Taste of Darkness (30 page)

“You’re capable, but a dragon could still kill you,” he snapped, his eyes glittering bright silver.

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“No maybe. They could fry you in seconds.” His face twisted in agony as he said the words, his pain making her want to comfort him.

But she stayed where she was. She wouldn’t let him put her in gilded cage, no matter how good his intentions. “I’ve got your dragon’s essence, remember.”

His jaw clenched tight, his expression darkening to the point she could actually envision steam coming out of his ears. “That’s not a long-term solution. Until this shit is figured out—”

She shoved up from the desk, shaking as she stood. “Just
stop
. I’m not leaving you to deal with this by yourself. If you think I would ever entertain that idea, you don’t know me at all. If you want me as a mate, we’ll be equals and I’ll never stick my head in the sand to leave you to deal with anything alone. That’s not how partnerships work!” She shouted the last part, unable to stop the rising pitch of her voice because damn it, if he thought she’d ever leave him, it sliced her up.

Victoria rounded the desk and stalked toward him when he didn’t respond. He just watched her with a simmering mash of emotions. Anger for certain, but there was a lot of lust in those bright silver eyes. Hoping he’d see reason, she stood in front of him and laid a calm hand on his chest, which was unfortunately covered with a shirt. “Drake—”

He crushed his mouth to hers, the dominating move taking her by surprise. She was still mad at him and kissing wasn’t going to solve anything but… Oh, god, he tasted so damn good.

Arching into him, she wrapped her arms around him, sliding one hand behind his neck and cupping his head.

He moaned into her mouth, the savage growl making her nipples painfully tighten. She needed more of him. So much more.

Her body hummed with energy. Unable to take not touching more of him any longer, she slid her hands under his shirt and shoved it up. Taking her cue, he grabbed the hem and yanked it over his head, moving back a fraction as he did.

Her hungry gaze raked over the hard lines and striations of his incredible body. His breathing was as erratic as hers, the rise and fall of his broad chest making heat pool between her legs as she imagined kissing every inch of it.

Before she could move, he came at her like a male possessed, grabbing her hips and lifting her so that she had to wrap her legs around his waist. Not that she was complaining. She craved this closeness. After she thought she’d lost him in the woods, she needed reassurance that he was here. Alive.

And all hers.

Before she’d blinked her back was flat against the desk and Drake was covering her, his huge frame dominating everything as he slid his hands into her hair, holding her head in place as his tongue tangled with hers.

The way he kissed her was raw, like he was fucking her with his tongue. At that thought, she spread her legs wider, welcoming the feel of his hard length pressing insistently against the juncture of her thighs. Too bad they both had pants on.

Her fingers dug into his back hard as she arched into him again, writhing against him so he knew exactly what she wanted. She didn’t care if their first time was on this desk. She just wanted Drake.

His kisses grew more intense as he reached between their bodies and unbuttoned her jeans. After tugging the zipper down, he slid his hand down her panties and cupped her mound, sliding a finger deep inside her. Slowly he began thrusting in and out of her, her inner walls clenching around him with each deeper push.

“You’re so wet,” he growled against her mouth, moving to trail kisses along her jaw. “I want to fuck you right here.”

“Do it,” she rasped out, nipping his earlobe between her teeth as she raked her fingers down his back. His muscles bunched under her touch. She slid her hands under the waist of his jeans and gripped his taut skin.

“Not…here.” He pulled his finger out of her before sliding two in and pushing deep.

She let out a groan at the way he stretched her. It wasn’t enough but at least he wasn’t completely stopping. “Why not?”

“Fuck my fingers,” he whispered darkly. “Come on them.” A possessive growl.

His words sent a spiral of need through her as she rolled her hips against his hand. When he started strumming her clit with his thumb she completely lost it. Hadn’t even realized she was so close to orgasm until he tweaked her sensitive bundle of nerves.

Body bowing tight, the unexpected climax ripped through her, shattering her nerve endings. “Drake.” She couldn’t hold back the shout of his name as she moved against his hand.

He buried his face against her neck, raking his teeth against her pulse point as her inner walls convulsed around his fingers.

Letting her head fall back against the desk as her orgasm peaked, she saw that the room was lit up like a Christmas tree. She wasn’t sure how long she writhed against him but eventually her climax faded, leaving her loose limbed and emotionally exhausted.

Wrapping her arms around his back, she held tight. When he withdrew his fingers from her, her body immediately mourned the loss. “Thank you,” she whispered, not trusting her voice more than that.

He leaned back to look at her but was still covering her with his body. She savored the feel of his weight on top of her, the security of Drake. Lifting his hand he licked the first then second finger he’d just had buried inside her. The way he watched her as he did it was so primal a shiver snaked through her.

“Love your taste,” he murmured, his gaze pinned to hers.

She started to respond when a knock on the door made her jump. Drake made an annoyed rumbling sound in his chest and glanced over his shoulder. “Who the fuck is it?” he shouted, his words more of a growl than anything.

“Conall. Bran called. Might have some information for us. He’s waiting at the gate.”

“Give me a sec.” Drake cursed under his breath but pushed up from her. As he did, he helped her sit even though she didn’t need it. “I just want you safe,” he said as he slid off the desk and grabbed his discarded shirt.

“I know you do. I want you safe too. But I don’t want to lock you up somewhere.”

“I don’t want to lock you up either,” he snapped as he once again covered that beautiful body with his shirt. “Going back to stay with your pack is just good sense.”

Frowning, she zipped and buttoned her pants. “So I don’t have good sense?”

“I didn’t say that. It’s just smarter if you put distance between here.”

“Says
you
.” Her ire rose again, swift and sharp. She faced off with him, her hands on her hips.

“Damn it Victoria!” Before he could continue, Conall, Keelin, Gabriel and Rhea strode in the room, all carrying manila files.

“Your argument will have to wait.” Gabriel’s voice was completely unapologetic. “Conall’s got more files on everyone who was at the cabin this morning. And on Petronilla clan members who your immediate family has had issues with, no matter how small. I also called Finn and he’s calling in a favor to Bo. He’s going to see if the half-demon has heard anything through his supernatural grapevine about anyone having a beef with your clan. Other than the Veles clan.” His voice was wry as he said the last part.

Victoria was glad she was dressed but knew the others must scent what she and Drake had been doing minutes before. Her face flushed but she ignored it as Conall looked at her.

“Victoria, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like you to keep researching Drake’s…ability,” Conall said.

She nodded. That was fine with her.

“What else did Bran say?” Drake asked.

Conall shook his head. “Nothing. Just that he wants to see me in person.”

“I’m going with you,” Drake said immediately, then paused, tilting his head in Victoria’s direction, but refusing to look at her. She could practically feel the wall he was erecting between them even after what they’d just shared. All because he wanted her to leave. “The house is being guarded, but keep your blade on you.”

She gritted her teeth at his coldness. “Of course.” She had it sheathed and strapped on against her calf so that it touched her skin at all times. Hidden and accessible. Victoria looked at Drake, willing him to meet her gaze as he headed to the door with his brother, but he wouldn’t look her way.

His refusal to even look at her was a punch to her senses. The way he was completely shutting her out, as if he was encasing himself in this icy wall she couldn’t breach. Like all shifters, she needed physical touch, especially from her mate. Or future mate as it were. Especially in a situation like this.

As the door shut quietly behind them, her eyes started to burn with tears so she moved back to the desk she’d been at and started to read the same bit of text, not wanting anyone to see her crying.

How freaking pathetic.

The room was impossibly quiet though, as if the others were afraid to breathe too loud. And she felt all their eyes on her. For a few minutes she just stared at the page in front of her, but everything was wavy and unreadable through her tears. She blinked quickly and when a drop fell onto the text, she stood. Keeping her head down, she rounded the desk.

“He just wants you safe,” Gabriel murmured.

The fact that Gabriel of all people was saying that, made her want to cry even more. Without responding, she hurried from the room, and headed in the direction of the front of the house. There was a guest bathroom next to the kitchen and she desperately wanted privacy right about now.

Shoving the bathroom door open, she angrily swiped at her falling tears. She shouldn’t be crying right now, she needed to be doing research. Throat clogged, she started to turn on the faucet when the door cracked open. She turned, ready to tell whoever it was she wanted to be alone when Keelin tentatively stepped inside.

“Hey,” the female murmured. “Males can be dicks sometimes.”

To hear the proper female say dick made Victoria laugh, the unexpectedness lifting some of her tension and drying her tears. “No kidding.”

Stepping fully inside, Keelin leaned against the double-sink granite counter. “Conall’s always been protective and my parents stupidly so. Must be a trait that runs in the family.”

Victoria leaned against the counter too. “I don’t mind the protectiveness, I just can’t stand him shutting me out and insisting I actually leave.” She would swear that it almost physically hurt. She absently rubbed the middle of her chest.

“I know. I think he’s just trying to deal with everything in his own way. After being locked away for so long, you belong to him for lack of a better phrase. I can’t imagine that he’s ever had anything that belonged to him. Not that I think you’re a possession, but you know what I mean.”

Victoria
did
know what Keelin meant. But it didn’t make her feel any better. “Yeah, I guess.” But she and Drake needed to talk later, when they had some privacy. This kind of thing with him shutting her out would never work. Not for a real relationship. And she was in this for the long haul. But, she couldn’t think about any of that now. Research was the only thing that might distract her and it was certainly better than talking about things she didn’t want to focus on. “Thanks for checking on me. I’m okay, I swear. Let’s just head back to the library.”

“Okay.” But instead of moving toward the door, Keelin pulled her into a tight hug, the small female’s grip strong.

“Crap, now I’m going to cry again,” she muttered, returning the other woman’s embrace. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed the tactile sensation until now.

Laughing lightly, Keelin pulled back. “Things will be fine once you two talk.”

Likely true but it didn’t make Victoria feel much better at the moment. Nodding, she followed the other woman out, but froze when she saw a familiar male pointing a gun right at them. It registered that he had a suppressor on the weapon. Icy fingers clenched around her chest. Before she could move or think about reacting, he pulled the trigger, his aim dead on. A bullet slammed into her stomach.

The sound of a puff of air filled the room as pain rippled through her, her nerve endings on fire as she tumbled back into the bathroom. Her back hit the cold tile as she tried to scream for help. Everything funneled out as Keelin fell next to her, her eyes wide open in shock and horror as the female groaned in pain.

Victoria tried to roll over, to find purchase on the ground, but the male shot again, hitting her in the stomach a second time. Raw agony bloomed inside her. She opened her mouth, trying to find her voice but all that came out was a low moan. “Drake,” she whispered his name or tried to. She needed to warn him, to keep him safe but could barely keep her eyes open.

Blackness edged her vision as the shockwaves of pain washed through her like a blowtorch. Her throat tightened, making it impossible to scream. Her wolf begged to take over but she overpowered her inner animal, embracing the pain and taking it as her own.

She couldn’t shift. Not now. That blade attached to her calf was a strong weapon and she needed it. Her animal side seemed to understand her need because it abated as she started to fade, the pain like razorblades sweeping across her middle. The creeping blackness consumed her as she fell into unconsciousness.

Chapter Twenty-Five