softly on his tip. It twitched in her mouth and he groaned. She took more of him in, and then more. The further in he went, the more saliva she produced. She wasn't able to fit all of him down her throat. Rarely did she ever do something like this but she wanted to try something new and this was one of the first times she felt sexy and emboldened. She wanted to make more of those noises, she wanted to be the reason why he was desperate and begging for release.
Without warning, he flipped her over onto her back, his strong arms wrapped around her frame, and he pushed himself inside of her in one swoop. It was the fastest she had ever expected such an action and the only reason she even knew what was happening was the fact that there was a little bit of pain in her pelvis as he stretched her wet folds wide.
"Oh, fuck," she got out, her eyes rolling to the back of her head.
She heard rather than saw the smirk on his face. "I will," he promised. "Many times over."
She whimpered at the sound. Her eyes were slits but she forced them open wider so she could look at him, so she could take in all of his glory. His broad shoulders, his muscled back, the power she felt on top of her. He could crush her if he wanted to but he wouldn't. She didn't know why she trusted him but she did.
"God, you're so wet," he got out, his lips mumbling against her ear.
"You make me this way," she replied.
He kept thrusting in and out of her, making her feel empty and whole at the same time. Over and over, in and out. It was building inside of her.
"Oh, God," she breathed.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I love the sounds you're making. Come for me, baby."
Orgasming without caressing her clit wasn't something Danielle had experienced before. She knew it was possible but she hadn't thought something like that would ever happen to her and she was completely okay with that.
When she felt the familiar sensation start to build, she was surprised but eager to see this play out, to see if it would actually happen. He didn't pause his thrusting whatsoever. Danielle didn't know if his stamina was because he was in excellent shape, if it was because he was a supe, or if it was both. Either way, she thanked the good Lord for it. She couldn't stop the smile from spreading onto her face as she reached he
r peak and shattered around him.
"There you go," he told her, smiling down at her.
He didn't seem like the type of man who smiled a lot. But when he did, it was beautiful and blinding and if she didn't believe in love at first sight, she might have started.
When she finally came down, he grinned down at her and curled a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Have you recuperated?" he asked, cocking a brow. In any other context, it would have seemed arrogant. Now, it looked boyish and a tad bit charming. "Are you ready for more?"
Danielle couldn't breathe. She couldn't speak. Instead, she just laughed and nodded her head.
2
Danielle wasn't going to lie to herself. That was the best sex of her life - the danger, the passion, the fact that he knew how to do things to her body that required years of skill, patience, testing. She had never orgasmed multiple times during sex before and somehow, this vampire got her to do it so easily. She would be walking side to side for days and thinking about the encounter for much, much longer.
It was probably a good thing that there was class this morning. She needed a push to get out of his bed before he woke up. Danielle was never good at sneaking off. She would have looked for any excuse to stay nestled to the vampire, wrapped in his crimson-colored satin sheets until her stomach woke her up, demanding food. She slid out from his grasp easily and put on her clothes. If she left now, she would have enough time to get back to her dorm and take a quick shower before class.
Danielle cocked her head over her shoulder one last time before leaving. She wanted to remember this man, this supernatural being that could have crushed her bones with his bare hands and transformed her into a vampire with a flick of his teeth. But he didn't do that.
The Somerset Series: A Box Set: Books 2-4 Page 32