Lion's Heart (Blood Moon Book 4)

by Natalie Aejaz

  Ivy looked at her mother. “It’s all right,” said Pearl. “Go to him…your supernatural.”

  “I can’t leave you alone, not right now—”

  “I think it will be good for me to spend some time alone. I’ve got much to think about. And Fareeda will be there if I need anything.”

  “If you’re sure you’ll be all right?”

  “Yes, go and find your shifter. Whoever he is…he really must be something.”

  She kissed her mother. “Thank you for understanding.”

  The hostess led them out through a different route, so they ended up at a reception on the other side of the building. It was a large space with red walls and a counter made of black glass. But that was not what took Ivy’s attention. Mist floated around them, and in one corner, crystal balls were suspended. In the air.

  “Humans don’t come to this section,” explained the hostess, “So we do what we like with it.” Mother clutched Ivy’s arm as she glanced around the area. Soon, a car parked up outside. “Here’s your transport, Pearl.”

  Now mother turned to Ivy. “You’ll be all right here?”

  “Yes.” Ivy smiled, reassuring. “We’re away from the people who were a real danger to us. There’s nothing to be scared of now.”

  Mother gave her a quick kiss and then hurried out of reception, unable to get out of there fast enough.

  Now Shereen turned to Ivy. “How about you?”

  “I want to go to Junaid.”

  “I thought as much.” The hostess’ eyes turned to glittering stars as she took both of Ivy’s hands in hers. “Close your eyes,” she whispered. Ivy did as she said. “Relax and think of Junaid. Imagine you are with him.” The voice floated around her, slowly fading…

  There was a slight tremble beneath her feet, but something inside Ivy’s mind told her to keep her eyes shut. And then the sensation stopped, but the temperature of the room…it had changed.

  “Open your eyes,” said the voice inside her head. She did and nearly fell over. She was inside a large room, more of a hall. With wood floors, it was sparsely furnished, a sofa and table on one side and a wall dominated by swords and daggers. Shereen giggled. “This is Junaid’s place.”

  That explained the weapons. “How did you—”

  Shereen clicked her fingers, glittery dust flying from them. “Magic.”

  Ivy grinned. “Well, that was certainly something. Do you run a transport service, by any chance?”

  As Shereen chuckled, the door opened.

  “What the hell’s going on here?” came the growl.

  At the sound of the voice she’d grown to love, Ivy turned to Junaid. His goatee was so unkempt, it resembled a small beard, giving him a wild look, and his eyes were wide. She wanted nothing more than to go to him and fall into his arms, but there was a lot she needed to say to him first. She turned back to Shereen. “Thank you—”

  But there was an empty space behind her.

  “She’s gone,” said Junaid. When she turned to him, he asked, “What the hell are you doing here?”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  * * *

  JUNAID HAD SPENT THE LAST few days in fucking agony. The demon was understanding when he needed to take time off work, reminding him of the times Junaid put himself out for him. Blade had even passed today’s event—Ivy’s wedding—over to Shereen to handle, assuring Junaid that he only had to get involved if any problems arose.

  Since then, Junaid had shut himself away, only leaving his bedroom to wash and eat. And this morning, he hadn’t even done that. He’d stayed in his bed, unable to face her wedding day. His lion had growled and clawed inside, wanting to go to the bloody hall and drag her out of there...make her see what a mistake she was making. But it was no use, not when she wanted that life.

  It didn’t matter what she felt for him; she would never leave those people. She would never turn away from that Association.

  And now, she stood before him.

  When he heard the voices and came to the living room to see her standing there, for a moment, he thought she was part of his imagination—after all, he’d spent enough time thinking about her over the past few days. But when the sorceress disappeared in a flash of sparkly dust, he guessed she’d brought her here.

  Ivy now stood before him in a white wedding gown, and she looked so damn beautiful that something inside him cried out to reach for her and never let go. But no, he needed to get rid of her...before she drove him more insane than she already had. “I asked what you’re doing here.”

  She glanced around the room, as if still surprised she was here. “Shereen brought me.”

  He frowned, remembering when the sorceress had placed a hand against his chest and felt his pain. Gods, she wasn’t playing cupid, was she? The ceremony would be starting right about now. What was Shereen thinking of?

  “I’m sorry,” he said, reaching for his mobile, which was on the table before the sofa. “She shouldn’t have done that.” Something ripped through him when he followed that with, “I’ll call someone to take you back to the hotel.”

  Ivy shook her head. “Don’t.” She took a step toward him and grabbed his hand, the one that held the device. He could only stare down at her as she took the mobile from him and placed it back on the table. “I asked her to bring me to you.” When he frowned, she said, “I’m not marrying Michael.”

  It was something he had hoped for. Damn, he tried to convince her not to go through with the marriage many times, before he accepted she would go ahead and do it. She would marry that man regardless of whether she loved him. And he’d got used to the idea, no matter how it killed him. So much so, that now she told him otherwise, he did not believe her.

  He pulled his hand from her, his voice gruff. “What game are you playing now?”

  “This is no game. I’ve come to you, Junaid.” Her eyes glistened with emotion. “I’ve finished with the Association. We can be together.”

  He snarled, and she stepped back. Better she kept a distance from him. Better for him, with less temptation…and better for her, because he had no idea of what he might do in this situation. “The Association has sent you here, hasn’t it? This is some game.”

  And now tears came to her eyes. “You really think I’d do that? To you?”

  “You love that organization. You’d do anything for its members, including marrying the Manhattan leader’s son. I’m done with you.”

  “Junaid, listen to me. I’m telling the truth. I’m not marrying Michael—”

  His lion urged him to believe her, but there was a part of him that wouldn’t allow itself to open to any more hurt. “Too late. You can see yourself out.”

  And with that, he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

  He went straight to the bathroom and locked the door—not that he expected her to follow; he just needed to be inside his own space. He turned on the rainfall shower, hitting the temperature to freezing cold, and stood underneath it…

  Had she really changed her mind about marrying Michael?

  The part of him that had been hurt by her refused to believe it. But if not, why would she be here? The ceremony was supposed to be taking place now, and instead, she was in his apartment.

  A mixture of joy and grief surged through his system. He didn’t understand his own emotions anymore, and he was done with the confusion…yet, this was what he’d wanted. If she’d walked out of her wedding and come to him, why was he running from her? What the fuck was wrong with him?

  When he left the bathroom, he glanced down the corridor to see the door to his training room still closed, but his shifter instinct picked up her presence. For a moment, he wondered what she thought of the room. She was used to luxury, but his living room—the largest room in the apartment—was converted into a training area where he usually practiced after getting out of bed each day. Opening the door opposite the bathroom, he entered his spacious bedroom, with its king-size bed unmade and dark red curtains still drawn. He’d really ha
d no intention of getting out of bed today.

  He pulled on some jeans. Time to tell her to get the hell out of here. Sudden anger burst through him. Everything would have been perfect if she hadn’t bloody rejected him for someone else. He took a towel and rubbed it through his thick hair, not caring when it tugged, causing pain. He needed pain.

  When his mobile rang, it was Blade. “I’ve had a call from the Phoenix reception,” said the demon. “The guests are there, but there’s no ceremony going on. Any idea what’s happening at that wedding?”

  “Ivy’s here,” said Junaid. “She’s with me in my apartment and is refusing to leave.”

  To his surprise, the demon roared out in laughter. “I don’t know what the hell’s going on with us guys these days, but what the hell…I never liked the idea of having an Association ceremony on my premises, anyway.”

  And before Junaid could explain the situation, his boss hung up.

  There was a knock at the door. “I said get out of here!” Still, she opened the door and then stood there, looking like a little mouse in that white dress. She stared at him, slowly running her eyes down his chest, following the trail of dark hair down to the waistband of his jeans. He turned his back to her. Fuck, just her looking at him like that made him hard. She entered the room, closing the door behind her. “You need to leave, Ivy.”

  “I’m not going to leave you. I love you.”

  Those three words rushed through his head, dispersing the rage that had made a home there. He turned to stare at her and again, the need to protect himself from more pain took over. “You don’t mean that.”

  She stepped closer. “I mean it, Junaid. I love you.”

  WHEN SHE REPEATED THE WORDS, the shifter’s face tightened. “I don’t believe you, Ivy.”

  “Isn’t this unexpected? I used to be the one running away, and now it’s you.”

  “I should never have come near you in the first place.”

  “I’m glad you did.” When he moved back, “What is it? Why are you behaving like you’re scared of me?”

  He ran his eyes over her. “Scared of a little thing like you? I don’t think so.”

  When she stepped toward him, he didn’t move away. She held her hands out, resting them against his chest, the contact bringing comfort.

  How did she think she could be without him? To think she’d nearly given him up for Michael’s cold affections.

  He swallowed, and when she shifted even closer, so she could place her arms around his neck, he didn’t resist. “I’m sorry, Junaid,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to realize how I feel about you. I love you…want to be with you…you believe me, don’t you?”

  His jaw tensed, brown eyes flashing. “Ivy…I don’t want you to regret this decision later. I couldn’t bear it if you walked out on me again—”

  She placed a finger against his lips. “I won’t walk out on you...never again.” And then she went to her toes to kiss him.

  His arms went around her as he murmured against her lips. “You promise?”

  “Yes.”

  He pulled his mouth away from hers. “Step back,” he said, “I want to look at you.” Although her body protested, she stepped away from him. She pulled that jacket down her shoulders and threw it to the side, smiling as his gaze ran over her, sending a slow heat through her system. “You look beautiful as a bride.”

  “You’ve got no idea of how uncomfortable this gown is. I might need to get out of it.”

  His lips finally curled up in a smile, and she rushed toward him. Now, when she kissed him, there was no resistance from him. Passion seared through her as his hand swept to the back of her bodice, tugging at the lace. His movements were clumsy, and there was the sound of something ripping, but she didn’t care. This dress was going to a charity shop, because she was done with it.

  His mouth went to the curves above the bodice, and he pulled the stiff material with his teeth until her nipples poked above it. He closed his mouth over one, making her body jolt. And then he moved to the other, sucking and teasing.

  Damn, she didn’t want slow today. She tugged at the waistband of his jeans, and as she opened the fly, his hands went to the back of her bodice to pull until it came away.

  He brought her up against him so her naked chest grazed his. As he kissed her, he pulled at the roses and pins in her hair, tugging until her tresses fell free. And then he wrapped her hair around his fingers and drew her head back so he could kiss her deeper. His mouth was hot as she thrust her tongue inside it. When he palmed her breast, teasing her nipple between his fingers and thumb, she whispered, “Fuck me. Now.”

  As he lifted his head, his eyes flashed, and something pierced her scalp. He quickly pulled his hand away from her head. “I’m sorry,” he said, giving her a flash of his fangs.

  “Don’t be sorry,” she said. “I love this side of you, too.”

  He trailed a claw across her lips, and she gently kissed it. “You don’t think of me as an abomination?”

  She tugged at his jeans until his erect cock sprang free. “I told you; I’m done with my old life. From now, I do what I want.” She grinned. “And right now, I want to do you.”

  He also grinned as he stepped out of his jeans. He picked her up and lay her on the bed, staring at her for a moment before his hands went to her skirt. She lifted her hips as he pulled the material down with her panties.

  He paused for a few moments, staring down at her, before he came to her. He cupped her breast in his palm, flicking his claw over her nipple. She bit her bottom lip to hold back the cry of pleasure. As he took his lips to her other breast, sucking and licking the erect bud, she arched her back, offering herself up to him. When he gently scraped the sensitive bud with his fang, she moaned loud. She reached for him, her fingers tugging at his hair, pressing him against her flesh. Her nipples were tight, crying out for his attention, and he gave it passionately, growling against her skin.

  The pressure inside her wound tight, begging for release. She spread her thighs, reaching between them to push the tip of his cock inside herself. He lifted his face to look at her, his eyes flashing fire and fangs elongated as he pushed into her.

  As he thrust inside her with long strokes, the sight of his beast turned her on even more, his wild side driving her desperation. She arched underneath him, moaning loud as he shattered her control. He shifted his body, grabbed her thighs and lifting her so her knees rested against his shoulders. The angle meant he went further, increasing the pleasure as he shoved deep, stretching her wide. But it still wasn’t enough. “Junaid…” she whimpered. “More.”

  “Fuck, Ivy. I can’t get enough of you, either.”

  He lowered her legs, covering her body with his again as he took both her wrists in his hand, holding them over her head as he drove into her, loud grunts leaving his mouth. Her head thrashed from side to side as he pounded into her, hard, a primitive need taking her. He lowered his head and rested his mouth against her neck. Just the anticipation of him sinking his fangs into her nearly made her come, but he buried his face in the pillow instead as he continued to plow into her.

  “Junaid!” she gasped. “Do it.”

  “No.” His voice was muffled against the pillow. “You don’t want this.”

  “But I do. I want you to mark me.”

  He lifted his face, both an expression of longing and an effort to keep control on it. “Are you sure?”

  Just the prospect sent heat surging through her, and she pushed her core against him to show him how much she wanted it.

  He brought his mouth down, and as he thrust inside her, he bit through her skin. The initial pain was followed by a pleasure more intense than anything she’d experienced as, with his fangs inside her, he pounded between her legs. After pulling his fangs out of her, he let go of her hands, his eyes on her face and jaw clenched as he grabbed her hips and pulled her up against him. She clawed at his back with her fingernails, the pressure inside her mounting…and just
when she thought she couldn’t bear it anymore, her orgasm rushed through her. As he released inside her, she wrapped her legs around him, drawing him closer as she panted and regained her breath.

  Once he was calmer, he pulled out of her and went to his back, his chest still heaving with effort. She stretched out alongside him, her body limp but satiated. When she snuggled against him, his arm came around her, protective.

  As she lay against his warm body, for the first time, there was only bliss after being with him. No fear or guilt. It was a peace unmarred by tension or the threat of them parting.

  Junaid leaned on his elbow and gave her a soft kiss on the lips before staring down at her. “So, seeing as we’re in love and you’re not marrying that idiot, does this mean we’re officially together?”

  Happiness surged through her. “Yes.” She didn’t need to ask him, not after he’d marked her. She trailed her palm across his beard. “We’re together, and you’re stuck with me.”

  He smiled before his expression turned serious. “I got a message from Shaun. Have you spoken to him?” When she nodded, “You’re quite the wealthy lady.” He glanced around the room. “I don’t have much to my name, but I have money to invest—”

  She placed a finger on his lips. “I don’t want money or status. I need you.” She pushed him back on the bed and then rested her head on his shoulders, playing with the dark hairs on his chest. “But I’ve got the feeling the Association won’t take this insult lying down. And they’ve got some powerful associates.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “So have I. We can protect you.”

  She smiled against his shoulder. “Thank you, but I don’t want anyone to look after me anymore. I’ll arrange for security. You understand, don’t you?”

  “Completely. But if you need help with organizing anything…well…let’s say I’ve got great contacts in the security business.”