Chapter 6
Tess
The hot water cascaded over my skin, a constant hiss masking my thoughts, but not enough to drown out the heat still simmering beneath. My palms flattened against the cool tile as I let the stream hammer over the tension balled up between my shoulders. I should’ve been thinking about tomorrow—my classes, the stakes, the pressure to prove myself.
Instead, I was thinking about Draven. The warmth of his hand against my waist, the breathless thrill of his body so achingly close to mine, the way his words made my pulse quicken without even trying. "Every inch of you."
I squeezed my eyes shut, groaning softly at the memory. God, I had no business being attracted to an incubus—dangerous, seductive, and frankly, probably only interested in me because I was new and shiny and bonded to a dragon. But even as I tried to reason through it, the insistent pulse of my desire tugged at the edges of my focus, whispering that maybe... maybe his interest was real.
The water trickled down my neck and across my bare shoulders. My thoughts were anything but calm, still swirling with images of his body in the river, the easy cadence of his deep, flirtatious voice. The hunger in his eyes.
I pressed my fingers against my lips, half-imagining his over mine, the taste of his kiss lingering in my mind though it hadn’t happened—yet. My body tightened at the thought, heat pooling low, flooding through me with an intensity I wasn’t prepared for.
I should’ve eaten dinner. But the truth was, I hadn’t been hungry, at least not for food.
Draven wasn’t the only one. Mason, with his quiet strength and those dark, soulful eyes. Kane’s sharp mind, always calculating. Theron, though as my instructor I absolutely should not be thinking about him like this. And then, of course, there was Ciaran. Intense and wild, the shadow I both feared and craved touching in the dark corners of my mind.
I tilted my head back into the stream, letting the warm water run through my hair, breathing deep. Maybe that was the most shocking part. I wanted them all. Each of them in different ways, for different reasons—parts of me craving something only one of them held, but never the same part.
It was terrifying… and thrilling.
But Draven... those intense eyes. The touch at my waist, his fingers tracing my spine as if memorizing my shape.
I stepped closer to the showerhead, angling my body to let the warm water sluice down over my aching breasts. My heart was racing, thinking about Draven, about the intimate things he'd said, and how his voice had washed over me like his hands wanted to. I could almost imagine those hands now, gripping my waist, sliding over my skin, slipping down.
"Mmm," I murmured, eyes fluttering closed, picturing his face, the tightness of his body, and the way his muscles flexed as he moved. I let one hand glide up my stomach, pausing to squeeze my breast, mimicking the squeeze I imagined Draven administering to my aching nipples.
I continued to indulge in the fantasy, my fingers dancing over my clit as I imagined Draven's strong, muscular arms around me. I pictured him lifting me effortlessly, his grip firm on my ass as he raised me up until my pussy was level with his face. The thought of him devouring me, his tongue flicking against my clit as I writhed in pleasure, was almost too much to bear.
I let my imagination soar, picturing Draven's hands exploring my body. The warm spray of the shower intensified my sensations, making my skin tingle with life. With each caress, my nipples hardened, yearning for more. The heat between my legs grew, becoming a persistent throb, demanding acknowledgment.
My movements were purposeful, as if guiding Draven's hands, leading him to the places that would bring me the most pleasure. My fingers grazed my aching clit, sending shockwaves of ecstasy coursing through me.
My fingers moved with a mind of their own. I dipped them into my wetness, teasing my entrance, building anticipation. Each touch was a tease, igniting my desire with every touch. I imagined Draven's tongue, the glint of mischief in his eyes as he tasted me.
But despite my best efforts, I couldn't quite reach the edge.
Frustration built within me. I couldn't wait any longer. I quickly turned off the shower and stepped out onto the bath mat. I barely took the time to dry myself before I rushed into my bedroom, my heart pounding in anticipation.
I flung open the drawer of my nightstand and grabbed my vibrator, a sleek, pink toy that promised to deliver exactly what I needed. I sprawled out on my bed, the cool sheets against my still-damp skin a stark contrast to the heat burning within me.
With a deep breath, I pressed the button on the vibrator, the low hum filling the room. I gently guided the toy against my clit, the sensation shivering through me. I closed my eyes and let myself sink back into the fantasy, picturing Draven's intense eyes staring up at me as his lips explored my body.
Unexpectedly—or maybe not—thoughts of Ciaran began to seep into my mind. I remembered the intensity of his kiss, the darkness and raw sex appeal that radiated from him. The scene changed—Draven's dark head was now between my legs, his mouth working magic on my aching clit, while Ciaran's attentions focused on worshiping my breasts with his mouth and hands.
"Look at me, Tess. I want to see your eyes when you shatter around Mason's cock." Oh shit. Kane now stood near the bed, his hand stroking his erect cock as he watched me with lust and satisfaction.
But it was the mental image of Mason's massive, unyielding cock filling me from behind that sent me spiraling over the edge. My breath caught, my body arching in response to the overwhelming pleasure.
The fantasy of their combined efforts intensified my climax. I was lost in a haze of desire, my senses consumed by the vivid images of these men pleasuring me. The heat between my legs pulsed stronger, inviting their imagined touches. I let out a soft moan, the sound of my pleasure mingling with the low hum of my vibrator. As my orgasmic wave crashed over me, I lay there, trembling and gasping for air.
The vibrator still hummed against my sensitive skin, the sensation sending small shivers down my spine. Reluctantly, I turned it off and set it aside, my breathing slowly returning to normal.
I sighed, feeling the lingering warmth of release.
Finding my pleasure had eased the stress in my body, but it did little to quiet the chaos in my mind. The physical release had been a momentary distraction, but now that it was over, all the complications of my new life came rushing back.
My mind raced with the events of the day. The soft weight of Whiskey curling up beside me offered a small comfort, but it did little to quiet the whirlwind of thoughts spinning through my head.
Ciaran's words echoed in my mind: "You're our mate." The gravity of that statement was still sinking in. I was his mate? What did that even mean? And how was it possible when I found myself drawn to not just him, but Kane, Mason, and now Draven as well?
I groaned softly, burying my face in my pillow. This was all so confusing. How could I have such intense feelings for multiple men? Was this normal? And then there was Ciaran—brooding, mysterious Ciaran. I still had so many questions about what being his mate entailed.
"Crap," I muttered, realizing I'd forgotten to ask Thalon about it. Mental note: add that to the growing list of things to discuss with my dragon.
Speaking of things I needed to figure out, my magic was still a complete mystery to me. I'd barely scratched the surface of understanding my abilities, and I knew I'd need to get a handle on them soon if I wanted to keep up with the other applicants.
I shifted in bed, wincing as my sore muscles protested. The workout this morning had been brutal, and the thought of doing it all again tomorrow made me want to groan. At least I'd managed to hold my own against Selena and her cronies today. I could only hope they wouldn't give me too much trouble tomorrow.
Whiskey purred softly, kneading his paws against my side. I scratched behind his ears, grateful for his comforting presence. "At least you're not complicated, buddy," I murmured.
With a sigh, I reached over to double-check that my alarm was set. The last thing I needed was to oversleep and give Selena more ammunition against me.
As I settled back into bed, my mind still buzzing with unanswered questions and conflicting emotions, I felt the weight of exhaustion pulling at me. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, I needed rest.
Slowly, with Whiskey's purrs as a soothing lullaby, I drifted off to sleep.
The bell-like sound of my alarm jolted me awake, and I quickly silenced it before it could disturb Whiskey. He was curled up at the foot of the bed, his tail twitching slightly in his sleep. I smiled fondly at the little ball of fluff, feeling a pang of guilt for how little attention I’d given him lately.
"I promise we'll have some quality cuddle time tonight, buddy," I whispered softly, carefully extracting myself from the warm cocoon of blankets without disturbing him.
Another full day loomed ahead of me, and I mentally ran through my packed Thursday schedule:
0600 - Physical Conditioning and Team Dynamics with Instructor Alvarez 0800 - Breakfast 0900 - Contemporary Supernatural Affairs and The Unveiling with Dante 1100 - One-on-One Training with Instructor Blackwell 1300 - Lunch 1400 - Dragonne Library Duties 1800 - Dinner
The thought of facing another grueling workout so early in the morning was less than motivating, especially with how much my muscles still protested from yesterday’s session.
After taking care of my morning necessities and splashing some cold water on my face to wake myself up, I headed to the closet to get dressed.
Rifling through my clothes, I reached for my usual workout tank top before freezing. The mating mark. I'd almost forgotten about it. My hand drifted to my shoulder, tracing the outline of the mark hidden beneath my pajama top. How was I going to keep this a secret?
I grabbed a long-sleeved workout shirt instead, wondering if it would look odd in the summer heat. Maybe Thalon knew some kind of glamour or concealment spell? It would certainly make things easier. I made a mental note to ask him later—right now, I was running behind schedule.
Hurriedly pulling on my clothes and lacing up my sneakers, I snagged a banana from the kitchen counter on my way out. It wasn't much of a breakfast, but it would have to do.