by Leilani Love
“Oh,” Violca replied feeling butterflies in her stomach. “Did he agree to the meeting and to come alone?”
“Lazzaro agreed to it all. Said he would keep his men two miles away from the location as long as we did. He also wanted me to tell you he was very happy that you wanted to meet and looked forward to it.”
The last words were stressed. The disgusted look on Aithne’s face when she said it let Violca know that he had made some comment that she didn’t like. “Do you still think meeting with him is a good idea?”
Aithne’s head snapped up and she looked at Violca and nodded her head in an affirmative. “I do. I think he just likes to get under my skin.”
Violca laughed at the last statement. When Aithne pretended to glare at her for finding her irritation amusing, she laughed harder. “Aithne, from what you told me about him, I think he enjoys getting under everyone’s skin. He hasn’t tried anything since you guys saved your sister, and he has left your family alone. From what I understand, his father would have killed her before you even brought him Chase.”
“Well, I hope you are right. We will meet with him in three days. He’s flying back from Italy.” Aithne smiled at her as if trying to offer reassurance.
“So are you telling Chase or am I?” Violca asked, with an innocent smile on her face.
Shaking her head, Aithne chuckled. “You got Chase...I still have to tell Viktor the good news.”
Sharing a look with her friend, she excused herself to head upstairs to her room. Chase and Viktor could both be overprotective when it came to them. If they didn’t love them so much, Violca would find it exhausting. Instead, she found it sweet, especially when he sighed loudly and ran his fingers through his hair, exasperated because he knew she was not going to listen anyway.
Chapter 8
Chase watched Violca during dinner. He noticed the way she continuously bit her lip when she didn’t think he was looking, or the way Violca and Aithne kept giving each other looks. He knew Viktor had given her a book earlier, but he doubted anything in there would make her so nervous. Through their connection, he could feel her anxiety and his dragon was not happy about the situation.
Dinner done, Violca got up to help clean the table and Chase grabbed her hand. “Sari and Angel, would you two mind clearing the table?” he said to the girls before Violca could protest.
Nodding, they both got up. Violca gave him a look and he got up to lead her from the dining room. “Where…”
“Just to our room, so we can talk alone.” Chase answered before she could finish asking him.
Violca bit her lip and he tried not to chuckle at her discomfort. He knew she would never lie to him, but catching her off guard would be the best way to get a straight answer out of her. Violca had a way of making him agree with her and he had a funny feeling whatever she was trying to figure out, he would need his wits about him.
Taking her to their room, he locked the door behind them. He noticed Violca in the middle of the room biting her lower lip and he chuckled as he stepped closer to her, wrapping his arms around her. Pulling her close, he gently kissed her lower lip, sucking it into his mouth before running his tongue along it. “You’ve been biting your lip so much tonight. What has you so nervous?”
Violca smiled, leaning against him, putting her hands on his chest. “Not nervous, just a little… anxious.”
Chase chuckled, reaching up and tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “Anxious doesn’t sound any better. What’s on your mind, V?”
Drawing in a deep breath, Violca looked down. “Aithne called Lazzaro earlier today while everyone was out.”
Chase’s entire body stiffened and he bit back a growl. He knew this was coming. The moment he agreed to a location, he knew Aithne would call to set up the meeting. The second Violca announced Aithne had made the call, his protective nature kicked in. “What did he say?” Chase asked, noticing her small wince because his voice was rougher than he intended.
Violca bit her lip before she looked up at him. Her violet eyes met his and when he saw that she was nervous, he felt bad for hurting her. He softened his hold on her, forcing his body to relax so they could talk.
“He said he would meet with us in three days. He’s in Italy but would come home to meet with us and promised his guards would stay back as long as you guys did.” Violca spoke softly and he knew she was trying to calm him down.
Chase nodded, released her from his hold, and walked over to the dresser where he had put the pictures of the map Viktor had given him. Taking a deep breath, even now he couldn’t find anything strategically wrong with the location. “If you feel at all uneasy,” he started to say when he felt her hand on his back.
Turning, he saw her smile at him before she asked. “Banish him to hell?”
With that one phrase, she reminded him how she saved them from the demon that wanted Violca for himself. “You could, but I think you’re right. Lazzaro would be a powerful ally and if you banish him to Hell I am not sure his second in command could keep the vampires from rebelling.”
The smile Violca gave him made Chase realize he had been stressing her out more by continuously voicing his objections. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she got up on her tippy toes and brushed her lips against his. “You really think it’s a good idea?”
Chase nodded down at her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly to him. “I do. I’m not comfortable putting you in danger, but I think you are right.”
Violca smiled when he mentioned not being comfortable putting her in danger, and her eyes lit up when he said he thought she was right. “I never would have guessed you were uncomfortable with me meeting with Lazzaro.”
Chase chuckled and bent down, kissing her deeply. He could feel her smiling against his lips at first and when he slid his hand under her ass, he ground against her until she moaned and began to rock back against him.
Chase broke the kiss, reaching down to pick her up and carry her to the bed. Stretching out next to her on the bed, he looked at her and brushed the hair back from her face. Her flushed cheeks and lips swollen from their kiss caused a sense of masculine pride as he began to slide his hand under her shirt to tease her naked flesh. “You’re amazing.”
Violca smiled at him, her one arm still wrapped around her neck as she pulled him down to her. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
Chuckling, he raised an eyebrow, “You were, huh?”
With a teasing gleam in her eye, she nodded at him, “You admitted I had a good idea and now you plan on making love to me. See? Amazing.”
With a mock growl, he unbuttoned her shirt, nuzzling her neck. “I was going to make love to you, huh?”
She arched under his touch as his hands slid up her body. He heard her mumble “uh huh” and he smiled while nibbling on her ears. “You are just full of good ideas,” he said as he pushed her bra up and over her breasts.
He heard her breath catch as he kissed his way down her throat, his teeth skimming the material of her lace bra. Violca’s back arched, offering him her breast and he growled low as his teeth nipped at her already hard nipple. Chase felt her hands slide up his arms, going into his hair. As she held him to her, he began to gently suck on her breast.
Chase loved the sounds Violca made as he teased her breast with his mouth, flicking her hard nipple with his tongue before gently biting it. When her back arched more, he sucked them harder. He bit and licked his way across her chest as he made love to the other one just like the first.
As her breathing picked up, he felt her hips start to move and his hand slid down the taut muscles in her stomach. The sound of him unzipping her jeans was loud in the room and he released her breast to look down at her. Violca’s black hair fanned the pillow, her violet eyes stood out more, and her pupils dilated in desire. Her lips were swollen from his kiss and as he pulled back, she sat up so he could help remove her shirt and bra. Hooking his fingers into her shorts, he worked them down her hips, remov
ing them with her thong in one swift move. “Perfection,” he whispered.
Watching a small blush creep across her cheeks, he skimmed his hand down her side and watched as her body arched under his touch. Chase felt his pride grow at how her body responded to his touch. Getting up, he quickly removed his clothes. He watched as her eyes hungrily roamed his body and she smiled when he joined her in the bed. “God, you’re beautiful,” she whispered, pulling him down to kiss her.
Kissing her gently, he settled himself between her parted thighs, loving how her body naturally seemed to arch up against his. Chase felt Violca’s hands sliding up and down her back. When she got to his shoulders, she grabbed hold, her nails digging into his skin, causing him to deepen the kiss.
Chase broke the kiss, then bit and licked along her neck as his hands began to massage her breast. Rocking his hips, his cock slipped between her wet folds and he growled when he felt how wet and ready she was for him.
Violca rocked her hips up against him and he felt her nails dig more deeply into his shoulders. He growled his approval. Her legs parted more as her hips came up and he grabbed his cock, teasing her before he entered her with one hard thrust.
He heard a soft gasp of pleasure as her body adjusted to his. Chase held himself still for a moment, until he felt her began to move under him. She moaned under him and kissed his jaw, he slowly began to move, loving how her hips came up to meet his every thrust.
Holding his body away from hers, Chase looked down at her and watched the pleasure play on her face, her head turning side to side. He could hear her moan softly again as she bit her lower lip. The connection between them let him feel her pleasure. Violca’s eyes opened and met Chase’s. She gently cupped his cheek while wrapping her shaky legs around him. As she pulled him closer, she nibbled on his lips and he moaned loudly at her show of need.
“I love you,” she whispered against his lips before kissing him deeply.
Picking up the pace, he swallowed her cries of pleasure as each hard thrust caused her muscles to tighten around him. Meeting each thrust, her body began to quiver under his and she broke the kiss to bury her face in his neck, all the while holding him tightly.
Grunting softly and kissing along her shoulder, he made his way to the crook of her neck. Her mewling sounds let him know she was close as his mouth found his mark on her skin. When his teeth scraped against it, she shuddered in pleasure, her body tightening. He felt her lips travel along his neck until she found her mark on him.
When his teeth sank into the mark, he heard her scream against his neck as her release hit. Her core spasmed around his hard thrusting cock as her nails dug deeply into his skin. He continued to thrust into her, trying to prolong her pleasure, when he felt her teeth sink into his flesh, sending him over the edge. He gripped her hips, holding her tightly as he filled her core with his seed.
Violca’s body milked his cock as he breathed heavily against her neck. When he softened and slipped from her, he smiled. She whimpered in return at the loss of their connection. Nuzzling her cheek, he felt her tongue lick him along her bite mark and he did the same to her.
The mating bite marks on their skin were permanent. When he made love to her, Chase always marveled at how they both seemed to naturally find that mark. Each time she bit that mark, the pleasure was always intense, primal. He could hear his dragon howl in pleasure each time her teeth sank into his skin and she marked him as hers.
Catching his breath, he pulled back and looked down at her. “I love you,” he said as he brushed his lips against hers. He couldn’t protect her from everything, but he would love her unconditionally and fight by her side for as long as he could.
Chapter 9
Over the next three days, Chase made love to Violca with a hunger and need that surprised her. She knew he was worried about putting her in danger and every time they were alone, he made love to her like it might be the last time. Violca found herself constantly yawning throughout the day. Her body was so satisfied, she couldn’t get herself to mind.
Violca found herself praying that she was right and that Lazzaro would make a good ally. Violca feared that since the hunters were getting more aggressive, more groups would join Dmitri in his quest to capture her and her sisters, forcing them to find the Dragon’s Ruby to unlock its power.
Despite everything that had happened, she knew that Viktor still held hope that his brother grief would subside over their dead parents, giving him the strength to put an end to his silly quest. Every supernatural community found themselves under attack and the reports of the growing number of them that went missing or were found dead, had started to alarm him. Most of these attacks, by both the hunters and the ones that followed Dmitri, had been reported in the area. Violca could see the struggle in Viktor whenever these reports came in; she noticed his speculation that Dmitri might be to blame or that he was working with the hunters.
Hearing the door open to the living room, she tried her best to give Aithne a smile. “Are we ready to go?”
Aithne dressed in complete black, her hair pulled back into a long braid, and Violca noticed the belt she was wearing. When Aithne had shown her the belt earlier it was meant to hold blades with the handles crossed in the back so she could reach behind her and grab them. She couldn’t see them, but she knew Aithne had several blades and at least one gun somewhere on her body.
“Chase is still mad that he’s following behind us, but Viktor is riding with him so they can grumble together,” Aithne replied, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
Violca shook her head and followed Aithne out of the living room. She felt short next to her friend who had several inches on her when they were barefoot. But today her friend was in a pair of boots that easily put her over six feet tall, making her feel even shorter.
Outside, she saw two SUV’s awaiting them. Aithne would be driving one and the guys would follow in the other. Violca saw the worry on Chase’s face as she walked up to him and touched his chest, trying to calm the man and the dragon she felt beneath the surface.
Chase’s face instantly softened and she smiled up at him. “Everything’s going to be okay,” Violca whispered to him as she reached up to cup his cheek.
Chase nuzzled her hand and she could almost hear his dragon rumbling in her head. Leaning up, she brushed her lips against his and felt his arms sliding around her waist, holding her close. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.”
His voice rough with emotion, Violca whispered against his lips, “Than I shall make sure you never do.”
The kiss he gave her was hot and needy as his tongue eagerly sought hers. Violca’s body pressed against his and she kissed him just as hard and as fiercely, expressing her love for him as the rest of the world fell away. Breaking the kiss, she smiled against his lips. “I will always find my way back to you.”
She heard him growl and knew that the sound came more from his dragon than the man when she heard him say, “I will always find you.”
The sound of Viktor clearing his throat near them caused Violca to jump. Blushing when she looked at him, she saw the worry in his face before Viktor finally spoke, “Chase, it’s time for us to go.”
With a jerk of his head, Chase released her and looked at Aithne, who smiled. “I will protect her with my life.”
Violca saw Viktor tense beside Aithne, and Chase tilted his head in a sign of respect. By all accounts, Aithne was his queen. Even if she hadn’t had the formal crowning ceremony, she was still Viktor’s mate and received all the respect she was due.
“Thank you,” Chase said to her before walking Violca to the passenger door and giving the two a moment to say goodbye in private.
After kissing her one more time, Chase stepped back, looking at her intently. “If anything feels wrong, I want you to promise to get out of there. Go to the quickest exit and one of us will see you and come get you.”
“I promise.” Violca kissed him one more time before whispering, “Don’t be an ass on the drive.
This is hard on him too.”
Chase chuckled at her words. The two of them were constantly being teased by the girls for being overprotective. “You two are going to be the death of us,” he mumbled, helping her into the SUV.
“No, my love, not death, but excitement and hope,” Violca declared, giving him a wink before he closed the door.
Aithne got in the driver’s seat, both of them quiet as they started the vehicle and began the long drive to meet with Lazzaro. Violca smiled, shaking her head before she looked at Aithne, “Viktor seemed to take our departure a lot easier than Chase.”
Aithne snorted and gave her a grin. “I think they would both rather fight in a battle than have us go to a simple meeting.”
They both laughed at her statement. The two of them knew this was more than a simple meeting but the need to lighten the mood on the long drive would help ease the tension.
“Viktor seems to be getting better about letting you help investigate attacks,” Violca said. She smiled, knowing the first time she left to help Kassandra, Viktor was unbearable for the two days she was gone.
Aithne grinned, her body relaxing more. “I almost think Viktor would be happier if I was content to stay home and just offer advice.”
“No, he wouldn’t. Chase, despite his grumbling and the hard time he is probably giving Viktor right now, admits that he is glad that I stand up to him,” Violca replied with a smile. “The Fates, my mother always said, bring us what we need. They need a strong woman to stand by their side. A weak one will only give them one more thing to worry about.”
Quiet for a moment, Aithne appeared to be thinking about what Violca’s last statement. “I believe your mother’s right. The Fates may be bitchy, but they’re smart.”
