by Susan Reid
She grinned. “You could try.”
It was more of a threat. A reminder of her power and what she had done to me earlier.
“That’s it!” Isis hopped to her feet and cool air began to swirl even more wildly than before.
I stood up and stopped her. “Don’t. Look, why don’t you guys give me a moment alone with her.” I told them.
“Are you sure?” Riza asked.
“Yes.”
Isis pursed her lips. “You lucked out this time, you little leech!” She hissed.
“Yeah, air is very terrifying.” She girl taunted.
“Go. And please make sure that no one else comes down to interrupt me.” I urged Isis, especially.
I waited until they were all gone and the door closed behind Isis, who was reluctantly the last one out, before I turned my attention back to the girl.
She seemed a bit more at ease though she didn’t make eye contact with me. She curled up into a sitting position with her legs drawn up to her chest and her arms hugging her knees, staring the cot, blanket, and pillow.
I sat down on a barrel and watched her silently for a few moments, trying to size her up and think of another approach. I didn’t want to have to kill her but it may not be avoidable and not because she was a little bitch either.
“My name is Kai. My brother and I own this bar… and you were right. Earlier you said that you thought I was a hunter. I am a born hybrid hunter.”
It was as if she didn’t hear me. She continued to stare at the cot blankly.
I sighed.
“Looks like we’re both probably curious about each other. I’m sure you’re wondering why a hunter would behave like a Nocturna and kill them in the same manner. Well, I’d like to know why you wear those charms and why you were running from your own kind.”
“That’s two things.” She suddenly answered and then looked at me.
“What?”
“You’re offering me one and you want to know two about me.”
I thought about that for a moment and her response meant progress.
“Okay, then you get the pick the second thing you want to know about me and you can even go first.” I offered, wanting to establish a sense of trust and take that route to get the information I wanted.
A long pause of silence made me think that she wasn’t going to talk after all, and I could hear the steady drone of voices upstairs. No one was yelling and there was nothing being thrown or broken so far.
All good signs.
“I ran away from home. My father sent those men after me to bring me back. When I saw the open gateway, I went through not knowing where I’d end up. I was lost, scared, and confused…until I saw you. You were heading towards the docks and I knew right away that you were a hunter.
You stopped and looked right at me. You had a kind face but you looked pissed, so I ran away. Even though you were armed, I took a chance and followed you out here hoping that maybe I could make friends and hide out here where they would never find me…at least for a while.”
I was stunned.
It had been her in the crowd near the Los Muertos port. The one Nocturna that I had almost hunted down after leaving Fin’s house until she disappeared into that club. Why was her scent a little different from the regular Nocturna? Because she was royalty? “Why are you running away from home?”
She pinned me with a gaze. “Your turn.”
I exhaled and nodded, waiting for her to ask me her question.
“Weapons, I get, but since when do hunters feed from Nocturna? I thought you all were one of the few noble good guys left…well, most of you anyway.”
I shifted uncomfortably.
“I can’t really answer that one. It’s what I became when I was bitten by one of your kind and…”
“Whoever bit you is not my kind!” She snapped and cut me off, turning away from me again.
My brows furrowed. What did she mean by that?
“Okay. Then what is your kind?”
She shifted and slipped down to lie on her side as if she were done with the conversation, pouting like a little kid.
“Where did you get your charms?” I decided to ask anyway, even though it seemed as if she had shut down on me.
She turned away from me and faced the wall, choosing to remain silent. I expected that response.
Maybe this was enough for tonight. I had a whole slew of questions I wanted to ask but maybe she was right, none of it would matter if I planned to kill her anyway.
She was stubborn as hell but I was just as persistent and stubborn too. I was not going to play this game with her. I knew that by morning, hunger would definitely soften her up a bit. I stood up and began to retreat up the stone steps, deciding to leave the light on for her even though I knew she’d be fine in the pitch darkness.
Chapter 30
“Youhave an interesting array of friends.” Gage commented once we were behind the closed door of my apartment. Everyone had gone home and I had to force Isis, Elvie, Sage, and Riza to leave without any more detail about Gage past what they already knew. With the promise of lunch on the mainland tomorrow for girl gossip, they finally left.
I was glad to be alone with him without the threat of a fight or danger. Even the thought of my prisoner down in the cellar wasn’t going to worry me much for now. It was almost dawn and though I should be really tired right now, I wasn’t.
“I know but that’s what makes them friends. I hope Cole was cordial. He tends to be overly protective sometimes.”
From the kitchen, I could see that Twinkie was asleep at the foot of my bed but he quickly awoke and stretched, taking his time in deciding to jump off of my bed once he realized I was here and had company.
I retrieved and can of sardines to open and fill his food bowl with and that was enough to send him running into the kitchen.
Gage laughed softly. “If I were your brother, I’d be protective of you too. He did have a lot of questions but I didn’t expect anything less. They were all cordial enough and I admire the fact that they all came to your rescue no matter the hour. That level of camaraderie among different elementals is not something you see everyday anywhere.”
I smiled. “Well, it’s all we have here in this world.”
He nodded and I caught the sorrowful pause that lasted a half a second in his eyes. I wondered what was going through his mind at that moment.
“How did it go with your captive?”
“I’m not sure how to approach her. She’s a stubborn one but I can understand the attitude given her predicament and possible fate. She did say that she ran away from home though. Those guys were after her to bring her back. Noemi mentioned that she was royalty based on the color of her eyes.”
He nodded as if he already knew all of that.
“She’s also got some sort of shocking power via touch.”
“Nocturna royalty typically possess some sort of elemental magic. She didn’t say why she ran away?”
“No. That was as far as she allowed me to get with her.”
“That’s why you don’t ask anything. You tell.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, unsure of what he meant by that.
“Tell? Why do I get the feeling that you know this because you have plenty of experience in this area?”
He simply winked at me as his hungry eyes traveled over my entire body from head to toe and then he licked his lips suggestively. He casually sidled up to the dining room table, perusing the articles and papers that were still there with disinterest. I felt guilty leaving them out in his presence even if he had looked through them before.
“I haven’t gone through these yet.” I told him as I shuffled them all together into a neat stack.
He frowned. “Good because they’re about ninety percent inaccurate.”
I looked at him in confusion and then glanced over some of the articles in wonder. “What parts?”
“All of it. It’s all speculation by scholars who knew nothing about our race and people. There’s
a reason that Aldeurians tend to remain private about their affairs.”
“Remaining private because they have something to hide? Why wouldn’t they speculate or even assume? You seem to know so much about everyone else.”
“Hide? Sure, if the rest of the universe sees it that way. It’s about survival in the end and I only pursue knowledge in what interests me. I have my trusted resources.”
I paused and studied him carefully. There was so much to him and so little that I knew—past just how good he was with his tongue, which reminded me…
“So, were Jax and Phillip right about you guys then? The Phantom Jaguars?”
“Absolutely. Is that a deal breaker?” He grinned, approaching me slowly. Wow, he didn’t even try to deny or sugar coat it at all. The urge to play the game and back away from him made me feel like his prey, regardless of what I was beneath the surface.
“No. That’s pretty much what I’ve assessed about you so far.” His brow rose as he moved in closer to me with a mischievous smile. The fact that I was wearing a light, short sundress was something that he had been eyeing with lascivious curiosity since we had been alone. I guess he didn’t think I noticed or maybe he did.
The thought of feeling his body against mine once again brought on a sudden rush of excitement and desire that quickly began to spread from my core straight into my groin. Desire warmed every erogenous region that remembered and ached for the feel of his tongue again.
I felt the wall against my back but he didn’t stop until he was pressed against me. His hands were hot against my skin, reaching around my hips and ass and jerking me forward and up. He forced his thigh between my legs to hold me in place while he lifted up my dress with one hand. The other reached beneath to grasp the crotch of my lace panties and he ripped them off in one firm pull. I gasped out loud and as soon as I opened my mouth, his covered mine completely. His tongue probed deep and forcefully, making me whine and coo passionately. Wrapping my arms around his neck I ground myself into him as his hands explored and massaged my bare ass to kindle the heat that was quickly growing in between my legs.
The urgency, fervor, and enthusiasm in his dominating kiss told me that this moment was something he had been waiting for ever since that first night.
It’s been building to near explosive since having been turned down the first time and violently interrupted the second time. The thought of his wife and daughter had completely gone out the window for me. I wanted to care and not be the other woman but I couldn’t hold out and resist him anymore.
There was something about Gage that I found beyond enticing and desirable and it was way more than his looks and physique. We connected on more levels than simply being hunters. That much was evident in the chemistry that I could physically feel with his firm body practically melded into mine and whenever he touched me.
Leaving a wet trail against the heat of my skin, he slowly began to work his way down. My sundress was already sliding down my torso and his mouth found and suctioned onto my nipple. The tip of his tongue lashed over the hardened bud as he alternated between licking and gently biting down.
Crying out, I arched into him and tore at his shirt, peeling it away from his shoulders and running my fingers through his hair. Grazing my nails across his back, he moaned and I remembered that it was my turn to repay the favor from earlier, just as I had promised him.
I tried to ease myself down to give him the hint but he wouldn’t let me. Holding me in place, he rose up to stand again. Leaning in to me and gripping my hips, I felt him push into me slowly at first and I immediately went rigid with surprise at his eagerness and size.
Then, in one hard aggressive thrust he forced an involuntary, “Oh fuck!” followed by a primal scream out of me.
A satisfactory loud groan of relief came from deep within his throat once the entire length of him was fully sheathed.
Head tossed back, eyes shut, and teeth clenched, I squealed in ecstasy feeling him throbbing and alive inside of me.
“God, yes!” he whispered and grunted against my throat. The warmth of his soft lips and heavy panting against my skin accentuated the delectable sensation of the stiff heat of him, buried to the hilt and filling me up completely.
Then he began to move.
His rhythm was slow but firm and powerful. He maintained incredible strength and control of the entire motion, slowly sliding out but not completely, and then plunging upwards hard and deep to make sure that I could feel every single inch of him with each thrust. Each time, he pushed a wail and cry out of me as the taut muscles in his hips and groin flexed against mine.
The burning light of desire in Gage’s eyes was intense and nearly predatory. He was used to being dominant, that much was clear and I was sure that it was much more than being a Phantom Jaguar by nature. If he had been anyone else, it would have been a turn off for me because I’ve always considered myself the aggressive type when it came to sex. With Gage, part of me didn’t mind it when he carried me to the bed, tossed me down onto my back, and then pinned me down with my hands above my head, forcing each of my ankles over his shoulders.
For now, I was in complete submission to him.
Chapter 31
Holy shit.
That was the only thing that came to mind just as the sun began to peer over the horizon, casting a salmon orange glow into my apartment.
I’ve had some incredible sex with Marq before and he was good, but Gage was…Damn. I had no words and I don’t even think I could get up and walk even if I wanted to right now. Until last night, a screaming orgasm has only been a house specialty drink here.
Gage was a very vehement, dominating, and intense yet attentive lover. I never thought that combination would be such a turn on for me, let alone allowing him to maintain that level of erotic man-handling without a struggle or resistance.
There wasn’t an inch on either one of our bodies that our mouths didn’t venture to and there was nothing that we didn’t do. It was all natural though as if we’d been lovers forever. Our bodies were so in sync that it heightened everything to limits that I never knew were possible, like the fact that he could orgasm multiple times too.
I know it was the whole hunter compatibility. The last time I was with another hunter, it had been my first time and that was a disaster that I don’t want to remember, let alone retell.
My entire bed was nearly torn apart. Pillows and sheets were twisted and tossed onto the floor in crumpled heaps and my mattress was turned askew on the box spring.
When I lifted my head and looked around my bedroom turned ground zero at the mercy of two extremely horny hunters, I expected Gage to be gone but he wasn’t. When I moved he shifted and his arm slipped tenderly around my waist, pulling me against him.
I was surprised but it instantly made me smile. I loved the feel of his naked body against mine. I finally realized what was making it hard to resist him and why I quickly became drawn to him despite his arrogance, the brutal reputation of his class of hunters, the danger he posed, and his mystery. Gage was a gentleman with a sense of humor and he was both articulate and intelligent. I’ve never been with a male like that before. Sure, Marq isn’t an idiot but he’s also easy going, letting me do and take control of almost everything.
Gage could care less if I wanted him to do or not do something, and though he could be brash and forward at times, he was still polite about it and he knew what he was talking about. I couldn’t picture him yelling or losing his cool.
Turns out he’s definitely into man-scaping and Brazilian thing too, which I love. For a guy who was part of a race that was known for cold-heartedness, he’s definitely a metrosexual who likes to cuddle and spoon after mind-blowing, earth-rocking sex.
The thought made me chuckle to myself as I scooted closer to him and his hand slipped upwards, resting in between my breasts.
I felt him lift his head and then his soft, warm lips tenderly grazed my shoulder, working up towards my neck where he nuzzled me, making me coo.
“I should really check on my prisoner.”
“I’m sure she’s fine.” He murmured.
I felt him already growing hard against my buttocks and it shocked me. How is that possible? I don’t think I could go again just yet even if I wanted to. I scooted forward and turned around to face him.
“I wanna know more about you, Gage.” I whispered, looking into his gorgeous eyes.
He flashed a naughty smile. “Didn’t we cover that about an hour ago? You probably know more about me than even I do now.”
I laughed and then pursed my lips.
“You know what I mean. You said if I wanted to know anything, that all I had to do was ask.”
He paused, his reluctance obvious.
“So ask.”
“Well, for one, it still bothers me that you have a wife and child.”
He was silent at first. “That’s understandable. I’d feel the same way if the roles were reversed.”
Disappointment and guilt over all we just did suddenly washed over me. My face then burned with jealousy.
“It’s been over twenty years since I’ve been away from them and not a day goes by that it doesn’t tear me apart. My daughter is now a young woman, recently married, and all I managed to get were photos from newspaper clippings and magazines. She wouldn’t even know me if I met her on the street.”
I hadn’t thought about that but still, knowing that his heart originally or even still belongs to another woman made me feel rejected on some level.
My brows furrowed and I shifted to sit up and look at him.
“Photos from newspaper articles and magazines?”
Gage had access to an awful lot of money, evident in his clothes, the house he was using temporarily, and the money he threw around.
Was he a celebrity? Was it the politics?
“What did you do for a living back in Aldeur?”
Even though I had somewhat of an idea based on what I read in the papers that Fin gave me, I wanted to hear it from him.
A small smile formed at the corner of his mouth and he took his time answering as he shoved a pillow under his head to prop himself up a bit more.
