by Scott, J. S.
Leave me, Talia. I’ll be home soon.
Talia didn’t want to leave Drew. She needed to be with him.
“What are you doing?” Kat asked in a hushed voice.
Kristoff extended his palm, centering it on the top of Talia’s scalp. “Mind suspension,” he answered absently, his concentration on Talia. “I need to separate her from Drew. She’ll stay suspended until he returns.”
Talia tried to claw at her face, the distance growing between her and Drew making her frantic. She tried to project her mind out to reach him, but suddenly, there was nothing. And then, she had no more thoughts, no more pain, as she was sucked into a void of darkness.
Her body went limp and lifeless.
“Is she still in pain? Can she still feel Drew?” Kat asked as she straightened Talia’s body into a more comfortable position.
“No. She’ll feel nothing until Drew returns. She’ll sleep,” Kristoff said sharply. “I’ll transport her up to her room.”
“You have some scary powers sometimes, Kristoff,” Zach commented, his tone fascinated but relieved. “Kat and I will stay with her.”
“I’ll stay with her,” Kristoff said, his voice letting Zach know he wasn’t relenting.
“I made a vow,” Zach argued.
“As did I.” Kristoff turned his stubborn gaze to Zach.
“We’ll all stay,” Kat interrupted calmly. “We want to, Kristoff. Please.”
Kristoff looked from Zach to Kat before nodding his approval and transporting Talia away to a more comfortable place to rest.
Zach clasped Kat’s hand possessively, pulling her to her feet, and they followed moments later.
Bloody Hell!
Drew stumbled to his feet just as the sun peaked over the horizon, his brain scrambled, his whole body roaring to life as his magic returned to him slowly.
He’d been released from his cell. He was free. And the only thing he needed right now was Talia. He needed to reassure himself that she was okay, feel her softness against him to know that she was well and healthy.
She felt my pain, dammit!
The two of them had been connected last night, and he knew he hadn’t imagined it. What shouldn’t have been possible had really happened. He’d spoken to her, felt her presence, heard her scream, before she’d drifted away from him.
Drew dressed himself as soon as his returning magic allowed him to, questions rolling through his mind.
How had their connection been possible? They hadn’t yet mated, and even then, she shouldn’t have been able to feel his distress unless he allowed it, and that would never happen. Drew had no doubt that the light that Talia had already cast into his soul had helped him last night. The beginning had been painful, but he’d focused on the light in his soul that was Talia, and had been able to bear the pain more easily. Yeah. It had still hurt like a bitch, but it had lessened, had gotten easier when he focused on her, on her brilliance that had started to warm his soul.
I’m going to fucking kill Hunter.
For the first time since he’d met his brothers, he was actually feeling murderous toward one of them, furious that Hunter’s actions, as well as his own, had caused his mate pain. He didn’t give a flying fuck about his own suffering, but he wanted to tear his brother apart for making Talia hurt in any way.
Drew swayed for a moment, his equilibrium still off, his eyes burning like liquid flame.
I can’t feel Talia. I can’t feel anything from her, even with my magic coming back.
Drew paced impatiently in the courtyard, fists clenched, ignoring the penalty Sentinels who were starting to stir around the area. His power needed to settle so he could transport, and he was agitated that it was taking too damn long. It was surging, returning quickly, but it seemed like an eternity to Drew when all he wanted, all he needed, was to get to Talia.
Finally!
He felt the electric current flow through his body, and he transported straight to his house.
“Talia!” he bellowed loudly, his booming voice echoing through his enormous home as he stood at his own bedroom.
Kristoff appeared in front of him almost immediately. “She’s fine, Drew.”
“Not good enough. I need to see her for myself. Where is she?” Drew growled, his need for his mate almost feral.
Kristoff slapped a hand on Drew’s shoulder. “Sleeping. She’s well. Zach, Kat, and I watched over her all night. We promised you we would.”
“I heard her scream. I felt her with me,” Drew said, confused. It wasn’t an illusion. He knew it wasn’t.
“She was with you for a short time.”
“How is that possible?” Drew shook off Kristoff’s grip and paced the bedroom like an angry lion, wanting nothing more than to see Talia. But he needed to understand what was happening—for her sake. How could he protect her if he didn’t understand what was going on?
“Talia’s an empath. She doesn’t just see otherworldly entities. She experiences their emotions.” Kristoff’s face was grim. “But she blocks it most of the time. Somehow you two connected through her own abilities and not yours.”
“How do you know that?” Drew swung around and shot Kristoff an angry glance.
“I invaded her memories. I didn’t have much choice. I had to know why she could feel you so I could stop her pain.”
Drew shuddered, the thought of anyone other than him having access to his woman’s mind making his possessive instincts roar to life. Rationally, he tried to suppress them. Having Kristoff search Talia’s mind was better than her experiencing his pain. Still, it rankled. Drew had seen some of Talia’s memories, but he’d never focused on that. Shit! “What did you do to her?”
“She’ll be waking shortly. I put her in mind suspension. It’s not much different than magically induced sleep. It blanked her mind so she couldn’t feel your pain. Once she wakes and you’re there and out of pain, the door to her pathway should close automatically.”
“You can do that?” Drew asked, surprised.
“Yes,” Kristoff answered evasively. “Obviously I can.”
Drew dropped the topic, more interested in his woman. “Bring her here to me,” Drew demanded, wanting Talia in his bed. He needed to see her, and he wanted her in his bed when she woke.
Kristoff’s eyes glowed briefly and Talia appeared in the middle of Drew’s bed, clearly still clothed in last night’s jeans and a lightweight sweater. Zach and Kat came running into the room with alarmed expressions, seconds after Talia appeared.
“Leave us,” Drew growled, his patience at an end. He didn’t want anyone else near Talia right now. After an endless night of worrying about whether or not she was okay, he felt nearly feral at the sight of her sleeping in his bed.
Mine!
He fought to control his animalistic reactions, his need to soothe her almost as strong as his need to fuck her. Actually, the two needs were so entwined it was hard to tell which one he wanted more. His demon instincts had been leashed for too long, and they wouldn’t be denied much longer. He wanted his mate, and there was very little that was going to stop him from having her. The connection he’d had with her the night before, the pain she’d suffered because of him, had made him come undone.
He never saw Kristoff, Zach, and Kat leave. The only thing consuming him at that moment was Talia.
She moaned as he stalked toward the bed, her body awakening from her induced sleep. Just that needy little sound stirred up images of her moaning beneath him, calling his name, begging him to fuck her.
Bloody hell! His self-control was exhausted as he climbed onto the bed.
Talia woke to the most tantalizing scent she’d ever experienced: the mouthwatering scent of Drew. She knew his smell, and it filled her nostrils and lit her body on fire as she turned her head and buried her face in her pillow. “Drew,” she murmured softly, trying to c
lear her foggy brain. Something had happened…
“Oh, God…Drew!” Her eyes flew open in panic as her memory returned abruptly.
Drew…in pain and helpless.
Drew…trying to send her away to protect her.
And then…nothing. Everything was a blank after she had experienced Drew’s pain and he had drifted out of reach of her senses.
Talia sat up quickly, her body never reaching a complete sitting position. It balked after running into an immovable, hot, and fierce-looking obstruction.
Drew.
Her entire being flooded with relief, and her eyes darted over him, looking for any sign of discomfort. The only thing she saw embedded in the glowing amber of his eyes was pure, raw desire. She wrapped her arms around him and threw herself into his embrace, her only solace feeling him well, whole, and away from the torment of last night. “What happened?” she asked him tremulously as she stroked his muscular back, and threaded her fingers through his hair, still trying to assure herself that he was really okay. “I was so afraid for you.”
Drew held her tight and rocked her, his voice husky in her ear. “I’m fine, mo chridhe. I had to serve a penalty for an infraction. I didn’t know we’d connect like that.”
Talia pulled away from him in surprise, her head lowering back to the pillow. “You broke Sentinel rules?” Drew loved being a Sentinel, and somehow she couldn’t see him stepping out of bounds in his duty.
“Hunter,” Drew answered angrily. “He’s killing himself. He’s walking a very fine line with his sanity right now. I took his punishment for killing Evils without being provoked. It’s my right. He’s too close to the edge. But had I known what would happen, that you would suffer with me, I wouldn’t have done it.”
Talia couldn’t keep her outrage in check. Drew had suffered for someone else’s crimes? She’d sensed Hunter’s confusion and pain, and even his battle to keep his sanity, but this was too damn much. “Bastard. I’ll knee him hard enough to put his balls in his throat,” she vowed furiously, the memory of what Drew had experienced because of his brother’s actions driving her anger. Drew was a natural protector, taking care of whoever needed it. The problem was…who was protecting Drew? Talia decided it was her job to watch out for him, since he stubbornly wouldn’t stop protecting everyone else.
Drew barked out a laugh as he pinned her hands over her head. “My fierce little protector,” he answered, his tone gruff but slightly amused. “Stay away from Hunter. Stay away from any other male right now, but especially Hunter. He’s not stable.”
Talia’s irritation faded away as she watched Drew’s glowing eyes, mesmerized. His jaw was clenched and a bead of sweat ran down his face, his breathing so ragged that she would have sworn he’d just run a marathon.
He wants me. He wants me as much as I want him.
Although she knew he desired her because of the mating instinct, she had never seen him quite this untamed, and his emotions were battering at her because she’d let him in last night, and that door hadn’t quite closed yet. Mating instinct or not, she wanted him, and his wild, unruly passion was making her insane, his desire feeding her own. “I still can’t believe you actually want me. I’m a history geek. Why was I chosen as your mate? I still don’t understand.”
“I have no fucking idea, mo grha. But you complete me like no other ever could, and I don’t just want you…I need you. I crave you with every cell in my body.” His voice was low and guttural as he continued. “I’m a poor Irish peasant with nothing to recommend me. I couldn’t even read until I became a Sentinel. I have nothing to make me worthy of a woman like you, but I still need you. I don’t think I can live without you, Talia.” He took a deep breath and demanded, “I know you can sense my emotions. Read me. Know exactly how I feel.”
Talia shook her head slowly and closed her eyes. “I can’t,” she told him desperately, letting the door on her empath abilities close. “I’ve worked for a very long time to block my senses and I’m already losing my control with you. It hurts too much; I experience too much.” If she let her ability completely loose, she was afraid it would consume her. She’d spent too many years being a prisoner of her emotions, letting the pain of spirits and other entities nearly drive her mad. Although she was fairly certain she could still block other entities, it was Drew she feared the most. Opening completely to him in addition to what she was already feeling would be likely to burn her alive.
“You already opened yourself to me last night,” Drew reminded her, lowering his head to let his lips explore the sensitive skin at the side of her neck, and working his way up to the tender flesh of her ear, biting gently at her earlobe. “Feel me, Talia. I swear you’ll experience nothing but pleasure. I’ll sate you until you beg for mercy. I feel your need, and I have to make you come right now. I can’t take this anymore.”
Talia melted as she met his eyes once more, the flames in the glowing amber orbs her undoing. “I don’t need to feel you any more than I already do, Drew. I already feel more than I can handle. I need you so much. Please.”
She was done waiting, and as his head swooped down to claim her mouth, she knew Drew was about to become the lover she’d never had, but had always dreamed of in her most private fantasies. He’d strip her bare, literally and physically, and finally, she welcomed it.
Talia was done asking questions, wondering why Drew wanted her. It only mattered that he did, and that he made her feel beautiful and desired. Finally, she was ready to be brave instead of hiding away, to reach out and take what she really needed and embrace her fate.
For once in her life, Talia willingly released herself into another’s care, letting herself experience every sensation that Drew was giving her.
She started as she suddenly felt them skin-to-skin, Drew’s cock heavy and hard against her thigh. “We’re naked,” she sighed, luxuriating in the sensual feel of his hot, muscular body sliding against hers.
“My demon is demanding I fuck you, mo grha, and I don’t have the patience for niceties this time. But next time…” he growled.
Talia’s already flooded pussy became even more drenched, her need becoming increasingly urgent. Drew finally released his hold on her wrists, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her short nails biting into his skin as he devoured her. There was no other explanation for what he was doing with his mouth and tongue, the way he was tasting her skin with small nips of his teeth and then a lave of his rough tongue as he moved down her neck and into the valley between her breasts. It was as though he was trying to brand her as his—every inch of her—and it was working. She moaned as he bit a nipple, the pleasure/pain exploding inside her belly, the warmth spreading to every inch of her body as his tongue followed the bite, soothing her stinging nipple with his tongue. He tormented her by repeating his action over and over, switching from breast to breast, until Talia was ready to lose her mind. “Please,” she begged, not even really sure what she wanted as he moved down her abdomen.
Drew looked up at her, his eyes almost feral. “Has any man ever made you come, Talia?” His voice was tight and low, as though it were difficult for him to ask.
Talia could feel his raw sense of possession. “No,” she whispered honestly. Her one experience in early adulthood hadn’t been anything other than awkward, fast, and painful.
“Don’t think about him. Don’t ever think about him,” Drew snarled, moving between her thighs and opening her to him. He pushed her knees up, spreading her almost painfully wide. “This is mine,” he declared gruffly, staking his claim greedily as he trailed an index finger over her breast and down her stomach. “This is mine.” His palm went to her thigh, running roughly up and down the sensitive skin. “All of you is mine.” He groaned as his fingers delved into her pussy, meeting only wet heat. “Fuck!” His big body shuddered as he slid a finger inside her channel. “You’re tight and so wet, Talia. For me. Only for me,” he declared ferocio
usly, removing his finger and bringing it in slow, sensual circles up to her clit.
He watched her face as his finger moved, teasing the sensitive bundle of nerves until her whole body shook with need. His gaze ran up and down her body, his expression carnal as he tormented her, their eyes finally meeting in a clash of desire. “You’re beautiful. So beautiful like this,” Drew said huskily, reaching a hand out to palm her breast, pinching her nipple so exquisitely that every nerve in her body reacted.
A whimper escaped her mouth, and her hips rose up, begging him to put her out of her misery. Her entire body was flushed with desire, and all she wanted was to feel him inside her, joining them together. “I need you,” she moaned. “Please, Drew.” His teasing was killing her. She could feel his need to dominate his mate, and she yielded to him, her arousal peaking even further as she looked at his powerful form towering above her, his only thought to pleasure her and make her his.
“You’ll come for me, Talia.” It wasn’t a question…it was a command. Drew released her breast and she wanted to cry out in protest as his finger left her clit.
She felt the heat of his mouth on her core almost immediately and she cried out his name in sweet relief as she felt his mouth feasting on her pussy. She relished his urgency. She melted at his frenzied consuming of the liquid heat created by his tongue lapping eagerly between her folds, his hunger seemingly insatiable, as though she were the best thing he’d ever tasted.
Talia speared her fingers into his hair, her grip tight on his skull. God, the feel of him was enthralling, the pleasure so intense that she was vibrating with desire. “Make me come, Drew. Please.” Her back arched in pleasure and frustration as his tongue slid roughly over her clit, again and again, bringing her higher and higher.
He complied, giving her the pressure she needed to fly outside of herself, the spiral of hot sensations starting in her belly and curling outward until Talia felt herself trembling in the throes of a climax so powerful that she couldn’t do anything but let it take her over. “Drew. Oh God, Drew,” she moaned, feeling like he’d just incinerated her.