“While helping yourself in the process.” Leukos raised his brows.
Magnar shrugged. “It was no hardship.” He turned serious. “Claire is a prize though. A female worth keeping. I’m not fucking things up between the two of you.”
“Good to see you’re still an arrogant bastard.” Leukos couldn’t help grinning. “You’re so damned sure you’d win her if we went head-to-head. That isn’t going to happen. Not this time. This time I plan on winning.”
“I’m glad you feel that way.” Magnar pushed out a breath. “She’s yours. I will leave here before—”
“Where will you go?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll be fine.” Magnar looked the picture of calm.
“You feel that I would be better suited to Claire? That I am the better male for her?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” Magnar smirked. “Although I am the better male, more capable of keeping our Claire happy, I’m afraid I ultimately have nothing to offer her, but that’s not my reason for leaving.” His Adam’s apple worked. “I’m afraid of hurting her. It’s what I do. It’s my MO. Maybe it’s because I had you assholes as friends.” He laughed but there was something serious in his eyes. “It’s not easy being best friends with the prince and the next in line for king. Made me have to work harder to prove myself. Made me want to beat the two of you at any cost. Only because I lost at most other things. I guess I have a knack for females. Wanting females I can’t have and then dumping them hard as soon as I win them has become my thing. It is what I do. It will be no different with Claire. I can’t do that to her.”
“You won’t do that to Claire!” Leukos disagreed. He raked a hand through his hair, gripping the back of his neck. “I wish I had fewer scruples. I wish I wasn’t so damned…ethical.”
“You were never able to play dirty.”
“Unlike you,” Leukos snorted.
Magnar raised his brows and they both laughed. No doubt running through a list of scenarios in their heads. Probably all the same.
“Bottom line,” Leukos shook his head, “you wouldn’t hurt Claire because you love her.”
“I’m in lust,” Magnar growled. “Nothing more or less.”
“No, for once you’re afraid of hurting someone. Maybe you’re a little afraid of being hurt yourself. It’s a first for you, maybe hard to swallow. As a result, you want to give up and run.”
Magnar shook his head. Leukos could see his mind working. “Like hell,” he snorted, but there was no real force behind it. “You’re not serious?”
“You have serious feelings for Claire. As much as I want you out of the picture so that I can keep her for myself, I think you should reconsider leaving, of giving up. You would regret it. Don’t let fear hold you back.”
“Fear?” Magnar spat. “I’m not afraid.” He shook his head too hard this time.
“I’m keeping Claire with me tonight. I’ll send her to you in the morning. You have until then to think about it. To think your feelings through. If you aren’t here, I will move forward and mate Claire.”
“And if I am?” Magnar had this half-smile Leukos knew well.
“Then may the best male for Claire win.”
Magnar turned serious. The smile turned into a frown. Leukos found that he was frowning too. The other male nodded once. Leukos wasn’t sure if he was accepting the challenge or early defeat. He would find out soon enough.
Chapter 28
The next day…
“I’m glad you’re here,” she blurted. Claire hadn’t been expecting to see Magnar. She’d envisioned entering an empty house.
There he was. He wore a pair of faded jeans. No shirt or shoes. “Leukos mentioned that you might not be here.” She hated the idea more than she dared admit.
His hair was still damp from a recent shower. Despite still being angry with him, she found herself smiling. Happy to see him. Relieved and excited for their day ahead. Leukos had refused to divulge why Magnar had considered leaving after being let out of that cage. The only reason she could think of was that he didn’t feel the same way about her as she did about him. It wasn’t that he planned on returning to Ekon. Surely not? Claire wasn’t sure of anything, only that she was glad he was there.
Seconds later, there was a hard grating noise on the ledge behind them as Worth took off.
“You look good,” she said awkwardly, “comfortable and settled.” She looked around them.
“I shouldn’t be here.”
Her heart sank. “Of course you should. Where else would you go?” She took a few steps towards him, then, seeing the uncertainty in his eyes, she stopped in her tracks.
Magnar shrugged. “I’ve never…had real feelings for someone before. I’m scared of fucking this up.”
Her heart skipped several beats. Magnar had feelings for her. “You won’t.” He did feel it then. Their connection. The one she also felt with Leukos. Confusion set in, followed by guilt. What was she doing? The last two days with Leukos had been amazing.
Claire licked her lips, pushing those thoughts aside. She needed to do this one day at a time, one step at a time. One guy at a time. Claire was sure she’d be able to choose soon. At least, she hoped that would be the case.
“I’m good at hurting people.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m especially good at hurting females.” He pulled in a breath, rubbing his stubbled jaw. “It’s what I do. I told you before.”
“You only want someone when you can’t actually have them,” she repeated his words.
He nodded. “When the chase is over, so is my affection.”
“And you think that’ll happen with us…if I choose you.” He’d told her once that she had the power. That she should use it. Maybe he had been right.
Magnar threw her a sexy smile. “I love that you’re both timid and brimming with confidence.”
Hardly! She was crapping herself.
“That’s the other problem.” He took a step towards her, hooking his thumbs in his jeans. “I’m terrified that you won’t pick me.”
Claire didn’t say anything. She couldn’t imagine not picking Magnar. How could she turn a man like him down? Then again, she felt the same way about Leukos.
“If Leukos has called it right, if I’m falling for you here, I’m liable to fall deeper the more time I spend with you…”
Her mouth felt dry. It got difficult to breathe all of a sudden and the lack of oxygen made her want to gulp in air. She stood there like an idiot instead. Not saying or doing anything. She probably looked like a deer in the headlights after his admission.
“The longer I’m here the more fucked up I’ll be if you choose Leukos over me. So I’m in a dilemma here, Claire. A real fucking dilemma. In order to save us all a whole lot of pain and suffering, I should walk out that door right now.” He gestured to the exit. “There’s a chance if you pick me, I’ll screw it up, and if you pick him…I’ll be devastated. It’s a lose-lose situation. Someone will end up hurt. It would be better if I left right now.”
Claire wanted to tell him not to go. She wanted to beg him to stay but something held her back. She could sense that Magnar wasn’t done talking and she wanted to hear what he had to say.
“If I was an upstanding male, I would. If I was a good male, I’d have left already…” He took a few more steps towards her. “I’m not though. You were right, I am an asshole and a dickhead bastard. I’m arrogant as all hell. One thing you didn’t know about me,” he took another step or two, in her space now, “I’m selfish too. A selfish bastard who’s already in so far over his head with you. I don’t want to give you up. I want to win. I want you in my life.”
“But you’ll only feel this way as long as you can’t have me?”
“That’s the thing, I don’t know for sure. I’m being honest here. All I know is that what I feel right now, I have never felt before.” He shook his head, eyes on hers.
Her heart was racing. Her hands felt clammy. Her face felt hot.
Magnar r
eached out and took her hands in his, just holding them for a few beats. Then he pulled a little, inviting her to close the rest of the distance between them, which she did. Magnar cupped her ass and yanked her against him. “You look sexy in those boots.” He glanced down. “Pity about the jeans.”
She choked out a laugh. “I couldn’t exactly leave home without pants.”
“Why not?”
“The flight here would have been awkward. Worth would have—”
Magnar growled. He looked jealous for a moment. It was a strange thing to see, considering she’d just climbed out of another man’s bed and that didn’t seem to bother him. “No, that wouldn’t work. You can rectify the situation now, though, I want to see you in your boots and your underwear.”
She raised her brows. “Nothing else?”
“Nothing else.”
“That’s weird.” She laughed, sounding nervous.
Magnar chuckled. “Good thing you like weird.”
“I do not like weird.”
“Your nipples like weird and I have a feeling your wet pussy likes weird too.”
She gasped. “You didn’t just say that!”
“I most definitely did.” He squeezed her ass in both his hands, pushing out a soft groan. “Are you going to undress for me?”
“What, get naked? Right now?” She smiled.
His eyes seemed to darken. “Right now! Naked…underwear…either way would work for me, but I’d prefer naked. Those boots will have to stay.”
Claire chuckled softly.
“The bathroom is over there.” He pointed at a door. “Don’t make me wait, sweets.”
She rolled her eyes at the endearment which she had secretly grown to like. Claire went into the bathroom. She closed the door and took off the boots. They came to just below her knees and had a small heel. She did feel sexy in them. Next, she removed her clothes, standing in front of the mirror. Claire was carrying a couple of extra pounds. She was top-heavy. As far as an hourglass figure was concerned, her hips were more than just an hour. They were several hours at best and half a day at worst. Claire put her hands on them. She was glad she’d chosen the sexy turquoise bra and panty set. They were sheer lace. She could make out her nipples and the strip of hair down there. Claire put the boots back on, zipping them up. She stood in front of the mirror again and bit down on her bottom lip. Magnar was right. She looked good. It worked. Claire felt sexy.
Leukos hadn’t been able to get enough of her. They had talked and gone picnicking in the woods – without incident this time, but they’d also spent plenty of time having sex. Her cheeks became flushed just thinking about it. He’d been insatiable. Then again, so had she. Their chemistry was through the roof.
There was a knock at the door. “Do you need some help in there?”
“No. I’ll be out soon.” She smiled. Claire had to admit, this was the last thing she had expected when coming here this morning. The very last thing. She took one last look in the mirror.
Claire opened the door and walked out. She put her shoulders back and sucked her tummy in.
“Holy shit,” Magnar rumbled, his eyes moving up and down her body. “You look…good enough to eat.” His voice was a low purr that did things to her belly…and other places.
She could see that he meant it. His eyes were narrowed on her and his face had a pinched look. Magnar was frowning intently.
He walked right over to her and kissed her. Hot and heavy. His tongue swirling with hers. His lips were soft and yet demanding. His hands found their way back to her lace-clad ass. He moaned softly against her mouth. “When did you last have sex?” he asked as he pulled away.
Her mouth fell open. Was he really asking her that?
“Come on, out with it. When did you last do Leukos…” He cupped her vagina, just holding her there. She sucked in a breath. “When last did he pound your sweet pussy?” There was excitement in his eyes. No jealousy like before with Worth. It was baffling.
“I-I’m n-not sure t-that’s appropriate.” It didn’t feel right talking about her relationship with Leukos to Magnar. What was she saying? It didn’t feel right even saying that sentence.
And yet, his question also made her clit throb. It made her channel beg to be filled. Claire wanted to move against his hand. Rub herself against him, anything to appease this need building inside her. Magnar chuckled. “Just tell me, Claire. You know, it’s not a secret, right?”
She shook her head. “I guess not. It just feels weird telling you about it.”
“You know my thoughts on weird.” He raised his brows. “Weird is good. Conventional is boring. Tell me.”
Her nipples felt tight. Her breasts felt heavy. She longed to rub her thighs together. To get some sort of release. “Last night. Leukos woke me up.”
Magnar pushed out a breath through his nose. “Good.”
“You look happy.”
“He’s not allowed to have you after midnight. I was just checking.”
“There are rules?”
He rubbed a thumb over her clit. The lace was thin. Very thin. Claire moaned.
“Of course there are rules. I want you needy when you get to me. I want you to beg for my cock inside you.” He kissed her, just a quick swirl of his tongue and a nip of her lower lip. Her clit throbbed harder.
“Lie down on the bed, Claire.” He watched as she did as he asked. “That’s it.” She could see the bulge in his pants. They looked uncomfortably tight. “Now open those gorgeous legs.”
Claire tried to take off the panties.
“Leave them!” he growled low. “They look so fucking good on you.”
She obeyed without a word, opening her thighs.
“Wider.”
Licking her lips, she planted her feet on the bed, parting her thighs as wide as they would go.
Magnar just stood there for a few seconds, his gaze all over her. Her cheeks heated. Her nipples tightened even more. She could feel that her panties were soaking wet.
He climbed onto the bed, kneeling between her legs. His eyes were zoned in between her legs.
Magnar leaned down. He tugged the slip of lace out of the way and leaned in some more. Anticipation lit her up inside. Right there. Oh! Oh! He didn’t touch her though. Not so much as a swipe or a lick. Hot breath hit her straight on the vagina. Her clit throbbed to the point of pain. It made her want to squirm, but she held still.
Claire’s ragged breathing filled the small room. Was he just going to look at her all day or— He tongued her clit. Holy shit!!
Claire whimpered.
“I haven’t done this in a while,” he rasped before closing his mouth over the little bud of nerves and giving it a suck. He may not have done this for a while, but he wasn’t rusty. Not even a little bit. Wait a minute. Magnar sounded like a guy who had plenty of sex. Why hadn’t he done this in a while? He gave her clit another lick. Holy hell!
Goodbye eyes. The organs in question rolled so far back into her skull that she wasn’t sure she’d get them back again. They might be permanently stuck there. She made a drawn-out moaning noise. Then his tongue was inside her…in and out in a quick rhythm that had her back bowing and her hands flying to his head.
Oh god!
She buried her fingers into his hair. He had great hair for fisting. Magnar sucked on her clit some more. Oh god! Her eyes were wide and yet she couldn’t see a thing. He suckled on her until she was begging. It was incoherent begging. Begging that was thick with moans, cries and whimpers.
When his tongue lapped at her, circling her clit before laving over it, she felt her nerve-endings catch alight. Her mouth rounded into a startled oh and her hands tugged on his hair. She knew she was doing it, but she couldn’t stop.
More.
More.
Her hips jerked as he suckled on her bundle of nerves. Claire grit her teeth as an orgasm ripped through her. She ground into his face. Groaned so deep her voice-box was going to be scarred for life. Magnar pulled back just as she was c
oming down. His face was wet. Using the back of his hand, he wiped most of it away. Then he was pulling at the snaps on his jeans, freeing his cock. She licked her lips as she eyed its long length.
“Not today, sweetheart. Right now, I’m going to fuck you real slow.” His hair stood at strange angles. Oops! She may have torn a couple of chunks out. Magnar lifted her legs, placing them over his shoulders. He looked angry but she knew better. “Have you ever begged, Claire?”
This wasn’t happening. Her life…at this point…had to be a dream. She shook her head.
“I think it’s time you learned the art.” He threw her a half-smile. His eyes were glowing. His jaw was tight. There were vertical frown lines between his eyes. So handsome he took her breath away. Then he was tugging her panties out of the way again and pushing inside her.
Chapter 29
There was a screech outside his nest. It had his hackles rising. Something was amiss. His first thought was Claire. Was his female in trouble? That couldn’t be right. She was with Magnar, wasn’t she? He suddenly wasn’t so sure. What if the male had taken her?
He heard scraping on his ledge. “Sire.” It was Reece.
“What is it?” he snarled the words, yanking the curtain off the rod.
“Nothing to be concerned about.” As if sensing his fear, he added, “I’m sure your female is fine. An intruder has been captured. A Fallen male. Come right away.”
Leukos stepped out onto the ledge. Reece had already shifted back into his beast form and was hovering a few feet away. The male took off, Leukos shifted and flew after him.
It didn’t take long to spot the location where the action was taking place. He swooped down, landing next to the group of males. There were six of his own with an unknown male in the center of the throng. They were in a large open field. The sweeping grass was still wet with the morning dew.
“We found him sneaking around on our border,” Locke announced, his eyes narrowed.
“I explained already,” the unknown keythong snarled, “I didn’t realize I was inside your boundary lines. I made a miscalculation.”
Hate Awakened: Book 3: The Feral Page 22
