by Stella Price
Her body throbbed at his name, her Shadows swirling around her stealing all thought of anything but him from her. She had to find him, had to be near him. Dom had mentioned that Djinn magic was potent, but it felt much more than that. Her Shadows had marked him, they’d never done that before, they’d never felt the need. With Caleb though there was that need, her Shadows ached to touch him just as her body did.
She rummaged through his closet plucking out one of his shirts to wear. She didn’t bother with anything else, the hounds acted on scent. If she hadn’t already been covered in it then the shirt would do the trick. She padded on up to the deck towards the dining area looking for them.
Caleb was sitting on one of the couches, a drink in his hand. Dom was standing by the spread of food on the long side board and Hunter was nowhere to be seen. Her lover saw her and smiled.
“Miss Shade?” said one of the crew men with a platter in his hand. “What can I get you to drink?”
"A large gin, please. Just stick some ice and lemon in it. Just how many people are you planning to feed?" the table was loaded with all sorts of food.
“You already have had a large Djinn love,” Caleb said as he approached her and waved the crewman away. “As to your question, Hounds and Djinn both have large appetites.”
"Umm that I already know." She sat herself down on his knee wrapping her arms around him. It was a forward gesture, especially since they were only in a business relationship and not a real one, but she couldn't stop herself touching him.
Caleb rested his hand on her thigh and drew lazy circles on it, clearly needing to touch her as well. “So?”
"So?" his large hands sent shivers through her. Lord knew she had her kinks but hands were one of them and Caleb’s hands were perfect. "You don’t expect me to start hoofing into that lot do you? I'm a demon I don’t eat much."
Caleb motioned to one of the waiters and he brought over a plate of fruit and cheese and croissants. “How’s that?”
"Perfect." she took the plate, popping a piece of cheese in her mouth. It was good and she moaned in approval then ate some more.
"Hunter’s taking his damn time." Dom took a slice of practically kapacho beef from the table throwing it up into the air and catching it in his mouth.
“Would you rather him here? And Dom, what’s with acting the puppy?” he asked and laughed.
"Puppy?" he smiled. "That's not pup behavior." he lifted more meat repeating his actions.
Caleb rolled his eyes.”Right. What would you call it then?”
"Houndish behavior." he smiled doing the same again but higher. "You’re just jealous you couldn't do it. Takes skill pups don't have."
"Uh huh." she took a grape throwing it equally high catching it and eating it. "Sure, I bet you have lots of great skills to pass onto your pups."
Caleb took another drink from his wait staff and then smirked at Shade. His hand had traveled to her inner thigh.
The heat from his hand seeped into her making her squirm.
"I like to think I've got a few useful tricks to pass on." Dom smiled.
“And how’s it going with the mate and all?” Caleb said and slipped Shade off his lap. He stood and went to the table and made himself a plate.
Dom brightened, "Well for a change. Years of getting screwed have finally paid off. I might actually get some pups out of the barren bitch."
"Harsh, but congrats."
"If you think that's harsh you should meet her. Over half the scars I own are from her. But thanks all the same. Now all I need to do is talk her out of whelping back home and were golden. Then we split the pups, go our separate ways and I never have to see the woman ever again."
Caleb shook his head. “Hounds have one hell of a fucked outlook on relationships.’
"We don't have relationships. She’s literally the last female of our species. It was just my luck I was mated to her before the infection." he snorted. "If mating her could be called luck. Some of us had real partnerships, actually spending time with their mates when they weren't in season, but look at how well that turned out. I’m told Hunter used to be a decent guy before it all went to shit."
"Uh huh." Shade took the information in, filing it for later. She’d learned more in the last few minutes about the hounds than she thought anyone knew. It was amazing what one could glean just by staying quiet.
"In any case Djinn are hardly the pillars of the dating world."
Caleb sighed. “Seriously? We don’t date, we fuck and we bind and on occasion we take a consort or a wife… Nothing mystical about it.”
"Wife eh? You one to go down that route?" Dom winked at her knowing Caleb wouldn't see.
He shrugged. “Who knows. No one thought my cousin would, yet he consorted an assassin and is marrying the chit. Stranger things have happened. Must perpetuate the line and all.”
"Kiddie Djinn?" Dom laughed. "I can just imagine you changing a diaper."
"And I can see you with a pooper scoop. Hey, internal clocks tick for us all." Shade defended. She’d made the mistake of presuming to know Caleb’s wants and didn't care to repeat it.
“That’s what staff is for hound.” He said and went back to Shade and pulled her into his lap once more. “Luckily Djinn are long lived and we aren’t ruled by the need to have a litter. We have children when we are ready to be parents, if we are ready to be parents.”
It was then that Sereeta appeared on the deck, a silly smile on her face. “Caleb, Miss Shade, Dominic.” She said in greeting and brought the large bowl she was carrying to the table. “Dessert is Ambrosia.” She said offhandedly. “And it almost wasn’t finished, though thanks for the time off.” She winked at Caleb. “Hunter will be in in a few.”
Shade kept the scowl she felt off her face, but only just. Normally she wouldn't give a shit if he fucked his chef or not but the look that passed between them was something more than just sex. There was a heat and a knowing, something that rubbed her the wrong way. Serreeta was someone he chose to live with where as she herself was somewhat thrust upon him. Even worse she’d marked him with a Shadow, the consequences of that they'd have to hash out later. She settled herself more firmly onto his lap, her ass pressing firmly against him.
"About bloody time too."
“Thanks Ree. Dinner tonight will be our last on board for a few nights, we have some money to win don’t we pet?”
“Understood. Salmon to your liking Miss Shade?” She asked quietly, a smile in her eyes. “I do it on a cedar plank with rosemary lemon and grilled asparagus.”
Her first instinct, to crush any and all competition, was quickly squashed. Sure Shade might not be a fighter, but in many ways she was her father’s daughter. But that wasn't the case here.
One, snapping at the girl would do nothing to protect her air of nonchalance and aloofness. Two, there was no way that this weak creature before her was a threat. And three, she really just shouldn't care altogether.
"That will be fine, thanks."
Sereeta nodded and smiled at Shade and then looked to Caleb. “Seven?”
Caleb nodded. “Perfect. Thanks Ree.”
Sereeta left them and they heard a high pitch squeal as she went down the hallway, followed by a giggle and Caleb shook his head.
“Dom? How much you wanna bet Hunter is on round two?”
"No bet, I can hear him." Dom tapped his ear."One of the drawbacks to enhanced hearing.”
"Yuck, I bet that's pleasant." she screwed up her face. "I hope your paws on the staff rule won't impede on dinner. And she better take a shower before cooking."
Caleb laughed. “It will be fine, Ree and Hunter have an on again off again thing going on. Apparently… he’s on her right now.” He smirked. “So what’s on deck this week for work? Anything that needs my attention?” he asked Dom, who was once again tearing into the beef.
"Nothing immediate, I've got you down as scouting in Asia. Though if you wanted to, scout about Africa, things are looking desperate over there."
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Shade paid close attention to their conversation. It would pay to know exactly what it was Caleb was into business wise. It was well known in her circle that the hounds dealt with trafficking, the specifics weren't exactly common knowledge though.
“What do you think Pet, after our little game, your choice, Asia or Africa?”
"To do what exactly? I didn't sign up to work, if I wanted to do that I could have stayed at home."
"Well that's my cue." Dom stood. "Tell Hunter he's missed his boat. That'll cheer him up... Or me. Mostly me." he disappeared porting off the boat.
Caleb shrugged. “I’m a herder.”
"I’m guessing without the cows and the fun hat. Well that's morally ambiguous."
“It means I buy and sell women. Normally it’s girls with very little chance at getting out of the poverty they grew up in. Sometimes, its girls that are being wasted as hookers and prozzies. We have buyers that give them a different kinda life.”
"Wow that sounds like a line from the company Kool-aid. I’m sure it’s more fun than your making it sound." Still, who was she to throw stones with her family business. She’d even once been friends with a demon who had sold the organs of orphans on the black market. As a general rule their kind didn't do nine to five work.
“Don’t misunderstand me pet, I know I’m not saving the world, but when I go out and herd, I really am looking for the girls that can benefit and want to be part of the whole process. Some guys don’t, they just take them, drug them up and done. No one wants a half insane drugged out woman as property, so I give them a choice.”
"Like I said, morally ambiguous. But hey, what do I care as long as you don't screw your own stash and keep me out of it I couldn't care less. I’m no humanitarian and have my own ambiguity to contend with. Still, a job better not spoil our fun. I've avoided growing up for as long as I have, I've no intention of screwing that up now for you.."
He frowned. “Fair enough. So now that I spilled my secrets, why don’t you tell me about dear old daddy?”
"Daddy?" she tensed then forced herself to relax, swinging round to straddle him. "Baby you want to talk about him now we’re finally all alone? Why don't you be my daddy?" she popped the top to buttons on the shirt she wore nuzzling on his neck. Sure it was a blatant avoidance tact and he’d called on it the last time she’d used it but it was worth a go.
“Shade…” he said in a warning tone.
And damn if that tone didn't get her all hot and bothered. Shit maybe she did have some serious daddy issues. She’d never went for the man in charge before though, in fact avoided the swinging dicks by miles. "Fine what about my father?" though she knew fine well what he wanted to know. Drawing him out was just such a turn on.
His eyes narrowed. “Let’s not play here pet. Tell me what I want to know.” His tone was darker, rougher.
She shivered. Lord he had to use that voice during sex. "Fine then. My father runs Vasic industries, which manufactures Vastec weapons. He has a thing for power." which was like saying ice was cold. Her father horded power, gathered it around him and used it to his advantage. That was the reason he was having her marry a young but highly placed demon. Not that the man wanted the lime light. No daddy saw himself as a king maker rather than a king.
“Interesting.” He said and then licked his bottom lip. “So daddy is going to be a bit put out that your mine now isn’t he?”
She snorted, unlady like she knew, but she couldn't help herself. "You’re kidding right?" Daddy would just about cream himself over Caleb. "I said he liked power. You're Djinn."
“So what.”
"You guys are power. My father isn't going to hate you. He's going to add you to his collection of shiny powerful things."
At that admission, Caleb laughed his ass off.
She chuckled, too but it tasted bitter. "You think it won't happen, I hope so too." she did but her father had his ways. There was a reason that out of her three sisters she’d been the last to be married off. Granted shed bent his ear and played darling innocent daughter. But the main reason had been that the Shadows had chosen her over them. She had the power and that made her a commodity.
“So not going to happen, believe me.” He shook his head as if to drive home his point. “Dear old Daddy can suck it cuz I’m not for sale. And neither are you.”
"He doesn’t need to buy me Caleb. As for you," she shrugged. "That’s your issue, I’m not telling him about you. I don't want to share."
He scoffed. “Tell him all you want about me. I don’t play well with others, and I sure as shit don’t share my toys, which you are pet.” He gave her a heated glare.
She shivered again knowing the moisture flooding her had to be seeping through onto him. Hell yeah did she have issues. "Then we’re lucky that you don't want me for the same reasons he does. He's not a bad man though; just morally ambiguous," she smiled "and I think that's something we can relate too. He does what's best for his company and family in possibly that order."
Caleb nodded. “Like I said he can suck it dry for all I care. Though let’s get something straight Shade,” he said and gripped her thighs hard as he ground himself into her from below. “The only thing I want from you is your total sexual submission. It’s why I got into this little deal with you, and it’s why you’re here now.” He nipped her bottom lip and she gasped.
“One hundred years is not going to be enough to get enough of this sweet body, and the sexy sounds its makes when you are in your passion, but it will have to do. One thing I can guarantee pet is that unlike your little betrothal, you will love every minute of everything I choose to do to you.”
"If that's the only thing you want from me, a hundred years is probably about right." she kissed him arching into his heat. "We wouldn't want to get stale would we."
“Did you want something else Shade?”
She pause, did she want more? Simple answer was yes, of course she did. The hard part was just how deep the need for more ran. "Of course there’s witty banter," she held up her hand counting off. "Our stunning looks, wonderful food, a gambling partner."
“All included, and a bonus as far as I’m concerned.” His eyes watched hers and then a hand went to his Shadow Scar and he stroked it.
But would that ever be enough? She opened her mouth to say more when Hunter burst through out of the galley direction. "Where the fuck is that prick?"
She wanted more, but pushing the boundaries to possibly forever was far too early yet. Humans dove into things with each other and rarely make it past the first I do before they're off fucking around and hating each other. For near immortals forever is a very long drawn out time.
And if ever there was an example of that it was the two hounds she'd met tonight. By all accounts Dom's mate was a real hellish ball buster. The stories of her Shade knew were going into legend. Both of them she knew were miserable with each other but stuck by a bond only death could break. Then Hunter was the very opposite end, he'd been driven mad by the loss of his own mate, forced to live completely alone.
"He left." she turned breaking the most intimate contact with Caleb.
"Wasn't talking to you and I'm not bloody senseless. I know he's not here because I've used the magic power of my eyes." he bit out sarcastically.
"Well why don’t you use the magic power of your legs and do one."
Caleb sniggered. “He said something about you missing the boat?”
"Fucking son of a bitch." he walked up the edge of the deck looking down at the water. "You'll have to dock there's no way I’m swimming."
Caleb waved the idea away. “Take the skiff and leave it at the docks. Problem solved.”
"Next time we're meeting at mine, you can get your Djinn ass to the compound. I hate salt water." he grumbled storming off.
"Always a pleasure." she called after him, she couldn't help herself really.
“That went better than I expected. Normally he’s pretty jovial after railing the shit outta my cook.” She shook his h
ead. “So you were about to say before we were so rudely interrupted?”
"I was about to point out that you are incredibly sexy and sexually gifted and spending the next hundred or so years together isn’t going to be much of a hardship at all." which it wasn't. It was the ‘or so’ part that had her on edge. So she was a commitment phobe herself and a coward there was nothing to be done about it now.
“Obviously. But it’s talent like yours that makes mine all the more interesting.” He kissed her, his lips sucked her bottom one into his mouth. “You are fucking delicious.”
"I know." she kissed him back reveling in him. "You know you lied to me." she idly played with his chest.
”Oh?” he asked and nuzzled her throat.
"Uh huh... you said you’d shared your dirty little secrets with me but that’s not really true is it? Because you said your cousin is the crown prince which in some sense makes you royalty. Now you asked me if it mattered and I said it didn't, which it doesn’t, but it is still pretty fucking interesting."
“So I’m royal. It doesn’t really matter. My father is the King’s brother. Happy?” he asked and nipped her neck.
"Should I be?" She was sensing it wasn't just herself that had daddy issues. Time for a subject change "Hey you know you're still to beat me at the game right? Don’t think your sham excuse to get me on this boat is holding any water. Or should I say my boat."
“You still have to beat me pet. And don’t think that just because I have already binded you I won’t be playing dirty.” His hands roamed down her back and he growled. “Though I must say you look devastating in this shirt.”
"I think it suits me. I like wearing your stuff." she gently worried the tip of his nose. "You know your not the only one that can play dirty you know."
“True, but I don’t resort to poison or drugging.” He smirked. “By the way, anything that happens to me like that, you will feel too.”
"I'll what?" she asked feeling the frown on her face. This was news to her.
Caleb nodded. “Yep. It’s pretty cool actually. It works for a lot of things, like if one of us was having sex and wanted the other to feel it, or if the other was in pain and needed help. It’s a true bond. Now granted, I could turn it off, but if you drugged or poisoned me… You better be knowing I’m going to let you feel that.”
