Chapter Fifteen
Scepter flashed him and Starla back to his home. He knew it was a risk not to ask whether she wanted to go back to her sister’s home.
“Where are we?” she asked, blinking big dark eyes up at him.
A vision of them making love in his bed, their bed, filled his mind the moment the moon rays lit on her face through the big bay window. He’d imagined seeing her lying on silk sheets in the middle of the huge mattress. The things he wanted to do to her, with her, were probably obscene.
“Our home,” he answered truthfully. “I saw what you pictured in your mind when you looked at the bedroom back at the home you shared with your sister. This place has been empty for far too long, waiting to be filled with the things my female desired. You, Stellina, are that. You’re my bonded mate.
Anything you don’t like or if you want to add more space or whatever, you only have to ask, or think, and it will be so. ”
“Put me down.” She tapped his shoulder.
He closed his eyes before shifting her and allowed her to slide down his body. He let her feel what she did to him without embarrassment. A groan escaped him as she pressed up and nipped his bottom lip.
She wore a siren’s smile. “I love hearing and seeing the effect I have on you. The way you are unabashedly you is like the best thing for someone like me.”
Starla ducked her head. Scepter wouldn’t let her hide from him, but he also wasn’t going to invade her mind by looking at her thoughts. He would rather she tell him what she meant. “Explain, baby.”
“In school, I was always the odd girl. Nobody invited me to sleepovers once we got boobs. Guys liked me well enough, and girls were friendly, but not overly so. Not that I didn’t have a group of friends that I hung out with.
Aurora would attest to that. It’s just that I always felt like I was the fifth girl in the group. You know?”
He wanted to go to wherever those little bitches lived and show them how stupid and insignificant they were. “Their loss is my gain. It just means there are fewer males I have to kill or blind.”
She snorted. “Oh, I can just see you flashing into my old high school, kicking a bunch of football players' butts.”
Starla had no idea how close she was to that assessment. The heat in his gaze must’ve clued her in. A beautiful pink hue covered every inch of skin he could see. “I don’t think there’d be a lot of kicking.” He shrugged.
No one would ever hurt her. If anyone were to lay one hand on her, they’d learn he’d kill them. Whether it was swift or slow, the precision would depend on how his female suffered from their mistreatment. Even then, he’d be the final judge and jury.
“Your eyes are fiery red, Scepter,” she whispered.
He nodded. There was no sense in trying to hide what and who he was around his mate.
“I’m half feral, Stellina. I’ve been this way for a very long time.
Staying steady has been my mission as Savage’s second.
The Family, that’s what we are. Savage is the Boss.
We are a unit. He leads, and the rest of us take part in running the business, ensuring things run smoothly.
One day, soon, I’ll explain more about the life you’re coming into.
Right now, you need to know who you’re paired up with. ”
“I’m paired with you, my other half. Whatever you think is so bad that you think I’d run for the hills is crazy thinking. Besides, you’ve already marked me,” she quipped stubbornly.
He leaned forward, placing his palms on her hips. “I like it when you speak your mind.”
“Oh yeah? I’ll probably squirrel back into my shell of shyness tomorrow.
“Liar. You’re sexy, and reckless, and the most appealing female I’ve ever met. My fangs ache, but not half as much as my cock does from your nearness. Your scent.” He inhaled. “Sweet heaven above. I could get drunk on breathing you in.”
“Are you going to give me a tour of this place, or do you plan to seduce me with your words right here in the grand foyer?”
“How about I bend you over the railing of that staircase?” He rumbled. All pretenses of civility left him.
“That doesn’t sound very Scepter-like.”
He tilted his head to the side. “How exactly does Scepter sound in your beautiful head?”
“Very posh and controlled. You know, like you take but very sophisticated.”
He laughed, tossing his head back and nearly doubling over.
“Ah, Anima Mia, you are in for lots of surprises. Of course, I will always make sure you come, no matter where I take you. For instance, if I were to bend you over the stairs, you’d be screaming my name as you drenched my balls in your sweet cream.
However, if I wanted to take you when we were having breakfast, I wouldn’t think twice about clearing a spot for you on the table or using the nearest wall.
Civility is overrated. Never doubt making you come will always be a priority. ”
“Damn, you really know how to turn a woman inside out and back again. How am I supposed to do anything other than thank you?” She walked further into the foyer, running her hand over the curved railing.
He groaned and shook his head. “I don’t want your thanks.”
“So which room are we going to christen first?” she asked, consuming him with her heated gaze.
Scepter smiled, stalked to where she stood. His chest rose and fell. The blood in his veins heated with need. He could feel her essence running within him, too. “You should run, Anima Mia. If you know what is good for you, you’d run,” he growled.
“I always hated running, didn’t you know?”
He chuckled darkly. “Mmm, probably a good thing. Predators like me love to chase...prey.”
Starla took a step up the winding staircase, stripping her shirt over her head. With a saucy wink, she tossed it at him.
“Feeling spicy, are you?” he asked.
“Do you like a little spice in your life, my love?” she asked.
“It adds character, don’t you think?” he asked, draping her shirt over his shoulder.
She shimmied out of the silk-looking pants she wore. He looked down, wondering where her shoes had gone. She lobbed the pants at him, smacking him in the face, leaving Scepter grinning like a fool.
“What kind of character am I?” she asked, standing with her hands on her hips in nothing but a hot pink, lacy pair of panties and a matching bra that cupped her perky breasts.
He added the slacks to the shirt on his shoulder, licking his lips as he thought about tasting her.
Starla snapped her fingers. He blinked and shook his head.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“What would you describe me as?”
“Ah, that’s easy. Mine.”
His female looked down, her skin flushed a deeper shade of red. Scepter approached her slowly, removing his shirt with a thought. She squeaked, turning on her dainty heel, and began running up the stairs.
“There’s that instinct to run,” he rumbled.
She looked over her shoulder, stumbling over a step.
Scepter blurred, catching Starla. He was unwilling to allow her to fall, ever. He twisted her in his hands, tossing her slight body over his shoulder. “I got you,” he promised.
She gasped. “Oh, Goddess. Don’t drop me.”
He slapped her ass. “Female, are you doubting my abilities to keep you safe?”
“I’m the one hanging over your shoulder, looking at a couple of dozen stairs. I think I just unlocked a new fear.” Her hands fastened around his waist.
Scepter ran a finger along the lace trim on her panties. He continued to walk up the rest of the way, her arousal permeating the air. “Are you watching the way we’re going, my love?” he gritted out.
“I’m barely able to remember my name, let alone know which way is up or down. By the way, I love the way your ass flexes when you walk. It’s very biteable. Did I mention I’m a bitey kinda girl?” She snapped her teeth together loud enough for him to hear.
“Mmm. And being a bitey kind of female that you are, do you also like these panties?” he asked, turning toward the primary suite.
“You can always conjure me up a new pair, but—” Her words trailed off, leaving him smiling while his hand held her naked ass.
“You’re kind of diabolical, Scepter. I like it, but I have to say, it’s not fair how I’m always on the naked end, while you tend to be overdressed. I feel like I’m getting...I’d say the short end of the stick, but there’s absolutely nothing short about you, especially your stick.”
Scepter moved them into their set of rooms, bypassing the outer room where a set of comfortable couches and a television mounted on the far wall sat, in case they wanted to hang out.
He aimed for the larger room with the equally large bed.
The four posts were connected at the top by iron scrolls woven into a looping sculpture at the center.
If you looked closely, you’d see the letter S in the designs along with filigree stars.
While she’d been gone, he’d created the piece.
Her smooth skin slid down his front, teasing and tantalizing him with each slow shift.
He didn’t kiss her right away. This time, he crushed her to him, cupping her head in one palm as he held her against his chest. The steady thrum of her heartbeat soothed his inner demon.
He sifted his fingers through her long, silken hair. “Welcome to our home, Stellina Mine.”
She tipped her head back, blinking soulful dark eyes. “I like the sound of that coming from your lips. “Kiss me like you mean it, like I’m the only female you’ve ever known.”
“You will be the last female I will ever kiss, make love to, taste, ever again, Anima Mia.”
This time, she jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist. He barely contained his shock, locking his arms under her ass. She nipped his bottom lip and growled into the kiss. Fuck, he swore he could come in two seconds if she continued.
“What the hell are you doing to me?” she asked, her eyes glowing blue.
Scepter moved them onto the bed with her holding onto him like a little spider monkey. He fucking loved it.
“Well, if you have to ask, I’m not doing it right.” He nipped her lip then soothed it with his tongue, humming at the sweet taste of her blood.
She made a little sound that reminded him of a yelp and a squeak, raking her hands up his sides. “I would never accuse you of not knowing what you were doing. Heck, if you got any better, I think I’d be a complete nympho, and you’d have a broken dick.”
“Good Goddess, don’t say shit like that unless you want the dicking of ten lifetimes.”
Her giggle tumbled out of her like the sweetest music he’d ever heard. He leaned forward, brushing his nose along the column of her throat. She sucked in a breath, her laughter quieting.
“What if I want the dicking of a lifetime, only maybe you could give me a repeat on the daily?” she breathed.
“I think I could do that. Maybe a couple times a day or more if you’re so inclined.” He nipped her neck, right over her pulse point.
Starla arched her back as if offering him access. Scepter pressed himself back, bracketing her in with his arms. He let her see the aching need and desire she fueled within him.
“Will you let me take from you when I make love to you, Starla?”