Elemental's Domain

by Yvette Bostic

  “You just called me a selfish little girl a minute ago,” I muttered, trying to avoid the deep blue eyes searching mine.

  “And you didn’t feel the lie?” he asked.

  “No, I’m too caught up in my own selfish emotions to feel yours.”

  “That makes two of us.” He laughed, a genuine laugh, not that stupid chuckle. “The only difference is that I’m starting to like it.”

  “Then find out Jack’s next target,” I grumbled, not sharing his humor. “I’ll give myself to him and ensure Kellen’s safety. But we need to know where the next fight will be.”

  “He cannot have you,” Braden growled.

  “That’s my choice. Not yours. I won’t have Kellen’s death on my conscience, too.” I pulled my gaze from him, the sudden surge of jealousy making me uncomfortable. “Let me go.”

  He growled again and released me. I dropped into the nearest seat and cradled my forehead in my hands. Despite my claim, I worried that I couldn’t save Kellen. It’s not like Jack was honorable. I could give myself up and he’d still hold my partner hostage just to make me cooperate. Maybe I’d get lucky and Jack was bluffing. Yeah right. I was never lucky. Dusha needed to hurry up and find him.

  Chapter 14

  I tried to sleep the remainder of the flight, but Logan’s bruised face haunted me every time I closed my eyes. I almost asked Braden to put me out but decided at the last minute it was probably a bad idea. I didn’t want to be at his mercy for anything.

  As a result, I stumbled from the plane into Mexico’s thick, uncomfortable humidity. My clothes clung to my body, and I pulled my scarf over my forehead, trying to shade my eyes from the sun. It didn’t help my already bad mood.

  I gladly let Braden deal with customs and collect our luggage, trailing behind him like a dutiful wife. Several security officers eyed me, but none stopped to question me or search my belongings.

  Braden’s long fingers wrapping around my elbow startled me. “There should be a car waiting for us,” he said. “When we get to the hotel, you need to rest.”

  “I tried that already,” I whispered. “It didn’t work out so well.”

  He grunted softly and pulled me through the airport, deftly avoiding the crowds. A porter followed close behind with our luggage, and as promised, a car waited for us just outside the door. A young man, possibly late teens waited next to a sand-colored Mercedes holding a sign that said, “Señor Black.”

  As soon as Braden acknowledged him, the young man tucked the sign under his arm and opened the back door. I scooted to the far side and the vampire joined me. We sat in silence for the twenty minutes it took to get to the hotel, winding through the streets of Mexico City. My exhaustion didn’t allow me to take in the sites, my drooping eyelids betraying my curiosity.

  When the car finally stopped in front of a Four Seasons hotel, I peeled my face from the window. I’d definitely fallen asleep. Braden opened his door and the hot, humid air rushed in. Lovely.

  “I’m sorry, señor,” a man’s voice drifted into the car. “All of our luxury suites are full. The manager has arranged for a…”

  Braden cut him off. “I didn’t pay for a luxury suite just to get something less.”

  “No, of course!” the man exclaimed. “Tonight’s stay will be free of charge.”

  The vampire grunted, and I rolled my eyes. It was a resort-style hotel. I couldn’t imagine them having a ‘bad’ room. They wouldn’t maintain their ranking if they did.

  I slid across the seat and pulled my scarf tighter over my stupid ears, then climbed out of the car. Our luggage was already loaded onto a cart, and a bellhop wheeled it into the concierge entrance.

  I looped my arm around Braden’s elbow and forced a smile. “Let’s go, dearest husband,” I said. “I’m sure whatever they have will be wonderful.”

  He looked down at me and his scowl softened.

  “I promise, señora,” an older man said from a few feet away. “You’ll love the room.” A hopeful smile lit up his wrinkled face as he waved us through the door.

  Braden held my arm in his until we reached our room on the fifth floor. The concierge opened the door for us and handed my ‘husband’ the card key. The bellboy unloaded our luggage quickly and left.

  “Thank you.” I smiled and preceded Braden into the room. It was spacious, and a three-foot wall separated a small seating area from the bed, but it wasn’t a suite. The king-sized bed took up most of the space next to a pair of sliding glass doors. The chocolate-colored drapes were pulled back revealing a view of the city from a small balcony.

  As the door closed behind me, I tried to ignore Braden’s irritation.

  “It’s not like we’ll be staying long,” I said.

  “No, but I really need some sleep and so do you,” he all but growled.

  I’d been too caught up in my own exhaustion to think about his. Had he slept in the last few days? I’d caught a few hours, but had he done the same? I pulled the drapes closed, blocking out the sun. I hadn’t thought about that either.

  “Do we even know if Ernesto is here?” I asked, giving him my full attention.

  “Yes, Gordon says most of Sergey’s people responded to the summons,” he replied, tossing his phone on the desk near the door. I forced myself to notice the dark circles under his eyes. Had he fed since he raided Mr. Smith’s supplies? “They’re congregating in a secluded valley about an hour from the city.” He started unbuttoning his shirt and I looked away. “They’ll be waiting for us at sundown,” he continued. “Ernesto knows we’re here, which means Jack does as well.”

  I dropped my purse on the floor next to the bed and kicked off my cute little shoes. “So, we have a few hours to get some sleep.”

  “Yes,” he replied, flipping back the tan quilt to reveal a down comforter and white sheets. His lip curled as he pulled in a deep breath. “I suppose this will do.” He pulled the belt from his waist while slipping his shoes from his feet.

  My face flushed and I turned my back to him. Kellen and I had shared a bed several times without doing anything intimate. I should be able to do it with someone I didn’t like, but for some reason, that made it harder. I left my camisole and comfy pants on, then shimmied beneath the sheets.

  “You shouldn’t sleep in those,” Braden said, climbing into his side of the large bed. “We won’t have time to get them dry cleaned.”

  “We’re getting ready to play real-life Mortal Combat and you’re worried about wrinkles?” I retorted, immediately feeling a little guilty when Braden growled. Everything I had came from him. “Well, shit,” I mumbled, tossing the blankets back and slipping out of the slacks. Damn vampire.

  I quickly got back in bed, facing away from Braden and closing my eyes. Logan’s battered face appeared immediately and I opened them again. Would I ever get over my guilt? He wouldn’t be dead if not for me. I took a deep breath. This had to stop. I couldn’t change what happened, and constantly beating myself up over it made everything worse. In a few hours, I needed to face a vampire army without looking and feeling like a zombie. I could grieve for Logan after this was all done.

  “Does your mind ever stop?” Braden asked.

  “Apparently not,” I replied.

  “Do you want my help?”

  I rolled onto my back and looked at him. He lay on his side facing me, the comforter tucked under his arm, leaving his chest bare.

  “No, but I may not have a choice,” I answered.

  “Then get over here,” he said. “You’re wasting precious time with your indecision.”

  I stared at him for several seconds, reaching for his emotions and finding irritation and exhaustion. No desire, thankfully.

  “Fine.”

  I scooted closer to him and his arm snapped out, pulling me against him. Before I could argue, his finger trailed over my ear.

  “Don’t touch my ears,” I snapped, trying to beat back the rising heat in my core.

  “I’ve forgotten how much I liked that,” he whi
spered. “But you’re right. We need sleep.” His fingers trailed down my neck, still sending tingles along my skin. “Sleep, little mage. I’ll wake you in four hours.”

  My eyes drooped, and I frowned. “Four hours isn’t enough,” I mumbled.

  If he replied, I didn’t hear it. A deep slumber took me and I didn’t fight it. Logan and Kellen both drifted through my dreams. Happier times when my partner actually smiled. The three of us sat at the kitchen island in Kellen’s house talking about magic and elementals. Logan stirred a big pot of chili even though he had no intention of eating any of it. I’d walked in on him just as he got out of the shower that morning, getting a glorious view of his masculinity. Of course, I’d tucked my tail and ran.

  Then, like all dreams, it turned into nonsense. My mother’s head on a snake’s body fought against a choir of angels singing Christmas hymns. And Cedric turned into a large ram, head-butting the angels from the choir loft. If there were any meaning behind it, I wasn’t figuring it out.

  Braden appeared next, circling a trio of trees. Bloody tears streamed from the wooden eyes carved into the bark, and moans of pain filled a dark forest. I lay on a bed of decaying leaves among the sorrowful trees, drinking in their misery.

  A tingle of pleasure raced down my neck and between my breasts, making a beeline south. A warm touch followed the sensation, igniting the fire I hadn’t felt since the last time I’d made love to Logan. There was no one around me in my little dreamscape, but the deft fingers gliding down my stomach sure felt real. Even more so when they slid beneath my silk panties and teased parts of me that no one was allowed to touch. Only Logan. I moaned with the pleasure only his long fingers could deliver.

  “Don’t tease me,” I pleaded.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” a soft voice whispered against my ear, sending tingles down my neck.

  “You know better than ask.”

  My favorite fingers stopped and slid out of my panties. The warmth of a large body hovered over me and lips kissed my neck.

  “Are you sure?” he asked again a little louder, his breath dusting my hair and his desire unrelenting against mine.

  “Too many clothes,” I mumbled, running my hands up his chest, then following the corded muscles to his neck. My fingers twisted into his hair and pulled him to me.

  The kiss I needed more than anything followed, full of passion and longing. I pressed my hips into his and he growled, releasing my lips. I opened my eyes and froze. Braden’s blue eyes stared back at me, his lust mirroring my own but for different reasons. I thought he was Logan, something he wouldn’t want to hear.

  I tried to untangle my fingers from his hair. “I’m so sorry.” My ears burned, and I was pretty sure my face and neck were bright red.

  “Why are you sorry?” he asked, his lips pulling into a smile.

  “I don’t intend to finish what I started,” I replied. “I can’t do this with you.” With my hands free, I didn’t know what to do with them. My traitorous body wanted them on the vampire hovering inches above me, but I couldn’t.

  “Your body says otherwise,” he said, leaning down and brushing his lips across my neck. Another surge of pleasure rushed through my core and I fisted the sheets on each side of me.

  “What are you doing?” I hissed.

  “Something I wish you’d do as well,” he whispered, then ran his tongue along the edge of my ear.

  My eyes rolled back, the sensation driving any sane thoughts from my mind. “And what is that?” I breathed.

  “Sink those little teeth into my neck and find out,” he purred.

  His face brushed against mine, and my traitorous hands found his neck, my mouth following them. Dammit! Was he entrancing me? Is that why I wanted him so badly? When he kissed the edge of my ear again, I moaned. Holy shit, that felt good.

  “Teeth, little mage,” he whispered.

  “No,” I whimpered the same time my hips rolled against his. “You need to stop.”

  “Bite me and I will.” He raised his head and looked down at me, deep reds circled his blue eyes.

  “Are you entrancing me?” I asked, feeling even more turned on by the monster he barely restrained.

  “No, sex is so much better when it’s given willingly.”

  “Then why…”

  “Shhh. Bite me and we’re done,” he interrupted. “Unless you change your mind.”

  “I don’t think I can.”

  “Then let me help you.”

  He snaked one arm beneath my back and flipped both of us over. My legs straddled him like they had a mind of their own, and my hands explored the hard muscles on his chest. Against my better judgment, I let him pull my face to his, but he didn’t kiss me. His lips brushed my cheek and his fingers ran through my hair.

  I lay against him, breathing in his sandalwood and desire. I knew so much about this was wrong, but why didn’t it feel that way?

  His fingers found one of my ears and I moaned. “That is awful,” I whispered. “Something so small shouldn’t turn me into jelly.”

  “If you don’t do this soon, I’ll be breaking my promise to you,” he growled. “No man has unlimited willpower.” His lips brushed my neck, and a small pinch preceded another wave of desire. He bit again, this time not being gentle.

  “You bastard,” I hissed.

  “The longer you wait, the worse it will get,” he moaned, sinking his fangs into my shoulder.

  Pain and pleasure flooded through me, then a familiar red haze creeped in. He wanted my darkness, and I would give it to him. I bit down on the pulsing vein in his neck and nearly blacked out. Not from the blood pooling in my mouth but the depth of his emotions hammering through me. I pulled my lips away from his skin, letting his blood slide down my throat, but the sensation didn’t stop.

  My heart stuttered with his anger, hatred, and resentment, but his longing and love nearly made it stop beating all together. How did he already love that deeply? He’d only had a soul for a couple of days. It made no sense. The haze from my darkness vanished, and I dropped my head on his shoulder. I couldn’t ask him. Wouldn’t ask. I didn’t want to find out it was me. Not so soon after Logan’s death.

  Braden pulled his fingers from my hair and let out a long breath. “I don’t think I was ready for that,” he mumbled.

  “Yeah.” I swallowed hard. “What did you do just now?”

  “It wasn’t just me,” he replied. “I believe you know that the fae can communicate telepathically?”

  I nodded, bumping my forehead against his shoulder. He wrapped his hands around my waist and rolled me off him, which was probably a good idea. I lay on my side facing him, struggling to decide if I wanted to stare at his bare chest or the eyes trying to pierce my heart. The smooth lines on his neck and shoulders won.

  “We can also share emotions by doing what we just did,” he continued. “I was curious if it would still work for me.”

  “And did it?” I asked. Did I really want to know what he felt from me? He didn’t reply, and I frowned. I couldn’t look at him, afraid of my own emotions. “Just spit it out already,” I grumbled.

  “You’ve heightened my intrigue around your chaotic emotions,” he finally said. “Why are you afraid of them?”

  My eyes snapped up to his. “You really have to ask?” I snapped. “Jack killed Logan because of me and is threatening to do the same to Kellen. I can’t carry anymore guilt.”

  Braden laughed and rolled towards me. “Vampires don’t feel, little mage,” he said, reaching towards my ear. I caught his hand before he touched it and snarled at him. “As long as you continue to show your hate for me, Jack won’t suspect any true emotions growing between us.” He laced his fingers in mine. I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let me.

  “There are no growing emotions between us,” I growled.

  “It’s your lie. Tell it however you like,” he purred, kissing the back of my hand.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Aviur’s harsh voice drifted
across the room.

  I rolled over and sat up, pulling the sheets around me. “Tell me that wasn’t you,” I snapped.

  “I’d be lying if I did,” he purred. “You are so much fun.”

  Braden sat up next to me and glared at the elemental. “That was your doing?”

  “I only started the fire, she kept it lit. Her desire is so very raw,” he replied. “Especially when she sleeps. It’s difficult not to… encourage her.”

  The vampire growled, and my jaw dropped as jealousy flooded the room.

  “She has already told you to stay out of her dreams,” Braden hissed.

  “And the vampire defends her honor,” Aviur stated, a smile creeping across his flickering face.

  Braden leapt from the bed, wearing nothing but boxer briefs. His skin rippled with his anger and claws slowly grew from his fingertips. He’d be in full vampire form in seconds if someone didn’t intervene.

  “Stop, both of you!” I demanded, pulling the sheets up to my neck and pointing at Aviur. “You will never interfere with my desire again. Is that clear? That’s a dreadful invasion of my privacy. I’m not a prude, but I’m also not sharing my intimacy with anyone unwillingly.”

  “If you wish, princess,” he replied, not looking the least bit chastised, which just pissed me off even more.

  I needed deep breaths and a change of subject. “Where’s Kellen?”

  “He is at the palace, unharmed.”

  My relief doused some of my anger. I wouldn’t lose him to Jack today, and I didn’t have to surrender myself either. “What time is it?”

  “Two hours before sunset.” Aviur turned to Braden’s tightly coiled body. “Calm down, elder. I would never hurt the princess.”