Savage Fae (Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 2)

by Caroline Peckham

  “I mean, it is if you’re on the look out for good hookers,” I finished.

  Leon barked a laugh and looked at me in surprise. I offered him a small smile. No one was going to make him feel shitty while I had anything to do with it and if Roary wanted to bait him then I was ready to play his game.

  Roary scoffed, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. “I wouldn’t really know about that. But the hotel was right by the marina-”

  “Where the fishermen bring in their stinky catches?” I asked, wrinkling my nose.

  “Well I can’t say I particularly noticed,” Roary replied with a frown like he wasn’t quite sure how to deal with me.

  “I just googled it,” Leon interjected, holding out his Atlas. “There’s only one marina and that’s where they hold the fish market.”

  I snorted a laugh and took a gulp of my wine as Roary pursed his lips, seeming to finally realise I wasn’t under his spell.

  “I could make us a nice fish broth for lunch tomorrow,” Letisha said, cutting Roary off before he could add anything.

  “So tell us, Elise, what are your family like?” Reginald asked, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his mane of golden hair.

  “Dead, mostly,” I replied with a shrug, refusing to acknowledge the sting of that admission.

  A beat passed where uncomfortable looks were exchanged all around me and no one decided to pitch in on that.

  “And do you see yourself as a possible candidate for one of Leonidas’s wives?”

  “Wife?” I snorted in disbelief before realising he wasn’t joking. “If only the stars would be so kind to me,” I added hastily, though I couldn’t banish the teasing tone from my voice.

  “Or you could get really lucky and land yourself a true king,” Roary purred, leaning closer to me like we were sharing a secret.

  Leon’s family seemed to have no inclination to reprimand him for trying to steal my attention from Leon and I pursed my lips, sensing his discomfort growing again.

  “Oh yeah?” I asked, dipping my voice as I held his eye, daring him to try and back up that claim.

  “Yeah,” he replied, trailing his eyes over me slowly before cutting a look over my shoulder at Leon.

  Roary slung his arm around the back of my chair seeming unperturbed and I sat back, looking around at Leon. He was frowning in a way that said he didn’t like this despite my game and I smirked at him, winking as his moms got up, promising their return with dessert.

  He tilted his head in confusion but Roary tugged my chair an inch closer to his and leaned in to speak with me again.

  “So, what drew you to my little brother?” Roary asked. “Do you have a thing for Lions?”

  “Well…” I said slowly, keeping my eyes on Leon as I spoke. “When we first met I wasn’t really sure what to make of him. He was so loud and lazy and had all these girls running around after him all the time so that he didn’t have to do anything for himself.”

  Reginald released a low growl like he didn’t approve of that and I didn’t miss the flash of discomfort in Leon’s eyes in response.

  “But then,” I went on. “He cut the bullshit, and I realised he was actually really sweet and funny, he’s thoughtful and kind and strong and powerful. And he makes me laugh even though for a while I thought I’d never find a reason to laugh again.”

  “I’m surprised that Leonidas was capable of forming a true bond like that. I’d begun to believe that he’d never find a real connection with a woman and would just rely on his Charisma to help him coast through life,” Reginald said thoughtfully.

  “I think Leon hides his true capabilities behind the Charisma and the bullshit,” I replied with a shrug. “But it’s all just a front so that no one figures out exactly what he’s up to. It’s damn cunning is what it is.”

  Reginald looked at Leon for a long moment, tilting his head as he considered that, a small smile pulling at his lips. “Wouldn’t that be something,” he said eventually.

  “Did little Leon just flash his wiener at you to get that laugh?” Roary joked.

  “Is that what usually happens to you?” I asked, widening my eyes at him and shooting a not so furtive look at his crotch.

  “No,” he replied on a growl before tugging me close beneath his arm. “You can come to my old room and find out how wrong that statement is for yourself if you like?”

  “Why? Do you have a magnifying glass there that we can use?”

  Leon started choking on his drink and I shot him a dark smile.

  Roary growled and caught my chin, turning me so that I was looking right into his golden eyes.

  “I think your gaze is straying away from the main prize at this table,” Roary purred, his Charisma flowing around me, the gold in his eyes swimming with promises as he tried to tempt my attention away from his brother. But there was only one Lion for me and I was more than happy with that choice.

  “It is right now,” I agreed. “Because you’re making me look at you.”

  Roary growled in frustration and I jerked my chin out of his grip just as the moms arrived with dessert. There was a steaming apple crumble, a towering mound of profiteroles and a mouthwatering cherry pie with vanilla ice cream.

  Reginald laughed loudly, cutting through the tension between the two brothers as he eyed me with what I could have sworn was genuine fondness.

  “Looks like you really are immune to Charisma. There’s not many people who can resist Roary, especially when he’s touching them,” he said with a smile. “I’m glad Leonidas managed to prove his worth to you without it.”

  “He did,” I agreed, turning my gaze back to Leon as he grinned at me.

  Leon purred deep in his chest and I moved closer to him, scooting my chair over and taking his hand beneath the table.

  Marie offered me first choice and I pointed at the cherry pie with a smile. “I’ve got a bit of a weakness for cherries,” I admitted.

  “Me too,” Leon agreed and his mom instantly placed a huge slice in front of him first.

  He filled a fork with pie and ice cream and I watched as he lifted it towards his mouth, reaching out to snag it from his fingers.

  Leon grinned as I continued to move it towards his lips. He leaned forward, opening his mouth and I smirked at him before turning the fork sharply and delivering the food to my own mouth instead.

  I laughed around my mouthful as every Lion in the room stared at me in shock and Leon growled playfully.

  “That’s how you want it, is it little monster?” he rumbled, catching my wrist as I speared another piece of his pie, ignoring my own plate.

  I laughed as he tried to force me to feed him by guiding my arm higher and I reached out with my free hand, grabbing the piece of pie right off of the fork and pressing it into my mouth quickly.

  Leon gaped at me like I was insane and I grinned at him with a fat cherry held between my teeth tauntingly.

  He growled as he lurched forward, catching me in a kiss as if he intended to steal it right back out of my mouth. The heat of his lips on mine sent energy skittering through me and I caught his fancy shirt in my fist as I pulled him closer for a moment.

  I drew back before he did, remembering our audience with a soft laugh. Leon hadn’t managed to retrieve his stolen pie from my mouth so I quickly swallowed it before he got any ideas about trying again.

  “Immune to Charisma, unwilling to feed you and a natural born thief, wherever did you find this little treasure, Leon?” Reginald asked, seeming amused by our display.

  “She just strolled right into my life like some kind of goddess of chaos,” Leon said, his eyes on me.

  I snorted a laugh and stole another bite of his pie. “I can agree with the chaos part of that statement though it’s not by choice.”

  Reginald chuckled and his wives instantly started laughing too. Roary seemed somewhat less impressed with me but that was fine. I wasn’t going to sit back and watch him be a shit to my Leo.

  “We should probably be hea
ding back to the academy,” Leon said as we finished our dessert, pushing his chair back and offering me his hand.

  I let him pull me to my feet and smiled around at his family. “Thank you for dinner,” I said.

  “Thank you for joining us,” Reginald replied with a warm smile.

  “It was nice to meet you, Roary,” I added sweetly, his car key burning a hole in my pocket.

  “Mmm,” he replied, not looking our way.

  Leon’s moms fell on him, showering him with hugs and kisses before we managed to escape out into the hall.

  Leon kept hold of my hand as we walked down the long hallway to the front door and the moment it shut behind us, he caught my face in his grip and kissed me with a fierce passion that sent heat flooding my veins.

  “Thank you, Elise,” he breathed against my lips and I smiled as he used my name for once.

  “Don’t thank me yet, I haven’t even given you your present,” I said enticingly.

  “What?” Leon asked in confusion.

  In response I pulled the key from my pocket and pressed the button to unlock Roary’s car which was parked at a perfect ninety degree angle to the house. A bleep sounded and the headlights flashed twice in response like it was saying hello.

  Leon’s lips fell open in surprise and for a second he could only stare at the lit up car which was waiting for us.

  “How did you-”

  “I just lifted the key from the owner,” I said, mocking Roary’s gravelly voice. “I don’t over think things like little Leonidas does. When I see something I want, I find the easiest way to achieve it. Follow the path of least resistance.” I spun the key around my finger and Leon burst into laughter.

  He caught me around the waist and kissed me hard, his lips punishing as they took possession of mine and I coiled my arms around his neck as I drew him closer.

  “LEON!” Roary’s shout of rage came from inside the house and Leon broke our kiss sharply.

  “Oh shit, he’s gonna lose the plot – he’ll shift on us.”

  I barked a laugh and shot forward with my Vampire speed, hoisting Leon over my shoulder with my enhanced strength and zooming towards Roary’s car.

  I had the driver’s door open and tossed Leon down on the plush leather seat before he’d even realised what I’d done. In another heartbeat, I threw his door closed behind him and shot around the car to the passenger side.

  I tossed Leon the key and he caught it with a bark of laughter, jamming it into the ignition and starting the car just as the front door burst open and Roary leapt out. His shirt was off, his muscles bulging with tension as he ripped his belt open and screamed Leon’s name again.

  Leon slammed the car into gear and we shot away down the drive.

  I swivelled in my seat, looking out the rear window just in time to see Roary shift into his huge Lion form. His mane was black like his hair but the rest of his coat was golden, shining in the moonlight as he pounded across the gravel drive.

  He raced after us down the drive and adrenaline spiked in my veins as I took in the enormous size of him.

  Leon cursed as he checked the rear view mirror and changed gears, pressing his foot to the floor so that we shot forward even faster.

  The gate swung open up ahead of us and we slowly started to put some distance between us and Roary. My heart thundered as an earth shattering roar spilled from Roary’s mouth and I got a good look at all those Lion teeth.

  We flew through the gate and Leon barked a laugh as I whooped in triumph and we raced away into the night.

  We sped down dark roads and Leon’s smile was bright enough to light up the whole car.

  “I keep forgetting how big you Lions get when you shift,” I teased as I relaxed back into my seat.

  “Pfft, I’m bigger than him,” Leon joked.

  “Hell yeah you are,” I agreed and his eyes sparkled as he looked my way for a moment.

  My heart was pounding and my flesh tingling with expectant energy as the thrill of the theft started to leave my body. But I didn’t want it to go, I wanted to ride this high for as long as I could.

  “Pull over,” I said in a low voice, reaching across to place my hand on Leon’s thigh.

  He looked at me in surprise before turning the car off of the road at a sharp angle.

  We pulled up on a side road and Leon cut the engine, darkness falling over us instantly. It didn’t matter to me with my gifts and my eyesight quickly adjusted so that I could look at him.

  I unclipped my seatbelt and leaned forward to kiss him hungrily.

  Leon growled his own excitement as his hands caught my waist and he tried to pull me into his lap.

  There wasn’t much room in the flashy sports car and I huffed in irritation as I immediately hit my head against the roof.

  With a shot of speed, I leapt out of the car and was around at his door pulling it open before he even realised I’d left.

  Leon climbed out, hooking me into his grip and lifting me off of my feet so that I wrapped my legs around his waist.

  He walked me around to the hood of the car and kissed me hard as he sat me down on it.

  I groaned against his lips, my fingers finding his belt and fumbling with the buckle in my haste to have him.

  “Bad little monster,” Leon purred in my ear. “I can’t believe you stole Roary’s fucking car.”

  “No one gets to make my Leo frown,” I breathed as he trailed kisses down my neck.

  “Fuck, if you say that again, I think I’ll come already,” Leon growled.

  “Say what?” I asked as his hands found the hem of my sweater and he tugged it off of me. The cold air instantly found my skin but Leon’s hot flesh worked to banish it again just as quickly.

  “The part where you called me yours,” he said, his mouth moving down to tease at the edge of my bra.

  I laughed and pushed his fly down as I pressed my hand beneath his boxers, freeing the hard length of him and taking him in my hand.

  Leon growled hungrily at me caressing him and tingles ran down my spine at the knowledge that I could affect him so much.

  He dropped lower as he unbuttoned my jeans and I lost my hold on him as he pulled them off of me.

  The clouds shifted in the sky above us and moonlight spilled free, bathing us in silver as Leon stood upright again.

  “Shit, little monster, you’re so beautiful,” he breathed as he looked down at me where I was perched on the hood of the car in my underwear.

  “Less talking, more doing,” I commanded.

  I reached for him, catching his shirt in my grip and unhooking the buttons as I drew him closer to me.

  My heart was pounding a heady rhythm and I didn’t want to wait any longer. Every inch of my flesh was alight with want and need.

  Leon leaned down to kiss me again as I loosened the last of his buttons and I pushed my hands beneath his shirt, feeling every hard line and ridge of his muscular torso.

  He pressed me back, his teeth catching my bottom lip and tugging on it as my back met the cold metal hood of the car.

  His weight fell over me, the length of his arousal grinding between my thighs demandingly.

  I kissed him hard, begging for more as his tongue took possession of my mouth.

  Leon’s hand shifted between us as he found the edge of my panties. He didn’t even bother to pull them off of me, pushing them aside roughly a moment before he thrust inside me.

  “Fuck, yes,” I gasped as my body bucked beneath his.

  He laughed darkly, kissing me harder as he pushed into me again, drawing a cry from my lips as he started up a merciless pace.

  I hadn’t even gotten his shirt off of him and the open material fluttered against my exposed flesh as he took my body hostage.

  Each thrust of his hips was met with a cry from me and Leon growled his satisfaction against my mouth as the rough bite of his stubble drove me insane.

  He kissed me harder, hooking my right leg into his grasp and lifting it over his shoulder.
/>   I cried out as his next thrust hit the perfect spot deep inside me and my nails bit into his skin as if I could somehow drag him even closer.

  My skin was buzzing with energy and I gasped as each thrust pushed me closer and closer to the edge, my body begging for release as he continued to torment me.

  Leon growled hungrily, the raw power of his nature surrounding me and for a moment I felt like one of his Mindys, bathing in the glow of pleasing him and reaping the rewards of his flesh for it.

  I gripped his broad shoulders, my fingernails biting into his skin as I tried to pull him even closer to me, wanting more and more of this heat he was building in my body.

  “Bite me,” Leon begged, his hand finding my breast as he tugged my bra aside and freed my nipple for him to tease.

  My fangs snapped out at his plea and I shifted my hand to grip his golden hair which spilled around us. I pulled his head aside, finding his throat and running my tongue straight up the side of his neck, toying with him.

  Leon growled with need, thrusting into me even harder and drawing a cry from my lips that echoed into the night.

  My fangs drove into his neck and he groaned, gripping my hips with a punishing tightness as he slammed into me again and again.

  Leon’s blood slid down my throat like a pure shot of sunshine, the heat of it burning and blinding and everything.

  I felt drunk with his power, my head spinning as his thrusts kept hitting the perfect place deep inside me and my skin tingled as he pushed my body to its limits.

  I withdrew my fangs, running my tongue up his neck and seeking out his mouth with a desperate moan.

  Leon kissed me so hard that it was like he was trying to devour me. He upped his pace further, gripping my leg where it was locked over his shoulder and pinning me in that perfect position as the tension in my body became unbearable and my muscles tensed around him in expectation.

  I swore again as he drew back once more and the world fell apart around me as his next thrust sent me tumbling into oblivion. Leon growled in satisfaction, kissing me to taste my cries of pleasure as I fell apart beneath him.

  But he wasn’t done yet and his pace increased again as he demanded more and more from my body.