Not he or my mother was going to stop me.
It was immoral of me, but a little anarchy never hurt anyone. If anything, it kept the spirit alive, living on the edge. Existing in an ordinary life was just boring.
And Julius and I would never be boring if I had my way. I wanted our life together to be full of surprises, happiness, or even the occasional heartache. When you lived forever, being ‘bored’ was a dangerous subject to everyone around you.
So, tonight…yes, tonight, I was going to be spontaneous. Living.
Slipping past my mom had been easy. We had gone to a lake house just outside of Jonas, like normal, on a full moon since we had stopped moving years ago—the college town our permanent address. When she had fallen asleep, I snuck out and followed the white roses outside the front door. The white love tree had been there at the end of the path, always waiting.
Sneaking onto the castle’s property had been more interesting.
Even though I darted in and out of shadows, the men playing their bond call had stopped whenever I got within twenty feet of them—even though they couldn’t see me. I’d never been around a man during a full moon, but I was beginning to understand why my mom had ordered me to stay away from them. I must smell like a damn dog in heat because at least ten guys had lifted their noses into the air and sniffed.
I ran like hell.
I was pretty sure one was still following me somewhere, but I focused on the castle itself now.
I knew many of the secret passageways—there were a ton—but staying clear of any man but the one I actually wanted was going to prove difficult if the previous bond callers were any indication. Any man outside the passageway doors would smell me…or whatever it was.
I would just have to be extremely quick. I knew Julius was in his bedroom working—a quick phone call had taken care of that information—so I would have to make it to the third floor in a hurry. I pulled my backpack tighter against my shoulders and raced inside the least used door at the back of the castle.
The lights were bright on me, showcasing I had arrived, but I instantly slipped into the first hidden passage just inside the entrance. My legs pumped as I sprinted up the spiraling staircase. At the small landing, I swiftly dug my fingers into the dirt, finding the lever to release the boxed door in front of me. It swung open and dust fanned my face and filled my lungs.
I swallowed down a cough and crawled through silently to a hallway.
Again, the light damn near blinded me, but I closed the hidden door and raced down the hall. This was the most dangerous area. Bedrooms spanned both sides of the hall—the single men’s section of the castle. Laughter boomed and floors creaked as I ran by the closed doors…but the noises stopped all too quickly.
Almost there. Almost there.
I turned the corner just as I heard the first door open. I yanked on the edge of the third medieval portrait hanging on the wall on the right side. It flew at me, and I barely caught it before it crashed into my nose. Blood was not sexy.
I jumped into the hidden chamber and wrenched the picture back into place. I didn’t wait to find out if the feet I heard pounding down the hallway would pass by or stop at the secret entry. Like a sneaky cat, I jumped up, grabbed onto the ladder and began climbing to the third floor. There was no light in here so I had to be careful not to slip.
I grunted when I reached the top, balancing on my tiptoes to reach the lever to open the bookcase stopping me from entering the room beyond. I grappled with the hinge until it clicked, loud and ominous.
The bookcase swung open.
I toppled inside, landing straight on my face.
Not exactly graceful, but I quickly lifted to my knees, scanning the alcove.
There was a man in here. He was sleeping on the couch, his feet propped up on one end of it. I was pretty sure I saw drool on the corner of his mouth. And he was definitely snoring. Like, shake the walls snoring.
My lips twitched.
It was Kent, Julius’s second in command of security.
Not so secure tonight.
I jumped to my feet and noiselessly shut the bookcase.
But my eyes narrowed when his nose twitched. If he woke up, I would be in trouble. He was a big ass dude, with muscles to spare. There would be no way I could get away from him.
I slipped from the room and raced down the banister walkway. It overlooked one of the common areas—where many men were sitting far below on the first floor. All peered up at me at the same time, their bodies tensing.
They froze for a heartbeat, their expressions quickly turning to horror as they saw me.
It was the same look Randor wore far down the hallway.
Where he guarded Julius’s bedroom door.
His hands flew up. “Stop! Don’t come near me!”
If it had been any other day, that would be funny as hell.
He was actually scared. All of the men were.
Because of who I was. To Julius.
His order didn’t stop me.
I kept running straight at him.
He pinched his nose and held his breath, his cheeks puffed out. His feet pattered on the ground like he didn’t know what to do. Right before I reached him, his face turning bright red from holding his breath so long, he grabbed the door handle and pushed the door open. His hand landed on my backpack, and he shoved me into the bedroom, slamming the door closed behind me.
“Lock the door,” he shouted, his voice breathless.
I stopped dead in my tracks, my chest heaving.
I flipped the lock on the door.
Julius sat father into the room, his back to me as he worked at his desk. But he had frozen in place, the muscles tensing underneath his white shirt. With his head bowed over his work, the snap of a pencil breaking echoed inside the room.
His tone was nothing I had ever heard before. His voice growled through the air with sure death as the undertone. “Get the fuck out of my room.”
My breathing labored, I placed my hands on my knees. “That’s a hell of a welcome after what I’ve been through to get here. But at least I know you’re loyal.”
His muscles clenched even further. “Kenna?”
“It’s me.” I cleared my throat and shoved to stand straight. “I’ve come to seduce you.”
It was quiet for a minuscule second before I shrieked. Within a blink, he was standing in front of me, shoving me brutally against his door. My backpack banged against it, stopping our progress. His hands…his heated hands ran up my arms. Over my neck. His thumbs tilted my head back, making me peer straight up at him.
His eyes were on fire with hunger.
A wicked grin tilted his lips. “My Kenna, you have no idea what’s in store for you.”
I licked my suddenly dry lips. “Huh?”
“Let me explain.” He hummed softly, deep in his throat. His gaze lingered on my cleavage showing at the top of my neckline. “On the night of a full moon, yes, your scent will call out to any man. But when you come into contact with a male who is an Elf our scent reacts to yours. What I’m feeling right now, you will feel. So much more, too. Neither of us will be able to say no.” He leaned down, pressing his forehead to mine. “It won’t be either of us doing the seducing, it’ll be the magic.”
I blinked. Sniffed. “I don’t smell anything.”
“I do. It’s coming.”
I stared at his plush mouth. The mouth I had always wanted to kiss. “Are you mad at me?”
“I would have preferred to wait until after your Blood Tree, but it’s close enough.”
“Just two days.”
“Thank the heavens.” He groaned quietly, tilting his head and placing his mouth against my ear. His sweet breath heated my flesh. “Here it comes. Are you ready?”
I smirked, using the phrase he always used. “You already know the answer.”
A rush of magic jarred my senses, jolting my body in heady urgency. I inhaled a deep breath and held it in. It was strong. I could taste it on my tong
ue. This wasn’t a scent like cinnamon or ginger. It was the scent of power and strength charging toward me, a sizzle on the air that had my back arching and my breasts pressing against his warm chest.
It was his unique scent. All Julius. All original Elf.
His mouth was on mine as my eyes closed in pure need. I moaned against my mate’s mouth, his lips like a treasure of granted wishes. His hungry growl only fueled my flooding desire for him. Our lips parted, rubbing against each other’s, and his tongue touched mine.
“Julius,” I whispered. My hands lifted to thread through his soft hair. It was so thick, my fists clenched on the strands, holding on tight as he lifted me straight off my feet. Our tongues collided in a battle of insistence, neither of us giving up the fight to be closer. We wouldn’t give up until all of our demands were met, our wait so long to be together.
He walked on strong legs to his massive bed, holding me in his arms and kissing my mouth again. And again. The hard brush of his flexing muscles against mine had my body rubbing against his, needing to press all of myself to him. His lips left mine for a heartbeat when his knees bumped the mattress, his words guttural. “Get rid of the bag.”
It dropped on the floor with a thump.
He chuckled quietly, his dark carnal eyes finding mine. “Eager, are you?”
There was no shame in my game. “I want you naked. Like, right now.”
His grin increased, and he tossed me onto his bed. I bounced but choked on a laugh as he grabbed my ankles, pulling my feet to the edge. He yanked my shoes and socks off, each one tossed carelessly over his shoulder. He wiggled his white eyebrows. “Ladies first, my mate.”
I pouted. “Please take your shirt off for me?” Before I jump on you and rip it off.
His head teetered back and forth in thought. In a swift motion, his shirt was lying on the floor next to my bag. All that gorgeous tan flesh stared me in the face. His muscles rippled as he crawled onto the bed directly on top of me.
My hands smacked down on his biceps. I squeezed and dug my fingernails in, wanting him even closer to me. My words were breathless. “No wonder Mom told you to keep your clothes on at all times.”
His eyes scanned my face. “So you like?”
“Hell. Yes.”
“Good. It’s my turn to stare.” His fingers dipped under the hem of my shirt.
My eyes widened in shock when not only was my t-shirt gone in less than a second but so was my bra. I choked, “Had much experience with that?”
He was an intelligent man. He didn’t respond.
Besides, his hooded gaze told me he thoroughly enjoyed what he viewed.
I poked his shoulder. “Don’t drool on me.”
His lips twitched. “A little bit of spit never hurts.” My brows furrowed in confusion, but he just winked and tilted his head down to my chest. He whispered against my pebbled nipple, “You’ll figure it out later, my Kenna.”
A deep as hell groan left my lips, his tongue grazing my right nipple. Sinful. He was sinful as he switched back and forth from each breast, sucking and devouring me into a heated frenzy. I lifted my hips, grinding my core against his hard cock. My panties were soaked, his heat and mine matching in intensity. “Lower. I want your mouth lower.”
He slid his hand between our bodies and cupped my crotch. “Do you mean here?”
“You know I do.”
He hummed quietly, gradually pulling my zipper down. “Are you sure?”
I wiggled under him, staring up into his eyes, his scent digging deeper into my senses. “Quit teasing me.”
His lips lifted, and he kissed my neck gently. “I’m teasing myself, too.”
I groaned. “Well, stop. Teasing isn’t nice or hasn’t anyone ever told you that before?”
“I’m sadistic. What can I say?”
To hell with this. I shoved my hands down and yanked my pants over my hips. My mate snickered quietly, watching as I struggled to remove my pants and panties under the press of his body. My eyes narrowed. “If you don’t help me, your pants won’t be coming off either.”
His brows raised, but damn if his hands didn’t start assisting me. Black eyes roamed my naked flesh, the gleam in his gaze sinful. “In the future, any time you want to order me to remove your clothing, I’ll be more than happy to contribute to the effort.”
I smiled, showing all my teeth. “I thought you might see it that way.” I pointed at his pants. “Off. Now.”
Ripping fabric tore through the air, and pieces of his pants littered the bed.
I blinked. “That’s one way to do it.”
He grunted and shoved my knees apart. “Time to lick that lovely pussy, my mate.”
My brows flew up at his gruff words, but my eyes quickly closed when his lips landed on my intimate folds. I’d had barely any time to even look at his cock, but I didn’t give a damn. “Fuck. Lick all you want.”
He bit my inner thigh, then his tongue was working a magic that was purely my mate in action. Diligent. Determined. On a damn mission. No argument left my lips, only my quiet demands mixed with moans of gratefulness. He lapped at my wetness as if it were his favorite savory treat, and tortured me as he twirled his tongue around my throbbing clit. His long years of life had taught him well. Two of his fingers slipped inside me, and I nosedived right into a blissful world he had created.
I came hard against his tongue, my body trembling beneath his.
He growled, kissing my clit one last time before rising over me. “You taste as sweet as I always imagined.”
I repeatedly blinked into his gaze, trying to form a coherent thought. My mouth opened, but no words spewed forth. I hummed instead. That, I could manage right now.
His lips curved, and he kissed my left temple. He leaned to the side and grabbed a condom from his nightstand drawer. His lips twitched as I eyed the package, watching as he rolled it on his impressive cock. “Don’t worry. It’s new. Not expired.”
I huffed and spread my legs wider as he settled between my thighs. His heat warmed me further, small beads of sweat already forming on my brow. “I like a man who’s prepared.”
“You like this man, you mean.”
I ran a finger over his right eyebrow, my words quiet. “Only you.”
His eyes met mine and held. “Only you.”
My mate pressed his hips forward, his scent increasing in power and strength, a completion on the horizon to the magic holding us prisoner. I bit my lower lip as his cock stretched me full; the pinch of pain, as he passed my virginal barrier, was nothing compared to the rightness when he was fully inside me.
With his hips flush with mine, he breathed heavily. “I’ve waited eons for this.”
I brushed my lips against his. “My mate.”
“My mate.” And he kissed me, the most tantalizing kiss. His hips pulled back, only to push forward again. His thrusts were gentle, caring for my tender flesh. “Does this hurt?”
“No,” I moaned, running my hands down his flexing back muscles. “It’s perfect.”
Our rhythm stayed steady as we made love to one another. His body undulated against mine with each pump of his hips, his dark eyes staring down into mine with such adoration. I never stopped touching him, my fingers on a journey to discover every part of my mate. When I lifted my hips to his, meeting each of his thrusts, he groaned softly and teased me with his lips, brushing them over mine. Our climaxes came, just as I always knew they would, at the same time. Together, we soared into pleasured filled stars, our bodies joined as one.
The power chaining us together from the full moon dissipated, leaving us breathless and damp. Our chests rubbed against the other’s as we tried to find air. Julius lifted his head from my left shoulder, his cheeks pinked from exertion. He raised one white brow. “It’s gone.”
I smiled. “It is.”
He dipped his head and brushed his nose against mine. “Ready for round two?”
“Yes.” I patted his bare right hip. “And three. And four.”
“That’s my girl.”
Mom asked in irritation, “Where are you going now?”
“Didn’t you want me to pick up your old Blood Tree cloak from the cleaners?” I grabbed my keys, my body still pleasantly sore from my all-nighter with Julius. And Mom didn’t even have a clue. She had been sleeping soundly when I snuck back inside the lake house this morning. “You said I needed to pick it up at three o’clock today.”
She rubbed her forehead and rolled her eyes. “Five, Kenna. Not three.”
“Oh.” I peered around our house. There was nothing to do, and I was bored. I shrugged. “I’ll stop by the diner and grab an earlier dinner.”
Mom dug cash from her wallet. College kids are epically broke. I wasn’t any different. She waved the bills at me. “Pick me up ice cream on your way home.”
Money always came with a price. I snatched the generous amount of green in front of me. “Will do.”
She cleared her throat, staring pointedly. “I want my change back.”
I scratched at my left arm. “I need gas.”
She stared, but eventually nodded. “Fine. Just don’t forget my ice cream.” Her hips shimmied then. “And don’t forget, we’ve got that movie marathon tonight.”
My chuckle was deep. “Please. Don’t wave those hips like that again.”
Her nose lifted into the air. “Darling, I look as young as you.”
That was a fact. It didn’t change anything, though. “You’re my mom. No. Hip. Shaking.”
Before I strolled out the front door, she shook them one last time.
I slapped Jerry’s shoulder as I sat down next to him on a barstool. “Back in town for a while?”
“Only for a few days this time. There’s a freshman showing potential for the Majors.” He wiped his fingers free of barbecue sauce. His baby back ribs looked tasty. “So what’s new with you?”
I lifted a finger to hold off his question, and then hollered, “Hey, Mack! I’ll have what Jerry’s eating.”
Blood Tree: Silver Edition Page 4