8. River
The rest of the week flew by, and I was glad it was the weekend. I was exhausted putting up with Tate and didn”t think I could handle another day of him screaming ‘mine’ to everyone that glanced my way.
I rolled over in bed and groaned, I was beyond exhausted, who knew attending a school with so many supernaturals could make you so tired.
Nikolai was a whole other problem altogether, and he seemed to know the perfect things to say to me when I needed to hear them. I still didn’t understand him, and I only wanted to learn more.
On the days he missed class my mood was shit, but when he was there, I was ecstatic.
I don’t know why I was so drawn to the mysterious man, but I was.
My door flew open and Natalia dove on top of me, “We’re going to a party tonight. So get up, you slept half the day away.”
“Noooo.” I strung out my words in a wail. That was the last thing I wanted to do.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. We’re going. So do whatever you overgrown lizards do to get ready, because we’re leaving in a couple of hours.” She patted me on the cheek, smiling down at me.
“Fine, but I’m going for a flight first,” I told her, and her smile grew.
She kissed me on the cheek and climbed off of me, swinging her hips as she headed toward the door, humming to herself.
“I hate you,” I yelled to her before she left my room.
“You love me bitch, two hours.”
I threw my pillow at her as she laughed and rushed out the door, barely missing my assault.
I covered my face with my hands and sat up in bed, wondering how pissed Natalia would be if I didn’t go to the party. I thought better of it and climbed out of bed, making my way out the back door. She would murder me in my sleep if I didn’t go, and I haven”t been the nicest person to be around this week, so I guess I owed her. I was just over people. Tate had drained all the energy I had to interact with others this week. I was looking forward to a quiet weekend with Natalia, some movies, and a shit ton of pizza.
My stomach rumbled at the thought of pizza; I better make this flight quick so I can eat before she drags me out of the house. I stripped out of my clothes, leaving them in a neatly folded pile as I made my way into the backyard.
Once I was far enough away from the house I set my dragon free. Skin turned into scales as I started getting taller. My limbs turned into four legs, and my tail sprouted, whipping around me, just as my wings burst out of my back. I tested them a moment before roaring into the sky and launching myself into the air.
The sun was just starting to set, leaving the sky a beautiful mix of blue, pink, purple, and orange. I beat my wings around me harder, propelling myself forward so fast the trees were a blur below me. I bellowed into the sky, shooting out a beautiful blue-purple flame.
A loud noise to my left had me stopping mid-air. I slowly beat my wings around me and cocked my head in that direction. I waited a moment, ready to chalk it up to an animal, before I heard a man cuss.
I roared, launching myself down in the direction of the sound. There was a small clearing, just big enough for me to land. Right at the edge of the trees, I spotted a figure in the shape of a man.
My wings beat around me, lowering myself to the ground directly behind the man. I growled, announcing my displeasure that someone was sneaking around my woods.
He turned and I was shocked to see Nikolai before me. I lowered my head, eyeing him up, and growled again. Just because I kind of liked the guy didn”t mean he had a right to be here.
“You”re absolutely breathtaking.” He said, looking up at me, transfixed on my beast.
My chest rumbled as I exhaled, encasing him in warm steam.
“Relax, star. I live behind you. I was just going for a walk when I heard you flying and wanted to get a look at your dragon.” He sounded so at ease, not at all scared of the giant beast standing before him.
I shot my head up, tipping it to the side to keep him trapped in my violet gaze. How did he know I was a dragon? Did he smell it on me? The wheels turned in my mind. He lives behind us? I didn’t think anyone lived in the only small piece of land we weren”t able to buy.
I flexed my claws, digging them into the snow-covered dirt below me.
“I could smell your dragon, the very first time you climbed into my car. I knew you were a dragon shifter.” He told me, taking a step forward.
I growled, swinging my tail back and forth behind me. He chuckled, not blinking an eye at my displeasure toward him.
“I’ll leave you to get back to your flight, star.” He told me before turning around and walking back the way he came.
I watched him until he disappeared from sight, then launched into the sky. I headed home, no longer in the mood to fly. All I could think about was Nikolai and what he was doing here.
“Come on, River,” Natalia hollered from the kitchen.
I groaned, taking one last look in the mirror before heading out of my room. Deciding on a plain black tank top with a jean jacket over it and jeans. This was the best Natalia would get from me. I would much rather be curled up on the couch in my pajamas. I slipped on my shoes by the front door as Natalia danced around the room, grabbing her keys from the counter.
“I’m driving bitch. You”re not ditching me again,” she said before we headed out the door to her car. I dragged my feet the entire way, sulking as I climbed into her hot pink MC20 Cielo.
“Ooh cheer up, it”ll be fun. I promise,” she told me as she started up her car, put it into gear, and began heading down our long driveway.
Nikolai entered my mind again, and I turned to face Natalia, “Hey, do you know who owns that little plot of land behind us that we couldn”t buy?”
We offered at least three times what it was worth, but the owners refused to sell. We still had enough land surrounding us so we didn”t think twice about it. The twenty acres was nothing compared to the five hundred we already owned.
“Just some Mr. Augustine jerk. He was an ass every time I called him,” she told me, turning right out of the driveway, heading down the dark road.
The light bulb went off in my mind, and my eyes widened. “Nikolai’s last name is Augustine.”
She looked over at me, wide-eyed before looking back at the road. “Why didn”t you say that when you were telling me about him? I would have told you he was the asshole that wouldn”t sell to us.”
“I didn’t think it was important,” I told her, shrugging my shoulders.
“Why are you asking anyway?”
“I saw him when I was out flying earlier,” I told her like it was no big deal, but was it? No one but Tate and Natalia have seen my dragon. Ever since I first shifted, my grandma freaked out and told me to never show my dragon to anyone. I wasn’t sure why, other than humans hunting me down, there was no reason to hide my dragon from other supernaturals. What was the big deal? But I listened to her, and have not shifted in front of anyone who wasn’t family. Unease pulled in my stomach that now two people have seen my beast I kept hidden from the world.
“You”re just telling me this now,” she screeched.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. I kinda-sorta trust him.”
She let out a sarcastic laugh, “You”ve known the guy for a week. What”s there to trust, River?”
“I don’t know, okay. There”s just something about him that draws me in. Like he”s the sun, and I’m trapped in his orbit or some shit like that. I just know my dragon likes it when he”s around,” I told her, playing with the hem of my shirt.
“Interesting.” She hummed.
I turned my head to glare at her. Waiting until she elaborated more on what she was thinking.
“What? You can’t say some shit like that and not wonder…”
“Wonder what?” I gritted, clenching my teeth together.
“Fuck, do I have to spell it out for you. Have you ever thought that he is your mate, and maybe that”s why you”re so drawn to the man,” she said, glancing back and forth between me and the road.
“How can that be? Tate is adamant he”s my mate, and there”s that guy the first day. I can only have one mate…” I trailed off, pondering her words.
“It”s not uncommon for strong supernaturals to have more than one mate, River. Hell, the alpha female of the Kailua hoard has four guys mated to her. Please tell me you”re not stupid enough to think you”ll only have one.” She scoffed at me.
“I don’t even want one, though, let alone multiple,” I screamed, dragging my hand down the front of my face. I flopped back against her seat and moaned. How did I go from just Natalia and me to three possible mates?
“That”s not up to you, babes. We don”t get to pick fate.” The look in her eyes shoved a knife in my gut. Fate had brought us together, and now I was refusing them, ignoring the pull I felt toward them. Why? Because I’m afraid of being hurt.
I needed to get myself together and just accept what is in store for me, but that meant letting them in. Could I really trust them enough to hold my heart in their hands?
We drove the rest of the way in silence. I thought about Natalia”s words and decided it was time to put my big girl panties on and face the men consuming my thoughts. We pulled up in front of a huge house…maybe mansion would be the better term for what we were looking at.
Natalia let out a low whistle beside me.
“Whose party did you say this was again?” I asked her, not taking my eyes from the giant mansion in front of me. It was so white, almost blending in with the snow-covered landscape around it. The porch looked like it was wrapped completely around the place and there were people running all over the vast open ground.
“I didn’t.”
I looked over at her, regretting my decision to come.
“Tate invited us, all he said was a friend of his was throwing a party and that we should come.” She said, looking at me before climbing out of the car.
I guess it”s time to put on those panties, River. I mentally told myself before getting out of the car and following her up the steps. I took a deep inhale as soon as we passed through the door, confused and relieved when I didn’t smell anything but sage burning.
“Scent masker, with so many supernaturals mixed with alcohol, the shifters would probably go crazy,” she said, answering my unasked question.
I didn’t have time to reply to her before I was lifted up off my feet and twirled around like a rag doll.
“I’m so glad you came,” Tate whispered in my ear as he placed me back on my feet.
“Can I go home if I say I was forced to come against my will?”
Natalia scoffed at me, “Bitch, you know I couldn”t force you to do anything.”
“I’m still glad you”re here…and not yelling at me for touching you.” Tate smiled at me.
I shrugged my shoulders, “I’m trying something new.”
Tate’s eyes lit up at my words. He didn’t wait for me to say anything else before he pulled me against him, angling down and covering my mouth with his.
I gasped at the sudden movement, and he took the opportunity to drive his tongue in my mouth. Swirling with mine.
Heat pulled low in my belly, and I grabbed his shirt, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer.
The latter won, and I drew him closer to me. Loving the smokey scent of him that surrounded me. His lips were soft against mine, our tongues battled for dominance.
He growled in approval as he brought his hand up to tangle in my hair at the nape of my neck.
Natalia cleared her throat beside us, and I jerked back like I was just electrocuted.
What the fuck was that?
“If you two are done, I’m ready for a drink.” She looked back and forth between us, and my cheeks flamed with heat.
“Sorry,” I told her before turning to Tate, “Lead the way to the drinks, beastly.”
“Careful, minx,” Tate warned before grabbing my hand and leading the way to the kitchen.
My stomach swirled at his touch as a shiver went down my spine. It took everything in me to not pull away at the contact. I had to constantly remind myself that I was going to give this a shot.
“Natalia, you came.” A feminine voice yelled over the music.
I turned to see the redhead Natalia was flirting with the day we went to get our schedules.
“Lainey.” Natalia hollered to the red-haired girl headed our way.
Once she reached us, she wrapped her arms around Natalia and slammed her lips against hers.
I gasped at their embrace, a smile slowly stretching over my face. I released Tate”s hand and poked at my bestie, waiting until she was done attacking Lainey’s mouth.
“When were you going to tell me about this?” I asked, gesturing between the two of them, my smile consuming my face.
Natalia blushed, “Tonight, actually, it just kinda happened.”
“Girl, that’s amazing.” I hugged my friend before turning to Lainey and sticking my hand out to her. “I’m River, it’s nice to meet you.”
Lainey slapped her hand in mine and pulled me into a hug.
Once she released me, I caught sight of Tate staring daggers at me over her shoulder.
“I thought you had a touching thing?” He accused me, darting his eyes between mine and the hand Lainey just had in hers.
“That only applied to you,” I smirked at him.
“You saucy little minx,” he said before slinging his arm around my shoulders and dragging me into the kitchen.
I ducked out of his grasp and headed over to the guy pouring beers out of the keg. “Can I have one, please?”
I gasped when the guy turned around, and black flaked brown eyes collided with mine.
“Jax, pour me two,” Tate told the guy, draping his arm once again around my shoulders.
Jax’s eyes zeroed in on where Tate was touching me. A low growl emitted from deep in his chest.
“Dude, what gives?” Tate asked, giving him a confused look.
Jax looked back and forth between us, and I squirmed under his intense stare.
“I’m just gonna go…” I dipped out from under Tate’s arm as two sets of eyes laser-focus on me.
So, I did the only thing a sane woman would do in this situation…I ran.
I took off through the house, barreling out the front door, ignoring my name being called by the men behind me.
I darted around the porch, coming around to the backyard. I stopped, scanning the area, looking around for somewhere I could escape to.
I heard Tate holler my name and took off. I ran around the giant in-ground pool, coming up to what looked like a pool house.
I opened the door and quickly slammed it closed again. There was some type of crazy sex shit going on in there that I wanted no part of. I continued around the pool house, stopping in front of a greenhouse.
Tate bellowed my name again into the darkness, and I turned the knob. I ducked into the greenhouse and closed the door a moment before Tate passed it by.
I would face him another day. Clearly trying out something new was not working very well for me.
I released the breath I was holding in as Tate came back up and passed the greenhouse.
My eyes finally adjusted to see in the dark, and I took a look around. This place was covered in all sorts of greenery, and there were plants everywhere I looked.
I walked further into the greenhouse, running my fingers along the different leaves lining the walkway.
“Who are you hiding from, star?”
I jumped at the sound of Nikolai, spinning around to face the man. I didn’t think anyone was in here with me.
“You scared the shit out of me, Kai.” I scolded him. I swear he blended into the fucking shadows.
“Who are you hiding from?” He repeated himself, taking a step towards me.
I looked him up and down. He was dressed in all black from head to toe and looked dangerous.
My stomach swooped at being in such close proximity to him. His black hair was hanging loosely around his eyes, those dark blue eyes that had me completely trapped within them.
“Tate and Jax.”
His eyes widened in surprise.
“Now you”re all alone once again with me,” he told me, taking another step in my direction.
“Should I be scared?” I asked in a shaky voice. I’m not sure if it was from fear or excitement.
His eyes roamed over me, “Are you?”
“Nooo,” I drug out my answer, making it sound more like a question.
He chuckled at my reply, taking another step and closing the distance between us.
I itched to reach out and touch him, trying to hold myself back, but my dragon won this battle.
I slowly brought my hand up to his face, hovering it just over his skin.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” he asked, his gaze darkening. “There’s no going back after you cross that line, star.”
I held my hand still, hovering just over his skin, so close I could feel the heat coming off him in waves.
Fuck it. I’m trying something new…right? I shook my head at the shittiest pep talk I could give myself and stopped second-guessing everything. I just went for it and connected with his skin.
As soon as we connected a bolt of electricity shot through my body, both our eyes widened at the shock coursing its way through our system.
“I told you there’s no going back,” Kai said a moment before he snatched me up and slammed his mouth against mine. He wrapped his arms around me, cupping my ass and lifting me.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, and the part of my mind screaming at me to stop was snuffed out by my dragon as she roared within me.
“Mate,” Nikolai growled as he pulled back, kissing his way down my jawline and stopping to nip my ear.
I squirmed against him as heat flared in my center.
“Kai,” I whined against him, I needed more.
This feeling was consuming me, and I felt like I would burst into flames if he didn’t fix the ache between my thighs.
“Tell me what you need, star,” he whispered against my neck. “Tell me and I will move mountains to give it to you.”
I bit my lip, contemplating my answer, he growled, and the vibration rubbed my clit, sending a shock wave through me. A moan fell out of me before I could swallow it down, and that’s when I saw it. The blue swirling in his eyes was so subtle I had missed it before. Nikolai was a dragon, and his beast was finally coming out to play.
“You,” I moaned, “I need you.”
He didn’t wait another second before he knocked the plants off a nearby table. I giggled as he set me on top of the now clear surface. He ripped my clothes completely off with one swipe of an elongated claw. I tipped my head back, breathless, as the cold air caressed my skin. He stripped down, and my eyes went directly to his dick, standing at full attention.
“Is this what you want, my star?” He kissed his way up my thigh, spreading my legs open to settle himself between them. I leaned back on my elbows, sending him a wicked look.
He took that as acceptance and licked me from entrance to clit, before taking the bundle of nerves into his mouth and sucking.
“Ooh shit,” I moaned, tipping my head back in pure ecstasy.
Nikolai circled his tongue around my clit, coaxing a scream out of me. I bucked my hips against his face, begging for more.
He added a finger into my pussy and growled around my clit. I writhed under him as I clenched down on him like a vice. He curled his finger and I detonated. My climax exploded out of me.
Kai licked up every drop of my release before making his way up my body and nudging the head of his cock against my entrance.
He brought his middle finger up to his mouth, wrapping his lips around the digit and cleaning the evidence of my release off of it. “Delicious.”
“Kai,” I said, pressing my hand against his chest, biting my lip as my nerves wracked my body.
He looked at my nervous face, pulling back slightly. “What is it, my star?”
He stroked his finger down the side of my face, sending a shiver through my body.
“I…I haven’t…” Unable to get the words out, I glanced between him and his dick, hoping like hell he understood what I was trying to say.
He pulled away from me slightly, cocking a brow, “Is my star a virgin?”
I wiggled under him, so badly not wanting to tell him the truth. He began rubbing slow, lazy circles around my clit. The sensation caused my body to jerk toward him, I needed more.
I met his eyes, and he pulled away. I instantly missed the feeling of him. It was clear from the look in his eyes that I wasn’t going to get any more if I didn’t answer his question. Fucking demanding dragon.
“Yes,” I groaned, bringing my hands up to cover my heated face.
Nikolai pulled my hands away from my face, kissing me gently on my lips. “Your pussy was made to take my cock. I’ll try to be easy for you.” He gave me a wicked look before slowly starting to push inside me.
My vagina stretched around him and I winced at the pain, Nikolai brought his hand back between us to circle his thumb around my sensitive clit.
The pain quickly turned into pleasure as he pushed further inside. I wiggled beneath him, moaning as he moved his thumb faster.
“Your fucking perfect.” He said as he pushed the rest of the way inside me.
“So fucking perfect, this pussy was made for me.”
He began moving in slow motion, sliding in and out of me at an agonizing pace. Stretching me as I clamped down around him.
I moaned, digging my nails into his back, pulling him closer.
“Natalia was right. This is way better than toys,” I said in a breathless whisper.
The bright blue swirled in his eyes, and his nostrils flared.
“There will be no more toys.” He thrust in and out in between his words.
I moaned at his demand, bucking up to meet his hips.
“Now cum and scream my name,” he growled, now pounding into me at a brutal speed.
I never thought I would be a girl that would climax on demand, but Kai’s words just did something to me. He pushed my climax over the edge and I clenched around him.
“Kai,” I screamed as pleasure shot through my body. All my nerves tingled from the intense orgasm.
He pumped in and out of me a few more times before stilling as his own release overtook him.
He brought his forehead down to rest against mine, looking in my eyes. Our breaths tangled between us.
You”re absolutely breathtaking, my star.
My eyes widened, “Did you just…what the fuck?”
He chuckled, his chest rumbling against mine.
I told you there was no going back, mate.
“Oh fuck.” I whispered.
He’s in my head. What the hell did I just do?