by Setta Jay
He didn’t look at her. “Yes. Now drive,” he groused.
She didn’t know what to say, so she turned on the ignition with a shaky hand and let the roar of the engine calm her heartbeat. She sucked in a breath and petted the steering wheel.
Sander was hers.
She’d never wanted a male or family. She always had her sister and she never thought of anything more, because they lived in a Realm of mortals.
Had he wanted a mate all these centuries? She suddenly didn’t like not knowing the answer to that.
“We’re not moving,” he growled, breaking her out of her thoughts.
“Give me a second,” she said and ported away for a split second.
When she came back moments later, he looked like a grumpy, impatient pretzel.
“Sit tight, Sparky,” she said and ported both them and the car directly out of the garage to the only long stretch of moonlit road she knew of. She’d already checked and it was completely deserted.
She reformed on a tight groan, having completely forgotten what it was like teleporting with him.
Fuck.
She tried to shake off the effects, to breathe through having his body meld with hers, but she was so damned wet that her entire body felt like it never wanted to be separated from him again.
“Out of the car,” he demanded and she’d barely gotten the door open before he was there, pulling her up to wrap her legs around him. Her jeans and tee shirt burned away a second before he impaled her in one hard thrust. He left her boots and the needlelike blades sheathed inside them, but that was it.
She moaned in pleasure as he filled her hard and fast. She’d never get enough of this, of his sheer strength in fucking her like this. No walls, just his strong arms riding her up and down relentlessly on his cock until she came on a harsh groan, convulsing around him.
He set her on her feet and turned her to the low hood of the car. “Bend over,” he demanded, and damn, he was hot when he was bossy.
She slowly bent at the waist to taunt him as she looked back over one shoulder. Seeing the flames in his eyes never grew old.
“Don’t dent my new car,” she breathlessly demanded.
He growled and started riding her like a male possessed. If this was courting, she was completely on board. They were in the middle of a moonlit deserted road with a multimillion dollar car built for speed and he was fucking her like she was the only female in the world. He was completely wild as he worked her while she panted for air. “Play with your clit,” he snarled.
Shit. She was too close not to obey him. Her fingers slid between her thighs and started working.
She moaned, knowing his hands were marking her skin with his feverish hold. Flames licked out behind him and she was thankful he wasn’t destroying her present.
She arched her back and let her hands slide further down the hood of the car. Oh, yeah, he liked that; his cock was throbbing as he snarled for more.
A split second later they were breaking apart and then reforming in the center of the road further away. She gasped as he caught her around the waist to steady her before lifting her up with his hands under her thighs, knees pulled to her chest.
“You’re going to wring my cock dry like this.” He growled and she was caught up in the wild pleasure.
Her release was hard and completely without warning. She groaned as her pussy clenched tight enough that she heard him roar to the skies, sending night birds screeching away as he filled her with warm come.
When she could focus again, she realized he was carrying her back to the car. She noted the black marks over the asphalt and shook her head.
“We have to learn not to burn everything up.” She groaned and then bit out, “I’m going to get come all over my leather seat.”
“You could take it back without sitting in it.”
“Hell no. I’m driving it right now,” she said and then teleported to her house and grabbed a couple of towels, anxious to get back before he could go anywhere. She wanted her ride with him.
She reformed, happy that he hadn’t moved. She set the towels on the seats and saw he was completely naked and shoeless, whereas she had her boots.
He must have known what she was thinking because he answered, “For height.”
He’d left her boots so she’d be taller when he bent her over the hood of her car. She shook her head.
“Okay. Get in,” she commanded as she got inside.
He was smiling this time when he bent into the car.
“Don’t get come on anything,” she ordered and shot the still-running car into gear and slammed her foot down, powering them into the seats. She caught his wide grin as she sped ahead and basked in the beauty of the adrenaline rush.
They’d deal with heavy stuff later.
Chapter 20
Drake’s Home, Tetartos Realm
Drake stared into his mate’s eyes, still processing all she’d shared and what she hadn’t. Her warm body was still flush against his. She weighed nothing as he cradled his forearm under her ass so she could look down at him.
He knew this was important to her, he understood her need to try the stasis unit, but it didn’t mean he had to like it. “If we do this, we do it my way.”
Her fingers were massaging the back of his head as she gazed back with a hint of a smile shaping her pouty lips. She knew she’d won.
She nodded her agreement.
“We’ll do it at the manor.”
“Why?” she asked with a slight frown.
“I want every possible problem covered. Which means you’ll keep your mind open to me when you go in and Sirena will be outside the door the entire time.”
She eyed him and grew serious as her thumbs caressed his temples. “It will be fine.”
“It fucking better be,” he growled.
She sighed. “The sleeping unit wasn’t designed to do harm.”
“To a God,” he growled. “We don’t have any idea what it will do to an Immortal. This isn’t up for negotiation.”
Her scent and soft skin were getting to him again. A telekinetic command blew the balcony doors wide open and he carried her out and was caught by the beauty of the moonlight on her soft dewy skin. She wrapped her legs around him and rested her head on his chest as he took the steps down to the massive patio below. He held her close, knowing his warmth would keep her comfortable in the crisp mountain air. Her soft sigh as she looked out over the immense view pleased him. He wanted her to love their home as much as he did.
The stone platform was carved from the mountain face itself and afforded enough space for his dragon form to land comfortably in a space that blocked the heavier gusts of winds that came at this altitude. They were up in the highest peak of the mountain range and could see out into moonlit hills and valleys below.
Delia hadn’t stopped gazing silently into the night. When she finally spoke, it was a soft sigh. “It’s beautiful up here.” Her voice turned wistful. “Peaceful.”
“It is.”
He continued to the right and went up the steps to his favorite dais. The small seating area was set up for taking advantage of the view. Drake stepped past the rock fire pit and set it ablaze with a single thought. When he made it to the lounge, he turned her to sit across his lap, giving her the view while keeping his hold. She felt too damned good in his arms.
He’d already started making mental commands, giving Bastian orders to move the stasis unit into Delia’s old room at the manor. The Kairos had the best skills in teleporting objects and would have it where he wanted it shortly.
Sirena, I need Delia’s clothes and the clay from her old room. He thought for a second before continuing. Have Rain or someone pick up more clothes and shoes for her and drop them at this location. He sent an image of a clearing at least fifty miles away. Delia’s pheromones were all over their home now and he wouldn’t take chances with his Guardians getting anywhere near there, nor would he go there with her scent all over him.
Is ev
erything okay? the healer asked.
Yes. We’re going to use the stasis unit and I want you to be close while she’s in there. Bastian will be bringing the unit to her old room in a few minutes.
I want blood samples from both of you right after.
Then leave blood sample kits in the room with the stasis unit.
“This is overkill.” Delia sighed.
He looked down as his female looked up at him. “Did you hear all of that?”
“Hear you commanding everyone all over the place? Yes.”
It was something that happened with all of his mated Guardians, so he wasn’t surprised that she heard his telepathic communications. “I don’t even like the idea of you going in that thing.” He growled, “If I could find a way to test it first, I would.” His fingers tunneled in her hair and he held her gaze as he glared. “I won’t take more chances than I have to. Not with you.”
Her eyes warmed and her soft lips parted before she pulled him down for a kiss. His muscles twitched under her questing palms as they moved down to caress his chest. The soft exploration of her mouth wasn’t enough, he fisted her hair and took more of her. He set his tongue tangling with hers, angling her where he wanted until her body squirmed against his. He caught a greedy growl against his mouth as she shifted to straddle him. When her heat met his cock, his hands moved to grip her hips and roll her over his erection as he groaned deep.
Sirena’s voice in his head caused his mate to snarl. I’ll have everything in an hour.
Good, he said, dismissing his cousin, and he let the kiss continue for another beat before breaking it off. He was pleased with the sounds of her soft panting breaths and the sight of her eyes glowing in the moonlight, but his mind was back on what they were about to do. He took a moment to run his thumb over one of her silky cheeks.
“You’re incredible.” And she was. She was fiery and wild and so damned intelligent, it shown bright in her eyes as she let out a stuttering breath. Arousal was still riding them both, but they needed to talk.
She sighed and snarled all at once before setting to reassure him, “I’ll be okay.”
He nodded because he wouldn’t accept less. “I need to know something.”
Her eyes tracked over his face. “What?”
“Why are all of your thoughts on his memories?” He didn’t want to ask, didn’t truly want to know, but he had to. He’d have all of her memories once they blood bonded to complete their mating bond. Something he planned to do no matter what happened with the stasis unit. She was his. He didn’t care what happened with his blood, and as much as he wanted her to be free of the mud, it didn’t matter. If they both had to wear it, they would until Sirena figured out something. Her beasts had been the biggest concern and now they were gone.
He watched as she considered her answer while moving back to sit on his thighs, his hands were still on her hips, but he allowed her the space. Her wet pussy on his hard cock had only made it harder to concentrate and he needed this answer. The firelight flickering over her bare skin and glinting off her dark ruby hair was distraction enough. Her long curls slid over and teased at her nipples, but he wasn’t paying attention to anything but her serious face when she spoke. “His memories are what are clear to me. When I woke with a blade in my heart, it was more like being born.”
She eyed him as she seemed to search for words as he made circles on her hips to soothe her. “When I woke, I was thrown into battle with the shadow for control of my body. A war I lost every day. It had already beaten the wolf into submission and was filled with a bloodlust so strong I couldn’t win. The nightmares of his memories have always been vivid and they made me fight. Every day was a battle for control as power surged, the wolf howled in mourning, and the shadow became stronger and more consumed with rage. That was my reality, not the suffering of the girl who died.”
“But you have memories from before the abduction?”
She nodded. “Yes, in a way, but nothing before three months ago feels real to me. I know the different facets of that life, that I am her in some odd way. Her life… her family, they belong to the young innocent who died. Not to the calculated predator who woke. That girl wouldn’t understand the things I’m capable of.” Her eyes flickered from copper to gold and back for a second as she looked off like she was searching for something. A glimmer of emotion from her old life maybe.
“Do you think the beasts took away the emotion of the memories?”
“Maybe. Or she really did die and I’m something else. I don’t feel love or loss for the family that was hers, but I will protect them. I feel sorry that they lost someone who loved them. I don’t know what any of that makes me. Even her name feels wrong.” She sucked in air as if she were waiting for his reaction. She truly believed she was cold, when it was the opposite. The entire time she spoke, her eyes flickered and the words told him a story of who she was.
He pulled her to his lips and gave her a soft kiss. “It makes you mine and it makes you perfect. The rest we’ll figure out with time.” He wasn’t sure if she was disassociated from her old life by her beasts out of some kind of self-preservation because of the trauma she had to be going through. Or maybe she was a different being, born from the ashes of the innocent Mageia. If so, he loved the female in front of him. She matched him. She was powerful and had a sense of honor that she didn’t seem to see.
She quirked a sad grin. “I’m far from perfect. I’m just not as sadistic as I could be.”
“You would have never become the monster you worry so much about.”
He felt her denial through the bond. “I wish that I were the female you think I am, but it’s a lie, Drake,” she said sadly before seemingly bracing to say more. “I may not cross certain lines, because I have you to ground me, but don’t think that I’m not capable of terrible things.”
“Tell me.”
She lifted a hand to his face and he felt the sheer intensity of her emotions for him. It was intoxicating and humbling all at once. “I’m not that young innocent female if that’s what you were hoping for, Drake.”
He growled. “I want you, my strong temptress.” He glared at her and he watched her ease at the words. “If you want a new name that feels right, then we’ll give you one. But you are my mate.”
Her eyes flashed with heat and something more as she breathed out. “Good, because I wouldn’t have let you go. I have the intense protective and possessive instincts of a beast, Drake. I would kill at the smallest indication that someone wanted to take you from me,” she warned as she slid up on his legs until her pussy was riding against his hard cock. “It isn’t just the frenzy that makes me want to bite you, to mark your flesh. Don’t ever forget that I’m a predator. Only an animal could want her male the way I want you.” She moaned as she circled her hips. Her eyes were molten gold as she lifted with the grace of an animal and positioned him before sinking down hard. Her head fell back on her shoulders and her hands lifted to her perfect tits. He’d never seen or imagined a more sensual female. His hands gripped her ass and massaged the firm flesh, loving the moan that tore from her lips when he controlled her movements up and down his cock.
She attempted to match his thrusts, trying to buck for more. “That’s it, fight to get my cock deeper,” he growled.
She let go of her breasts and the look she gave him promised it was going to get even hotter. She leaned into his chest and her fingers dug in his hair, yanking his head back as she powered up and down as her lips and teeth trailed down his neck.
He fisted her hair and brought his fingers to her mouth and demanded, “Get them wet.” Her eyes flashed brighter as she licked and then sucked his digits on a moan. He felt her power sliding out to touch every inch of his skin until he was groaning and lifting up every time she slammed down. She sucked his finger like she would his cock and he growled his approval. When he popped his fingers from her lips, she eyed him in challenge.
She circled her hips, grinding down, taking every fucking inch. He
kept a hold on her hair and watched her expression as the wet fingers of his other hand slid into the crease of her ass. Her lids lowered and she moaned as she clenched her pussy around him. He slid the digits to her tight little hole and toyed with it as her movements grew jerky. She gasped and keened, “Do it.” He pushed one finger inside her as she cried out in pleasure and started clamping tighter, dragging a groan from him as his entire body tensed in pleasure. He sent his own waves of ability to toy with her nipples and clit, wrenching wild noises from her lips as she rode his cock and finger hard.
She whispered into his mind, I can feel your need to claim every inch of me and I can’t wait. He felt her body quiver with the last breathless words and, fuck, her sexy words got him off.
She came hard a second later, gripping him so tight he filled her sweet pussy with his seed while roaring into the skies.
He held his sated mate to his chest and gently massaged her back. The dragon was calm and he knew it was just waiting for her to belong to them both in truth.
She was so small against him, but even now, panting and spent, he felt her power lifting in waves, starting to tense her body with the force. He quickly used their bond to pull and rein it all in, and the second he did, she sighed against his chest.
He closed his eyes, feeling a sense of rightness that he’d never felt before.
They just had to make it through the next hoop.
He stood and carried her back through the doors and into the bathroom to care for his female before he needed to get the supplies Sirena was getting together.
Chapter 21
Guardian Manor, Tetartos Realm
Drake was slowly losing his mind. He could see his mate beneath the blue haze of the stasis unit and he’d already woken her once after the first few minutes. The mud she’d donned to come to the manor had dissipated in the unit within that time and he was glad they were locked in her room with the filtration system. He’d had a feeling that the clay wouldn’t stay in the thing, but he’d hoped to keep her covered in case she’d been in distress and needed Sirena’s help.
