He slid even easier inside her as her fresh cream coated him. Breathing heavy and erratic, he leaned back over her neck and bit her once.
Skin broke, blood poured out, and then he was mating with her. Jackie never knew, never expected...the incredible amount of pleasure that came with his bite. The heat inside her came back in full force as if this was all leading to one big build up and her previous release was just a tiny scratch on the surface. For a moment, her heart pounded with fear. Could she even survive this?
But she had no time to think about that question because he pulled back with a husky grunt and said, “Your turn.”
In the true ritual of shapeshifters mating, Jackie kissed his neck then used the beast’s strength inside her to break his skin. He tasted like he smelled—earthy and rich. She took all that she needed and pulled away as her body tore apart.
Screams pulled from her throat, deep within her chest as she came and came. He drove into her with a shout, and somehow he rode her through the waves crashing inside her body. He landed deep and jetted hot and thick inside her.
They were one.
Jackie had never felt better than she did in that moment. She let him carry her to bed because she couldn’t move. She settled across his bare chest with a sigh and fell asleep in her mate’s arms.
Chapter 35
When the world reappeared, they were back in her room at Tyrian’s castle. She spun around taking in her antique chests, canopy bed, and lace draperies hanging from the window.
She turned to him. “What are you doing?”
Draven disappeared and returned a minute later with her luggage.
“Master—I mean, Draven, my lord, please tell me what’s going on. Why am I back here? I never said I’d go with you,” she rushed to add.
He cut her a sharp look. A look passed over his face like a shield and guilt nagged at her. Had she just hurt his feelings?
“You are my frimar. You will do what I say.” He looked away. When he looked back at her, his eyes were dark with something she didn’t recognize but it made her heart flutter like a pack of trapped birds in a net.
“You left me.”
She retreated before she was aware of what she was doing. Her legs hit the mattress of her bed. She held her hands out before her, pleading.
“Please, Draven. I truly did not want to leave you. I—”
He laughed, the sound hard. “But that’s exactly what you did, Lucinda.” Her name was a silken caress from his lips. He took a step toward her, backing her against the bed.
“I care for you, truly. You must know that after so many years.”
He gave her a hard look that silenced her. Another step forward and his body brushed along hers.
“You left me,” he said darkly.
Helpless she shook her head. “I merely wanted some freedom. I care for you but I need—”
He silenced her with his mouth.
Hot hands, passionate mouth touched her, tasted her everywhere.
He didn’t let her up for air until dawn crept in. Only when her body was a languid mesh. She attempted to talk but the only thing that came out was a yawn. He rolled against her, cradling her back to his front...and she fell asleep.
When she woke, he was gone.
“I refuse to be treated like this,” Lucinda said softly.
She sat in a high-back, antique chair facing the fireplace. Even without seeing her eyes, he knew she was sad, angry even.
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Rarely in his life did he not know what to do. He didn’t always make the right choices, but at least he’d made one. But now? He had no idea what to do. He’d stolen her from her escape and kept her locked in her room ever since. It didn’t sit right in his gut at all, but damn if he couldn’t think of anything else he could do.
If he let her go, she’d run. He knew with absolute certainty that that wasn’t a possibility for him. In a short period of time, she’d managed to get under his skin and take up a permanent living there. If he let her go now...he might never be able to deal.
She was so unlike his previous frimar. When Charlotte betrayed him, he hadn’t known what to do. A dark part of him had wanted to kill her but had been unable to go through with the deed. So he’d sent her to Tyrian to be disposed of. He hadn’t wanted to know where she’d gone, but he couldn’t deny his curiosity. It was only three weeks before he’d gone to Tyrian to ask about her. He’d said he sent her to a remote vampire clan in the far east of Europe to live. He’d warned them of her knack for attempted murder.
Draven hadn’t felt better about it. A sick, twisted part of him had still missed her. After all, just because the crazy woman had tried to end his life didn’t stop him from caring about her.
Because you are a fool!
But now he understood that Lucinda wasn’t anything like Charlotte. Charlotte had been full of coy smiles, lies, and incredible anger. He could still remember the sound of her voice screaming at him.
For the life of him he couldn’t fathom why she was upset. He’d taken her in as his frimar and even she admitted he’d been very good to her, allowing her spoken privileges that not all hosts gave.
Yet she ran from me.
Still that knowledge put a dark anger inside him. She could have been hurt, lost, abused. She didn’t know how to fight. He didn’t even think she had any money. Where had she planned on going? A fresh wave of anger tightened inside him. It hadn’t even mattered. So long as she was away from him she’d be happy.
After she gave me her body!
How could she make him feel so...different then leave him. It felt like another betrayal.
Finally he came to her and took the chair next to her. “Treat you like what?”
She looked at him with soft eyes, eyes filled with confusion and anger. A blush crept over her cheeks and her lips moved but no sound came out. Draven had a feeling he didn’t want to hear her answer but he asked anyways.
“Treat you like what, Lucinda?”
She swallowed hard then said so softly he barely heard it, “A whore.”
He sat there stunned, mouth open. She saw his expression and looked even more embarrassed before she looked away to stare at the floor.
Draven’s mind raced a mile a minute. A whore? She thought herself a whore? His gut churned painfully, his chest pulling uncomfortably tight. Stark cold came over him. He’d made her feel like that. He never should have taken her body. Should have been stronger or taken her advice and gotten rid of her. But how could he? She made him feel good. He could have laughed. She actually made him feel younger and not like the jaded ass he was.
He thought over the last few days he’d kept her here and hated himself even more. He’d done nothing but work himself between her thighs. Shame had him turning away from her. God, he was an animal. He kidnapped her, brought her to a place she didn’t want to be then took her body.
“Fuck,” he muttered and stalked across the room.
That strange tightness in his chest constricted even more until he wasn’t sure if he was breathing anymore. Quit being a selfish asshole, he thought.
“You’re right, of course. I accept your relinquishing. If you ever need anything, please let me know.”
He heard her gasp but couldn’t bear to turn to her. What would he see on her face if he did? Surprise, happiness? He didn’t think he could handle seeing her happy to be rid of him.
“I can leave you here or take you to wherever you want to go before I leave.”
So preoccupied was he in his busy thoughts, he never heard her step up behind him. The soft hand curling around his arm had him stiffening. Slowly, he turned to look at her. Whoosh. The air in his lungs left him in a rush. She was so beautiful it hurt to look at her. Flawless skin and innocent eyes all looking right at him. He felt humbled and sickened all at the same time. Whore. The word echoed inside his mind as a nasty reminder. God how could she think that? She was the loveliest of creatures.