Set In Flames (Morningstars Book 1)

by Sam Destiny

  “Or at least he won’t do what you consider the right thing to be! Please, imagine how you would have felt if I had been missing. Let’s say I would have gone with her. We would have been caught together and you couldn’t have felt what I felt!” she snapped and he slowly nodded. He had considered that, truly, this was the only reason why those two really didn’t have anyone knocking down their door now.

  “Difference is that you and I just would have saved ourselves while she needs to give our race hope,” he replied and her anger didn’t vanish. He wondered how he hadn’t noticed it before, because obviously it had been simmering below the surface.

  “Maya never got a chance to find out what her true role was. She maybe knew she was going to be Queen, but honestly? She didn’t even know what it meant to be a vampire-descendent! There was no way for her to have guessed how this whole thing would proceed! You think she would have agreed? Maybe, just maybe I should have told her what it all entailed, and then she wouldn’t have run, because she could have understood Jaden better.”

  “Stop, Lara,” Colbin interrupted. “We decided it was best if she resented him because then leaving him would be easier. This whole love was doomed from the beginning and… We now just need to focus on getting the court ready, making sure she can move in soon and get to know what’s going on now in her life. Until then I’m gonna…” Lara stopped him with her hand on his shoulder.

  “Change the rules. Let them stay together. Talk to the Circle of Seven,” she pleaded and he hung his head.

  “Babe, I can’t. I cannot change the rules and they won’t even try. They don’t know either of them, but they sure know their traditions,” he sighed, sounding defeated.

  “Then we are all doomed,” Lara whispered, leaving the room to let Colbin stir in his own thoughts.

  Jaden had a hard time keeping his shaking to himself. Opening the door, finding Maya there had not helped to ease it. Not even holding her had helped, even though now the shaking had changed. Hearing her say that she was hungry for him had him swallowing.

  He knew she meant his blood and he was ready to spill it all for her.

  With gentle gestures he guided her onto his lap, letting his fingers brush over her bare calves as they rested left and right of him. She looked at him. Too far away. She was simply too far away.

  He grabbed her ass, pulling her as close as possible. She first giggled, then she suddenly stopped, obviously realizing how badly he wanted her.

  “Cupcake,” he tried to say, but it came out as a hoarse whisper only.

  “Handsome,” she replied, framing his face. Their very unique glow now joined the soft warm light of the fireplace.

  “Dearest Creator,” he breathed and then he was finally kissing her again. He had missed that and everything coming with it: his need, his hope and the delicious burning that marked him as hers.

  Her breathing sped up and her hands wandered lower. Jaden couldn’t help but smile as she broke the kiss to pull his shirt over his head.

  “I’ve been running a lot,” she started while her hands travelled over his chest. She wanted to talk? Now?

  “Maya, you sure this is the right time for a heart-to-heart?” he asked, out of breath and more than just a little turned on.

  She laughed and it was a sound that eased all his tension. She wanted to talk? Fine, that was what they’d do. He was ready for a different action, but this was about Maya.

  “I do, but I promise, I’ll make it quick,” she grinned, then sobered again. “I talked to Lara and… You know… I mean, she said that between mates everything would come natural.”

  Suddenly Jaden’s lusty haze was all but blown away. “You talked to Lara about sex?” he wanted to know and she blushed the sweetest shade of pink.

  “I had to talk to someone, right? You wanted me to talk to Kade or Lex about it?” she wanted to know and he wanted to kill those two just for the fact that she had thought about it.

  “No, go on,” he roughly demanded while her hands went through his hair, back over his shoulders and then down his stomach again. Nothing distracted him though from her story.

  “While I was on the run,” she picked up her story again, “I worked in a bar for a few months. A special bar,” she explained and he saw red, pushing her off his lap because he feared that he wouldn’t be able to touch her without hurting her. How many guys had seen what was intended for his eyes only?

  He started pacing, grinding his teeth together. Suddenly she started to giggle, sounding almost hysterical.

  “You find that funny?” he wanted to know, his voice down to a low growl. She pressed her lips together, trying hard to not chuckle anymore. Her reaction made him want to beat someone to a pulp.

  “Sit, handsome. I worked the bar. I’m still… All yours.” Her eyes got dark with that promise and he planted his ass back down, his pants getting tighter at her expression. He was back to square one, wanting her like nothing else.

  “I got a lot of visuals… Disturbing ones and, I promise, hot ones. There’s something I know guys love and…” She blushed again and he pulled her back on his lap, kissing her roughly on the mouth. He wanted her and he needed her to belong to him.

  “And?” he asked finally.

  “Lara said you’d sure be alright with me trying that on you, so…” She shrugged and Jaden swallowed, feeling his mouth go dry. She was innocent, more than a little brave and not at all experienced, but she wanted to… All thought left his brain when her mouth skimmed over his sweatpants. How had she gotten on the floor and when had she moved?

  Her hands pulled down his pants and he knew where she was headed. It made an involuntary moan escape his lips before he grabbed her hands, stilling her fully.

  “Cupcake! Are you sure that’s what you want to start… Shit!” She had licked along his fully erect length, effectively shutting him up. There was no harm in letting her experiment a little, was there? Just a few…

  He took a deep breath as she wrapped her hands around his cock, tentatively stroking. She was biting her lip while watching for his reaction when she alternated between hard and soft pressure; quick and slow strokes, soon having figured out a way to draw the strongest reaction from him.

  It sure wasn’t the first time that a woman had given him a hand job, but with her it was different all over. Despite the fact that he used to be selfish during sex, he now wanted to stop her only to make sure that she was coming first. She should be the first one to be pleased and pleasured.

  He reached for a pillow, needing to hold onto something simply because he had never felt anything better.

  “Maya… Babe… Cupcake, you need to come up so we can…” He moaned another time as she moved her hand over the sensitive tip and back down, causing his body to thrust against her hand for more friction while she removed the pants fully from his body.

  It was probably the first time ever that he was undressed before the woman was naked.

  She gave him a short reprieve by kissing his stomach, letting her hands roam his body while circling her tongue around his navel. He couldn’t think of anything more erotic than his female teasing and tasting him.

  “Okay, Jaden. Now,” she grinned, a dangerous glint in her eyes. She grabbed him right under the knees, pulling him down so he sank deeper into the sofa cushions.

  “Now what?” he wanted to know and she told him to close his eyes. It was surprising how much more intense the feeling got when he couldn’t watch her.

  Another time she wrapped a hand around him, finding exactly the rhythm that brought him back to the edge he had been walking before.

  Sharp pain made him open his eyes. She had cut his femoral artery and was now stroking his erection while moving her lips over the cut. She watched him; holding his gaze while sucking his blood.

  He had never before allowed anyone to drink from him, especially not so close to his favorite body part, but seeing her like that almost pushed him over the edge. He had surely planned to exchange blood with her, a
nd soon, but certainly not like that. Not in his wildest dreams would he have imagined something like that.

  Her sucking got stronger and so became her grip.

  “Babe, please… Babe,” he begged, half-heartedly trying to push her away, but his body mainly had given control over to a tiny brunette. He came way too fast and with absolutely no control over his orgasm, no chance to draw it out or hold it back.

  He closed his eyes in embarrassment when she pulled back, looking at the mess he had made on her hand and in her hair. “I’d say that shirt needs washing,” she said matter-of-factly and he grabbed his pants, pulling them up.

  She was a tiny virgin and he hadn’t had the decency to take her to bed before coming all over her. He almost stumbled in his haste to get away when he realized that she had taken his blood. A lot of it, most likely enough to jump-start her transformation. He needed to get her into a bed and… First he needed to get her clean.

  “How are you feeling?” he wanted to know and she grinned, placing a finger under his chin to make him look at her. It took him a moment, then he met her beaming expression.

  “Awesome. I feel awesome,” she exclaimed, obviously being pretty proud of herself. It was almost adorable.

  “You had my blood, and I need to clean, you need to clean and then…” he started and she turned pale.

  “You need to take my blood.”

  Jaden groaned at that thought. He nodded before taking a deep breath.

  “I don’t know what happens now, but I won’t let you shower alone,” he told her, liking that thought a lot. He wanted to watch her, see her and fully enjoy every bit of her body. He picked her up and she chuckled.

  “That…” He cleared his throat and then started again. “Usually the first time goes a lot different and this time you will not get the upper hand, female. I wanna make love to you. In a bed. The right way,” he promised, wanting to feel her, tease her, taste her.

  “Shower, you said,” she smiled and he picked up a brow. There was something forced about the way her lips curled, but he decided against saying something. Soon he’d know it all anyways.

  She hated that he just wanted to watch. She had spent most of her life seeing everything she wished she’d be brave enough to do and now she had the chance and he just watched. It took everything in her not to groan.

  She stepped into the shower, feeling slightly self-conscious. She could feel all his emotions swirl through her. He was partly worried, partly tempted and mostly embarrassed. The last one was the feeling she enjoyed most because she knew it came from the way she, a sweet girl, had brought him so much pleasure. Knowing he was watching her made that whole mix all the more confusing, yet it was tempting something inside of her. She couldn’t resist teasing him, giving her a feeling as if she had found her inner seductress.

  In a movement well planned she stretched, letting her head fall back to enjoy the water raining down on her.

  A warning growl sent a thrill through her, making her give him a look over her shoulder. Jaden, who had sat down on the toilet upon entering was no longer sitting, but leaning against the wall close to the shower, his arms crossed in front of his bare chest.

  Blushing, she turned away again, her nerves getting the best of her. Swallowing slightly, hoping he wouldn’t notice, she closed her eyes. She wasn’t afraid of a naked man. Hell, she even enjoyed looking at some – and Jaden definitely was worth a glance or two – but despite the fact that she wanted him like she never had wanted anyone before, she was scared.

  She hadn’t lied about needing him, and nothing had changed about that, but feeling his hard length press against her core, she had panicked, taking the easy way out by kneeling in front of him. That had been sexy as hell though and a well calculated action on her part because she still had remembered the feeling of his blood in her system and figured that this would be her ultimate guideline.

  She poured shampoo into her hand, starting to massage it into her scalp while wondering about the act itself. Would it really prove to be true that she couldn’t do anything wrong simply because they were meant for each other?

  She yelped as strong, warm hands reached around her, cupping her breasts.

  “I’ve never been the most patient guy,” Jaden whispered, his voice rough; his lips gentle while they skimmed over her shoulder. She involuntarily shivered, closing her eyes. His fingers found her nipples, softly squeezing them, making her gasp.

  He took her arms, placing them against the cold tiles, about the height of her shoulders, just far enough apart so she wouldn’t slip.

  “Before you get weak-kneed on me, I’d rather have you support yourself,” he chuckled into her ear and she nodded slightly, thinking that this indeed was a clever plan because just those small gestures made her forget how to breathe.

  “I was almost finished, you know?” she teased quietly, having no intention whatsoever to leave that shower. His wandering hands simply were too tempting.

  He didn’t reply, just pushing her body forward with his until she was caught between his heat and the cold wall. Her breath came out short and her fear spiked when she felt his erection press into her back. She wanted him, but would he hurt her? Would it change her? Or would it maybe change the mood he was in?

  “Are you here with me?” he asked, gently biting her earlobe. She moaned, not being able to believe that she wanted him so much, was turned on beyond anything she knew, and yet wanted to run as fast and as far as possible.

  “Let me at least wash up fully,” she pleaded, feeling how he hesitated. Curiosity ran through him. He kissed her neck, holding her prisoner with his body. She was going nowhere until he’d allow it. It was scary and yet hot.

  “I’m gonna bite you. Just a nip. It won’t hurt, I promise,” he mumbled against her skin and she closed her eyes.

  “Why don’t you just let us finish that shower and… Jaden!” She called out his name as his teeth pierced her skin. She suddenly had no idea anymore why she was worried in the first place, because she was his, his alone, and everything else would simply fall in place.

  He was gone all of the sudden, leaving her wanting in the worst way possible.

  “You are afraid,” he remarked, sounding as if he just had a cold shower.

  “I was afraid, I am no longer,” she clarified while facing him, but the hormones coursing through her from his bite faded and he she knew he could feel the residue of the worries she had.

  Stepping towards her again he framed her face, his chocolate eyes radiating warmth.

  “Trust me, Cupcake. I’ll make you stop worrying.” He kissed her soft and slow before turning the water off and wrapping her in a soft towel. He carried her into the bedroom, giving her a beaming smile.

  There was no need for candles or light, because the moment their skin touched, the room lit up in purple, the glow of their bond rivaling the brightness of the sun.

  She held onto the towel tightly, worrying now more than ever that she had done something wrong. She wouldn’t let go of her cover no matter what he tried. That was, until he kissed her deeply and she raised her hands to frame his face.

  His kisses travelled down her jawline, then her neck and over to her collar bone. Only in the corners of her mind did she notice that he tucked away the towel, leaving her open to him.

  The excitement she felt coming from him coupled with the way his lips went over her skin to leave a burning trail behind made her feel as if she was flying. Biting her lip, she drowned her hands in his hair, needing something to hold on to as one finger circled first her right and then her left breast, ending each time at the sensitive peak. Then this exact finger went deeper, wandering over her skin. Nothing else was touching her, just that bit of skin and she moved against it, needing more, wanting more.

  “Just… Kiss me, Jaden,” she pleaded and he did, only not the way she had hoped. “Holy shit,” she breathed as his tongue went over that sweet spot between her legs. She was wet for him and had no doubt about the fact that he’
d realize that, too. Maybe that would make him actually move up and kiss her so they could get on with the program. She was ready to enjoy all his sweet touches once she knew that she couldn’t fail.

  His tongue stroked her, making her hold her breath while reaching for something to hold. Jaden grabbed her hands and she squeezed, never having felt closer to him than that moment even though he was barely even touching her.

  She longed for his bite, wanting to feel as free and careless as she had in the shower, but instead he moved up, lying on his side while their bodies touched full length.

  Again she was left wanting while he brushed a few strands out of her face, then he leaned in to kiss her, taking her thoughts away with his lips just before two fingers slipped into her, making her buck against his hand.

  “You are so ready, Cupcake,” he whispered and she couldn’t help but enjoy the intrusion. Yet she wanted more, and by the feelings that came through the bond she knew so did he. His voice was hoarse and seriously the sexiest thing she had ever heard.

  “Born ready,” she bit out, enjoying the way her blood rushed through her body; the way her back was burning where her mark would soon be finished; and mostly the way Jaden’s fingers made her feel. She felt his impatience, too, and it made her smile.

  “Come on, handsome. You can play later. Make me yours,” she pleaded and he took a deep breath, resting his lips against her shoulder before meeting her eyes.

  She could hear his heart going into triple speed and it exhilarated her. When he moved though it was away from her. Protest left her lips until he pressed his finger against them.

  “I need my dagger, babe. We’ll have to exchange blood during sex and your teeth aren’t sharp enough yet to break skin. We need to seal that bond so you’ll soon be exhausted enough for me to taste every part of your beautiful skin,” he grinned, making her blush. She liked that perspective. A lot.