Chapter Four
Something familiar tickled his senses. Stone snuggled deeper beneath the pillows.
He was too sleepy to be curious. Stone rearranged his pillows and curled around the plush cushion.
Wait. It was his pillow. He shot upright.
His gaze swung from side to side. Stone’s heart tried climbing into his throat.
It had happened again. He was in a different place than where he had fallen asleep.
What had he done this time? He wanted to puke.
Stone had really thought he had gotten free this time.
Had his hijacker found a new way to torment him?
Would he spend the rest of his life trapped between nothing and hallucinations?
Lysander rushed into the room, holding a mug. “Oh no. I only left for five minutes to make tea. Why are you awake?”
Stone breathed as if he had barely survived running a mile. Sweat coated his skin. “I was at Frost’s. Wasn’t I? What did I do?”
Lysander set his cup on the nightstand. He sat on the edge of the bed at Stone’s hip, facing him. His eyes held Stone captive, slowing his heart. “I brought you home. All you’ve done is sleep, exactly like you needed to do. I knew you’d be more comfortable here.”
Relief had Stone falling back onto his pillows.
“Thank Goddess.” With the terror ebbing, his focus turned to Lysander.
He wore a white silk robe, looking entirely too sexy.
Stone fiddled with the material, enjoying the sensation of the loose belt running between his fingers. “Look at you, being way too tempting.”
Lysander’s mouth lifted at one corner. “You haven’t been awake even five minutes, and I’m literally just existing at the moment.”
Stone turned serious. “That’s all you need to do. You have nae idea how much I hate knowing you’ve gotten so little of the real me.”
“I haven’t heard you use that thick of an accent in a while. Maybe that should’ve clued me in sooner that something was wrong.” His expression turned sad. “I’m sorry I failed you.”
There was a hollow spot in his chest. Stone ran his hand up Lysander’s thigh.
“No. I—” Stone swallowed. The longer they sat there, enjoying each other’s space, the more it sank in that this was his mate.
Lysander had claimed him. No doubt, that hadn’t been an easy decision for him, considering Stone’s drama.
Yet he hadn’t hesitated, and Stone hadn’t given him the same courtesy.
He had heard it was painful to go unclaimed.
Lysander had grace in a way Stone had never witnessed.
He hadn’t complained or asked to be put out of his misery.
In fact, he had been ready to return to magic rather than inconvenience him.
Stone hated he felt that way. Without claiming Lysander, he couldn’t see into his mind.
Stone had never understood that one. As a vampire, he should hear every thought Lysander had.
There was nothing. With no way of checking his emotions, Stone felt worse by the second.
Why had Lysander been so willing to pass to another existence rather than come to Stone?
A terrible feeling rose in his gut. He searched the recesses of his mind, frantically fighting to learn what he had done while possessed.
Lysander brushed a sweet kiss across his lips. “Don’t do this to yourself.”
Damn. He was Lysander’s mate. He could look into Stone’s mind anytime he liked. It was his right. “Please tell me what I did.”
“Only because it’s important to you and you seem to keep forgetting about it.” He sighed and righted himself. “You told me you never wanted to see my face ever again. I guess I overreacted a little.”
Stone’s eyes fell closed. That fae fucker had done his best to level Stone’s life.
He didn’t even know how he had ended up possessed.
Months were just gone, and it was maddening.
Stone forced himself to focus on Lysander.
His mate deserved for him to face this head-on.
“You’re my mate. I imagine I’d feel the same if you rejected me.
But I hope you know I would never treat you that way. It wasn’t me.”
A sweet smile crossed Lysander’s lips. “You’re a lover first and then a warrior. Logically, I knew it wasn’t you. While you had me pinned against the tree, I saw your eyes.”
“Hold up. I had you pinned against a tree. Did I hurt you?” Please, Goddess. He couldn’t know he had hurt Lysander.
“Just my feelings.” His serene smile didn’t waver. “Tell me what I can do for you.”
Stone smirked. He didn’t even think about it. It was such second nature when he was with Lysander. He made the world and all Stone’s problems vanish with a single question.
A smile exploded across Lysander’s sexy face. “There you are.”
Stone felt stronger by the minute. His fangs itched.
There was a hunger growing bigger inside him the more he sat with Lysander.
The need to claim his mate drowned out everything else.
With a light tug, he had Lysander’s robe falling open.
His gaze slid down Lysander’s flawless body.
His light brown skin glistened with a hint of glitter.
With the sight of Lysander’s body hypnotizing him, Stone’s thoughts turned into words.
“I’ve never met anyone sexier. You captivated me the moment I looked up into that tree.
My little dewdrop, precariously balanced on a branch.
All I had to do was raise my arms, and you were in my grasp.
” He held Lysander’s stare. “You’re mine. I want more.”
Lysander straddled his body. “Take what you need.”
In one swift motion, Stone had Lysander beneath him. Not only was Lysander light as a feather, Stone was a vampire. Lysander didn’t stand a chance against his strength.
“Maybe, but…” Lysander vanished from beneath him and reappeared straddling his back. Stone’s breath quickened. He buried his face in the mattress. His dick already wept. It was obvious Lysander was in his head. Stone loved it. “… I can make you wet.”
Stone felt the tingle of magic dancing on his asshole. He moaned and leaned into the sensation. Fuck. The curse dragged out inside his mind. There was no one like his mate.
Lysander urged Stone to move his knees. He spread Stone’s ass cheeks. “Yeah. That’s what I want.”
Stone wondered if he would come from Lysander’s words alone. Then Lysander thrust inside him and Stone begged.
“Please? Fuck. I need—” His words died on a strangled cry as Lysander dragged his upper body upward and against his chest, forcing Stone to cling to the top of the headboard to brace himself.
The way he moved inside Stone was mesmerizing.
His body moved beautifully against him. The moment Lysander’s forearm encircled his throat, Stone broke.
He grabbed Lysander’s arm and bit. His heart refused to go another second without joining its other half.
Satisfaction roared through him when the sensation of being stitched to Lysander filled his chest. His dick bounced with every hard thrust. Cum shot from him, painting the mattress and his pillow.
The sounds that he made as they shared an orgasm would likely leave an imprint on his brain.
There was ecstasy, and then there was this powerful satisfaction that had no name.
Reality ceased to exist, yet life felt realer.
Then Lysander’s teeth sank into his shoulder.
Stone blacked out for a moment. He had never put much stock in finding his true mate.
His life had never felt empty. But, dear Goddess, how had he survived without this beautiful thing between them?
Stone already knew he would die without it.
Same.
Lysander kept his eyes closed, savoring the sensation of Stone counting each bump of his spine. Steam rose from the water surrounding them.
“You always smell exactly like this place: tropical and irresistible.”
Lysander smiled. Contentment filled him. The hot springs in Faerie hadn’t felt this welcoming in years. He wondered if everything would feel new again when he shared the experience with Stone.
“You smell like Scotland: wild.”
A sexy-sounding chuckle rumbled behind him. “Wild doesn’t sound good. In my experience, wild creatures stink.”
Lysander couldn’t stop smiling as he leaned back against Stone’s chest. “I’m a fairy, born from nature. You smell amazing. Not the least bit stinky.” Lysander chuckled as he added the last.
The air turned serious. Stone’s arms wrapped around him, gently holding him. “How do fairy folk feel about vampires?”
Stone’s worry was right there for Lysander to inspect. “Fairies don’t discriminate. If it’s fuckable, then it’s fair game.” He laughed. “Within reason, of course.”
“Of course.” The heavy laughter in Stone’s voice kept Lysander smiling. Then he felt Stone’s trepidation rise. Lysander couldn’t stop himself from scraping Stone’s mind. His shoulders relaxed. Stone had nothing to worry about. Lysander could easily put all his worries at ease.
“I mostly survive on honeysuckle juice. Sometimes, I still enjoy the full-meal experience. You don’t have to worry about starving me by admitting you don’t want me to turn to anyone else for the sexual energy I need to survive. I’m old. I can go months without feeding.”
That seemed to catch Stone’s attention. “Months? You were on the edge of death just a few days ago.”
He knew Stone could reach inside his mind and take the answers he sought. Lysander wasn’t sure why he didn’t choose to do so. The memories and his feelings attached were right there for the taking.
The Scot was a gorgeous sight roaming through the woods. The Weres’ midnight run took place a few miles away. Lysander didn’t know why Stone hadn’t joined in tonight. From his observations from afar, Stone never held back if he got a chance at someone’s bed.