Chapter 14 #2
Shane tracking me down came from a good place.
He constantly checked in with me, and I chose to believe that he genuinely cared how I felt: whether I was warm enough, had enough to eat, or was in pain.
And though Bal had been kind in his detached way by giving me all the materialistic things I could ever need, Shane’s warmth came from deep within.
For someone considered an uncontrollable monster, he was kinder than any other person I’d ever met in my life.
And the fact that he’d suffered through his bloodlust and lived warmed my heart.
Even I knew how unexpected that was. No other hybrid had ever survived.
Perhaps feeding on Bal’s blood was the key.
I didn't know. What I did know was that it painted a target on his back—and maybe on other shifters’, too.
I’d been around power-hungry vampires long enough to understand how a hybrid like Shane would be coveted by those who sought his brute strength and loyalty, even if it was forced.
An immortal vampire wolf shifter who could rip apart supernatural beings with ease, not be taken down by silver bullets or blades, and could heal quickly would be a powerful weapon.
Especially if he could be compelled to loyalty.
“I’m as good as I was when you asked this morning.” I smiled to soften my words.
He huffed and sat on a small rock in front of me before running a hand through his brown, wavy hair.
He’d let it grow out, and it was almost touching his shoulders now.
It gave him a wild, bad-boy look that suited his strong jaw and sharp, chiselled features.
Every movement of his body was a symphony of contained power.
He looked lethal, because he was. He’d filled out tremendously in the past few weeks.
I didn’t know if he was still drinking Bal’s blood, and I didn’t want to ask.
Not least because my stomach tightened with a weird kind of jealousy.
Developing feelings for them both was ridiculous.
I was human and had nothing to offer. That knowledge didn't stop the sparks that flared between us, though. It didn’t help that Shane was so damned sexy, and I desired him just as much as I did for Bal, but it would go nowhere.
It didn’t matter what my feelings were. Or that he’d claimed me as his.
The Count had made it clear to everyone on his estate, including his creepy butler, Johnson, that no one was to touch Shane under any circumstances.
He hadn’t given me the same warning, but that was probably because I wasn't a threat.
My gaze snagged on the bulging muscles of Shane’s biceps and shoulders as they pushed against the grey, form-fitting t-shirt he wore.
It clung to the ridges of his abs as if it were painted on.
I licked my lips, my cheeks heating. It should be illegal to wear something that looks that good.
My past didn’t stop me from appreciating a good-looking, sexy man, the same as any other hot-blooded female.
And Shane had become every woman’s fantasy, with his perfect body, powerful muscles, handsome, rugged face, and piercing blue eyes.
I was relieved those glorious pools of blue hadn’t been ruined with a red ring like a turned human’s did.
Perhaps he could become a monster, but his kindness was as much of a turn on as his body.
The way he’d looked after me, helping me recover from the attack, had made me feel protected in a way I never had before.
I glanced down to where his powerful hands rested against his strong thighs.
Those hands that had so easily killed, could be so gentle…
A cough had my eyes snapping up to meet his. They glinted, his too sexy lips curling into a knowing smirk. “You sure you’re okay?” He leant forward, touching my cheek with the back of his fingers. “You look a bit warm there. Anything I can do to help?”
I batted his hand away, allowing the smile he coaxed from me to curl my lips, though his suggestive tone only made me hotter. “No.” But I smiled and held his gleaming gaze, flirting right back.
“Aw, really? That’s disappointing.” He stood from his perch before lowering his bulk next to me. I didn’t move away when he slid a heavy arm over my shoulders and pulled me close. My muscles relaxed, and I sank against him, welcoming the feel of his hard body against mine.
We sat in silence for a few minutes just listening to the birds.
It was nice, snuggling up to him and just being at peace.
Shane had only left my side to seek out Bal’s help with the blood cravings he still occasionally suffered.
It was also easy to guess that Bal gave him relief from the lust that came with them.
I could see it in the flush of Shane’s skin and the glazed look in his eyes when he returned.
Thinking of them together every night, especially after Bal had made me come so hard I’d seen stars, always turned me on.
Sex had never been about my pleasure before Bal.
His attention and skill had opened my eyes, and I wanted more.
..with both of them. A shiver trembled over my skin as I glanced at Shane's mouth.
Would he be as good as Bal at making me scream?
My face flushed hotter, and I clamped my legs together to stop the ache at my core.
Shane cocked his head, his eyes sparking.
I swallowed hard and looked out over the lake, well aware that he could probably smell my arousal.
It was a constant state for me now that these two gorgeous males were in my life, to the point I’d taken to relieving my own tension when I had a moment alone.
Which was basically only when Shane left to go to Bal or while I showered.
Shane didn’t push me with the flirting. After a moment, my shoulders relaxed, and the heat ebbed from my face.
He was being patient and kind again, giving me time to come to him.
I remembered everything he’d said about me being his, that he’d never hurt me.
Part of me wanted to ask if he really meant it, but another, more cowardly part, chickened out.
“You know, if you keep biting this, you’ll make it bleed.” A warm, thick finger pulled the soft skin of my lower lip from between my teeth. “And then I’d have to taste you.”
The low growl in his voice made my body react all over again. That deep sound was so sexy. I shuffled a little. It was time to go after what I wanted.
“What if I want you to taste it?” I’d never tried seduction, but I’d heard enough of it going on to give it a try.
I winced. My voice wasn’t sultry like I was aiming for, more a breathless whisper.
But Shane was on his knees by my side in a flash, staring intently into my face, his eyes glinting a bright, lightening blue, and his enlarged pupils flickering with a deep blood red.
“Say that again.”
Could I? Fudge sticks. The way he was looking at me made my whole body heat.
“Taste me.” I meant it to be a demand, except it came out as a plea.
A big hand slid through my hair to cradle the base of my head. “Where, beautiful Sorcha?” His tongue flicked out, wetting his lips. With his other hand, he traced his fingertips down my neck, resting lightly over my pulse point. “Here? Is that what you want? For me to drink from you?”
I did. So much. But I knew that would be dangerous since he was only a fledgling. His smirk showed me he knew that too. I squirmed at the thought of what that would be like.
“Don’t worry, little bird. I won’t do that until I can feed safely and can control my desires enough.
We have time to play.” His finger traced over the neckline of my winter coat.
Holding my gaze, he lowered the zipper and slipped his hand inside, teasing the skin of my collarbone.
Urgh, dressing in a sweater had been a bad idea.
Shane grinned, his eyes twinkling as if he could hear my thoughts. “Even these layers won’t stop me.”
My pulse jumped as he slipped his hand beneath the wool and slid his touch up to where my nipple pushed against the soft, sheer material of my bra. I didn’t have massive boobs, but neither were they tiny. He filled his hand and gently squeezed, a groan escaping both of us simultaneously.
“Fuck, so soft, so perfect,” he mumbled, feeling the other one. “Do you like my hands on you, Sor?”
His finger and thumb firmly squeezed one then the other nipple, and my back bowed forward. I whimpered, unable to form words. I was so turned on, and he’d barely touched me. My eyes fluttered closed, my back arching more when he pinched harder.
“Keep those pretty eyes on me.”
Immediately, I did as he said.
“Good girl.”
Another whimper.
Shane’s eyes sparked. “You like that? Me telling you what to do? That you’re perfect for me?”
I swallowed against my dry throat. Perhaps I shouldn’t, but Shane’s deep, sexy voice giving me an instruction was different from a hateful voice demanding my subservience. I nodded.
“Words, baby. You have to answer my questions with words. For now, anyway.”
“Okay,” I managed shakily, so turned on by his continued hold on my head and hair, and oh, the way he was touching me... words felt out of my reach.
“Good. Now answer my question. Do you like me telling you what to do?”
“Yes.”
His smirk was arrogant, but his own breathing hitched, getting faster when he inhaled deeply and moaned. “Does it make you wet?”
My cheeks burned hot, but not as hot as the rest of my body. He could smell my need for him. There was no point in lying. “Yes.”
“Hm, let’s see how much…”
His right hand remained firm on the back of my head, though not restraining me, merely a solid presence, an anchor. With his other hand, he popped the button on my jeans and teased his fingers inside. Tortuously slow.
My head swam, my breaths short and fast.
“Eyes on me.” His command was a little shakier this time, his voice deeper than ever.
I fell into his ocean blue gaze, even as it flickered dangerously with splashes of red.
His forehead rested on mine, our fast breaths mingling.
We stared at each other, my heart pounding erratically.
There would be no more hiding how I felt about him, or pretending that I didn’t care if he wanted me or not; not after this.
His fingers slipped inside the silk of my undies, brushing the hair at the top of my slit. His deep groan as his fingers found the slickness there only turned me on more. His throaty growl got louder when he pushed between my folds and found me slick and swollen.
“Fuck me, Sor, you really like this, don’t you?”
I nodded, sucking my bottom lip between my teeth, trying to suppress a moan.
“Words,” he growled.
“Yesss.” My brain had given up working properly, and I couldn’t form more than one-word answers, not while he was so close.
His fingers slid back up and circled my clit.
“Shane…” I whimpered and gripped his shoulders, trying to keep myself from collapsing from the pleasure of his touch. I wanted so much more.
“That’s it, baby, hold on to me. I’m going to take care of you, but I need you to shimmy these jeans down a little.”
He kept his fingers moving over my sensitive skin as I struggled to comply. I gasped when the denim shifted and he applied more pressure. Two of his fingers eased inside me, and he pumped them gently.
“I’m going to make you come, Sor, and you’re going to scream my name when you do. Okay?”
I nodded. Then remembered—words. “Yes. Yes. Make me come. Please.”
I didn’t care if I sounded desperate; my fingers were a poor substitute for his, for the way they were stretching me, making my whole body heat like an inferno.
I cried out as he drew his thumb over my bundle of nerves while he pumped his fingers in and out.
At the sound of my wetness, Shane only groaned louder.
“Mother wolf, you’re so wet. So perfect.”
My internal muscles started to flutter, my whole body working to a fever pitch.
“I want to kiss you while you come.”
It was a statement, but also a question.
My heart fluttered even as my muscles wound tighter.
He was asking permission. He was powerful and commanding, but if I told him to stop, he would.
Only, that wasn't what I wanted. I wanted his mouth on mine. I had for weeks and weeks. Bal’s face flashed into my mind, and part of me wished he were here to join us.
My face flamed at how much that thought turned me on.
Jesus! Bal, watching, dressed in his perfect suit, was one hot image.
I clenched my internal muscles hard. “Please, kiss me.”
Shane’s mouth possessed mine as soon as the words left my lips.
His lips were soft and warm, but his kiss was searing.
I sighed when his tongue slid against mine, and his hold on the back of my head tightened.
The kiss escalated until we were consuming each other.
My body fell off the precipice of an orgasm so strong that I screamed into his mouth.
He kissed me all through it, his fingers and thumb working me until I was a trembling mass of over-sensitive nerves and weak limbs.
His kiss slowed, becoming more languid and sensual than desperate. His fingers gentled, and he pulled back a bit. Resting his forehead on mine.
“Fuck, Sor.” He lifted his hand from between my legs. “Look at that.” My slickness gleamed on his fingers and hand.
I blushed as he pulled back and lifted his fingers to his mouth, his eyes a stunning mix of electric blue and pulsing red. But another hand gripped his wrist, stopping his progress.
“What do you think you’re doing?”