Chapter Nineteen
Holy shit. Darrius’s cock lurched against his jeans, and the air hissed out from between his teeth.
“Are you deliberately trying to shock me tonight? You’re not holding back any punches.”
“I’m not trying to shock you.” She shrugged out of her blouse and then unhooked her bra. “I just want you, have been thinking about you all day, and I think sex will be great stress relief.”
“You’re using me for stress relief?” He didn’t know whether to be offended or relieved, but was a little distracted by the sensual way her small breasts curved upward and were crowned with those mouth-watering nipples.
Grace moved around the table and sat down in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Don’t look so pissy. You’re good at sex. Really good at it. I enjoy having it with you and I know doing it now—or fairly soon—will take my mind off of things.”
His ego swelled a bit over the good at it comment and he curled his fingers into the strands of her hair, tugging her head back slightly.
“Good at it, hmm?” He kissed the pulse beating lightly in her neck and felt it quicken beneath his lips.
Maybe she did need the distraction. She’d already called her sister twice tonight, and seemed reassured of her safety, but apparently her mind wouldn’t shut down. Whether it was Aubree or work, she seemed pretty high-strung.
The idea of taking her again sent a surge of lust through him, and he moved his other hand up to cup her bare breast. The nipple hardened further in his palm and he murmured appreciatively.
“So you’re okay with this, Grace? With us and just casual sex?” Where had that question come from? Why the hell was he even bringing it up again?
Because he didn’t want to hurt her. Didn’t want her to become attached… Fuck. Like he was.
His heart beat a little harder and he clenched his jaw. He cared about her, more than he should’ve. More than he had any right too.
Because someday she would leave him. Someday, hell, it could happen tomorrow even. But it would happen. Grace would find her mate and then she’d be done with Darrius.
The pain, the utter jealously over a man he didn’t even know yet, swelled inside him and nearly blinded him in a haze of red.
“Don’t worry. Casual sex is perfect.” She cupped his face, drew her thumbs down his jaw and then pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “It’s all I have time for right now. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Her words only stoked the fire of frustration in him, while at the same time brought the flames of need higher. He wanted her. Now. And he didn’t want her to be so damn cavalier in her attitude about sex with him. He wanted her driven mad with the same need that rode him like a demon.
Tightening his fingers in her hair, he tugged her neck back as a low growl escaped from his throat.
Grace made a whimper of surprise, but didn’t protest as he kissed the pulse in her neck again. His tongue flicked over the delicate skin, and the need to bite her was almost tangible.
Fuck. But there was nothing. No dropping of his canines—nothing that would ever give him the chance to claim the one woman who should’ve been his.
But he could fuck her. He could take her until she couldn’t see straight and was screaming his name. Until his image was burned into her mind and soul.
Or was that just wishful thinking?
His chest tightened. He shoved aside the encumbering thoughts and tried to focus on the lust that lingered beneath.
Moving his mouth lower, he lifted her slightly so the roundness of her breast brushed his lips.
He caught the stiff peak of her nipple in his mouth and drew on it, listening and responding to her cry of pleasure. Using his teeth, he grazed the flesh and was rewarded with a low moan and her nails digging into his shoulders.
Using his free hand, he unfastened her pants and delved his fingers inside and beneath the panties.
While sucking on her nipple, he worked a finger inside her, maneuvering it in and out of her hot, wet channel.
Grace’s breathing grew heavier and she started to move against his hand.
He added a second finger, stretching her and preparing her for him, because he knew he wasn’t going to last very much longer before it wasn’t his fingers, but his dick inside her.
She fumbled to unbutton his shirt, and then smoothed the palms of her hands down his chest.
“Darrius,” she whispered. “I don’t think I can wait any longer.”
Needing so much more—and especially needing the clothes off—Darrius adjusted her in his arms and stood up. He strode through the house to her bedroom and set her back down on her feet.
She immediately pushed his shirt from his body and then reached for the button on his pants.
“In a hurry, sugar?” he rasped, catching her hand.
Red faintly stained her cheeks, but other than that she didn’t show the slightest bit of embarrassment. “I can’t seem to go slow with you. I’m not going to apologize.”
“I don’t mind,” he murmured. “But I might want to take my time with you this time.”
She let out a small groan and she freed him from his pants. But then it was his turn to groan as she began to stroke him into rock-hard readiness.
Part of him wanted to take her slow—to force her to feel and acknowledge the complex emotions running through her. Because, hell, he couldn’t be the only one feeling a little messed up inside about what was between them.
When she made to sink to her knees, he caught her elbow and gave a hard shake of his head. He wanted to slow things down, and if she took him in her mouth it would be over before it began.
“I want you on the bed. Naked and on your hands and knees.”
Her breasts rose with the sharp breath she drew in, but she immediately moved to comply. She shirked her pants and thong with quick ease before climbing onto the bed and assuming the position he’d required.
“You’re such a good little order taker,” he murmured as he finished taking off his clothes.
“Mmm. Don’t get used to this.” The laughter was held back, but thick in her voice. “I’m having fun right now, but watch out because one of these days I might take over and be Miss Bossy Pants.”
“Now that just might be interesting.” Naked, he climbed onto the bed beside her and trailed two fingers down the curve of her spine.
“So beautiful.” He pressed a kiss at the small dent just above her bottom and she shivered slightly. “So trusting.”
“You made it hard not to trust you, so blame yourself.” There was wariness in her words now.
He lowered his head to press a kiss against the curve of one ass cheek. She had the sexiest bottom.
“Oh, I’m not protesting, sugar.” He slid his hand down between her cheeks to find the damp folds of her sex. “It’s actually pretty damn humbling to have your trust.”
He slipped a finger inside her again, then moved it up to circle her clit.
“Yes.” Her body shuddered and she pressed back against his hand.
He kept stroking her, teasing her flesh until her cries grew higher and her body finally convulsed into a small orgasm.
“I want to wait, but I can’t.”
“Then don’t.” She reached behind her and touched his erection again. “I want you inside me now.”
He moved away and pulled open her bedside drawer where he’d stashed a box of condoms and quickly put one on.
Grace hadn’t moved, and the way she was positioned sent another surge of need through him. She’d lowered her upper body and turned her face against the pillow, and her bottom was raised and ready for him.
Along with the need, there was another emotion. One that had his throat tight and his heart pounding a little harder. He hadn’t thrown that trust comment out lightly.
Somehow he’d earned Grace’s complete trust, not only with her body, but with her life and family.
“I swear if you wait any longer, I ma
y just push you down and do all the work.” Her words were still drowsy from her orgasm.
“You really are okay with this,” Darrius said quietly. “Just being sex between us.”
She didn’t lift her head, but gave a slight shrug. “You need to stop worrying about me. I’ve said I am okay with it.”
Then he would have to be too, because really, what choice did he have?
Darrius moved behind her, slid his hands to the small curve of her hips, and then eased into her body.
Her gasp of pleasure ripped through his soul, and he feasted on it. He used her pleasure, the only thing she could have from him, and found his own.
Each stroke Darrius made into her was like a caress to not only the physical need in her body, but the need in her heart.
You don’t need to worry about me, she’d told him. And it had all been a lie. To herself, mostly. Because it wasn’t Darrius’s problem. She’d agreed to strings-free sex with him, had sworn she’d be okay with it.
Darrius moved harder inside her, and her head jerked against the pillow with each thrust. The position brought him deeper than ever before, and he was already a lot to take.
But the discomfort was tiny compared to the pleasure. The position also offered her privacy for her thoughts. So that maybe he wouldn’t see the array of emotions on her face.
She didn’t blame Darrius. It was her fault that her heart was breaking a little bit now. Her fault for being so damn weak and falling for a man she could never belong to—who could never love her or claim her.
She almost cried out at the nearly physical pain of the realization, but she bit her lip and smothered it.
“Time to make good on that promise, sugar.”
Before she realized what was happening, Darrius had moved out of her and onto his back on the mattress.
Then he was lifting her astride him, with the soft command of, “I want to look at you while you ride me.”
He hadn’t even finished his sentence before she was moving on him and seeking her pleasure.
On top also felt amazing, but it left her vulnerable. She could feel his stare as she rode him. Could almost hear his brain struggling to work through the pleasure.
Did she look like a lovesick idiot? Or hopefully just someone in the throes of pleasure.
She risked a glance down at him, watching him through hooded eyes. Beneath the haze of lust in his eyes was something darker—almost tormented. Sad.
He felt something. She knew it in her heart. They could throw the words “casual sex” about all they wanted, but he felt something too.
Maybe she couldn’t have Darrius as a lifemate. Maybe she had no fucking say who her mate was and who would ultimately claim her—which was pretty common in their community. The men chose.
But she knew—dammit in her heart she knew—that Darrius should’ve been hers. And no matter what happened down the road, no matter who she ultimately ended up mated with, she’d know that her heart had been given to another man. To Darrius Hilliard.
Unable to stop the tiny cry of torment this time, she instead buried it by pressing her mouth against his neck. She kissed the pulse there and moved up to the rough stubble of Darrius’s jawline.
He made a low, almost feverish growl as he thrust harder up into her. Deeper. Wrapping his hand around her hair, he pushed her head lower again—guiding her mouth back to his throat.
She opened her mouth, flicking her tongue over the pulse. She tried to keep up with him, to keep riding him, but her mind and her body were no longer her own.
She could only take him and follow the blind need driving her. Sucking the pulse harder, she closed her mouth lightly and let her teeth graze over it.
“Yes.” Darrius slammed harder into her. Fast now. Taking over what little control she’d tried to maintain.
Whimpering at the mix of pleasure and pain, Grace didn’t think, just instinctively caught the skin in a light nip.
Light seemed to rocket through her and the world tilted. She was no longer on top of Darrius, but flat on her back on the mattress. He was on top now, his hips forcing her legs wide as he slammed into her.
His mouth crashed into hers, dominating and taking everything she had to offer. She gave it all back and more. When he lifted his lips she cried out with disappointment.
But her cry sharpened when pain rocketed through her. She tried to focus, to glance down, and lost her breath at what she was looking at. Darrius’s mouth at her neck—his teeth on her skin. Almost piercing it.
Not possible.
The thought raced through her head before it was gone and replaced with a pleasure so intense her mind went white.
When she came to, Darrius was shaking her gently, his face hovering over hers.
“What happened?” she whispered and reached up to touch her neck. “I think I had some weird, superimposed dream or something.”
Darrius’s eyes, round with shock and concern, lowered to her neck. He shook his head.
“It wasn’t a dream.”
“What?” She traced her fingers over her neck and felt the slight indention of bite marks near her pulse. “I don’t… How. How?”
“I don’t know.”
“You marked me?” she whispered.
“I… Fuck. I think I somehow did. The last thing I remember is you kissing my neck. Almost biting me…and then…I lost it.”
If Darrius’s dark skin could’ve gone white, she knew it would’ve. He looked so damn shocked. Almost sickened by what had happened.
Oh God. What seemed like just minutes ago, she’d been wishing this were possible. Had wanted it more than anything. But it hadn’t been a possibility. It hadn’t.
Yet Darrius had just claimed her. And he looked as if he wanted to go throw up.
“How is this happening?” she whispered. “You were already mated.”
Panic seared through her at the complete loss of control. How her future had just been decided for her and she couldn’t have possibly seen it coming.
She had the childlike inclination to scream at him to undo it. To take it back, but somewhere in her frenzied mind she knew it wasn’t possible.
Despite neither of them thinking it was possible, Darrius had mated with her. And despite all the protests she’d made, the words she flung to try and deny it, her soul knew.
She felt different. Somewhat warm inside, and almost mentally and spiritually connected to the man next to her. She belonged to him now. Was his completely. For better or for worse, like it or not.
Did she like it? Wasn’t this what she’d wanted?
“I need…” She shook her head and slid out of bed. “I need you to give me a moment.”
She went to the bathroom and stared at the mirror—at the marks that were fading, but their meaning did not.
Eyes wide, she touched the two red circles and let out a strangled groan.
“I’ve been claimed,” she whispered.
She should’ve been elated. Not even an hour ago she would’ve given anything for Darrius to claim her as his mate, but had it only been because she’d thought he couldn’t?
You always want what you can’t have. The cliché phrase raced through her mind, but she had to wonder if there was an element of truth to it.
Never in her wonkiest daydreams could she have predicted she’d be mated so young. It hadn’t even been on her five-year plan…maybe ten year.
Grace climbed into the shower and made quick time washing her hair and body. When she finished, she walked back into the bedroom to get some clothes.
To her relief, Darrius wasn’t in the bed any longer, and she could hear the shower in the hall bathroom running.
After dressing quickly, Grace grabbed her keys and headed out the front door. She had to move fast, because Darrius would be pissed to realize she’d left without someone to watch her.
She climbed into her Eclipse and put on her Bluetooth. By the time she turned onto the highway she’d called her sister.
“Grace? Hey
, it’s getting late. What’s up?”
“Just checking on you, sweetie. How are you?” She knew her voice sounded bright, maybe a little brittle, but hoped Bree wouldn’t notice.
“Fine.” Her sister laughed. “Getting my butt kicked by Terrance at some snowboarding on the Wii though.”
“She’s actually pretty good,” a voice called in the background.
Grace couldn’t help a small smile. “Hey, I’m thinking of coming by and taking you for an ice cream run.”
“But it’s almost nine and like forty degrees out.”
“I know, but I miss you. And we didn’t have enough time to catch up this morning.”
That and she desperately needed to talk to someone. Despite the age difference, her sister had always had been her closest friend and confidant. Ice creams runs had ben somewhat of a tradition between them. It was almost code for girl talk time.
“Ice cream sounds great. You’ll pick me up?”
“Give me half an hour to drive over, then yeah.”
“Hang on, Grace.”
There was some muted discussion back and forth between Aubree and Terrance, before Aubree came back on the line.
“I don’t suppose Darrius is with you?”
“No.” Grace’s heart skipped and she swallowed hard. “He was in the shower when I left.”
“Okay, well then Terrance is insisting on coming with us.”
“Fine.” Crap. She’d just have to figure out how to ditch him for a bit. “See you in a bit, Bree.”
“Sounds good.”
Grace disconnected the call and slowed down for a yellow light.
The hairs on the back of her head lifted, and she started to turn her head but stilled as she felt the prick of a needle at her neck.
“You don’t mind if I drive, do you?” an indistinguishable male voice rasped. “It’s tight as hell in the backseat.”
She tried to shove the needle away, but it pierced her skin and she felt the burn of the medication enter her flesh.
Shit. How had she not sensed him back there? Checked to make sure she was alone? Even people who didn’t work for the P.I.A. were usually paranoid enough to check the backseat of their car before climbing in.
Almost immediately her vision began to blur and she lost the ability to control her muscles. She was vaguely aware of a dark form climbing into the front seat.
Savage Betrayal: Savage, Book 2 Page 21