by Anthology
Cassie took the drink and sipped it, her face scrunching before she coughed. “How much chocolate is in this?”
“I told you it was too much,” added Finn.
Mimi tossed a hand in the air and Finn grunted, bending forward, holding his manhood.
“Och, lass, you dinnae have to aim that magik at my family jewels.”
Glancing over her shoulder, Mimi grinned. “I know.”
“Wait. You’re a magik?” asked Cassie, the first note of hope Cambridge had heard from her since their first meeting in the alley.
“I’m Fae, like you.” Mimi pushed the bottom of the mug upward, encouraging Cassie to drink more.
Cassie cast Cambridge a pleading look and he moved in, taking the mug from her. It smelled as if Mimi had melted a chocolate bar to make it. From its lack of movement, he wondered if that was exactly what she had done. He handed it off to Finn, who stopped laughing and rushed from the room as if afraid of having to drink more of the concoction. When he reappeared, mug free, Mimi eyed him.
“Did you dump my cocoa?” she asked.
“Gods, I hope so,” Cassie whispered faint enough for only the vampires in the room to hear.
Cambridge hid his smile.
Finn pursed his lips. “What cocoa?”
Mimi flipped him off. “Sit and spin, vamp boy.”
“Lass, you wouldnae know what to do with me should I take you up on that offer.”
Mimi huffed. “I wasn’t offering sex.”
“Says you. Besides, I’m wearin’ the sweater you made me. That should get me at least to first base, right?”
Cambridge leaned, coming just shy of touching Cassie. The need to make contact with her was all-consuming. “How are you feeling?”
She touched her temples and then gasped, moving out of the bed quickly, standing before him, her hands on his body. She lifted his shirt and ran her hand over his abs, making his cock scream for release. “You were hurt.”
Mimi tsked at him. “He was seriously injured, but you healed him.”
Finn cocked his head to the side. “Whatcha talkin’ ‘bout, mini-magik?”
“Cassie’s power flared right before the whack-job set off the bomb. Didn’t you all feel it?” asked Mimi, taking a cookie from the tray and holding it out to Cassie. “Cambridge went into hyper vamp speed and swept her away from the initial blast, taking a piece of shrapnel, and then we were all close when the second bomb went off. The reason we’re all standing here is because of Cassie’s power. She deflected the heat and flames from us all, helping with Cambridge’s healing as well. Or didn’t you two notice how fast he healed that serious injury without having to take any blood to do so?”
Cambridge had noticed, but he’d not voiced as much. His only concern had been Cassie.
Mimi shrugged. “She’s an elemental Fae. They all have one particular element they’re really good at controlling. Cassie’s is clearly fire. So, thanks, Cassie, for keeping us from melting into goop.”
Cambridge lifted a brow. “Enough with the goop already.”
4
No one wearing a reindeer gets a vote
Exhaling, Cassie tried to soak in everything that had happened. She stood, feeling more exposed than she liked in the barely-there attire Mimi had dressed her in. Try as she might, Cassie couldn’t stop looking in Cambridge’s direction. His presence calmed her, made her feel safe. That was absurd. The man could kill her before she could so much as blink if he got the notion.
Everyone in the room could.
She gulped, her mouth suddenly very dry but not dry enough to want anything to do with the cocoa Mimi had been pushing. It had been sludge in a mug.
Cambridge narrowed his incredibly sexy eyes. “Cassie, you are safe here.”
She tipped her head. “I thought you said you couldn’t read my mind.”
“I cannot.”
She watched him for any sign he was lying. None came. All that did arrive was the burning need to make contact with him again. Unable to stop herself, she reached out, her hand going for his. In a flash he was to her, his long, cool fingers wrapping around her hot hand. He tugged gently on her and she fell against his powerful frame willingly.
“I vote we leave them be so they can get their groove on,” said Finn, clicking his tongue as he did.
Cassie laughed softly and glanced at him. “No one wearing a reindeer gets a vote.” She nodded to his sweater.
Cambridge lost it, laughing low and deep, the sound reverberating through her. She pressed herself tighter to him, excitement rushing over her body. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and rocked their bodies in place, his gaze going to the people in the doorway to the room. “Leave us.”
Mimi smiled.
Finn licked his lower lip. “Gettin’ his groove on.”
With a snort, Mimi pushed Finn through the door, leaving Cassie alone with Cambridge. She eyed him. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
He grinned. “I’m sure.”
She put her palm to his chest and heat began to build in her. She gasped. “Why does this keep happening around you?”
“If I told you, you would not believe me. You’d deny it or think me lying.”
“Try me.”
He touched her cheek with his free hand. “You know of mates, yes?”
She nodded. She’d heard of them. As she stared up at his full lips, she waited for him to continue with the explanation. It wasn’t until she noticed he was shaking that she met his gaze once more.
“Cambridge?”
“I want to kiss you.”
Boldly, she remained in place. “So do it.”
His lips captured hers, tongue darting into her mouth, and she moaned against the welcome intrusion. He plowed a hand through her hair, gripping it to just this side of too painful. The kiss grew more intense, more passion-packed, and Cassie thought for a moment she might try to scale the man just to get closer to him.
Her hips seemed to have a mind of their own, gyrating against air, wanting to grind against the undead stud standing before her. In all her life, she’d never behaved this way with anyone. She was reserved. The seen-but-never-heard girl, always living in fear of her stepfather’s wrath and his warnings about keeping herself pure for whichever man he decided to marry her off to. So she’d never allowed anyone this many freedoms. And damn Cambridge for not hurrying.
She wanted him.
Desperately.
“Boss, whoa, sorry,” said a deep voice from the doorway, halting the kiss in mid-motion.
Cassie touched her lips, her eyes wide as she glanced over to see the one they’d called Baldwin there. He looked pretty surprised.
Cambridge put himself partially before her and she realized it was to shield her from Baldwin’s shocked gaze. “I trust you have a good reason for interrupting.”
Baldwin gulped so loudly that Cassie heard it loud and clear. “Um, well, yes. Right. Reason. Oh yeah, I remember now, Albert is on all the media outlets apologizing for his daughter’s failed attempt at killing everyone at the peace talks.”
Cassie’s blood ran cold. Her stepfather was doing what?
She gasped.
Cambridge twisted and she feared it might be to lash out at her. Did he believe the lies Albert was spinning? He caught her face tenderly between the palms of his hands. “My heart, stop your worrying. I know the truth. My staff knows the truth. You saved us all and so many more.”
She let out the breath she’d been holding.
Baldwin cleared his throat. “There is more. Albert thinks Cassie died in the explosion. BPI hasn’t said anything to the contrary. I told our PR person to wait until she heard from me to comment further on the matter. What do you want me to tell her?”
Cambridge never took his eyes from her. “Tell her I will give a statement when I am good and ready. Not until. For now, Cassie requires me. Be gone.”
“You got it.” Baldwin left the room.
Cassie took a small step back. “He’s
a sick son of a bitch. He didn’t care how many people died. He wanted this. He wanted a media circus.”
Cambridge nodded and drew her close. “And I want you.”
She was about to continue her rant about her stepfather when she registered what Cambridge had said. “What?”
“I want you, Cassie. I want to sink into you and I want to see the look on your face when you come by my hand.”
Heat stole into her cheeks. “Okay.”
He quirked a brow.
She bit her lower lip, realizing she’d just agreed to be a sex toy for a playboy vampire. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that was the only thing she wanted to be right now. She needed to think about anything other than her reality, and Cambridge Sutton was the man to take her mind from her worries. “Okay, do it.”
He dragged her to him, his lips finding hers once more. Each swipe of his tongue chased away another inner reservation. Soon, she was bathing in the bliss of pleasure he was providing, her hands skimming over him.
He had on too many articles of clothing. She tugged at them, freeing him first from his shirt, and then going to work on his pants. He tugged at the straps of her holiday porn wear, removing it from her with ease. Within seconds, she was naked before him.
He grasped her breasts, toying with them, and then slid lower on her, bending, his mouth covering one of her nipples. She sucked in a deep breath, her body naturally pushing against his, wanting more. She wanted what he was offering and then some, but she wanted to explore him first, get her bearings with the entire sex thing.
She pressed on his chest and then tugged, making him stand while she went to her knees before him. The surprise on his face made her feel like she was doing something right, especially as he wet his lower lip when she began to undo his pants.
5
Anyone up for eggnog
She freed his long, thick cock, her mouth watering as it bobbed before her lips. She’d never done anything like this before. That being said, she didn’t need any instruction. Cassie did what felt natural. Opening her mouth, she eased her lips over the end of his cock and took his shaft deep. Cambridge moaned, his body tightening. Her magik flared, and the heat pulsed from her fingertips and over his cock as she used her hands to please him. She moved her head up and on down on him, still taking him deep.
“Cassie,” he whispered, her name barely there, but it held so much meaning.
Salty pre-cum leaked from him, coating her tongue, exciting her more. She was doing this—turning him on to the point he was ready to pop in her mouth. This famed ladies’ man was at her mercy, and she loved the rush of power that came over her knowing she had him where she wanted him. His cock was more than she could fit fully in her mouth, even with it nudging the back of her throat with each thrust he made. She drew back slightly, allowing her teeth to rake lightly over his skin. He jerked beneath her touch and tossed his head back, growling, sounding more like a shifter than a vampire.
She smiled, knowing he liked what she was doing. He ran his hands into her hair and held her head, keeping her from taking him more. She whimpered and popped her mouth off his dick. “Cam?”
His jaw tightened. “I hold back my demon by a thread, Cassie.”
She eyed him. Was he afraid of hurting her? He ran his tongue out and over his lower lip, flashing fang as he did, his expression one of a man who was thoroughly aroused. “From the second I saw you I’ve wanted to claim you as mine.”
Confused, Cassie simply stared at him, absently stroking his shaft. “Like you want to suck my blood kind of thing?”
Chuckling, he moved so fast she never saw a thing. One second she was before him, on her knees on the floor, toying with his cock, and the next she was lying on the bed under him.
Damn he was fast.
Cambridge lined up with her heated core and she gasped as the head of his cock breached her entrance, tearing through her maidenhood. The pain was fleeting and he dipped his head, kissing her passionately, taking her mind from it. She wasn’t sure her body would accommodate him fully. He was too long, too thick. Slowly, her body eased around the intrusion as pleasure began to build. Cambridge took their kiss to the next level, and in the process, she nicked her tongue on one of his fangs. Coppery fluid filled her mouth and she knew she was bleeding.
Cambridge increased his thrusts, slamming into her, giving her everything her body craved. Each time she thought she could take no more, he proved her wrong, pumping harder, pumping faster. A tingling sensation started in her toes and quickly shot up her legs, making her inner thighs quiver with delight. When the tingling reached her groin, she cried out into his mouth, her body seizing hold of his as if her pussy had a mind of its own. He shoved in deep and held, his cock twitching, her body pulsing with pleasure as her orgasm thundered through her.
Cambridge broke their kiss, his breathing heavy as he kept his cock rooted deep in her. He brought his hand to his upper chest and drew a finger across it, a line of blood appearing there.
Cassie’s power slammed through her, taking her over the edge of culmination once more, making her pussy grab tighter to his cock. He cried out as she gave in to the urge to lean up and lick the blood he’d drawn from himself. The moment it moved over her tongue, her power danced around them both, pushing in and out of them, making it feel as if they were one.
“Mine!” he shouted with a roar, pushing in and holding there.
Cassie’s body shook with the aftereffects of their lovemaking. She touched his cheeks and drew his face to hers, her lips finding his. The kiss held warmth, passion, and something she couldn’t pinpoint.
“Anyone up for eggnog?” asked Mimi, appearing in the doorway to the room.
Cassie gasped.
Cambridge grunted, seemingly unconcerned that they were naked and he was buried in her. He glanced in Mimi’s direction. “No. I think we are good. Thank you.”
His words were clipped and his body tense. While he sounded calm and probably looked so to those around him, Cassie got the impression he was close to blowing. She rubbed his upper arm lightly, wanting to keep him from exploding and lashing out.
The tension in his body eased.
“Mimi,” he said sternly.
“Ohmygods,” Mimi managed, her eyes wide.
“What the hell is takin’ so long? Are they ready to go yet? I’ve no desire to sit around here all night and have you tryin’ to shove cookies down my—” Finn appeared next to Mimi in the doorway. He sniffed the air and smiled wide. “You claimed her? I’ve got to call Cornell and rub it in that it only took you a day to claim yer mate. He’s slow.”
Mimi blinked.
Cassie cringed. “I’m naked.”
Cambridge laughed. “So am I. Maybe they’ll realize as much and shut the door on their way out.”
“Door?” asked Mimi. “Oh right, door.”
Finn glanced at her. “Why are you staring at his arse?”
Mimi blushed. “Well, it is a great ass.”
“Go!” Finn shouted, before bending and lifting her from the spot.
He carted her off, the door closing behind them, and Cassie couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Another thought hit her. She squirmed beneath Cambridge. “Can you get off me now?”
His brows met. “Cassie?”
“Off, please.” Humiliation swept over her. She pushed on his chest and he eased his body from hers, allowing her to sit up. “I cannot believe I fell for your charms. You have a new woman on your arm daily. I’m so stupid. I gave my virginity to a total playboy.”
Cambridge ran his fingers over her shoulder lightly and she tried to crawl off the bed, away from him. He caught her gently, holding her in place. He kissed the back of her shoulder. “Cassie, stop.”
“I got caught up in the whole you-saving-my-life thing and I started thinking with my vagina. It’s not an organ anyone should leave in charge.”
He chuckled and kissed her shoulder again. “This isn’t a one-night sta
nd for me, Cassie. Do you understand that?”
Snorting, she glanced over her shoulder at him. “Don’t sugarcoat it. I knew your reputation before we started. I know that when I leave here it all ends. I know that I gave up everything—family, friends, my home—to make sure no one got hurt, and I wouldn’t change that, but I’m not naïve. I know this—you and me—leads nowhere. I’m going to go. Better to just rip the bandage off quickly.”
He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her back to his front. The power in his body turned her on more. Damn her hormones for guiding her actions. She had enough complications in life without having feelings for a vampire that would lead nowhere.
He nibbled at the back of her ear. “You saved my life too.”
“So?” she said, feeling a bit childish with her response. She just wanted to guard her heart as best she could.
Too late, she thought. He’s already got your heart.
He drew her back to him more, twisting their bodies as he did, leaving her on all fours before him. He kissed a line down her spine and then kissed the top of her ass cheeks, one at a time. “Cassie,” he said, kissing her left cheek again. “This was more than just sex.”
Bet he says that to all the girls.
“Uh-huh,” she said softly.
“I claimed you,” he replied, kissing her other cheek again. He ran his hands over her ass, kneading it, turning her on more. “That means something to our kind.”
“Our kind?”
“Supernaturals,” he said, his cock teasing her pussy from behind. “We exchanged blood and I laid claim to you.”
“And?” she asked, not following why he kept acknowledging that they had sex. It wasn’t as if she’d forgot his “claiming.”
He pressed into her slowly, making her moan in pleasure. “It confirms what I knew to be true the minute I saw you in the alley. It means you’re my mate.”
She searched her brain for what he was trying to tell her, but it was hard to focus with his cock inching into her at a snail’s pace, making her want to thrust back on him and take him deep.
