I snorted. “Relax. I wasn't going to say it.” To Nex, I said, “The M word that means damp.”
“Oh-h-h-h,” Nex said. “Got it. For the love of the Goddess, you guys need to get over that word. And there's nothing wrong with sinking your dick into something that makes its own lubrication.”
We all made sounds of horror.
“Fuck you guys,” Nex said. “You have no problem sticking your dicks into a place where—”
“Nope!” I cut him off. “If you want to be welcome at this table, Nex, you will not finish that sentence.”
“What happened to being honest?” Nex smirked.
“I can only take so much of it.”
That's when Lord Taroc walked by.
As my men argued with Nex about what was the best channel to fuck, I went still and focused on the Tytra Wraith Lord who had been haunting my dreams. Not just my dreams, but my waking thoughts too.
Taroc and I had been dancing around the possibility of getting together for a while now. He wanted me to figure out my shit before he decided whether to chase me or not. Oh, and the chasing bit was important. As a male dragon-shifter, hunting was in his blood. He wouldn't want me as much if I just offered myself to him. So, now that I had figured my shit out and knew what I wanted, or who, I didn't know how to approach Taroc.
I needed to give him a sign that I was ready for him without being too aggressive. And I had to do it soon. I was getting really fucking tired of watching Taroc leave the dining hall with other Lords. At least he wasn't interested in women. He strode by Evina without even glancing her way.
He did, however, look at me.
Taroc had gotten to the buffet line. He wasn't big into socializing in the morning, preferring to start his day with a quiet meal. So he didn't chat up the men in line with him. Instead, he peered ahead at the platters of food set out, then back at the dining hall. That's when he found me watching him. Under his direct stare, I went hot, the blood rushing to my face as my heart pounded double time. What the fuck? One look and I was ready to bend over for him. And it hadn't even been a lusty look.
But it became one.
As Taroc stared at me, his expression shifted, as did his powerful body. They were slight shifts, but profound ones. A tilted shoulder, a lowered chin, a parting of the lips. And those eyes. I had a thing for blue eyes, and Taroc's eyes were the color of precious sapphires. The color the ocean dreamed of. And his eyes focused on me with a promise that put an ache low in my body.
Not my cock. I mean, yes, that too. But the ache I'm talking about was more emotional. A longing. Taroc was right there, within reach, but I couldn't approach him. I had to wait for him to decide he was ready for me. Wait for him to determine it was time to hunt.
Taroc grinned, flashing his Tytra fangs.
My breath caught. My wait over. The hunt had just begun.
Chapter Two
After Taroc gave me that intense look, I was sure he'd come over. At least stop by the table and say hi. Maybe even join us. Nope. Taroc ate his breakfast alone, never glancing my way, and then left the dining hall. I had to stop myself from muttering a curse. I guess I'd been wrong about the wait being over.
It's not as if I didn't have enough men to keep me happy and busy. And they were the best. I loved them. Adored them. Fucking worshiped them. But I'd finally accepted that I needed to take more lovers to empower my fellow Wraith Lords so we could end the war with the Corrupter. This acceptance—true acceptance this time—meant I was on the hunt as much as Taroc was. Or as much as I hoped he was. I was almost anxious about my need to fulfill my destiny. And my libido had responded as if it were a fire I had just added wood to. Wood. Oh yeah, I had some wood to add.
For fuck's sake, enough, Ember!
Rubbing at my head, I realized I'd swung to the opposite end of the scale, going from rebelling against my lot to diving in and making a huge splash. I needed to find a happy middle ground. A small ripple.
“Are you ready to train?” Ratharin asked me.
“What?” I looked over at him. “We just ate. Can't you give me some time to digest?”
“We've been sitting here for half an hour,” Rath shot back as he stood up and casually tossed his braided, dark hair over his shoulder. The braid put the tips of his Varraen ears on sharp display, pale against the shiny black. “You've digested plenty.”
“Come on, love. We've got magical training afterward.” Xaedren swung his thick legs over the bench, stood up, then helped me up. His hair, as pale as Rath's was dark, hung wild about his broad shoulders. Xae didn't mess with it unless he had to. A braid? Only if I did it for him.
“See you guys later,” Nex said. “I'm off to visit Vraxis.”
“What's in Vraxis?” I asked eagerly. “And can I go with you? Do you need company? Backup? Please say you need backup.”
“No, I definitely don't need backup.” Nex snorted. “I'm looking for someone to ease the ache in my balls. And I don't think your boyfriends are going to be good with you attending me, even if it were just to keep me company.”
