“You good?” I nudged Hadley and he grunted.
“See you in a bit,” he muttered then shot off ahead of me, dropping into the seat beside Athena, his shoulders squared at Trent. If I wasn’t being totally crazy, it kinda looked like he was jealous. Or maybe it was just a blood thing. He was desperate to sink his teeth into Athena and Trent probably was too. I’d never understand the Vampires. The idea of drinking blood made me wanna vom. Give me a sparkly rainbow cloud any day of the week.
I started walking through the jungle toward Sofia, my pulse thumping against my eardrums as I went. Hadley’s advice kept haunting me as I walked. That I should hook up with some random girls just so I wasn’t a complete inexperienced virgin when it came to claiming Sofia. But as I drew closer to her, I didn’t even see anyone else. How was I supposed to screw another girl when it felt like this one already owned every piece of me? I knew it was fucking crazy. But I just couldn’t get her out of my head. She was my lucky star. And maybe she’d get over the fact that I wasn’t like the other guys she’d been with when I stole the title of Dom and crushed the rest of the herd beneath my hooves.
I walked straight up to her before I could second guess myself, planting my hand on the bar and gazing down at her as the other girls backed up around me.
“Hey,” I said, my eyes falling down to her lips as they parted in surprise.
“Xavier,” she gasped. “You’re here.”
“Guess I’m part of the club now,” I said with a smirk worthy of Hadley. I could totally do this cool dude act. Though a drink or two might have helped.
“I guess you are.” She grinned.
The other girls started giggling, and I recognised Liselle as she stamped her foot in irritation, trying to catch my eye.
“Do you want a shot?” I asked Sofia, ignoring the others, my whole world consumed by this beauty before me.
She battered her lashes beneath her mask which were laced with pink glitter and nodded.
I grabbed a bottle of tequila and two wooden shot glasses from a stack at the back of the bar. It seemed like a help-yourself-deal so I was gonna help myself to as much alcohol as it took to stop my nerves giving me away.
I poured us one each and our eyes remained locked as we knocked them back. I had two more before I felt myself starting to relax and I soaked in the rock music from the band as I took a step closer to Sofia.
“Tyler’s not a part of the club?” I asked, resting my hand on her hip and she moved into the arc of my body immediately. Fuck yes.
“Yeah he is, but he went off with Hubert and Brutus earlier,” she said with a challenging smile.
I nodded slowly, fighting the urge to look around for him. If Tyler got pissed I was making a move on his girl again, he was going to have to fight me. Because my instincts were burning and I wasn’t going to ignore the way they drove me toward her. As a prospective Dom, she had to take my interest seriously; it was the way of the mares. But I technically hadn’t officially challenged Tyler yet. I’d wanted to settle into the herd first and make sure I wasn’t kidding myself. But I didn’t think there was any point waiting on it now. I’d do anything to claim her. And more than that, I wanted to lead the herd. It was in my blood.
“Dance with me,” I all but ordered, capturing her hand as she nodded and pulling her toward the dancefloor.
We moved through the crowd and she wound her arms around my neck as I tugged her close, our bodies pressing flush together. My dick liked that a lot and I smiled darkly as we started moving to the beat. I guessed grace had always been in my nature, plus years of attending boring ass balls with my family meant I knew how to dance. And Sofia seriously did too.
Her fingernails raked against the back of my neck in the most enticing way, my forehead falling to hers as her curves melted against my muscles. It felt so damn right, I wanted to shout it to everyone in this room and proclaim her as mine. But I knew I couldn’t do that without beating Tyler down first.
“You didn’t answer my question earlier, Phillip,” she teased, using the name Darius had given me when she’d texted me through all those months.
She’d been a total lifeline to me in my solitude. The one glimmer of hope in a sea of dark. I’d known nothing of my Order, been unable to shift unless I was alone somewhere long enough, but never able to fly. She told me everything about Pegasuses, she’d made me love being one, made me ache to cast my shackles off and come join her in the sky. My wish had finally come true. And it was better than I ever could have dreamed it would be.
“What question?” I asked, my mind blanking as I traced her features, from the curve of her lips to her big blue eyes. She was pixie sized and fucking perfect.
Her lashes lowered half way, framing her gaze in glitter as her mouth quirked up at the corner. She tiptoed to whisper in my ear and her breath against my skin sent a quiver right through me. “Were you disappointed I wasn’t naked when I texted you?”
My throat bobbed as I turned my head, brushing my lips against her candyfloss scented skin. “No,” I admitted. “Because I thought you might be with him.”
Her fingers pushed into the back of my hair, her body arching against me so her breasts pressed to my chest, getting me rock hard for her just like that. Oh shit.
“And what if I wanted to be naked with you?” she whispered.
I was a goner. My dick was making itself known and she leaned back with a little gasp of excitement, her eyes boring into mine.
“Do you wanna go somewhere quieter?” she asked and I nodded because hell yes I did. But oh fuck the stars I don’t know what I’m doing.
She snagged my hand and towed me off the dancefloor, my gaze falling to her ass in that tight dress, making me want to bite down on my knuckles. She looked so edible, maybe I could understand Hadley’s needs after all because right now all I wanted to do was sink my teeth into this girl and taste her.
We slipped through a side door into a stairwell and Sofia pressed her back to the wall, reeling me in by the hand. I observed her with a fierce desire as I took my time to memorise every inch of the way she looked tonight, and she bit her lip in anticipation.
I pressed one hand to the wall above her head, running my fingers along her jaw with my other hand as I angled her lips up toward mine. I may not have screwed a girl before, but I knew how to kiss one. I’d made out with girls at my old school before Father had kept me home after my Order had Emerged.
Her breath caught and the air seemed to spark like a livewire hung between us. “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen,” I growled and she reached out to fist her hand in my shirt. “And you gave me something to look forward to when I thought I had nothing in my future. I dreamed about meeting you every night, Sofia. And it didn’t come close to the reality. You’re my sunshine in the dark.”
She yanked me closer, but she didn’t have to, I was already moving, crushing her to the wall and pressing my lips to hers. Her mouth parted for me and I slid my tongue in to taste her, her tongue meeting mine with hungry strokes as we devoured each other.
My hard on ground into her thigh and she reached between us, running her palm up and down it and making me groan needily. I wanted to touch her too, but I also didn’t want to fuck it up and make her realise how much of a virgin I was. But if I didn’t touch her, what was she gonna think?
I focused on kissing her until she was panting and I swear I was gonna come in my pants with the way her fingers grasped and caressed my cock. My head was spinning and I couldn’t get enough.
I reached down to hook her thigh over my hip and she sighed my name, the sound the best thing I’d ever heard.
“Do you like that, baby?” Tyler’s voice cut through the fog in my brain and I jolted in surprise, my lips parting from Sofia’s as I whipped around, shielding her from him and stamping my foot in anger.
“By the stars, Tyler, how long have you been standing there?” Sofia demanded, not seeming remotely bothered that he’d just caught her with her tong
ue in another guy’s mouth.
She moved to my side, straightening the skirt of her dress and folding her arms, totally unphased.
“Long enough to work out that Xavier here is a virgin,” Tyler said with a wicked smirk and I neighed furiously. “I’ve had my suspicions for a while, but now I’m positive.”
“Fuck off,” I snapped.
“It’s not a big deal,” Tyler said placatingly. “You don’t mind, do you baby?” He looked to Sofia and heat swept up the back of my neck. I couldn’t face her, or deny it or do anything but just stand there like a lump of awkward.
“Why would I mind that?” she replied and my heart thumped powerfully at the conviction in her words.
Tyler strutted forward like the big I am and hooked Sofia toward him by the waist. “Guess this means I’ve got to win you again, huh?”
She nodded, a smile playing around her lips. “Sorry, babe, Xavier’s just so…” She looked at me in a way that made my insides squeeze and it felt so fucking good. “And we have a connection.”
“I know,” he purred, brushing her hair behind her ear and glaring over her head at me. “Oh well, I kinda enjoyed beating down the lesser stallions before.” He dropped his mouth to hers, kissing her fiercely and a furious whinny built in my throat which I didn’t allow out.
She moaned as she arched into him just like she had with me and my dick got even harder. I didn’t know why, but watching them together made me as horny as it did furious. I pushed Tyler away from her when I couldn’t stand it a second longer, whirling Sofia around to face me and drawing her in for another passionate kiss. I could taste Tyler on her mouth and I grunted angrily, kissing her harder, bruising her lips. Tyler pressed up close behind her, pulling her hair sharply to break our lips apart then angling her head around to kiss him again, his eyes remaining on me with a dare in them. One I was more than willing to rise to.
His hand slid down her dress, squeezing her breast and my throat thickened as she moaned. Sofia reached for me, taking my hand and placing it on her other breast and my heart hammered like crazy. I was way out of my depth, but I wasn’t going to walk away. No force in the world could make me do that. Just don’t fuck this up.
I had to do it better than Tyler, it was the only thing I could think of. So I tugged her dress down, freeing her breast from her sparkly bra and lowered my head, capturing her nipple between my lips and sucking. She cried out, her fingers pushing into my hair and knotting tightly as she kept me there and excitement pounded through me. I wasn’t fucking it up. She liked it. She actually liked it!
Tyler suddenly shoved my head away and I stood upright with a neigh of rage. Sofia rested back against his chest as he locked his arm around her possessively.
“Is this an official challenge, Xavier?” He narrowed his eyes and I lifted my chin.
“Yeah,” I said, with no doubt in my voice. “It is.”
His gaze darkened and he nodded, acceptance filling his expression. “Okay…” He nuzzled into Sofia’s neck, dragging his teeth across her flesh and making her shudder in his arms. “I wonder if the virgin can do this to you, baby.” He slid his hand down her body once more, pulling up her skirt to reveal her sparkly pink panties before sliding his fingers inside them. I swallowed the razor sharp lump in my throat as I watched, unsure what the fuck to do as he started moving his hand and Sofia gasped in pleasure, dropping her head back against his shoulder.
Tyler gazed at me tauntingly and I fought the urge to squeeze my dick through my pants to relieve some of the pressure that was building in me. This was so hot and so infuriating all at once. And I might have been a virgin, but I was also a quick learner so fuck if I was just going to stand here.
Sofia’s eyes widened hopefully as I closed the distance between us and butted my forehead against Tyler’s over her shoulder. I slid my hand into her panties, following the line of his fingers and meeting her wet centre. Holy fucking stars.
My fingers slid between his and I pushed two inside her to join Tyler’s, making her whinny for me. I grinned, learning from the movements of Tyler’s hand and matching his rhythm as she panted and gasped between us. He pushed his forehead hard against mine, but I didn’t give an inch, forcing him back just as hard so our eyes were locked.
My breaths came heavier with my own need for release and the sound of Sofia moaning had me aching to claim her.
“Come for me, baby,” Tyler demanded, shoving my head with his own and I shoved his back, making us all stumble a few steps in his direction.
“Come for me, Sofia,” I growled and she pawed at my chest with one hand while cupping the back of Tyler’s neck with the other.
“Oh my stars,” she gasped.
Her pussy tightened around our fingers and she moaned loudly as she came, my gaze falling to her face. I drank in her hooded expression and realised her skin was actually shining. Fuck she was beautiful.
I kissed her, tasting her heat, her flesh and removing my hand from her panties just before Tyler did. She panted between us, holding us both close and I kept my attention on her instead of the douche behind her.
“It’s on, Xavier,” Tyler warned, drawing her away from me and she tugged down her skirt with a breathy laugh.
“Wait.” She tugged her hand free of his, running back to me and pressing her mouth to mine. I grinned against her lips, kissing her slow and trying to draw it out.
Tyler pulled her away again and she pouted sadly, her hand holding onto mine before he turned her around and marched her toward the exit.
“See you soon,” she called to me, biting her lip and Tyler dragged her out the door before I could follow.
I looked down at my rock hard dick with a sigh and moved to sit on the stairs, figuring I needed to think some unhappy thoughts to make it go away before I went back to the party.
Mildred’s hairy back, Mildred’s hairy back, Mildred’s hairy back.
I sat in the shadows with exhilaration rushing through me and realised I wasn’t even as pissed at Tyler as I should have been. Something about this challenge just felt right, natural. And I relished the idea of beating his ass and making her mine officially in front of the whole herd.
My boner was being stubborn as hell, mostly because it was impossible for me not to replay what we’d just done over and over again. I felt like one percent less of a virgin which was totally sad and yet seriously ace at the same time.
The door suddenly flung open and Athena marched through it before Hadley shot after her and caught her wrist, wheeling her around.
“What’s your problem?” she demanded, yanking her wrist free and glaring at him.
“He had his hands all over you,” Hadley snapped.
“So? What’s it got to do with you?” she asked in disbelief.
“He’s a Vampire. He’s trying to claim you as his Source,” he growled. “And I’m not having it. If you’re gonna be anyone’s Source, you’re mine.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, falling deathly quiet in that way she did when she was about to get scary and I decided remaining here in the shadows was a good plan.
“I’m no one’s Source,” she said in an even tone. “I’m not a blood bag for you to drool over. I’m supposed to be your friend.”
Hadley shifted his weight from one foot to the other, seeming agitated. “You don’t understand,” he snarled.
“Well explain it to me, Had, because you’re one second away from me cutting you off for good. I’m sick of this,” she said calmly, a deadly glint in her gaze.
“I need a taste. Just one taste, Athena. Then I can get you out of my head. Please. I’ll do whatever you want in return,” he said, sounding completely unlike himself as he begged her.
She surveyed him with her eyes narrowed. “You’ll do anything I want?” she asked with intrigue.
“Anything,” he swore, stepping closer to her like he’d already won, but she pressed a hand to his chest to hold him back, mulling over her next words.
“You’ll be
my bitch for the week,” she decided with a playful smile. “You’ll do whatever I ask, carry my shit and fetch anything I fancy for me.”
Hadley fell quiet with a low growl in his throat then he lunged at her, bouncing off a tight air shield around her body. Silence thickened the air and she looked like she was about to walk away and be done with him forever. I didn’t like the thought of that. I loved the group we’d formed.
“Fine,” Hadley spat at last. “I’ll do it. But you have to let me bite you where I want, as much as I want. Right here, right now. You’re mine Athena.”
“For five minutes,” she sighed.
“Ten,” he snapped.
“Four,” she countered with a smirk.
“Five then,” he growled, pacing left to right with his hands balled at his sides. “Drop your shield.”
She looked nervous for a moment, taking a breath then flicked her fingers as she released the magic. He leapt at her, grabbing a fistful of her dark, purple-streaked hair and dragging her head to one side, driving his fangs into her throat. She gasped and he groaned like he was riding the best high of his life, holding her in his arms at his mercy.
He growled like a beast as he fed from her and her eyes fluttered closed. For a moment I thought she might be about to pass out and I almost pushed to my feet, but then she released a breathy moan that was a total game changer.
Hadley chuckled mirthlessly, clutching her closer as he pulled his fangs free of her throat then dropped his mouth to her breasts and started feeding once more. She fisted his hair as he drove her against the wall and when he was done, he dropped to his knees, throwing her leg over his shoulder and driving his fangs into her inner thigh. I didn’t know what the fuck to do at this point so I just sat there, hoping Hadley didn’t decide to pay attention and pick up my heartbeat, but I reckoned the fact that he was on cloud nine right now meant he was too distracted to notice.
Zodiac Academy: Fated Throne Page 53
