He guided them onto the lift. “Surprise, remember?”
She sighed as the doors slid closed. “Well, can you at least tell me if it’s inside or outside the castle?”
He stared at her. “I bet you shook all your presents before Christmas.”
She frowned. So what if she did? Her gaze moved back to the shiny metal doors in front of her. Apparently he wasn’t going to give her any clues.
He laughed. “You did, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
“It’s in the castle, mianach áilleacht.”
She turned to look at him, remembering him saying those words on the beach. “What does it mean?”
“Beauty mine.”
She drew in a breath, but before she could speak, the doors slid open and Dorian was guiding her out and down the hall. Mine. Such a possessive word. Or was she reading too much into it? He hadn’t said “my beauty”, but “beauty mine”. Oh Lord, she would drive herself crazy trying to decipher his meaning. When she wrote her male characters they used possessive terms like “mine” and it meant something then. But that was fiction. What mattered were his thoughts. Does he feel possessive? Did she want him to? She knew she didn’t want any other woman to be with him. A sour roll went through her tummy. Did she even have anyone of whom to be jealous? Dorian didn’t have a ring on his finger, but she also knew that there were men out there who didn’t wear them. Hell, did werewolves even have wedding rings?
“What’s wrong?”
She glanced at Dorian as they walked along hand in hand. “Nothing. Why?”
“There was a change in your scent. What are you thinking about?”
She let loose a small laugh. “You can tell my moods by my scent?”
“In a way. The more I’m around you, the better I’ll become at knowing what each scent change is exactly. But for now I can smell a slight bitterness, which tells me something is bothering you. Your scent gets sweeter when you’re happy.”
“Hmm.”
“Does this bother you?”
She shrugged. “Maybe a little. I’m used to my thoughts being private.”
“Then I won’t say anything when I notice a difference.”
“Just because you don’t say anything doesn’t mean you still won’t know, so I guess it doesn’t really make a difference.”
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I know. You’re different. And there are just some things I’m going to have to get used to.”
He squeezed her hand as they approached the Cave. Music drifted from inside the dimly lit interior, reaching her ears. The live band played very well. Dorian led her by the entrance of the club. Well, apparently he didn’t have dancing or drinks in mind. The hall dead-ended at a brick wall a short ways down. He tugged on her hand, leading her to the left.
Had she not been looking for it, she’d have never noticed the hidden narrow staircase. “Where does it go?”
“The dungeon.”
Her eyelids peeled back as she jerked her hand from his. “Oh no. Why in the world would I want to go down into a creepy dungeon? Have you not heard all the ghost stories running around this place? Hell, you’re probably old enough to have been present during some of the deaths.”
He rolled his eyes and reached out, snatching her hand back. “No ghosties will be getting you, lass. It’s not bad as it seems.”
“Heh.”
He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her lips. “Come on, lass. I won’t let anything happen to ya.”
What the hell? Why not go down the scary staircase? “All right.” He smiled in victory and she growled at him. Laughter bounced off the stone walls and echoed down the staircase as Dorian chuckled. She couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across her own lips.
“Growling, love?”
She sobered. Love?
“Come on, then.”
She didn’t question him. Placing one foot in front of the other, she let him guide her to the steps. It would be difficult to hold his hand, so she let him go and grasped the thin iron rail, the metal cold beneath her fingers. Slow and steady she followed him down the spiraling staircase. Electric wall lanterns cast an eerie glow. The lower they descended, the more chilled she became. A shiver rippled down her body. With each breath, she noticed the air had become thicker and wet. For the humidity to be so high she had to admit that the absence of mold and mildew spoke highly of the cleaning staff.
They arrived at a stone landing and Dorian led her to the right, down a short curved passage. The ceiling and walls were rounded like a tunnel and she couldn’t help the slight feeling of claustrophobia that took hold.
“Easy, lass. We’ll be out of this area shortly.”
The scent thing again. She didn’t want him to know that she was spooked. How in the hell would she make sure he took her with him when he left to hunt Grady if she couldn’t even handle a dungeon? She sucked in a breath and willed her nerves to steady.
A stone wall stood up ahead, and she noticed that the hallway split both left and right. Red carpet led to the left and bare stone floor to the right. Light filled the hallway with the red carpet, but darkness was the only thing to their right. “Please tell me we are going left.”
He gripped her hand. “Aye, Jesenia. We go left.”
She released a breath she hadn’t remembered holding as she walked with him toward a desk. The hallway was much wider, allowing her to remain comfortably at his side. A door next to the desk swung open and a tall woman exited.
Blue-and-green stripes mixed with her long, black hair. Dark eyeliner circled her eyes. A metal ball stud was on the left side of her nose and a matching small hoop decorated her bright-red lips. A silver circle hung around her neck. Large breasts puffed up from the black leather bustier. A black micro-mini hung low on her lean hips. Pale skin showed on her thighs before they disappeared into thigh-high leather boots.
“Synthia, I’d like you to meet Jesenia.”
Jesenia’s gaze shot to Dorian. He knew the woman? She turned her attention back to the lady and accepted her outstretched hand.
“So this is the lass Seamus was going on about.” Synthia winked at Jesenia.
“We need inside, Synthia.”
“As my alpha wishes,” she replied with a beaming smile and stuck a key card into the door, pulling it open for them to pass.
Jesenia walked with Dorian behind Synthia down a dark hallway. The only illumination came from carpet running lights like those in movie theaters. They stopped in front of a door and Synthia whipped her key card out again and placed it into the electronic lock.
“Have fun,” Synthia said, smiling as she pulled open the door.
Jesenia swallowed hard and followed behind Dorian as they entered a large room. The dull mix of voices had her gaze panning the area. People from every walk of life peppered the room. Some were at a large bar on the back wall getting drinks, while others sat on sofas and in wingback chairs, talking and laughing. Fake torches lined the walls, casting a soft glow. Near the end of the bar a large, muscled man with long black hair tipped his head in their direction. Dorian acknowledged him with a similar nod.
There were several hallways that led off the room. Her feet never stopped moving as she continued her path through the people, not wanting to lose sight of Dorian. He led them down a hallway on the left.
Doors lined both sides of the passage. Some had white ribbons on the doorknobs and others didn’t. Dorian led her a little ways down the hall and stopped in front of a door marked with a ribbon. Jesenia watched as he slipped the fabric off the handle and shoved it in his pocket before opening the door.
“After you.”
She sucked in a fortifying breath and entered the dimly lit room. A plush red velvet sofa lined the back wall. The soft snick of the door closing at her back made her shiver. Her eyelids lowered to half-mast as Dorian’s hands came to rest on her shoulders. She scanned the rest of the room, her gaze stopping on an item in
the opposite corner from the sofa.
Dorian skimmed his hands down her arms. “Do you want to play, lass?”
Jesenia’s heart rate accelerated as her lower lips grew slick with desire. A wooden spanking bench with red padded cushions sat in that corner, waiting…beckoning. She sighed as Dorian’s warm lips touched her neck. Her nipples became hard pebbles. Never had she played like this before.
She wanted to do this. But why? She didn’t even know Dorian that well, yet she was ready to give him control. She trusted him with her safety.
His hands moved to her hips, pushing up the fabric of her shirt. Strong calloused hands caressed her skin. She raised her hands, letting him guide her shirt up over her head. He tossed it aside and gripped her breasts.
On a moan, she leaned back into the solid strength of his body. His erection, hard and thick, pressed against her ass and she wiggled her hips against him. Her core pulsed as she grew wetter, soaking her panties.
Dorian growled next to her ear. “So sexy.”
She cried out as his teeth sank into the flesh where her neck met her shoulder, his bite hard enough to arouse but not hurt. The accompanying pinch to both of her nipples had her pussy throbbing. Hell, they hadn’t even got to the spanking part and already she wanted to feel his cock pushing into her.
As his fingers went to work on the fastenings of her jeans she toed her shoes off. Slowly he pushed the denim over her hips and down her legs. Thumbs hooked in the sides of her panties, he repeated the same slow motion. The clasp on her bra was next. She stepped free of the clothes around her ankles as she shimmied her arms, letting the lacy fabric slide down her arms to land on her jeans.
He molded his body against her back, walking slowly, guiding her toward the bench. His tongue and teeth played at her neck as he cupped her pussy in one hand and squeezed her left breast with the other. A moan tore from her lips.
“I love how wet you get for me, Jesenia.” Dorian moved a finger through her slit.
“Yes,” she whispered, moving her hips to increase the sensation caused by his teasing digit. Her shins came up against the bench and she slid down his body as her knees sank into the padding. Leaning down, she sighed as the slanted top supported her weight. Ass tilted in the air, she felt sensual and erotic. Not only would the position allow him to spank her upturned rump but it would allow him to take her hard and solid with his cock.
His teeth grazed her bare bottom as he worked to restrain her feet and lower legs. She shivered, wanting more of the wicked contact.
“Do you trust me, lass?” Dorian stretched his upper body across her back, reaching around to attach the wrist cuffs.
“Yes,” Jesenia whispered.
The last cuff clicked into place. “Then please forgive me. I only want to protect you.” Dorian kissed her spine, then stood.
She frowned, trying to shake off some of the lusty fog that filled her brain. “What?”
A blanket covered her body.
No answer came, which had her straining to turn her head to find him. He was walking toward the main door. “Dorian? What the hell? Where are you going?”
His shoulders slumped as he reached the door but he didn’t turn around. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to talk you out of going with me to look for Grady. It’s too dangerous.”
Jesenia fought against the restraints, anger rising inside, making her skin flush. “Don’t you dare leave me tied up to this bench, Dorian.”
He turned his head and pinned her with his stare. “At least this way I’ll know you’re safe.”
“Safe! What the fuck, Dorian? I’m tied naked to a damn bench. How the hell is that safe?” This couldn’t be happening. Yes, she’d been set on helping him, but this was crazy. “Dorian. Talk to me.”
“One of my men will guard the door. He will not allow anyone to enter but me. The walls are made to be soundproof, so screaming will do you no good. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She watched, jaw gaping as he opened the door and shut it behind him. “Dorian!”
Chapter Seven
The night had been nothing but an epic fail. And he still had to go back and deal with Jesenia’s wrath. He might very well have ruined what was growing between them. It was probably for the best anyway. He should have never gotten involved with a human in the first place.
So why did it piss him off that their affair might be at an end? He let loose a growl as he cleared the line of trees, coming into the courtyard of the castle.
The task ahead he didn’t look forward to at all. Pinks and reds painted the horizon as the sun started its climb in the sky. The day promised to be one of beauty, too bad he was headed for the dungeon and a storm of anger.
A few people he knew gave pleasant greetings as he made his way toward the staircase that would take him below. He acknowledged them but kept walking, not wanting to postpone this meeting any longer than he had to.
In truth, he had to know how she’d react. He knew he shouldn’t care for her as deeply as he did, but somehow she’d wormed her way into his heart. Taking down Grady was of the utmost importance, and he couldn’t think straight with Jesenia in harm’s way. He hoped she’d understand.
His pace quickened as he descended the stairs. Synthia stood waiting for him at the door and swiped her key card without a word. Things had died down in the social room that connected to the hallways of the private rooms. A few stragglers finished drinks and whispered tiredly as the cleaning crew moved about.
Kenrick was right where he’d left him, standing vigilant next to the door.
“I don’t envy you the next few hours, Dorian.”
Dorian nodded as Kenrick passed him. Doubts weighed heavily on him. Maybe he should have tried talking to her first. But she was so fucking stubborn and willful. Maybe this was what needed to happen. If she was hurt enough by his actions, then maybe she would drop the whole damn thing. And then maybe he could get on with doing his job instead of chasing her tail. A pang of pain filled his chest and he brought his palm up to rub at it as his other hand twisted the doorknob.
The sound of the door opening brought Jesenia out of her slumber. She jerked and her restraints halted her movement. Panicked, she turned her head, straining to see through the strands of her hair. She spotted Dorian by the door and her panic turned to anger in a flash. “Let. Me. Go.” Her voice cracked, raw from her screams for help through the night. Apparently Dorian hadn’t lied about the soundproof walls.
“I know you must be angry with me.”
She let loose a mirthless laugh. “Oh hell no. I’m past angry. Try fucking pissed off.”
Dorian winced. “Please give me a chance to explain.”
Jesenia jerked against her restraints.
“I was only trying to protect you.”
She let loose a rushed, huffed breath in an attempt to clear her hair from her face. Dorian crossed the room and reached down, skimming his fingers over her cheek to push the wayward locks behind her ear. Her body tingled at the contact, which only fueled her rage. She didn’t want to react to his touch. Right now she wanted free of this fucking bench that had promised such sweet memories only hours before but now only offered nightmares.
“Let. Me. Go.”
Dorian closed his eyes and sighed. “You have every right to be mad at me, but please understand that I was only looking out for you. I don’t want to see you hurt, Jesenia.”
Damn her emotions. Unshed tears caused her vision to swim. Yeah, she was pissed off at him, but deep down she was hurt. She blinked and the liquid pearls tracked down her nose and cheek. There was no denying it. She’d fallen hard and fast for him.
“Too bad. I guess you get to see it anyway.” She pulled at her wrist restraints. Escape was foremost in her mind. She didn’t want to break down in front of him.
“Ah, lass. Don’t cry. I feel like a bloody arse already.”
She choked down a sob. “Oh yes, let me stop being hurt to spare your feelings.”
Jesenia squeeze
d her eyes shut as she felt Dorian’s hands undoing the cuffs. She pushed up to her knees as soon as he freed her other hand. Eyes open, she looked down at the restraints on her legs. Her fingers tore at them. She wanted to be free. One last tug had the binds falling off and she scrambled to her feet.
Two strong arms wrapped around her when she would have fallen. Being in the same position all night made her limbs sluggish to cooperate. Shaky legs became steadier and she braced her palms on his broad chest, trying to ignore the sensual heat that threatened to consume her with being in his arms again, and she pushed back but he refused to release her.
“Let me explain,” he whispered next to her lips and then claimed them.
Jesenia swayed into him and kissed him back for a few seconds and then pushed harder, breaking away from his mouth. She sucked in a deep breath and turned her face away. “There’s nothing to explain. You didn’t want my help. So now you have your wish. I’ll leave you alone, Dorian.”
His hands cupped her face, pulling her head until she looked at him again. “But I don’t want you to leave me alone, Jesenia. I just want you to be safe.”
Her gaze met his and she could see concern written there. But her pride was wounded and she couldn’t do this right now. She reached up and gripped his wrists. He didn’t fight her when she pulled his hands from her face. “I need some time, Dorian.”
Moving quickly, she snatched up her discarded clothes and pulled them on.
“I knew you’d probably be mad at my actions, but I never thought it would hurt you this way. I’m sorry.”
She tugged her hair free from the back of her shirt. “Didn’t know? What did you think would happen? You led me here for what I thought was going to be one of the best sexual experiences of my life. I gave you trust that I’ve never given another living soul. Yes, it fucking hurt my feelings when you walked out that door.”
He hung his head. “I’ll give you all the time you need, Jesenia.”
Tell Me Your Secrets Page 5
