Dragon Scorned

32. Ryker

River looked uncomfortable as she followed my brother into the club. The lights were flashing all around us. There was a bar off to the right and a VIP section on the left. Natalia pulled us over toward the VIP section as soon as we entered. It was up a small staircase and looked out over the entire club.

“I guess Daddy”s little girl is the one to thank for this,” Jax said beside me.

I simply nodded my head and grunted in approval. This has to be her father’s idea. Club Ultrapure just opened a few weeks ago and it was strictly for supernaturals. I walked over to the edge of the VIP section and looked down at the club dwellers below. There was a mixture of different species here, but the sage burning masked everyone’s scent. I couldn’t tell if there were any other dragons and decided to keep a close eye on River. She had a knack for getting herself into trouble lately, and I would not let anything ruin her fun tonight.

With the hunters targeting her twice in the last few weeks, I was on high alert. We found out they want her for the possibility of her being able to create a black hole and open portals to anywhere in the world. Tate looped me in on their findings, telling me what was in the file I gave to River.

I didn’t need him to tell me. I read the file from cover to cover before I gave it to her. I even made copies of the damn thing to look over, just in case I missed anything. It was laughable that he thought I wouldn’t do that before giving it to her.

“Ryder, come take a shot with me.”

I closed my eyes as her beautiful honey voice caressed my senses. I tipped my head back, loving the sound of her laughter that filled the area.

I turned around and zeroed in on the most gorgeous eyes. They sucked me into their ice-blue depths, it felt like I was drowning in them. I sauntered toward the owner of the eyes that had me so captivated, seconds away from falling to my knees for her. River had no idea how much she owned me. I was a weapon at her disposal, letting her wield me in any way she saw fit. All she had to do was point me in the right direction.

“Ryder, pick your poison,” River told me, giving me a devilish smile.

I smirked, looking at the array of alcohol lining the table. “My favorite brand of poison cannot be found in a bottle, drag?.”

Her cheeks flushed as her mouth dropped open.

“Careful, drag?. If you don’t close that mouth, I’ll be tempted to fill it with something.” My smirk widened as her mouth snapped shut. Her cheeks flamed more. The beautiful scarlet color made its way down her neck and onto her chest.

“I say it’s dancing time,” Natalia called out after taking a shot and slamming the glass down on the table.

River grabbed three shots, downing them in quick succession before following her friend out onto the dance floor. She grabbed Jax’s hand in one and my brothers in another, pulling them along with her.

Kai and I followed her in silence, nodding to each other. We were the only sober ones in the group, so we would be the ones to keep the horde safe. Someone had to be the responsible adult here.

When we reached the dance floor, Kai stayed at the end by the VIP entrance, so I made my way to the other side. It just so happened to be in front of the hallway that led to the bathrooms and the emergency exit. No one would be sneaking up on us, we both had a clear view of the main entrance and had the other exits covered.

The music wasn’t overpowering. It had a seductive sway to it as Bryce Savage, Easy To Love, played throughout the club. The lights bounced around with the tempo of the music. I watched as River swayed, sandwiched between Jax and Tate. My brother was pressed to her front while Jax was behind her. They each had a hand on one of her hips while the other roamed up and down her body.

My dragon roared in jealousy. I had to lock him back down before I ended up doing something stupid like ripping her out of their arms. River had her head tipped up toward the ceiling with her eyes closed. Her arms were looped around my brother”s neck as she rocked between the two dragons.

I glanced over at Kai and saw the sly grin on his face. Was he messing around in her head right now? Who am I kidding, of course he is. There”s no way he would be content watching them if he wasn”t. He would be over there ripping her out of their arms like I so wanted to.

The song switched to something more upbeat, it wasn’t one I recognized, but River clearly did. She pushed away from the men she was sandwiched between and began jumping up and down, screaming the lyrics along with Nat and Lainey. I knew the artist was Bad Omens. I’m pretty sure it was one of her favorites.

I smiled watching her. She was so carefree and beautiful. The crown braided around her head made her look ethereal. Curls hung out from the updo, cascading down her shoulders, adding to her beauty.

I was so focused on watching River, I didn’t notice when Tate and Jax disappeared, leaving her alone with Natalia and Lainey. A slimy looking guy walked up to them and grabbed my girl around the waist. My vision turned red. How dare he touch what”s mine. I glanced over at Kai and he shook his head at me, silently telling me to stay put.

Fuck that.

I started striding toward my girl, watching as she shrugged the guy off. His hand immediately went back to her waist, and he pulled her ass back against his crotch. Fire burned deep within me, and I was fighting the urge to shift and rip him to shreds. I would cut off his cock and make him eat it for daring to grind up against my girl.

I paused for a moment, watching in awe as River spun around with her fist raised. She connected with the guy”s jaw and his head snapped to the side. Satisfaction swam through my body at the sight. I eyed the slimy fuck, continuing on my journey toward River. I watched as he distended his fangs and turned back toward River. I picked up speed and grabbed the back of his neck a second before he sank his fangs into her.

My fingers dug into him, no doubt leaving bruises, it would be so easy to snap his neck right here.

“I would rethink that if I were you,” I told him in a low tone. The sleazebag held up his hands in surrender and retracted his fangs.

“I’m sorry, man, I meant no harm. I just wanted to have some fun with her.” He said, tripping over his words.

I growled, causing a whine from the stranger. “She’s not yours to have fun with. Now, apologize to the lady and leave before I change my mind and kill you instead.”

I shoved him off to the side, causing him to hit the floor like a sack of potatoes. “I’m sorry,” he whined before turning and scrambling away from me, doing an awkward crab walk. Once he was far enough back, he skittered to his feet and raced out the front door to the club.

I quickly glanced at Kai as he followed him out. A smile broke across my face, knowing he would take care of him. Kai would not allow him to live much longer for daring to touch our girl.

Fuck, our girl. That did have a nice ring to it. I turned around to look at River, she was staring wide-eyed at me.

“Umm…I have to pee.” She squeaked out before heading toward the bathroom.

Oh no you don’t, drag?. Don’t think you”re off the hook that easily.

I followed after her, pushing open the bathroom door just as she tried to close it. She let out a little scream and jumped away from the door. I slammed it shut and flipped the lock before stalking toward her.

The bathroom was pretty spacious for being a single. There still wasn’t much room for her to move away from me, though. I smiled as her ass hit the countertop. I placed both hands on either side of her, careful not to brush against her skin.

“No one is allowed to touch what”s mine and live to talk about it, drag?.”

She sucked in a sharp breath.

“That’s right, Kai is probably calling for a clean-up right about now.” I leaned into her, watching the purple swirl in her gaze. “Do you enjoy strange men touching you, drag??”

My anger flared as she shook her head from side to side.

“Use your words,” I demanded.

“No,” she said in a hushed, breathless tone.

I trailed my finger along the outside of her dress, right over her center. I inhaled, loving the smell of her arousal dripping from her. She parted her legs slightly, keeping her eyes trained on mine.

“Do you want me to touch you? Want me to fill this sweet cunt to chase away the feeling of his hands on you?” I trailed my finger down, playing with the hem of her dress.

She nodded, and I growled.

“Yes, please.”

I didn’t need to hear anything else. I plunged two fingers deep inside her wet heat. She was dripping for me. Sparks exploded up my arm, spreading throughout my body. She screamed ‘Ryder’ as the mate bond flooded her system. I hated that wretched name on her lips, it was about time she knew the truth. Now that I know we”re destined to be mates, there”s no need to hide from her any longer.

“It’s Ryker,” I growled.

Her eyes widened into saucers as her cunt continued to pulse around my fingers. I swirled them inside her, pulling every ounce of the orgasm from her body.

“I fucking knew it,” she said a moment before slamming her mouth against mine.

I opened my mouth, battling against her tongue. She tasted like sin and honey. The sweetest combination. I continued to move my fingers in and out of her as she moaned into my mouth. I swallowed the sweet sound down, not allowing anyone else to hear the cries of pleasure that belonged to me.

“Drag?, you better stay quiet before I have to stab someone in the ears for hearing the sounds coming from you that only belong to me,” I growled against her mouth.

Her pussy clamped around my fingers. “You like that, don’t you? The thought of me injuring someone turns you on.”

She moaned loudly, clamping around my fingers again.

“You dirty girl. Why don’t you scream my actual name? I wanna hear my name fall from your sweet lips.”

“Ryker,” she moaned.

Hearing my name come from her mouth was better than any high I’ve ever experienced. I wanted her addicted to me, but I believe it”s me who just became addicted to her.

Her walls clamped around my fingers as she writhed against me, moaning my name over and over again. I slowed once her orgasm subsided and slowly slid my fingers out of her, scooping up her release as I went.

I kept looking into her eyes as I brought my glistening fingers to my lips and sucked them clean.

“Fucking delicious,” I murmured before placing another bruising kiss against her lips. I pulled back, waiting as she sucked air back into her lungs.

“You are fucking perfect, and your mine,” I growled.

“Fucking hell.” She rolled her eyes at my possessiveness. “Shall we return before my other possessive assholes break down the door? Kai is beginning to count down.”

“Kai can learn to fucking share because I’m not going anywhere.”

She scoffed, “Try telling him that. He”s on five.”

I gave her a wicked smirk, picking her up and placing her on the counter before moving over to the bathroom door. I unlocked it and threw it open just as Nikolai went to ram into it with his shoulder. A laugh burst out of me as I stared down at the dumb fuck now lying on the floor.

“We need to talk,” I told him in a serious tone while trying to contain my laughter. Jax and Tate were standing in the doorway, looking at the disaster unfolding. I looked up at them, “all of us.”

They didn’t waste any time. Before I knew it, we were all settled into the limo and on our way back to River’s house.

It was time to tell them the truth. There was nothing to gain by keeping my true identity a secret.