“You’re not wrong, but still, why didn’t she just tell us what she knew?” I know I’m pushing his tolerance about Raven with these questions, but Descallia watches carefully. He knows exactly what I’m doing.
“Let me remind you she is the one that told Embry. Raven wanted Devora to tell her about the content in the shadow books. Raven thought that’s why they allowed her entry into the Mystic Forest. She never knew nor knows now what exactly is in the books just that they hold secrets. And need I remind you that Raven and the witches offered to help decipher the damn things and she was also the one who fixed my estate with a wave of her wand.”
I start to intercede but now that Romano is worked up there’s no stopping his tirade. It’s clear he’s ferociously protective of his mate, the same way I would be of Embry and that right there tells me everything there is to know. Romano is very perceptive, they’ve been together for quite a while and if he’s that loyal to her, that means she’s that loyal to us. I tune back into his tirade, but I’ve learned all I needed to know. People’s passions give so much away. You just have to know how to ask the right questions and let them talk.
Romano exhales a deep breath. “It’s not like Devora hasn’t flown off the handle many times before. It’s a tumultuousaffair living next door to the witches. But I won’t have Raven’s commitment questioned. The masters and I have been down that road before. Our mates are dedicated to the vampires.”
“Of this I have no doubt,” I tell Romano, lifting my glass of Descallia Red as his eyes narrow at me and Descallia smiles. Romano puts his glass down with a thud. “You two,” he says looking first to me and then to Descallia. A fucking test of some kind?”
Descallia shrugs. “Not mine.”
“I don’t know you as well as the other masters. Something has always come up each of the opportunities we’ve had to get to know each other over the years. I can tell simply by your passion for Raven that she’s as dedicated to the vampires as she is to you. I’m sorry to have raised your ire. Just wanted to make sure there was no doubt.”
Romano huffs. “Then next time just fucking ask.”
I grin and raise a glass. “Fair enough, Master Romano,” I tell him, turning my attention back to the sexy little vampire dancing with half-glazed eyes with her friends in the middle of the floor. If someone questioned me about her I’d be as pissed as Romano, maybe even more. The instinct to protect my love is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. And no one, not even Raven is going to get close enough to hurt her unless I know their intentions are pure.
After another hour of dancing the girls come back for a drink, and this time Embry orders a tall glass of ice water. “Something to quench this thirst,” she says to the waitress, before she takes requests from her friends. The waitress leaves the table and Lucianna clears her throat. “So, when do you think we should get together and start deciphering these books?” she says.
Embry’s eyes light up. I can tell this is something she’s excited to do. She turns to me. “What are your plans for this week?”
I don’t tell her that most of it’s going to be spent navigating how to pull the warriors back together before she gets an invitation to try out. She has to be the one to make the decision, yet I have to get some of the foundational work done before we’re ready. “I’ll be buried in a ton of administrative stuff. I’ll be in and out of the estate, but you’re welcome to use the great room,” I say, stepping carefully around the fact that it’s now her home too.
But Lucianna, that looks she gives me. I’d bet ten to one our powerful queen already knows our sordid little secret…
24
CORVINUS
Embry turns to me once we’ve retrieved our coats and are settled in the car. “Overmaster Descallia finding out about us, it’s bothering you, isn’t it?”
I click her seat belt in place and fasten mine and then put my arm around her, drawing her near. “There’s nothing for you to worry about. We’ll get it sorted, of that I have no doubt.” The last thing I want is to give her cause for one more worry, but her fingers laced through mine keep moving, telling me she’s not going to let this go. I turn her lips to me and kiss her gently. “We’ll find a way to break it to them when we think it’s the right time.”
She’s quiet as we drive. I asked her to give me a year, and it’s hardly been any time at all, barely one trip to the club. Not nearly enough time for her to learn to trust me with her emotions and her body. After what she’s been through, I don’t want to rush a commitment from her, but I’ll be damned if I’m letting her go either. There is a way forward for us, I just have to find the right time and balance. I lace my fingers with hers, squeezing gently just to let her know I’m there.
Embry watches the road going by from her window and flips the button that puts the darkened privacy glass between us andthe driver up. “Are there others at the club like Chelise?” she asks quietly.
I’ve not lied to her before and I’m not going to start now. “I’ve had sessions with a few of the ladies who work there but none have been serious.” By the look on her face, it’s not what she wants to hear but it is the truth.
“Chelise, the little skank still wants you.”
I laugh, placing a finger under her chin to tilt her to me. “No, Chelise definitely does not want me, Embry. Chelise wants position, money, and power. Things one gets when they’re mated to a lord, or a master. It’s been that way all of my life, until I met you. Honestly, you are the only woman I’ve known who pushed me away and told me no.”
Her eyes turn red around the periphery. “I have a mean-ass sword swing, and you should probably move all your ex-lovers to a new job, some other club because I hate them all, every single one of them,” she huffs.
My chest tightens with an unfamiliar feeling. “Jealousy looks good on you, love. Consider it done,” I tell her, hugging her against my chest. She snuggles in and her hand begins to roam. “I loved the playroom, and calling you sir,” she purrs, as the soft palm of her hand finds my crotch.
Her touch makes my dick instantly hard, hell, everything about Embry keeps me hard, especially the way she tries to be in charge but knows that I’ll allow it for only a brief period of time. I unbutton my slacks, and she frees me from the constraints, stroking my length with those smooth as silky hands as I stretch my legs. “Damn that feels good, love.”
Embry lowers her head, teasing the head of my dick with the warmth of her tongue, circling my slit before engulfing my head with the heat of her lips. I moan as she moves lower, sliding down the length of my shaft, and then back up only to do it again, so slowly that she’s driving me insane. My hands weaveinto her hair, guiding her head, lowering her face onto my dick as it hits the back of her throat. This is fucking heaven, and I don’t ever want it to stop. But Embry has tricks of her own, she slides up my shaft, licking, slowly letting me come down off the edge.
Her eyes look up at me from beneath those soft sultry lashes. “You still want to be in charge?” she asks sweetly while shrugging out of her coat.
I smirk as she crawls into my lap, straddling me, her pert nipples straining through the material of her sweater. She kisses my lips gently. “I like to tease you about being in charge, but you know I’m just teasing, right?”
My hands are already on her ass, moving her just right, lifting her up and bringing her down hard onto my rock-hard dick. “You know what happens to little teases, Embry?” I ask as her mouth forms an O shape as I thrust against that special little spot just right.
“Tell me, vampire,” she says, barely able to catch her breath as I drive right against the end of her and then do it again.
