by Brenda Trim
He laughed and pulled her into an embrace. “That’s not exactly what I had in mind, but thanks for the tip. I hope that doesn’t mean you’ve been chained to too many beds,” he growled, showing his possessiveness.
“I’ve never allowed myself to be tied down. I’ve never wanted it, that is, until you,” she admitted freely. She’d fantasized about it, but had never met anyone she wanted to allow the privilege.
“Ah, you’re killing me, little flame.” She was transfixed by his glowing, blue eyes. His body was shaking with the effort to hold back. She wasn’t a blushing virgin, and there was no need to go slow, or play it coyly.
She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her hand around the back of his head. “Kiss me, Braeden.”
He dipped his head and kissed her hard and fierce. His lips were filled with rough passion and intense need, his control and expertise, thrilling her. He skillfully ravaged her mouth, leaving her breathless and panting. His savageness set flames licking over her skin, igniting her blood. She had never been more excited in her life.
She broke the kiss to catch her breath, and nipped at his lower lip to keep him on edge, torturing them both with her ministrations. He grazed his hands down her back and grabbed her backside as if reading her mind. She was unable to keep from rubbing enticingly against him. The friction through their clothing teased them both, and she relished the feel of his hard flesh straining against his jeans. She loved how well-proportioned he was all over.
He lowered his arms and picked her up. “Wrap your legs around me,” he murmured. She quickly obliged, not surprised that he carried her with ease down the hall. All supernaturals had superior strength, but he had muscles that rivaled those of a Dark Warrior and her hands roamed all over his body.
She gave over to the building passion and deepened the kiss. His deep moan rumbled through his body and went straight to her core. Her need escalated and she wished they didn’t have clothing on. She needed to feel his flesh against her own.
He stopped walking and tore his lips from hers. She looked around and saw that they stood in a bedroom and in the center of the room was the biggest bed she’d ever seen. She refused to think about why his bed was so big, or who he’d had in it before her. The bed was turned down and had red, silk sheets covering the mattress. Rose petals were strewn about the floor and sheets and there was at least a hundred candles randomly placed on the floor around the room. It was the most romantic setting she’d ever seen.
“I want you to know that you are the first female to ever be in this bed. Give me a minute,” he said, setting her down as he picked up a lighter and moved to ignite the candles. The setting touched her. No one had ever gone to such lengths for her and she was shocked by his admission. Surely he’d had countless females in his bed. Her thoughts scattered as he bent to his task and his perfect ass gained her attention once more.
Having no patience for him to finish lighting the countless wicks, she grabbed his pocket and pulled him back to her. “Let me.” She withdrew her wand and muttered, “Dóiteáin,” and watched his eyes widen when all the candles flared to life.
He turned in her arms. “Thank you. That saves me some time. Now, I believe I was about to eat some peach pie.”
“Don’t tease me.” She bit his lower lip and sucked it into her mouth. His answering growl spiked her arousal even further.
“Mate, you are playing with fire.” He kissed his way down her neck as his finger went to the buttons on her shirt. He undid them with fast efficiency and pushed it open, leaning back to admire her. “You are an exquisite creature.”
She slid her hands under his shirt and her fingers skimmed the fire blazing under his skin. “Off, now,” she insisted. He had his shirt over his head before the last word was out. “That’s better,” she cooed as she ran her tongue over his firm, muscled flesh and paid particular attention to his flat, male nipples, along with his mate mark.
He groaned and ripped at her pants, caught in a fever. His lips found her pounding pulse again after he had unzipped her jeans and unclasped the back of her bra. She wiggled and let it drop carelessly to the floor. She slid her hands in the back of his pants and gripped his ass while she used one foot then the other to kick off her ballet flats. Her mate mark burned with her urgency, reminding her that their mating wasn’t complete.
He dropped to his knees and divested her of her pants, kissing and nipping her stomach and down her legs. She had never thought of her feet as an erogenous zone, but when he caressed her feet and toes, it made her stomach clench with the intensity of her arousal. If he thought for one minute that she allowing him to taste her again without getting to sample his magnificent cock, he was dead wrong. She was no shy female, knew what she wanted, and went after it.
“No, I want your pants off before you distract me with that tongue of yours.”
“You’ll get no argument from me, little flame, but I will be distracting you with my tongue.”
“Promises, promises,” she laughed as she helped him out of his boots and pants then tugged him to the bed. While he was being compliant, she forced him down onto the silk sheets, loving how his breath rushed out when he hit the soft mattress. She gave him no quarter as she climbed onto the bed near his head, stopping when she was hovering over his long, thick shaft and her core was straddling his face.
“Goddess, I love how you think,” he murmured then ran his tongue through her moist feminine flesh.
She groaned loudly and wrapped one hand around his cock. She gripped him hard and ran it up and down his length, enjoying the way he shuddered and pre-cum slicked the nerve-laden tip. He spread her open to him, and devoured her with abandon. She got lost in the pleasure he was inducing. Her core moistened and her muscles tensed as he drove her close to the edge. She held back, wanting to reciprocate.
She bent over and ran her tongue along the head of his cock and took in his sweet and salty flavor, savoring the way he tasted. She licked him down to the base and back up before taking him fully into her mouth. He rewarded her by sucking her clit into his mouth and sliding a finger into her needy core. Her body responded with her desire. She wantonly rubbed against his mouth and hand.
He pushed her away murmuring, “You need to stop. I need to be inside you...” His words trailed off into a groan when she sucked harder, causing him to thrust into her mouth. No way was she stopping yet. She sucked him to the back of her throat, relaxing her muscles to allow her to take more of him.
She knew the second he gave over to the inevitable as his hips worked harder and he inserted first one then two fingers into her pussy while he continued to torture her clit with his mouth. The build of ecstasy made her lightheaded and she detonated around his fingers, going to the stars and back. Needing him to join her, she reached down and squeezed his balls. He yelled out her name as he shot his seed down her throat. Her climax continued as she swallowed everything he gave her, loving every minute and riding out her orgasm.
Suddenly, he threw her down on the bed. With her body still throbbing from her release, he hovered over her and she got her first glimpse at his demon. She had been with cambions before, but had never seen the inner demon.
Braeden’s demon was just under the surface, and just as involved in their love play as he was. His eyes blazed, his chest was heaving with his breaths, and his teeth were bared. “I wanted to go nice and slow but you have roused my beast, and now I am going to fuck you so hard that you won’t be able to walk later,” he warned. Instead of being frightened, she was excited. Only she would see this part of him, because they were Fated Mates, and mating brought forth every part of a supernatural.
“You’ll get no complaint from me…oh, Goddess, Braeden!” she cried out as he ran his hard length through her slit, coating the tip in her cream.
With one brutal thrust, he was sheathed fully inside her. Her breath left her in a rush. He was without a doubt the biggest male she’d ever been with. For a moment, it felt like he’d ripped into her, causing a delic
ious burning pain. He must have sensed her discomfort through their bond, because he stilled and looked deeply into her eyes.
She saw elation and eagerness in his depths, but was unable to follow that train of thought as he began a fast pace. The fastest pace she’d ever experienced and she couldn’t get enough of him. The faster he went, the more she wanted. The deeper he thrust, the more she opened her body to take as much as he wanted to give. Sex had never been about love or connecting for her before, but that wasn’t the case with Braeden.
She felt his soul expand and embrace her, adding to the erotic heat. She was choked with emotion as she felt her own soul reach out from within him. This was how it was meant to be for them. It was erotic, and sensual, and took her to the edge.
“You burn me, little flame. So fucking good.” He kissed her throat and bent his head to lick and nip her nipples, laving the brand on her breast while he was at it, cooling the burn. She closed her eyes and lost herself in the moment.
“Take me to where I’ve never been,” she panted. His answering growl was like a full body caress. He grabbed the back of her head and began pistoning into her welcoming body. This time, his strokes were slow and he went even deeper. As his shaft slid out of her, he rubbed it along her tender nub, pushing her through another orgasm. Her body bucked against his and she clung to him, wild with abandon.
“That’s it…give me everything you’ve got, Isis.” His words drew out her climax and ignited the need for another.
He hooked her legs over his elbows, opening her to him more and changed the angle of his thrusts. And, damn if that position didn’t make it seem as if his cock was the size of a baseball bat. He didn’t take her nice and slow, but punished her and she watched his body ripple with every curl of his hips. His glowing blue gaze fixed on her and captured hers possessively, refusing to let her go.
The need she saw spoke of more than mere lust, and had her giving herself to him completely. She could do nothing but give him what he needed and wrapped her arms around his waist, clutching him even tighter.
She felt him harden further and knew he was close. His gaze traveled from her breasts, as they bounced with his movements, to her face and back. “Keep your eyes on mine,” she whispered.
He looked up and nodded, his grunts of pleasure overtaking him. His cock plunged so hard his pelvis slammed against her clitoris with each stroke, sending sparks of heat shooting through her center. His eyes flared wide as he came, shouting her name and claiming her body.
Like the first time they had been together, countless tiny gold chains bound them together. When he rolled off her and snuggled into her side, she felt her mate mark burn with the need to complete their mating, and knew he was feeling the same thing when she noticed him rubbing the brand on his chest. They needed to complete their mating with a blood exchange before the pain would go away. She looked forward to that more than anything, if only she could make the uneasiness in her gut settle.
*****
“You certainly look much better. I hope you got some good information, as well as, energy,” Cele observed, amazed at the transformation in Braeden from only hours ago. Earlier, he appeared to be on the brink of releasing his demon.
“Fuck you,” he snarled at her.
“Give me the information you learned or your son will pay the price,” she promised, crossing to Donovan’s cell. She watched the young male sleeping in his prison. Ever since she had cut his chest, she had been unable to wake him.
She had to admit it was nice not listening to him whimper in fear of her. But, now she needed him awake. It was more effective when he cried and screamed for his father. She would torture them both to get the information she needed to garner the Rowan triplets’ power and then make them pay for ruining her daughter.
There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to achieve that goal and that included forming a pact with an unlikely ally. She had always been told that black magic was dangerous and addicting, but she found it invigorating and freeing.
“Give me back my son,” the enraged cambion demanded, glaring at her with vengeance in his eyes. She respected his love for his son, thinking it was too bad she was going to kill them both when she had what she wanted.
She ignored his plea, bringing their conversation back around. “What did you learn?”
He clenched his jaw tight and narrowed his eyes, his hatred clear. “They are trying to find a way to break a spell, and when they use their magic it leaves off a scent of black licorice. Also, Isis’ emotions are explosive when they are high. I’ve told you all I know, now release my son.”
Rage turned her vision red. She remembered smelling black licorice the night someone had broken through the many layers of her protections and entered her house. The scent had also been around Donovan’s prison. Those witches had not only managed to render her daughter brain-dead, but they had tried to free her bargaining chip.
They had been in that very room, and knew she held Braeden’s son prisoner. She should have expected that their combined power would be able to break through her protections, but clearly they hadn’t learned how to access all of their power, or else, they would’ve freed Donovan when they had the chance.
“No, that is not nearly enough. Get me something I can use to control those witches, or your son dies,” she declared, throwing a pain spell at his son who jolted awake, screaming in agony.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“You two and your mates.” Suvi shook her head in mock disgust, but Isis knew she was playing. Of the three of them, Suvi had always embraced the idea of Fated Mates, and openly yearned for hers. “So how soon can I expect to have to move to the opposite side of the house? I can only take so much moaning and groaning and not be a participant. But, don’t worry. I’ll take the little rug-rat with me. I plan to be his favorite auntie, giving him chocolate cake for breakfast.”
Isis laughed at her comment and her heart began pounding in her chest. She hadn’t thought about what her life may entail with a Fated Mate who had a stripling, which reminded her that Cele had kidnapped his son and Isis needed to find a way to free him.
She hadn’t yet told her sisters, and was nervous about their reaction. She knew they’d want to burst into Cele’s house immediately to rescue him. It had taken patience Isis hadn’t known she possessed to keep from grabbing her sisters the second she had returned home, but Cele was dangerous, and they needed to be careful. This was personal now, and she refused to risk Donovan.
For the hundredth time that night, Braeden’s soul sent soothing pulses coursing through her. It had begun after they made love, when her distress returned full force. She didn’t want to attempt any rescue without Braeden being on board, but he hadn’t said anything more about where his son was. She had wanted to force him to tell her about what was going on, and the fact that he was being closed mouth about this made her suspicious.
Why did Cele have his son? Why was he keeping this secret? Why couldn’t he trust her enough to ask for help? Did Cele have something on him? Where was Donovan’s mother? Did she have something to do with this? She shook away the questions she wasn’t going to get answers to anytime soon. She wished watching Pema overcome her many hurdles had better prepared her for the problems she now faced.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, sis. My mating is far from Pema and Ronan’s. We have a lot to work out, starting with the fact that it was his son that we saw in Cele’s crystal prison. And, before you ask, no, he didn’t tell me that, I recognized him in a picture at his house. We need to find a way to break that spell, like now, so we can go in and rescue him.”
Pema wrapped an arm around her shoulders in support and comfort. “What? I can’t believe it. Do you think Cele knows you’re mates? I mean, that’s impossible, right?”
“Of course that’s impossible,” Suvi responded. “I don’t know why she did this. Do you think your mate got into trouble with her? Maybe he took out a loan he couldn’t pay back.”
“I thought of that, b
ut it doesn’t fit. His house was small and his furnishings were modest. He’s an artist and his metal sculptures were all over the house, but it didn’t seem like something he needed money to fund. He turned his garage into his workshop, so he doesn’t need money for a shop. He would have had to borrow a crap-ton of money for her to kidnap his son. There’s got to be more.”
“What about his ex? Maybe she borrowed money. Or, maybe she asked Cele for potions she couldn’t pay for. I don’t think Cele is into drugs or illegal weapons, but after what we’ve learned, I wouldn’t put anything past her,” Pema added.
Isis pondered that idea. “Cele could be into anything, but Braeden isn’t. He may not trust me enough to come to me and ask for help, but I know him through our bond, and he isn’t into anything of the sort. Unfortunately, my gut tells me that this has to do with us. She has always hated us. I just don’t know how she would have learned we were mates before we did. No one but the Goddess and fate have that information.”
“Yeah, but we know Cele is into dark magic. Who knows what dark magic is capable of?” Suvi asked.
“Isn’t there someone you can ask about that?” Ronan inquired as he sauntered out from the backroom, heading toward Pema. Isis forgot that the bear shifter had such acute hearing.
“No, babe, there isn’t. No one that I’m aware of has practiced or studied dark magic. I’m certain none of the elders has dabbled in that world, because it tends to change a person, leaving its mark. Besides, in the world of witchcraft, Cele is the High Priestess. That means, she is the one everyone goes to with their questions,” Pema explained as she embraced her mate.
“I just don’t understand why he doesn’t want to talk to me about it,” Isis lamented, beginning to pace around their store.
“Give the male some time, Isis. I can guarantee that he is distracted by the need to save his son and navigate your mating. There is a reason he hasn’t mentioned it to you. Take it from me, he is protecting you and his son, the compulsion will allow no less,” Ronan shared.
