“I messed up there. You should have remained unconscious. Unable to move for a good hour. But no, I never planned to harm you. I would never have killed you.” She shook her head.
“You didn’t mess up,” he mumbled. Then he pulled in a deep breath. “You’re not an evil bitch out to get the dragon species. You really believed you were protecting the human race.” He ran a hand through his wet hair. “And yet, I can’t help but wonder if it’s all a ruse. That you’re somehow fooling me.”
“It’s not a ruse. I never planned on hurting anyone that day. I may have had the gun to that women’s head, but the safety was on.”
“Why did you allow the human females captured all those months ago to be beaten and almost brutalized? You threatened to torture Flood, and would have done so if they hadn’t escaped.” His eyes were narrowed.
“I wasn’t aware the women were being harmed. I never gave those instructions. I was extremely angry when I found out. Those men weren’t even employed by me. It was my father’s doing.” She pulled in a breath. “It’s true, I threatened to torture Flood…I take it that’s the dragon’s name?”
The shifter nodded.
“I threatened, but I would never have actually gone through with it. I hoped that threats would work. I would’ve had to hand him over. My father would’ve done what was necessary. He had his men watching. Look, you don’t have to believe me. I would understand if you didn’t. Drop me off at the nearest civilization. We never have to see each other again.” He frowned, looking even more angry. “Or take me with you. I would be happy to answer any questions. I want to make this right.”
“What about tonight? How did you come up with the plan? That male seemed to know about it. I’m missing a whole lot of pieces.”
“You could say I double crossed them. After speaking with you and hearing all you had to say, I had to find out for myself. I guess I had always suspected something was off. It was a feeling I buried over the years. After meeting you…talking to you, I thought differently. I knew Harry and my father were meeting this evening at six. I decided to spy on them. I overheard them talking.”
The shifter nodded, urging her to continue.
“It was just as you said.” She told him about the conversation she overheard. This time she added in details about the mines and their horrible plans.
“I knew they had watched our earlier conversation, that they were listening in when I suggested the plan to you. I couldn’t say everything I wanted to say. As far as they were concerned, I hadn’t overheard them. I still believed all the lies they were spewing. That was why this worked. My father may not have believed in me, or seen much in me, but he knew I was compliant. That I always towed the line. I never questioned him, or the houses. Eaves dropping is something I would never have considered before meeting you. I managed to convince my father that I could get you to take me with you when you escaped. That I could somehow get you to lead me to your lair. All the while I’d wear the ring and the tracker.”
“So that’s how they found you before?” he narrowed his eyes.
She nodded, feeling her eyes well. Damn these emotions. She sniffed and rubbed her eyes, trying to get them under control. “I didn’t know the device was there. I swear!” she shook her head. “My father gave that ring to me. He told me it was from my late mother. All a lie. She died when I was a little girl. I have very little memory of her. He knew it was a soft spot. One he could exploit. He was right, I put the ring on and never once took it off. He knew where I was at all times.”
“What about now? Are you sure you don’t have one on you?”
“I doubt it.” She shook her head. “I’m not wearing any jewelry. I picked up these items from in the house…” she pointed at the back pack. “None of them are mine. Maybe sewn into my clothing.” She looked down at herself. “But I doubt they would have put one in every item and I don’t normally wear this.”
“What about under your skin? They may have tried it on me, but my body would reject a foreign object. It wouldn’t stay inside me for long, especially during a shift. You could have one though. I don’t know much about these things, but I wouldn’t put it past them.”
“I don’t think so, but I can’t say for sure. They sedated me after we crashed, so they could have done it then. I was kept in the dark about so many things. Why not add one more? I guess I’m gullible and trusting.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I was ever stupid enough to believe all of that. Now I understand why she left.”
“Why who left?”
“It doesn’t matter.” The memory hurt even more now than ever before. Page had been right. “A small group broke away from our organization a couple of years ago. They left, never to be heard from again. It was just before we graduated from the academy. Just before we became slayers.” She lifted her wrist, looking at the tattoo she’d received at the ceremony. “We were instructed to forget their existence, to never speak of them again. Now I wonder if they knew, or at least suspected that something was off.” She chewed on her lip. “Maybe they found something out. Look, if I’m really honest with myself, there were signs. I refused to believe anything other than what I was told. That’s all on me! I conformed as much as I could. I accepted my punishments. I was too accepting. Too…”
She pulled in a breath when he took her hand. “You trusted your blood, your family. You were brainwashed. Used by those who were supposed to protect you.”
Her lip wobbled. “I guess so, but…”
“But nothing.” He bowed his head for a few seconds before looking up. “I owe you an apology.”
“What?” she felt her cheeks heat. “No you—”
“Yes!” he nodded. “I do! I’m sorry I treated you so badly. Back in the cave…”
“I’m the enemy remember? Or at least I was…I…”
“No, it’s no excuse. I was so attracted to you…so damned turned on whenever you…”
“Peed?” she teased, letting out a laugh. “I’m not sure what that was all about.” She lifted her brows.
He made a face. “More like whenever you dropped your panties, lay down on the bed…hell, whenever you breathed…pretty much.” The shifter…Beck…smiled and she was floored at how it changed his face. He went from attractive in a brooding way to all out gorgeous. He sobered up very quickly. “I was angry at how much I wanted you. I was angry because you seemed so…caring. You didn’t seem like you were faking when you showed concern for me. I thought you were trying to get on my good side.”
“I wasn’t faking but I most certainly was trying to get on your good side. I seduced you with the hopes of using you.”
“Because you were trying to escape so that you could save humans from us evil dragons?”
“Yep,” she nodded. “That would sum it up.”
He frowned. “And all I did was prove your beliefs to be correct. I acted like an animal. I knew you were only offering sex so that you could try and use me to escape. I never should have used you in that way.”
“I offered. I was trying to use you as well, remember? You did warn me…several times if I’m not mistaken.” She shrugged. “I can’t blame you for hating me, for treating me the way you did.”
He rubbed a hand over his face. “I was so rough. I put every ounce of anger into the act. I could have hurt you.”
“You didn’t though. I’m ashamed to say…” her chest was heaving. Her heart raced. “I enjoyed it.” She looked down at the ground for a few moments. “That was the hardest I’ve ever come.” She looked back up at him. “What does that say about me?”
He made a growling noise from deep down in his throat. She was damned if her nipples didn’t harden up, just hearing it. It was how he had sounded before when he was turned on. “I need to apologize all over again.” Even his voice was deep and rasping. His biceps bulged. He looked angry all over again.
She frowned. “Why is that? Why would you…? Oh!” Her eyes widened when she noticed how aroused he was. His cock jutted from
his wet body. Beads of moisture dripped down his chest, his thighs.
Need rushed through her and she licked her lips. “Then I apologize too.” She lifted her eyes off of his engorged member, locking them with his.
“Why is that?”
Instead of answering, she launched herself at him. It had been a long, adrenaline-fueled night. They could have died. More than anything, he believed her. It wasn’t just the things he was saying, it was the look in his eyes. She could see it. Could feel it. Beck believed her.
Alex wanted him, had to have him right then.
It seemed Beck felt the same way because he growled around her mouth as their lips clashed. As their tongues dueled. She felt the vibration across his chest as she pushed herself against him.
He gripped her ass in his big hands and pulled her against him, her feet lifted from the ground.
Then they were raking at her clothing. Pulling them off of her. Her sweater. Her bra. Beck dipped his head down, taking one of her nipples into his mouth. He suckled her. A zing of pleasure rushed from her breast to between her legs. Alex groaned.
He rubbed her there, growling in what sounded like frustration as his hand met denim. Alex unclasped her pants and shoved them down her legs, taking her panties with them. She quickly yanked them off, her sneakers pulled off as well. She bent over and peeled off her socks.
His eyes stayed on her. “You’re beautiful,” he growled. “I want to fuck you so badly.”
She swallowed thickly, nodding. “I want to feel you inside me.”
He pulled her towards him, lifting her up. “Put your legs around me.”
She did as he asked, feeling his hard cock pressing against her slit. “Don’t hold back!”
He made a growling noise, his chest vibrating again. Then he was walking. Her back met with something hard, its surface was a little rough against her skin. A tree maybe or…She gasped as his thumb found her clit. He looked into her eyes. His jaw was tight, his breathing elevated. She could feel him hard and there. Beck rubbed on her clit…firm yet gentle, putting her on edge immediately. Alex moaned, her eyes squeezing shut at the sensations. She gasped a second time as his finger dipped inside her. She moaned as his tip found her g-spot, rubbing on that.
“I’m wet,” she whispered, feeling desperate.
“So receptive.” He groaned the words, kissing her. “Can I put you on the ground? I can fuck you deeper if you’re on your back.”
Good lord! Those words sent pulses of need through her. Her pussy clenched. It literally clenched around his finger, making him groan in turn.
“Yes! Absolutely.” She spoke quickly.
“You sure? I’ll make you dirty.”
“Since when have you cared about dirtying me up?” She felt like she couldn’t catch her breath.
His mouth twitched but there was ultimately too much tension in Beck for him to crack a smile. “You’re making me feel guilty here.”
“I shot you. You shot onto me…we can call it even.”
This time, he did smile. It looked tense and so sexy.
“Put me on the ground and take me already!” Her voice had a shrill note. She was that desperate.
“I didn’t think I’d ever take orders from a slayer.” He growled as he put her on her back. The ground was soft.
“Maybe you should punish me for my insolence, shifter.”
“I should make you beg.” He took a hold of her thighs and hoisted them over her shoulders. His face just inches above hers.
“You should,” she smiled.
“Fuck that,” he snarled.
Alex yelled out in both pain and pleasure as he thrust into her in one hard push. They were both breathing heavily. This time though, instead of plowing on, he waited a few seconds for her to adjust to his size. To the intrusion. He moved slowly, using circular thrusts that made her pant.
She could feel his muscles moving under her hands. Beck leaned down and suckled on her nipple. First the one, then the other. She let her head fall back, loving how she felt his ministrations between her legs.
His thrusts became more insistent. Short and choppy, but hard and deep. Her pants turned to moans. "Fuuuuck!" he groaned.
Most of her lovers had been average. She’d often had to help herself along. Not with Beck and not right then. Her mouth hung open but she couldn’t seem to close it. She was too busy gulping and gasping for air between the most deep and guttural of moans. She couldn’t stop herself from making them.
She could hear how wet she was. Like her body was sucking him in. His balls slapped against her with each hard thrust. Beck was very vocal as well. Grunting and groaning.
“Shit, slayer, shiiit!!” he sounded shocked. “So tight…damn.” She loved the dirty talk. Loved it!
Then he picked up the pace, it felt like her ass was digging into the earth. He pushed so hard she slid up an inch. “Come for me, sweetheart. Come!”
This time when he said it - when he said sweetheart – it sounded like an endearment rather than a derogatory term.
His body ground against her. His cock deep inside, hitting a spot that had her keening. That had her shouting out as her orgasm ripped through her.
“Fuuuck!!” Beck yelled, his thrusts became hard jerks. His body shuddered. His eyes were closed. He groaned hard and deep as he continued to rock into her. Then he slumped over her, his arms on either side of her, taking most of his weight. His cock still pulsating slightly inside her. Then again, her pussy still fluttered with the aftermath of her orgasm.
It took a few moments before she could form coherent thoughts. Alex licked her lips. “I guess you trust me then,” she whispered, still struggling to catch her breath. Her body still hummed. Alex clenched her sex around his cock.
He moaned. “I guess I do.” Beck smiled as he brushed his lips against hers.
“Where does that leave us?” She could feel his breath against her lips.
“Nowhere, Alex, it leaves us nowhere.”
She knew Beck was right. Technically, nothing had changed. Why had she even asked such a silly question?
Beck pulled out of her, his arms tightened around her though. “I can’t take you to my lair. There is something there…between us…neither of us can deny it.” He paused for a few seconds, like he was waiting for her to speak. To deny it. Alex didn’t say anything because he was right. “It’s not just an attraction. This isn’t just about sex but it can’t go anywhere though.”
She nodded. “I know that.” Disappointment hit her even though his words were true. “I thought your people might want to question me. I would be open to that. I want you to be in a better position to protect yourselves.” She could see by his frown that he didn’t agree. “It need not be at your lair. It could be anywhere,” she added.
He shook his head. “I trust you, Alex, but I doubt my people would feel the same. They would question you. They probably wouldn’t believe most of what you told us. They’d lock you up.”
“Torture me?” She felt her eyes widen. “I know I said I wasn’t afraid before but that wasn’t true.”
He chuckled. “I was talking shit. We don’t torture people. We would never hurt a female. Not even one we considered to be our enemy.” He pushed out a breath, moving to a sitting position. Since she was lying on top of him, he took her with him. He placed her across his lap, so that her ass was on one of his thighs. “You would be considered the enemy though. I would be told that I was thinking with my dick. I am not a royal.” He touched his beautiful silver chest. “I would have no say in what happened to you. Where you ended up, how long you sat in a cage.”
“But I wouldn’t be hurt?”
“No.”
“Then I’m willing to take the risk. They would eventually come to realize that—”
“No!” he shook his head. “I’m not willing to take the risk. You would be locked up, in a cage for lord knows how long. You wouldn’t be hurt, but that’s no life.”
“Okay then.” There was a part of
her that felt relieved. “I’m not destitute. I’ve saved over the years. Made a couple of investments that paid off. It’s money my father knows nothing about. A friend urged me to…be more independent. To have a contingency plan and, thankfully, I listened.”
“Are you talking about the female who left your organization…Page…I think you said her name was?”
Alex nodded, feeling longing like she’d never felt before. “Yes, that’s exactly who convinced me. I will have to try and find them…to find her. Page was…is my sister,” she blurted. It had been so long since Alex had said her name out loud.
“No shit!” Beck sounded shocked.
“I was angry with her for a long time for not confiding in me. She just left.”
“I’m sorry. That must have been difficult.”
She pulled in a breath. “It was. I know now that she must have suspected what was going on. I doubt she had anything concrete or she would have told me about it. Convinced me to join her.”
“You wouldn’t have listened otherwise?”
Pain blossomed in her. “No, I wouldn’t have left my father or the organization without serious proof. I was that blind to what they had planned.”
He rubbed the side of her arm. “It’s not your fault, remember? You are the victim here.”
She nodded. “I would appreciate it if you could take me back to civilization.” She told him about her safety deposit box and its location.
“SoHo in New York City it is then.” Beck smiled. “I’m staying with you for a couple of days just in case they planted a chip. If they come, we’ll know soon enough. If not, I would be able to leave you, knowing you weren’t in danger.”
“No!” she shook her head, worry churning her stomach. “You can’t be anywhere near me. They’ll recapture you. They’ll hurt you…”
“Hey,” he rubbed her back, his big hand gliding up and down, “you said they would kill you if they found you.”
“Yes, they would, without hesitation. My father is ruthless.”
The Water Dragons Box Set: Books 1 - 4 (Complete) Page 66