“She worries as we wait for the Guardians and Shae to return from dealing with that Fallen, Aza.” His expression dark, he picked up a large leather-bound book and made his way back to the table. He set it down and carefully paged through volume. The thing appeared as if it would crumble if a page were turned too fast.
Darci left him to his research and shelved her books. By the time she came back for the last one, he was reading something in a language she couldn’t decipher, but she recognized the drawing. It looked like the tattoo she’d seen on Shae’s wrist, a series of knots with one side open. “What is that?”
He blew out a heavy breath, his unusual orange-green eyes dark with worry. “Trouble. But just in case, I want to see if there’s a way to undo it.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a mate mark the Fallen had imprinted on Shae without her knowledge.”
What?Shock froze Darci for several seconds. If someone had done that to her, she would be furious as hell—heck, she’d want to kill him.
Her stomach knotting, she left Hedori to his reading and headed up to the second floor quarters she shared with Blaéz. And prayed this ended well for the couple. She really liked Shae, and Dagan seemed to finally shed the remoteness that normally surrounded him like armor.
* * *
As Blaéz took form on the portico of the castle situated on their island estate just off Manhasset Bay on Long Island Sound, a chilly wind blowing inland from the Atlantic swept over him.
He opened the door and stepped into the warmth of the brightly lit foyer with soaring, floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows and marbled statues sporadically placed between several tall shrubs. The tempting aroma of roasting beef and other things he’d soon discover wafted in the air.
However, he had another destination in mind, the only one that counted right then. He jogged up the grand staircase and headed to his quarters, their soul sharing revealing exactly where he’d find his mate.
Blaéz walked into their softly lit bedroom and made for the first door near the enormous fireplace, halting in the dressing room doorway. There, near the open closet, stood his entire reason for living. Wearing only her underwear, obviously about to head in for her shower, Darci pulled out something from the shelf. Pale blue flannel pajamas covered with cavorting brown pups. Sure it was winter and cold, but he didn’t agree with her choice of sleepwear. Far too concealing for his taste.
Silent as a stalking cat, he prowled over, slid his arms around her waist, and kissed her nape. She shrieked, her head snapping around. “Darn it, Blaéz!” She smacked his arm, glaring at him over her shoulder. The few freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose drew him like winter’s fire. “You scared the life out of me.”
“Who else would dare touch you this way, hmm?” He ran his lips over the adorable defects of nature, then took her sleepwear and tossed the clothes back into the closet.
“Wait, I need—”
“You don’t.” He wrapped his fingers in her curly, honey-brown hair, tilted her face to his and kissed her deeply, exploring her mouth with his tongue. She sighed, leaning her back into him.
Finally able to settle into himself again after the tension of the night, he undid her bra and dropped it to the floor, revealing every inch of her creamy-caramel skin and delicious curves. He wanted to lick her from her lush lips to those beautiful toes, and as he contemplated the floor, bed, or shower, she reached behind her and rubbed his groin. His cock jerked resentfully at being trapped in his leathers. Before he gave into his desire, he wanted to enjoy his sexy-as-hell-mate first.
He squeezed her full breast and rolled her nipple with his thumb, but needing more of her, he slipped his other hand into her underwear and parted her dampening cleft, running a finger down one silky fold and slowly up the other side. Her breath hitched, her nails digging into his forearm as he lightly stroked her.
“Miss me?” He sucked on her neck and the fast-beating pulse there. Being so much taller than her five-foot nine, he could easily see down her front. With his booted foot, he spread her legs, forcing her busy hand away from his cock and giving himself more room to play.
“I’m waiting.” He nipped her earlobe with his teeth.
“What? Yes-yes! I missed you. God, Blaéz, please…”
He loved when she pleaded, loved knowing only he could bring her to this point. Without a word he spun her to him, her striking, brown and yellow irises, edged with green—the colors that always reminded him of sunflowers—darkened in need. He lowered to his heels, drew off her panties, and tossed the silk aside. Then he parted her folds with his tongue, and drew her clit into his mouth, sucking lightly on that sensitive bundle of nerves. A soft moan escaped her, her fingers grasping his hair as if to keep him there.
Not yet. He had plans for her—for them.
He rose, swept her into his arms, and strode into the enormous gray and black bathroom. In the shower stall, he set her on her feet, and she grasped his arm.
“You okay?” he asked.
Her cheeks flushed, she nodded and then she wrinkled her nose at him. “I was fine until someone jumped me.”
“Jump you?” He raised a brow. “Hardly,a leannan. Do I plan to fuck you hard and fast with my tongue and fingers in a few seconds? Absolutely. Afterward, I’ll make love to you slow and long with my mouth, body, and my cock until you’re screaming my name. But jump you? Never something so juvenile.”
Her mouth opened then closed, her cheeks blazing red. A smile tugged at his lips that she still blushed when he talked dirty to her. She turned on the faucets, dousing him with a splash of cold water that he sorely needed since he burned for her.
Arching an eyebrow at her, he stepped out and discarded his clothes and boots in seconds, before rejoining her in the steamy stall. The too-hot water gushed over him, nearly blistering his skin. Fuck! He bit back a curse. How his mate could stand this heat, he had no idea. But it was a torture worth enduring to have her with him.
As he reached for the soapy loofah in her hand, her worried gaze lifted to his. “Did everything go okay with Dagan and Shae?”
