“What?” She raised her brows as if she didn’t have a clue, but he sensed her mirth. This mate-bond thing was going to have some advantages.
“Bad girl.” He smacked her butt. “Keep it up”—he jerked his chin toward a nearby alley—“and you’re going to find yourself up against the wall, taking my cock.”
“I’m sorry,” she said demurely but underneath she was still laughing.
He shook his head at her. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Dion’s bike was just up the street. As they reached it, Eliana and Chico strode up beside them. Tiago quickly shoved Alesia behind him. “What do you want?”
Chico scowled. “If you think I’d hurt your mate, you’re even more fucked up than I thought.”
Hell. Tiago really didn’t need this. Not right now.
“I’m sorry,” he said without letting up his protective stance. “But I still need to know why you came after us.”
“To escort you back to Rock Run, you asshole. Lord Dion’s orders.”
“Yeah?”
Eliana sent the other man an exasperated glance. “What Chico means is, we volunteered to escort you, and the alpha agreed. We wanted to make sure you were all right, and that you and your mate got safely home.”
“Thank you,” Tiago said, and relaxed a bit, but Chico was still scowling.
“So,” he shot at Tiago, “you have another Gift.”
“Yes.” Tiago crossed his arms and stared back at his best friend, daring him to say something.
Chico put his fists on his hips and leaned forward, practically vibrating with fury. “I understand you didn’t want to tell the clan, but us? We’re your fucking friends. At least I thought we were.” He shook his head in disgust.
“You’re right,” Tiago agreed. “I should’ve told you. I’m sorry.”
“Damn right you should’ve,” Chico returned, but he was already looking less angry. “So why didn’t you?”
Tiago moved a shoulder. “When it first appeared, I told myself I had to learn more about it. That it was best to hide it until I understood myself what I could do with it.”
“And then—?”
“And then”—Tiago dragged a hand over his hair—“I don’t know. You’ve heard the stories—about men getting banished from their friends. I was afraid, I guess.”
Chico growled at the same time Eliana said, “Oh, Tiago.”
“You think I’m afraid of you?” Chico demanded. “This is me, Chico.” He thumped a fist against his chest. “I know you, Ti. There’s no way in hell you’d ever hurt anyone in the clan. You’re frigging going to be an alpha someday, Tiago, and alphas don’t use their Gifts to hurt others.”
“Yeah?” Tiago said.
Eliana nodded emphatically. “You know we’d follow you anywhere, Tiago. Not now, but someday, if anything ever happens to the alpha—or if you ever decide to start your own den. And before that, when you make squad leader, I’m going to be the first to ask to be one of your warriors. Not just because you have a badass Gift, but because you’d die before you’d let anyone in your squad down. You think we don’t know that?”
Tiago’s cheeks heated. He felt humbled and bemused—and almost as good as when he’d realized Alesia loved him. “Thanks,” he muttered.
Alesia had slipped around to Tiago’s side again and twined her arm around his waist. “And thank you from me as well,” she told them. “Tiago’s going to need you.”
They nodded. Eliana said, “We already told Lord Dion that Tiago has the support of our whole cohort. And we’ll make sure the clan knows Tiago’s got his Gift under control.”
“Thanks,” Tiago said again. “I don’t”—he swallowed noisily—“I—”
Chico saved him by wrapping him in a bear hug. “Asshole,” he muttered again. “But we’ve got your back, entendes?”
“Yeah—and right back at you, irmão.”
He and Chico pounded each other on the back. Eliana got in on the action and dragged Alesia in too for a group hug. Then his friends jogged off to get their motorcycles.
Tiago glanced at Alesia. She appeared a little shellshocked.
“Alpha?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Not if it means I have to challenge my own brother. But I’d make a damn good squad leader. And I could see starting my own clan someday—with you.”
“Whoa.” She raised a hand. “Let me get used to mating with a fada first.”
“Take all the time you need. Because I’m going to be around for a long, long time.” He dragged her into his arms.
She squeaked and then grinned at him. He kissed the grin right off her face. That kiss turned into another, then another. By the time the two of them came up for air, Eliana and Chico had zoomed up on their bikes. They waited as he and Alesia mounted Dion’s motorcycle.
Alesia set her hands carefully on either side of his waist. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”
Hell, he hurt everywhere. But he’d heal—and he craved her touch. He placed a hand over hers. “Keep them there. I like it.”
He disengaged the clutch and pushed the start button, and the engine growled to life. Putting the bike into gear, he pulled out into traffic, flanked on either side by his two best friends.
He smiled the whole way up I-95.
* * *
By the time they reached the road to the base garage, the sun was setting. They followed the narrow country road along Rock Run Creek through the darkening woods, the headlights picking out the trees against the navy-blue sky. The air was clear and cool. Tiago took a deep, contented breath.
Alesia rested her head on his back and he felt how tired she was.
“Almost there, love.” He squeezed her hand and she nodded against his back.
There was no bridge to her island, so he stopped near an oak tree. Chico and Eliana gave them a thumbs up and zoomed past to the garage while he gave Alesia a leg up into the tree, promising to follow as soon as he could.
She nodded and shimmied up the tree. Even exhausted, the woman moved like an acrobat. The boots didn’t even slow her down.
He waited, enjoying the view of her ass in the snug jeans, until she turned and blew him a kiss. “See you soon.”
He grinned and sent her a kiss back. The air around her glowed a pale green, and then she was gone.
Tiago left the bike in the garage, dropped his clothes in a bin left for that purpose and went out the back door. It was only a few steps to the creek.
Chico and Eliana were already in the water as their dolphins. He changed to his dolphin as well to speed his healing and headed downstream to the Susquehanna. He took his time, letting the icy water cleanse his cuts and soothe his bruises.
The two of them stayed with him until he reached Alesia’s island, then with a flip of their tails, sloped off to return to Rock Run as he strode onto shore.
He didn’t bother with clothes. At forty-five degrees, the air temperature wasn’t cold enough to affect him—and he’d just be removing them anyway.
Tiago jogged along the dark path. The oak came into sight and he blinked. It was lit up with pink and yellow and purple fae lights like one of those silly human Easter trees.
He grinned and stopped at the base. “Alesia?”
The only answer was a chuckle.
His grin widened. So she wanted to play? She must be feeling better. He grabbed a branch and swung himself into the tree.
She didn’t make it easy. Instead of being near the top like she usually was, she’d concealed herself at the end of a low-hanging branch. He passed her and then had to double back down. By the time he located her, he was swearing under his breath.
He hunkered next to her on the branch and nudged one of the shining balls of light closer so that it cast a soft pink glow over her hard gray form.
“Change.”
He could feel her smile inside but she obeyed immediately. It was still too slow for him.
He waited impatiently as her skin gradually infused with color
. She’d taken off the jacket but was still wearing the boots, jeans and fire-engine red shirt. She was posed like a pinup model: hands on the branch behind her, legs outstretched along its length and a single braid falling over one shoulder.
He went instantly hard. He ran his hands down the sleek muscles of her legs, brought his hands to those small, sweet breasts. He was already picturing himself sinking deep inside her while she wrapped those long legs around him—preferably wearing the boots.
He fingered the collar of her shirt. “I don’t know where you got these clothes, but I like them.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah.” The top button had been torn off, but he popped the next one open. “You about started a riot in that bar.”
“That wasn’t me,” she protested. “It was you fada.”
“Mm?” He was only half-listening, his focus on her buttons. He popped another one open, revealing the inside curve of her breasts. And was that a black bra she was wearing? He swallowed a groan.
He nuzzled each soft swell and then reluctantly pulled back. Alesia might be used to dancing along the branches like a gymnast, but he preferred something a little wider. “Let’s go up to the main level.”
She nodded and led the way up to the large, spreading branches where she did most of her living. He nudged her to sit on a wide branch, her back to the trunk, directly under another fae light, this one a soft rose-pink. He wanted to see every soft, ivory-skinned inch of her.
Crouching down, he took her arms and raised them above her head, pressing the wrists against the trunk behind her. “Now, mate—” Holding onto her wrists with one hand, he undid the shirt’s next button.
She breathed in slowly. His gaze dropped to her mouth and he recalled those lush lips wrapped around his cock. He swallowed and stopped unbuttoning her shirt to run his thumb over her lower lip.
The air between them seemed to quiver. “Tiago?” Her tone was questioning but she was squirming on the branch, she was so turned on.
She was enjoying this.
Damn. The blood pulsed in his groin, slow and heavy. He was already hard, but knowing she was as aroused by their play as him had his whole body tightening.
He leaned closer and licked her lips. Soft and easy. Because they had the entire night before them…and all day tomorrow. Hell, Dion and Rui wouldn’t say anything if he didn’t return for a week.
“Yes, baby?”
“I—I—you were saying—”
“Was I?” he husked against her mouth.
“Yes,” she said more firmly. “About us being mates. I’m sorry if you’re angry, but—”
“No.” He drew back at that. “How could I be angry about that?”
“But in the bar—”
“Ah, Alesia.” He cupped her face and rested his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry. So damn sorry.”
Her delicate brows drew together. “For what?”
“For being such a stupid ass all these years. I think deep down I knew, but I couldn’t let go—”
“Of Cleia.” She grimaced. “I know.”
“She was never mine except in a boy’s fantasies.”
She gave him a wry smile. “I know.”
Her eyes shimmered. Lord, she wasn’t going to cry, was she? But he could feel her pain through the bond. His chest clenched. “Lesia—”
“It’s just I didn’t think you’d ever—”
He put a finger over her mouth, stopping her. “It was always you. You’re the one I came back to, not her. It never really felt like I was back home until I saw you.”
“Honest?”
“You know I’m telling the truth.”
She gulped and then pulled him close for a long, open-mouthed kiss.
Desire slammed down his spine. He wrapped his arms around her but let her take the lead, accepting what she gave him.
When she pulled back, he blinked at her and drew a deep breath. She blinked back, equally affected.
His lips curved. She was going to be so fun. She might have ten years on him, but she was so damn innocent. A woman couldn’t fake that dazed expression.
With an effort, he brought his racing pulse under control, then gave her as stern a look as he could manage.
“Now, mate”— he twisted her braid around his palm, loop by slow loop—“we’re going to have that talk I promised you. About why you don’t keep things from your man—your mate—unless you want to find yourself in trouble. Deep trouble.”
She slanted him a sly grin. “What if I like that…being punished, I mean?”
He gave her hair a little tug. “I’d say you were a smart mate.”
She made an outraged noise and he smothered a grin. He finished looping her braid around his palm, then drew her head back until her throat was open to him. Her eyes drifted shut. She waited, her breath coming in quick, fast pants.
He nipped the soft, vulnerable skin of her throat. Her pulse beat beneath his mouth in quick, excited beats. He breathed deeply, reveling in her fresh, woodsy scent.
“Amo-te,” he said thickly.
Her eyes drifted shut. “I love you, too.”
With his free hand he unbuttoned her blouse and tossed it to one side. She was indeed wearing a black bra, a silky scrap of material that had him rumbling his approval. He nuzzled her cleavage, then took hold of the bra with his teeth and pulled it lower, exposing her nipples.
There was a soft flush of arousal on her breasts. He was on top of her now, his knees on either side of her hips, his hand still controlling her through her braid. He rubbed his cock over her bare belly, slid it between her cleavage.
She moaned and lifted her breasts, rubbing against him like a cat in heat.
He gritted his teeth against an almost overpowering urge to slam his cock into her, to ride her hard and fast. “Look at me.” He gave her hair a small tug.
Her lids opened partway, the pupils dark and sultry beneath gold-tipped brown lashes. “What, Tiago?”
“You’re mine,” he told her. “Understand? Forever.”
She nodded solemnly. “You know I am. That’s what being mates means.”
But it wasn’t enough. She still didn’t understand. He had to know that she was his completely, body and soul.
His fingers fumbled with the button of her jeans. He pulled down the zipper and shoved them down her legs. She was wearing tiny black panties that matched her bra. He drew in a breath at how they framed her hips. He smoothed a finger over the silky black material.
“Another gift from Dina?”
“No. I did some shopping last month when you were away. Just in case.”
“Yeah?” His lips quirked. “I never had a chance, did I?”
Her smile was positively wicked.
He chuckled and jerked the panties down her hips. Someday he’d take the time to enjoy how they looked on her, but right now he ached to take her. He nudged her legs open and slid his fingers into her hot, wet cleft.
“Damn,” he breathed, “I want you. I’m going to fuck you until you’re screaming that you’re mine.”
She gazed up at him, panting softly. Somehow he found enough control to stroke her for a minute. She tried to move but he placed a hand on her hip, holding her still while he teased her with his fingers.
“Tiago,” she moaned. “Please.”
“That’s it, baby. I want you begging. I need you begging. Now stay where you are—understand?”
She hesitated, then gave a small nod. He released her hair to remove her boots and undress her the rest of the way. When he had her naked, he gazed down at her body. Her nipples were tightly furled, her stomach taut. She had one knee bent up so he could see her soft, flushed center.
Her need pulsed through the bond linking them. He groaned and came between her legs, opening them further. She clutched his shoulders and pulled him closer.
He lowered his head and licked her, slow and easy. He did it again. And again. She was everything hot and good.
“Mm,” he said a
gainst her moist flesh.
Her thighs tightened around him.
He slid a finger inside her and groaned. She was so wet and tight. He licked her again, toying with her swollen little clit while he teased her inside with his finger. She bucked and tensed around him.
“No,” he warned. “Not yet.”
“Tiago.”
“It will be better that way, trust me.”
She nodded vigorously. “I do. I do.”
Ah. He took that as a challenge. He settled in to lick and stroke her. Unconsciously, he’d opened himself fully to the bond, and he could tell exactly what to do to bring her pleasure.
He brought her close to climax. Once, then a second time.
And when he had her wound so tight she was sobbing with desire, he came up over her and thrust inside her. A long, slow slide that seemed to go on and on for both of them.
She moaned his name and came.
But he could tell she wasn’t finished.
“More,” he said.
“Yes.”
Together, they moved their hips, joining their bodies and their minds. Pleasure shot from her to him and back again. The sensation was incredible, sizzling and sparking through his nerves like lightning. He grit his teeth and moved slowly in and out, determined to make this last. The beast rose up in him, but only to wonder at the pleasure at being one with their mate.
Then she wrapped her legs around him, urging him on, and he was lost. His balls drew up and he pounded into her, hard and fast and so deep his cock touched her womb.
“Look at me,” he gritted at her. “Tell me. Now.”
She knew what he wanted. She dug her fingernails into his back and he felt her surrender. “I’m yours,” she sobbed out. “I’m yours.”
“And I’m yours.” He brought his hand between their bodies to rub her clit.
She writhed beneath him. “Ah, Goddess,” she breathed. “It feels so good…so good.”
And then she gave a small scream and tightened around him, squeezing him hard as she came in a wild rush that nearly blew his mind.
He closed his eyes and thrust in and out—once, twice, three times—until he followed her over the edge.
When he came back to himself, he was on top of Alesia, pressing her into the hard branch.
Tempting the Dryad Page 30
