CHAPTER 14
Zarreth
The bond spikes hard enough to stop me mid-stride. Panic.
I trace without thinking, landing outside one of the long tents. Females are yelling. My mother is calling for Frankie.
The flap bursts open. My mate stumbles out, eyes wild and glowing. Her breath is too fast. Shadows cling to her as she reaches into her pocket and pulls out that fucking knife.
She runs, but I catch her, one hand locking around her wrist. “Give it to me.” I easily remove the blade from her grip and slip it into my pocket.
“Let go!” Her voice tears out of her as she swings with her free hand, wild and desperate. She hits my shoulder, then my chest.
A cold spike of fury slices through me. Who the fuck pushed her to this? Who scared her enough to make her reach for her knife? I manage to push down my anger for now. Frankie needs me, but I will make them pay.
“Frankie.”
She hits me again. This time across my jaw. She jerks and twists, desperate to get free, but I close my arms around her and hold on. “You’re safe. I have you.”
Her fight leaves almost instantly, and her whole body leans into me. She’s shaking hard enough I can feel it through my ribs. I tighten my arms around her. “Let it out,” I whisper. And she does. She sobs, her forehead pressing into my chest while I hold her.
Footsteps rush toward us. My mother stops at my side. She reaches for Frankie, but pulls back when she sees how tightly she’s clinging to me. “Is she hurt?”
“No.” She curls into me trying to hide inside my chest. “Just overwhelmed.”
Beleth touches my mother’s arm. “She’ll be alright. Why don’t you stay with me tonight? Let him take care of her.”
My hand runs up and down her back as they walk away. Her shaking eases as she pulls in a rough inhale. I tilt her chin up with my thumb. She looks wrecked. Eyes wet. Nose red. Shadows swirling around her arms. “I’ve got you.”
She gives me the smallest nod, everything about her stretched thin. The bond tugs again, and I know exactly what she needs.
“Frankie.” I keep my voice low. “Look at me.”
She does. Her pupils are wide. Her shadows go still like they’re waiting for my command.
“The moment I trace us out of here, I want you on your knees.”
Her lips part. The bond throbs with the pulse of heat I love so much. She doesn’t speak, but she nods. Whatever storm was inside her quiets down.
I lift her against me, tracing us away before the shadows remember why they rose in the first place.
Her knees hit the ground, spreading wide beneath her. Dark curls tumble forward as she bows, her hands sliding into the space between her thighs. Every part of her waits on me.
It makes me feral. Having her pliant, willing to bend for me. She trusts me to break her, and I will. And when I put her back together, she’ll be stronger.
I stand directly in front of her, gesturing to my pants. “Pull them down.”
Hunger slips through her gaze. She drags my pants down, freeing me, lips parted like she’s already waiting. Greedy little thing.
“Do you like making me punish you?”
She bites her lip, nodding, that tiny flash of stubbornness trying to sneak through. I love when she pushes back, but watching her rein it in for me. Fuck! That gets me.
I wrap my fingers around my length. “Show me your tongue.”
She opens wide, tongue out, eyes full of trouble. My little mate knows exactly how to ruin me.
I press the head of my cock to her tongue. “Lick.”
Her tongue traces the tip, then curls along the underside as she takes me deeper, her cheeks hollowing when she sucks. Holy shit, it feels good! When she pulls back, a thin line of pre-cum clings from me to her mouth. She spreads it across her lips, pulling a sharp sound from my throat.
Naughty girl! I don’t want to stop her, but she’s begging to be put in her place. My hand clamps into her hair and I yank her back. “Did I tell you to suck?”
”Nope.” Mischief flickers in her eyes as she smirks, her tone laced with that sexy sass of hers.
Chuckling, I press my thumb against her bottom lip and pull it down, exposing her teeth and gums. “You’re adorable.” I drop my voice, leaving her no room to argue. “Now, open your fucking mouth.”
She hesitates before finally opening, but just barely. Ha, she can do better than that. I hook my fingers inside her cheeks and tug. “Wider.”
She opens as far as her jaw allows. Fuck, she’s beautiful…the way her lips stretch around her teeth. Her pink tongue is waiting to wrap around my cock. I can’t help it. I thrust, hard, hitting the back of her throat, making her choke. But she pushes through it. Stubborn. Starving. Mine.
Her gags and moans fuel the fire inside me while I fuck her mouth.
Lips, teeth, tongue, all scraping along my shaft in a mixture of wet warmth.
Her eyes water, but she doesn’t take them off me, not even when I grab the back of her head and quicken my pace, or when her tears mix with the saliva rolling down her chin, turning her into a beautiful fucking mess.
She reaches down and circles her fingers around her clit through her pants as she moans around my cock. It feels so fucking good, but I don’t want to come in her mouth, so I pull out, making her moans turn to whimpers. I chuckle at her disappointed look.
I use my thumb to wipe the tears from her eyes, and cup her face. Her swollen lips are just begging to be kissed. “You suck my dick so good, baby.”
She closes her eyes and rubs her cheek against the palm of my hand like she wants more. “That’s because it feels so good in my mouth.” She licks her lips and gives me a devilish smile.
Fuck, I need to bury myself in her. I rip her shirt off and place her on the table. Slow down, Zarreth. Enjoy this.
Her thighs spread when she leans back on her hands, popping her tits out. Gods dammit, she’s sexy.
My thumb runs down her neck, my fingers wrapping around it.
I won’t choke her, not after the way I just fucked her throat.
I just like to watch her eyes plead for it, and the need in them doesn't disappoint.
I pull her forward, taking a nipple in my mouth.
It turns into a little point under my tongue.
Her fingers grip the back of my head, thighs rubbing together, while I decide how much to punish her. I settle for a quick nip, making her squeal. Gods, I love that sound.
I press her back until she’s flat against the table. She arches the second I run my fingers along the curve of her breast. The little gasp she lets out when I drag her pants down nearly undoes me. But seeing she’s not wearing a damn thing underneath? That’s what really gets me.
“You’re not wearing panties. Are you trying to kill me?”
Her lashes flutter as she tilts her head. “Whatever do you mean?”
Fuck, she has no idea what she does to me.
I want to take my time licking and kissing my way up her thighs, I really do, but she’s soaked and she smells so fucking delicious.
I can’t hold back anymore—I bury my face between her thighs, tracing every inch of her pussy with my tongue.
My fingers grip her knees, pushing them to her chest. She’s completely open to me now.
I coat my finger in her slickness and ease it into her tight ass.
She cries out, trying to push my hand away, but I grab her wrists and pin them back, my finger still working in and out of her. I close my mouth around her swollen clit, sucking hard until she’s moaning and arching into me. “More, baby, please.”
I let go of her wrists and slide two fingers into her pussy, her muscles clenching around them. “Oh my God! Zarreth, please! Oh, God!”
My fingers move faster, both holes at once, turning her breath ragged.
Dragging my teeth over her clit, I bite down once, making her scream.
The bites get harder and harder until I’m devouring her.
I can’t stop. She tastes so fucking good.
She finally breaks, coming all over my face, and I fucking love it.
I don’t give her time to come down. My finger keeps working her ass as I replace the other ones with my cock. I plunge into her, and…fuck! Her legs lock around my waist, pulling me deeper. Each thrust buries me further inside. I can’t get deep enough.
“More,” she pants.
“Do you like feeling this full?” I add another finger, stretching her slowly. I will be taking her ass, just like I promised the night we mated, so I need to start breaking her in.
She moans, digging her claws into my back. I know she likes it, but I want to hear her words. “You didn’t answer me.” My fingers thrust deeper. “Does that mean you want my dick instead? Because I’d give anything to fuck this ass.”
She gasps, her whole body going rigid, and I chuckle when her wide-eyed stare meets mine. “I…I can’t,” she stammers, her voice laced with a hint of panic. “You’re too big!”
I still completely, keeping myself buried inside her, but not moving until she tells me what I want to hear. “Then use your fucking words and tell me you like having my finger in your ass.”
Her hand shoots up, gripping my face and pulling it so close her lips almost touch mine. “I…I like it,” she whispers, her voice shaking. “I crave it.”
That’s enough to make me lose control. I thrust harder, drawing out every broken moan until she comes undone again, her pussy quivering around my cock. My abs tighten, muscles tensing, as my cum spills inside her, her body greedily taking every last drop.
I let my head drop to hers, her skin warm and slick where our foreheads touch. Her heat seeps into me, grounding me. It’s been a long fucking day, and I want nothing more than my mate in my bed. “Hold on tight.”
She locks her ankles, legs still wrapped around my waist, and grips the back of my neck. I stay buried inside her, savoring the way she grips me, while I carry her to bed.
She looks exhausted, sated, and absolutely beautiful. I stretch out beside her, keeping her close in my arms. Her head rests on my chest, her hand lazily running over my stomach. “Can we still have this kind of sex when I finally learn how to control my magic?”
Her choice of words wreck me. When not if. She’s finally starting to believe in herself, and I couldn’t be more fucking proud. “Baby, we can experiment with anything your little heart desires.”
Her cheek presses against my chest as she smiles, her voice holding a tinge of laughter. “Really? Because I saw a male with not one, but two tails and I was wondering…”
I swat her bare ass, making her yelp. “Anything but that. You know I don’t share.”
She giggles sleepily and lets her eyes drift shut. I lie here, holding her close, letting it sink in. Frankie giggling, at peace. Fuck, I’ve missed this.
I shoot straight up.
Where is she?
Why isn’t she in bed?
Fuck!
I can’t feel her.
I can’t feel her!
Don’t panic.
Think.
Pull your shit together.
I press my palm to the mark over my heart. The bond is there, but faint. Wrong.
I don’t waste any time, quickly pulling on my pants and shooting into the sky.
It doesn't take long before the bond snaps back into place, just like when she went missing at the lake. I swoop around and angle toward her, scanning for a threat.
I spot her small form at the edge of the village, leaning against the protective wall. She’s wearing only a t-shirt, her hair is disheveled, eyes red-rimmed. She’s anxious, but unharmed. “Frankie!” I land next to her, sweeping her up in my arms. “Are you okay?”
She wraps her arms around me, squeezing tight and burying her face in my chest. “It happened again.” She sniffles. “I knew you would find me, but I was so scared. I woke up and had no idea where I was or how I got here.”
I swore I’d protect her, that I wouldn’t fail her again. Yet here we are. “I’m so sorry I let this happen.”
She pulls back and looks up at me, concern filling her glassy eyes. “It’s not your fault. I’m your mate, not your child. You shouldn’t have to babysit me.”
“It is my fault. As your mate, my job is to protect you with my life. How can I do that if I can’t even…
” What the fuck is around her neck. I reach for the odd gem hanging from a thin rope.
It’s round and clear, but the light inside it is constantly moving.
“Where’d you get this?” The moment I touch it, a jolt runs from my fingertips all the way to my shoulders, making me pull back.
“Get what?” Her hand moves to her chest, brows furrowing when she feels the gem. “What is it?”
I try touching it once more, but it shocks me again. “Apparently, it doesn’t want me to touch it.”
She moves her hand to the rope, quickly pulling it away. She does it two more times. “I can’t take it off.”
“What do you mean you can’t take it off? When did you get it?”
She looks puzzled, shaking her head. “I-I don’t remember. I must have gotten it while I was blacked out.”
My mate’s not wearing a necklace that has undetectable magic in it. “You need to take it off. We don’t know what it is, or what it does, or who even gave it to you.”
She thinks for a minute. “I can’t. I know I should, but every time my brain tells my hands to take it off, they don’t listen. My gut is telling me to leave it on.”
My gut is telling me to get that fucking thing off her.
I don’t like it, and I don’t trust it. “Let me try.” I reach for the gem again, but this time I don’t pull back when it shocks me.
I manage to wrap my fingers around it, but something cuts through, burning all the way to the bone.
I drop it and curse, my skin red where it made contact. “Does it burn you?”
“No! I didn’t even know I was wearing it until you said something.”
“First thing in the morning, we’re going to the library. Quenric is one of the oldest demons in existence. If anyone knows what it is, it’s him.”