by Katie Reus
He grabbed her hips and backed her up until they were at the granite-topped center island. He knew he was bordering on being out of control, but the thought of Nyx in danger, the thought of her running into a bad situation without any backup made him crazy in a way he’d never thought possible. His beast pushed at the surface, wanting to destroy everything that might cause her harm.
Her hands slid up his chest, more from shock than anything, he thought. Or maybe to brace herself as he hoisted her up on the counter. He wanted her at his eye level.
But when he looked into her vivid gaze, he couldn’t remember what they’d been talking about. Arguing about. All he could focus on was the erratic way she was breathing, the slight dilation of her eyes and the way her legs were spread to accommodate his hips, practically wrapped around him.
They were in the perfect position. He was tired of ignoring the fire between them. Taking a chance, he slid his hands up her outer thighs, moving until he shoved her dress all the way up to her waist.
Her mouth parted and she stared down at herself. Lacy black panties barely covered her mound. He could see enough that he knew she was completely bare under that lace.
No. No more just being friends. She needed to understand that she was his.
Using his mental powers, he snapped the thin straps. He sucked in a sharp breath as the material fell away, as he saw what was his.
She didn’t cover herself, just clutched onto his shoulders as she met his gaze again. He might not be a shifter but he could scent her hunger for him, could see the lust sparking like wildfire in her eyes. The hunger is what pushed him over the edge.
Her pathetic excuse about needing to stay friends because she had a lot going on in her life was just that, an excuse. She wanted him, he wanted her. And she sure as hell wasn’t scared of him. That had been a worry early on, but there was no fear from her. Just raw desire. If he gave her time to think about this, he knew she’d tell him to stop.
He wasn’t above playing dirty to win her. He’d give her a taste of how good they could be together, bind her to him with sex, make her crave him the way he craved her so that she’d never walk away. Without giving her a chance to start analyzing things, he knelt between her legs and flicked his tongue up the length of her slick folds.
And knew what heaven was when she slid her fingers into his hair, moaning his name like a prayer.
Chapter 3
Nyx couldn’t believe what was happening, what Bo was doing to her. His tongue…she rolled her hips up to meet his mouth, even though she knew she should tell him to stop.
But she couldn’t find the words. Didn’t want to find the words. Not when this felt better than anything she’d ever experienced by her own hand.
His tongue flicked up her slick folds, oh-so-slowly, the sexy growls he made against her flesh making her even wetter.
His glass-front cabinets shook, cracked. Wine glasses started to tremble. She tried to keep a grip on her emotions but couldn’t.
“Let go, I don’t care,” he murmured against her, as if he’d read her mind.
His words set something free inside her, even though she knew they shouldn’t be doing this.
With her dress hiked up and his face between her legs, she couldn’t help but stare at the way he was licking her, teasing her.
Ribbons of pleasure spiraled through her as his tongue delved between her folds. He was teasing her, turning her on even more, but not touching her clit. He had to be doing it intentionally, making her crazy.
She rolled her hips again, a tortured sound coming from her throat because she couldn’t find any words.
He placed his hands on her inner thighs, opened them wider. “Lay back.” The words rumbled against her, the vibration making her inner walls tighten with the need to be filled.
She might be a virgin but she knew what she wanted, needed. The cautious voice in her head told her that they had to stop this before they went too far, but she found herself doing what he said, leaning back on the countertop of the island.
When she did, he let out another growl, his tongue working faster, the pressure harder as he moved up to her clit.
She grabbed onto his head. “Bo.” It was all she could get out. One simple word.
His tongue lashed those sensitive nerves, the pressure almost too much now. She was vaguely aware of glass breaking around her, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was finding release.
She’d used her fingers on herself before, but nothing compared to this. When he slid a finger inside her, just barely penetrating, she called out his name again, her hips rolling frantically now.
He could push her over the edge, she knew he could.
“Make me come,” she demanded, not sure where the words had even come from. She just knew he’d like it.
Moaning, he pushed the finger deeper and began a beautiful, torturous assault on her clit, moving his tongue over it in a maddening, sensual dance.
When he began moving his finger, slowly dragging it out of her, then pushing back in, she lost the last vestiges of her control. Her stomach muscles tightened as her climax built and built, her inner walls clamping around his finger until her orgasm crested.
“Oh…” She couldn’t get out anything other than a strangled cry as pure pleasure pushed out to all her nerve endings.
He kept going, kept teasing until she collapsed fully against the countertop. His intense teasing turned into soft kisses as he created a path down one inner thigh, then up the other. He continued on to right above her mound, his breath warm against her skin.
Nyx slid a hand through his dark hair, loved the feel of the softness against her fingertips. She forced herself to sit up, wanting to actually kiss him now.
He stood between her legs, the raw hunger in his glowing, amber gaze startling her. It was so bright, seemed even more so against his darker skin. She’d never seen him like this before. “Your eyes…” They were beautiful.
Snarling, he turned away from her, moving to the entryway before she could blink. His back was a rigid line as all the broken glass mended back together, fallen flutes, tumblers and even cabinet doors moving back into place seamlessly.
She didn’t care about that though. “Bo, I…” Her throat tightened as she tried to figure out what to say, but he didn’t give her time, his retreat from the room making her head spin.
She started to slide off the countertop, suddenly embarrassed by her state of undress. Tugging her dress down, she grabbed her ripped panties and hurried after him, but he was already gone when she stepped out into the hallway.
She knew where his bedroom was even if she’d never been inside it so she made her way to the second floor and knocked on the door.
No answer.
“Bo, please talk to me.” Insecurities flared inside her when all she got was an eerie silence. She could force the door open if she wanted, but no way would she do that. She wouldn’t violate his privacy.
Unsure what had happened between them, what had changed so drastically in the span of seconds, she tried to bury her insecurities and hurt as she stepped away from his room.
Maybe she’d let go too much. Maybe when he’d seen all the destruction she’d caused…no, she didn’t think that was it. God, maybe he just didn’t want her anymore.
Fighting tears, she shut her door behind her and forced all her emotions into a tight box. If she let go now she might bring the house down on their heads.
* * *
Bo’s breath sawed in and out as he leaned back against his bedroom door. He couldn’t believe what he’d almost done.
His demon half had been under lockdown, calmer, since meeting Nyx. He hadn’t slept with anyone since the first time he’d seen her. Hadn’t wanted to. Now it seemed all his pent up lust and aggression had come roaring to the surface.
He’d been ready to take her right there in his kitchen like a fucking animal. Closing his eyes, he collapsed against the door, hating himself in that moment.
His co
ntrol was better now but in the kitchen he’d been walking a thin line. He’d wanted nothing more than to rip her dress free from her body and feast on every inch of her bare flesh, to pound into her right on the countertop.
She deserved better than him, no doubt about it, especially if it was her first time. The way she’d come apart for him, the rawness of her orgasm had pushed him over the edge. He’d never heard sounds as sweet as when she came against his mouth.
He was almost positive she was a virgin. That made him feel even shittier.
The worst thing was, he still wanted her with a desperation that terrified him. He wanted to stalk down to her room and finish what they’d started. But he didn’t trust himself. He’d felt his demon pushing at the surface. What if he couldn’t control himself? What if he was no better than his father?
Snarling, he let his claws free and tore them over his thighs. The pain of his flesh tearing centered him, got him more in control.
He would figure this out. He had to. Because he didn’t think he could let Nyx go. Even if he didn’t deserve her.
* * *
“Uh…are we going to talk about what just happened?” Victoria asked as Drake stepped over to Finn’s desk to look at the map layout of the cemetery, seemingly calm about the fact that Bo and Nyx had just disappeared into thin air right in front of them.
Both males looked at her with a hint of confusion. “What about it?” Finn asked.
“They just ghosted out of your office like…” She lifted her hands and slightly waved them. “No one thinks that’s crazy?”
Drake, her sexy mate, just lifted a big shoulder. “Bo clearly does not know how to act around his female. Once he figures out how to, they will be mated soon.”
“No doubt,” Finn murmured, glancing at his phone when it dinged an incoming text.
Apparently she was the only one who thought the transporting was something to talk about. She’d seen Nyx do it a week ago and it had stunned her then. Still did. She wasn’t remotely worried that Bo would hurt Nyx. The male was smitten with her. Not to mention Victoria was pretty sure Nyx could hold her own against anyone.
Drake nodded at the printout of the map Finn had laid on the desk. “I’ll do the recon tonight. Should be easy enough.”
Victoria frowned. “You don’t want to wait for Bo?”
“No need.”
“Okay, I’m going with you then.” She’d planned to go anyway, but without someone on the ground for recon, then she was definitely going to be by her mate’s side. Drake still tried to protect her when he could but he was pretty good about treating her as an equal. As much as an alpha dragon could, because they could be ridiculously overprotective.
“I think I should do a single fly over first then you can come with me.”
“If you don’t take me with you, I’ll just do ground recon alone.”
Drake’s dragon flickered in his gaze, his animal looking at her with clear frustration.
“Don’t even bother arguing. You always lose.” Finn slid his phone into his jeans pocket. “I’ve gotta grab Lyra and head out. There’s apparently a nest of vamps in my territory. We’re going to clear them out.” He sounded like an excited cub.
Victoria gave Drake a smug smile. “Look, he’s taking his mate with him to fight the vampires.”
Drake’s jaw tightened once, but just as quickly he sighed. “Fine. You will ride on my back.”
She planned to ride him later. She smiled at the thought, even as a flush of heat rushed through her. Though they’d been friends since last year she and Drake had only been mated a couple months and she couldn’t get enough of him. It was like this insatiable, driving need that seemed to have no end in sight. She couldn’t have hid her desire for Drake even if she’d wanted to.
“Whatever you’re thinking right now, don’t do anything in my office,” Finn said, making long strides to the door.
She just snickered. It wasn’t as if she could hide the scent of her need for Drake, not from another supernatural being. Finn had been like a father to her, taking her into his pack when she was a teenager. And because of an overprotective pack she hadn’t even been able to date, let alone have sex until Drake. So she wouldn’t feel bad or apologize. “No promises.”
The big, bad Alpha gave her a horrified look before he hurried from the room. “No sex on my desk!” he called out from down the hallway.
Drake just raised his eyebrows as he looked down at her, raw heat simmering under the surface.
“I was messing with him,” she said, recognizing that glint of lust in his beautiful gray gaze.
He simply looked at the sturdy desk, then at her, a not so subtle question in his expression.
Grinning, Victoria shook her head. “No way. We’ve got recon to do.”
“After, then.” The words were a low, throaty growl.
“Oh yeah.” She grabbed his hand, pulled him down to her for one scorching kiss before forcing herself to pull back. Because if she didn’t, they really would do it on her Alpha’s desk and that was just a little wrong. Drake’s eyes had turned that brilliant silver supernova, the sight melting her all over, but… “We’ve gotta do this now,” she murmured. “Nyx is on a deadline to deliver that package.”
Jaw tight, Drake nodded. “You’re right.”
They made it to the rooftop of the mansion in a few minutes. Drake stripped and folded his clothes with rapid precision. Though not so quick that she didn’t get to enjoy his taut, sleek lines of muscled perfection. The male radiated power, all of it speaking to her on the most primal level. When he handed her his clothes to hold, she didn’t bother not staring.
He was hers and she could look all she wanted.
“Keep looking at me like that and we’ll never get out of here.” With a growl of pure sexual frustration, he stepped back and let the shift overcome him.
She never tired of seeing him shift forms. His body transformed, growing wider and wider into a winged creature so incredibly beautiful it took her breath away. Under the moonlight his jade wings shimmered like a thousand emeralds. As he grew to full size, she stepped closer, savoring his warmth. All shifters had a higher body temperature than humans, but dragons even more so. Drake was no different.
Gently, she ran a hand over the side of his face and cheek. His diamond-colored scales were surprisingly soft as she nuzzled her face against his before climbing onto his back. He remained perfectly still, always so careful with her.
The first time she’d flown on him she’d been terrified. But she’d just fallen off the side of a crumbling cliff and had been in a freefall, sure she was about to die. Riding him now was different, more exhilarating. As soon as she settled on him, getting a good hold of his scales, he all but disappeared from sight. His huge body blurred, making it impossible for anyone to see him with the naked eye. Ancient dragons were chameleons, part of the reason they’d survived so long.
“I’m ready,” she said.
When he took off, her heart jumped in her throat as it always did during a flight. Her hair flew back from her face, the rush of wind streaking over her exposed skin, making her feel alive in the best way possible.
The flight to the cemetery wasn’t far. She recognized it from the aerial map they’d reviewed earlier. It had a few lights and a groundskeeper building and with her supernatural sight she could see it appeared to be well-maintained.
It was nestled next to a quiet, suburban neighborhood and it was late enough that no one would be outside. Not that it really mattered considering Drake’s virtual invisibility. And she was on top of him, blocked by his body. But still, it was ingrained into her that they needed to remain non-existent to humans.
Drake dipped low, his wings going still as they descended into a short dive. Her stomach flip-flopped even though she knew he was in complete control. But when he abruptly jerked up, his wings flapping hard and fast as they climbed high into the night sky, she knew something was wrong. Could feel the tension rolling off him in tangibl
e waves.
If Drake was worried, she knew she should be too. Whatever was down there, it wasn’t good.
Chapter 4
Nyx worried her bottom lip as Bo steered up to the huge, arching wrought iron cemetery gates. She knew she should be more worried about delivering whatever was in this package, but the drive here had been the definition of awkward.
Bo had barely said two words to her since he’d told her that he’d gotten a call from Drake and wanted to meet at the cemetery. It annoyed her that Drake had called Bo and not her, but that wasn’t the real source of her frustration.
It was the male next to her.
He brought her to an amazing climax last night, really only a few hours ago considering the early hour, and then decided he just didn’t want to talk to her. At all. Fury and embarrassment swirled inside her, making her want to lash out.
“You don’t even have to be here,” she snapped as the leash on her anger slipped. She’d been hurt last night but now she was more pissed than anything. Okay, she was still hurt. She didn’t know what she could have done that was so awful that he couldn’t even look at her.
Bo just grunted another non-response as he turned off into an attached parking lot connected to the cemetery grounds. It was early morning, barely twilight, and there was only one other truck in the parking lot. As Bo parked two spaces down from the vehicle, Drake and Finn got out.
They were both dressed in cargo pants, a T-shirt, and boots. The same as Bo. She wondered if it was something warrior males tended to favor.
“After I deliver this, I’m moving out of your place.” She tossed it over her shoulder as she jumped from the vehicle.
Screw him. Screw this whole situation. Her whole life she’d questioned every move she made, had been told by her mother and others that she was a failure at pretty much everything. Now Bo was treating her as if she didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to stick around his place any longer. She might have moved in a couple weeks ago because she’d wanted to keep the location of where she was staying secret from her father’s side of her family, but she wasn’t going to stay where she wasn’t wanted.
