Smoldering Hunger

by Donna Grant

  Sophie swallowed and held out the keys. “I came to return this.”

  “Nay, you didna, lass. You came for Darius.”

  “I did come for Darius,” she admitted.

  One side of his mouth lifted in a smile. “That’s good.” He then turned on his heel. “Follow me.”

  CHAPTER

  FORTY-FOUR

  Darius was walking through the mountain connected to Dreagan Manor when his mobile vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a text from Kiril telling him to meet in the library.

  He only wanted to be alone, but Darius knew he had to see what Kiril wanted first. Darius continued through the tunnels to the doorway into the manor.

  Despite the time of day, and the fact that most of the Kings and their mates remained in the manor, it was quiet. Darius heard voices, and the closer he walked to the library, the clearer they became.

  He was at the door to the library, reaching for the knob when he heard Sophie’s voice. Darius froze, his mind reeling. She wasn’t supposed to be there. Guy was on his way to Edinburgh to wipe her memories even now.

  Darius slowly opened the door and pushed it wide. He looked inside to find Sophie’s back to him as she stood talking to Kiril. Kiril’s gaze looked over her shoulders and met his.

  “Is he here?” Sophie asked.

  Kiril tilted his head slightly. “Aye.”

  “I’d like to see him. He made a decision about our future without giving me a chance.”

  “Are you sure about that, lass?” Kiril asked.

  Sophie bowed her head for a moment. “I need to tell Darius this, not you.”

  Darius walked silently into the room. “You shouldna have come.”

  Sophie whirled around, her long red hair spinning with her. God, she was so beautiful it hurt to look at her. His hands fisted at his sides to keep from touching her. It was pure hell to have her in the same room with him.

  “Why?” she repeated, a stricken look on her face. She licked her lips. “I was so hurt last night that I let you walk out. I can’t live without you. My career doesn’t matter if I don’t have someone to share my life with. You made me see that.”

  “You say that now, but what about five years from now?” Darius didn’t look at Kiril as he quietly walked from the library. “You’ll regret it then.”

  “You can’t know that. Only I know what’s in my heart, and it’s full of you, Darius. I know your body. I know your taste, the feel of your hands on me. I know that I like having you near, and that despite everything, I fell in love with you.”

  Darius couldn’t look away from her olive gaze. Her words were everything he wanted to hear and more. “This world isna for you. You have a chance to walk away.”

  “There’s no walking away from you.” She took another step closer. “I thought I liked my life controlled. Then I met you. I loved how out of control things were. I thought I never wanted to trust again, and then I trusted you.”

  “People need you at the hospital,” he tried to argue.

  “I can open a practice in the village I drove through. I’ll be near Dreagan, near you.”

  He shook his head. “I doona want you turning to me five, ten, twenty years from now hating me because you gave up your career path.”

  “I love you.” Sophie walked to him and put her hands on his chest. “I love you, Darius. I love that you tried so hard to keep me from knowing what you are. I love that you’re a dragon. I love that you disobeyed Con to protect me. I love how you look at me. I love how you touch me. I love so very much about you.”

  He took her hands and brought both to his lips, placing a kiss on the back of each. “I’ve longed to hear you say such words.”

  Sophie’s heart pounded in her chest. She was putting everything on the line, something she’d sworn she would never do again. But for Darius she would risk it all. “But?”

  “I think you’ll be better off away from me.”

  “Do you love me?”

  “Doona ask that,” he said as he stood and walked to a window.

  “I believe in you. I believe in us. I love you, Darius. I love you as a man. I love you as a dragon.”

  She wanted him to know just how much she felt for him, but her words didn’t seem adequate enough. Tears threatened, because she felt as if she were losing him.

  “I love you,” she said again. “I swore I’d never fall for anyone again, but you broke through my walls without me even knowing.”

  She stood staring at his back as tears ran down her face. Sophie had given it everything she had, but it wasn’t enough. This time it was her fault. She was to blame for losing out on the best thing in her life.

  Now she really would be alone, because there wasn’t a soul out there who could compare to Darius.

  She nodded as the truth of it sank in. She wouldn’t waste any more of his time. “You’re a good man. Don’t let Ulrik get the better of you. And … I hope you find happiness one day.”

  Sophie turned on her heel. She reached for her purse on the sofa with eyes blurred by tears. With her head held high, she walked from the library. She had no idea how she was getting to the nearest town, but she would walk if she had to.

  She had only taken three steps when she was pushed against the wall and Darius’s lips were on hers. The kiss was frantic as they both wound their arms around the other and held tight.

  When he finally ended the kiss, his breathing was harsh and ragged as he looked down at her. “I love you, Sophie Martin. I love you with everything I am.”

  The tears came faster, but they were tears of joy now. “I love you, too.”

  They embraced, simply content to hold each other. Sophie had no idea how long they stayed that way before Darius leaned back.

  “I only want your happiness,” he said.

  “I’m happy with you.” She smiled up at him. “I’m better when I’m with you.”

  “Aye, lass. You make me whole.” He kissed her again, slowly.

  When he ended the kiss, Sophie touched his face. “I love my job at the hospital, but what I really thrive on is helping those who need me the most. The ones like Lily who couldn’t get to the hospital for whatever reason. I can do that here. I can do what I love and be with the man I love at the same time.”

  “Sophie,” he said with a frown and a dash of hope in his gaze. “Are you sure?”

  She threw back her head and laughed. “Yes.”

  He smoothed back her hair from her face, his smiling crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Once you do this, there’s no going back.”

  “I don’t want to live without you.”

  “Even in this war?”

  “Even in this war. I’m a shell of a person until I’m with you. You brought me to life again. I want that every day. Through the good times and the bad. Through sickness and health and everything in between.”

  Darius gazed deeply into her eyes. “I want you as my mate. I want to spend eternity with you.”

  “But?” she asked with a raised brow.

  “Humans were no’ meant to be immortal. There’s a chance you could go insane.”

  She shrugged and ran her hands over his shoulders. “There’s a chance I’ll die in a wreck tomorrow or get cancer in a decade. I’ve lived safely for too long. I want to take chances and love—all with you.”

  “And the children? You know that can no’ happen.”

  “I was never the maternal type,” she said with a smile. “I’m not greedy, Darius. All I want is you.”

  “You have me. All of me.” He pressed his arousal into her sex. “All the time.”

  She laughed and kissed him. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Will you be my mate, Sophie? Will you spend eternity or however long I live with me?”

  “Yes.”

  He lifted her in his arms and strode to the stairs to take them two at a time. Sophie was laughing and enjoying his smile. She glanced back over his shoulder to see Kiril, Rhys, and two women looking up at them
with a smile.

  Had she really gotten a happy ending? Sophie could scarcely believe it. She hadn’t thought them possible, but she knew with Darius anything was possible.

  With him she opened up her heart and soul once more, knowing he would protect it as fiercely has he had protected her.

  Who could ask for anything more?

  EPILOGUE

  Four days later …

  “Well, it’s close to Dreagan,” Darius said as he watched Sophie closely.

  She walked around the office space with a smile on her face, her fingers trailing along the walls and vacant desks. “It’s perfect.”

  “I can no’ believe the hospital let you go so easily.”

  Sophie shrugged, her smile growing wider. “This is going to be all mine.”

  “What did the hospital say, Soph?”

  She walked into the next room. “They doubled my salary.”

  Darius crossed his arms over his chest and widened his feet. “And?”

  “And what?” she asked as she leaned out of the room. “I don’t know how Ryder found this place, but I need to get him a dozen boxes of donuts for this. It fits all of my needs.”

  “I’m glad. Now tell me the rest of what happened at the hospital.”

  Her smile died as she walked out of the room to lean against the wall. “They tried to tell me what an asset I was. I told them until they found a replacement I’d be happy to help with surgeries if they needed someone.”

  “What else?”

  “Claire wants to come work for me.”

  Darius was shaking his head before she finished. “You know she can no’.”

  “I’m going to need a nurse, and the fact is, she’s good.”

  “Need I remind you of what occurred with her and Ulrik?”

  Sophie walked to him, a seductive smile playing about her lips. “I remember.”

  Darius tried to look away, but he couldn’t. He grabbed hold of her and pulled her against him and kissed her. “We can no’ remain long. Shara and Lily are waiting to go dress shopping with you.”

  “They can wait. We need to christen every room.”

  Darius laughed as he lifted her in his arms and walked to the back room that was going to be Sophie’s office. They’d start there first and work their way to the front. He didn’t care if she arrived naked for their mating ceremony. She was going to be his, and that’s all that mattered.

  Perth, Scotland

  Ulrik tossed back his fifth whisky. He was in no mood to deal with anyone, least of all his uncle. Yet Mikkel walked into The Silver Dragon as if he owned it.

  “Did you have fun?” Mikkel asked.

  Ulrik didn’t bother to answer him. He stared out the window and poured more whisky into his glass.

  “You keep failing with the Kings.” His uncle laughed. “If you’d told me your plans, I could’ve helped.”

  Ulrik wasn’t failing. In fact, he’d learned a great deal from both Con and Darius, whether either of them realized that or not. The fact they’d nearly taken him was what had him in such a foul mood.

  And the longer Mikkel remained, the harder it was for Ulrik to pretend he was bending to his uncle’s rule. Ulrik wanted Con to suffer, but he couldn’t stand much more of Mikkel’s interference.

  It had to end. And soon.

  “Perhaps now you’ll stop being so stubborn,” Mikkel said.

  “If you’ve come to lecture, you can leave.”

  Mikkel laughed. “Oh, I’m no’ here to lecture, nephew. I’m here to tell you there’s a new plan. I’ve made sure Ryder is going to have a visit soon. With all the attention on Dreagan, this should make things interesting.”

  Ulrik turned to his uncle. He needed a diversion.

  * * *

  Rhi snuggled against Balladyn’s chest. They’d made love so many times she’d lost count. The Kings weren’t going to be happy with her, but she honestly didn’t care.

  For once she was happy. It was time for that, time for her to be selfish.

  She felt her watcher’s gaze on her. Rhi opened her eyes and looked across the hut to where she knew he stood. He hadn’t left. What did he think of what she had done? And why did she even care?

  “Rhi,” Balladyn whispered as he rolled her onto her back and pinned her arms above her head as he kissed her.

  Yes! This is exactly what she needed. To be desired and loved, to feel pleasure and ecstasy.

  She arched her back as his mouth found her nipple. When she looked at him, she could only stare in shock at silver eyes looking back at her.

  * * *

  Ryder sat at the monitors as he opened another box of jelly-filled donuts. It was a good thing he was immortal, or he would have to seriously consider cutting back.

  He did his routine of checking on sightings of Dark Fae as well as taking a look at Ireland where most of the Fae lived. But no matter what he did, it didn’t take him long to type in an address and wait for the camera to allow him in.

  Ryder set aside the donut and stared at the quaint stone house on the outskirts of Glasgow. How many times a day did he watch it? There were so few instances when he’d been rewarded with a glimpse of her.

  Kinsey.

  He longed for her. Their affair was something he kept from the others. When he’d had to leave Glasgow a few years ago and return to Dreagan when Hal fell in love with Cassie, Ryder knew his feelings for her went much deeper than just a fling.

  While the other Kings were falling in love, he couldn’t stop thinking of her. Then Con sent him back to Glasgow to fight the Dark.

  Ryder had hoped he would see Kinsey, and he had. Just not as he would’ve liked it.

  He closed his eyes as he heard her scream in his head. It was the worst night of his life. Made even worse knowing he would never see her again.

  * * *

  V walked into the small village in Belgium and smiled as he spied a woman sitting alone on a bench. V walked to her and sat.

  Her frown disappeared when she saw him. Her smile was tentative, but grew as he returned it.

  “Hello,” V said.

  “Hello.”

  He glanced around at the village. “It’s a nice place.”

  “Not really,” she said in a thick Dutch accent.

  His smile widened as he held out his hand. “Then let me make it more interesting.”

  As soon as she put her hand in his, he pulled her into his lap and kissed her. Her moan of pleasure spurred his desires. He stood, lifting her with him as he walked to a clump of trees. There he set her down and pressed her against the bark as he yanked open her shirt to reveal her breasts.

  She was just as ravenous because she quickly unbuttoned his jeans and slid her hands inside to cup his arousal. In minutes he was inside her.

  V began to wonder why he had slept in his mountain for so long. It was time to spread his wings—in more ways than one.

  After a moment, she flipped on the lights and began to take off her clothes. Everything was piled in the chair. Mostly because she wasn’t obsessed with folding every piece of clothing. But also because she didn’t have the time or inclination.

  Kinsey removed her bra and grabbed the olive green tank top and put it on. Then she washed her face and brushed her teeth before climbing into bed.

  Except, unlike the last two nights, she didn’t fall right to sleep. She was wide awake, staring at the ceiling.

  And thinking about Ryder.

  Foremost in her mind was their kiss. Her lips still tingled from it. His taste … chills raced along her skin. She could still taste him.

  The power, the desire.

  The hunger.

  If he hadn’t pulled back, she wouldn’t have been able to. For three years she’d yearned to have his lips on hers again. When it happened, she’d been too shocked to move at first.

  But her body remembered what to do. Her arms went around his neck and she eagerly opened for him.

  Her body pulsed with need. A need that only Ryder had ever b
een able to call up—or quench. She squeezed her legs together and rolled onto her side, but it didn’t do any good. Her sex ached to feel Ryder slide within her, filling her as only he could.

  Kinsey had no idea how long she laid there thinking of Ryder and replaying all the times they’d made love in her mind when the door opened.

  She remained on her side. The light from the hallway lit the room in an expanding triangle as the door opened. A large form filled the crack before the door was quickly—and quietly—shut.

  Kinsey didn’t move a muscle. Who was in her room and why? She was getting ready to scream Ryder’s name when the form stepped away from the door and the shadows there. The glow from the moon shed little light, but it was enough for her to see wide shoulders and a profile she recognized all too well.

  Ryder.

  With her fear gone and replaced with curiosity, Kinsey slowly released the breath she’d been holding. Ryder was in her room.

  Ryder was in her room!

  What the hell? She was furious.

  Wasn’t she?

  Unfortunately, fury wasn’t anywhere close to what she was feeling. That was reserved for exhilaration. And anticipation.

  Her heart rate increased, and it became difficult to breathe. All because Ryder was in the room. She wished now she was on her back so she could watch him. He’d moved out of view, walking behind her to the opposite side of the bed.

  When the bed shifted with his weight, Kinsey could barely contain herself.

  What about your pledge to ignore him? Weren’t you done with him?

  She was just a woman, a woman with desires. She’d have to be dead not to want him. And she was anything but dead.

  He’ll break your heart again.

  It was already broken. What did it matter if she gave in and took some pleasure? After the past three years, didn’t she deserve that much?

  At this, her subconscious was quiet.

  There was a sigh from Ryder as he lay back upon the bed. For several minutes, he didn’t move. Then he turned toward her, stroking her hair.

  Just like her dreams!

  Had they been dreams? Was this the only time he’d come into her room? She’d been dead on her feet the past two nights, so a nuclear blast could’ve gone off and she wouldn’t have known about it.