David's Dilemma

by Sydney Addae

  She leaned into his chest, silently marveling at how much he’d changed. Taller and much larger than the last time he held her, yet just as gentle.

  “I didn’t think I was afraid, but you may be right. The idea of not being your mate... I couldn’t face it. Seeing you with someone else like this... no. Never. Still messes me up thinking about it.”

  “Silly. I was always yours.” He leaned back, placed his finger under her chin and met her gaze. “Always yours.”

  Sarita shivered. David wasn’t the boy she left at the airport all those years ago. In her absence, he’d become a man. A man she wanted more than her next breath. He slipped his finger beneath the fabric of her blouse and slid it off her shoulders.

  Her gaze never left his. “I’ve dreamed of this moment.”

  “Me too.” Her breath hitched as his palm brushed against her pointed nipple.

  “Have you?” His fingertips trailed the dark vines on her skin.

  Shivering beneath the exquisite sensations, she held onto his arms as he untied her pants, allowing them to drop to the floor.

  Naked, her breath caught at the fire in his gaze.

  Leaning forward his tongue ran the length of the longest vine, shoulder to belly.

  Her core clenched.

  “Sensitive?”

  She nodded and took several deep breaths as his fingertips flicked her nipples, something she had always loved for him to do.

  “Turn around.”

  She did as he asked.

  “None on the back,” he murmured placing kisses down her quivering spine.

  “No,” she breathed as she dropped her head back. “What are you doing to me? This is different.”

  “This is me finally taking you as my mate. The other times... wasn’t this time.” Gently, he bit her neck.

  She shuddered and almost fell.

  He caught her and blew on the spot.

  “David, please...”

  “I’ve waited for you to come home.” Standing behind her, he reached around, pulled and rolled her nipples between his fingers before biting her neck again.

  She moaned as her head fell to the opposite side. “You’ve changed...”

  “Changed?” His palm slid down her stomach and rested on her mound.

  She pushed his hand down further between her legs. “Yes, yes, yes.”

  One hand tormented her nipple while the other flicked her nether lips. “Did you give what belongs to me to anyone while you were gone?” he asked near her ear.

  She stilled and glanced at him. “You know I didn’t.”

  “I want to hear you say it.”

  “If I say, will you say it?”

  “You already know what I’ve done. I told you every time and you agreed.”

  She frowned. “Really? We’re discussing this now?”

  “I need to know if you had sex with anyone else,” he said plainly.

  “No. Satisfied?”

  “Not yet.” He picked her up.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. “Still stubborn,” she murmured.

  “Says the one who refused to come home and take care of her man,” he said before placing her on the cot.

  “I did what I could,” she said smiling up at him as he removed his clothes.

  “Video chats are not the same thing,” he growled. “I’ll prove that to you very soon.”

  “No, but it took the edge off, right?”

  He growled again but didn’t say anything.

  “Admit it. You loved it when I danced and entertained you. Remember I saw the proof.” She giggled.

  “Are you laughing at me?” He toed off his boots and set them aside before crawling on top of her.

  “Never.” Laughter escaped, as she covered her mouth.

  His lips covered her nipple.

  “Ahhhh, yes,” she whispered holding his head in place and widening her legs.

  He moved to the next breast, teased the nipple and bit down gently. “That’s one difference between video and real time,” he murmured before nibbling on her nipple.

  Tingles of pleasure raced through her. “For real. I missed this.”

  “You missed me,” he growled, biting down a little harder.

  “Yes, you. I missed you, David.”

  Rising up on his elbows he stared into her gray eyes and pushed the hair from her face.

  “You are very, very important to me,” he said.

  She swallowed hard and traced his lips with her finger-tip. You’re much bigger everywhere.”

  “Yeah?”

  She nodded, loving the strength emanating from him. “I approve.”

  He grinned and kissed her cheek. “You do, do you?”

  “Umhmm. You were a scrawny kid.”

  He laughed and fell on top of her. “That was then, this is now.” He rubbed his hardness against her. “Does that feel scrawny to you?”

  “That was never scrawny,” she said in a husky whisper. “Most amazing that you were big down there and —”

  “Don’t say it.” He kissed her and rolled his hips against her.

  “Mmm, yes,” she hissed at the delicious friction.

  He inhaled and rose on his elbows, the tip of his cock poised at her entrance. “I’ve always known you were mine, Rita. Do you accept me as your mate?”

  Her core quivered in expectation. The air filled with her willing, scent. “Yes. I accept you as mine. My mate.”

  He lifted slightly, adjusted his cock and slid forward slowly, watching her. “Perfect, always perfect for me.” Fully seated, he took several breaths and dropped his forehead against hers. “So tight,” he whispered. “You okay?”

  She nodded and bit her lip. “Give me a second.”

  He nodded as she wrapped her long legs around his waist, moving slowly as if testing the waters. Beads of sweat popped on his head as he fought his beast to remain still and wait until she asked for more. It had been so long, he thought he’d explode.

  Seconds turned into minutes. She moved beneath him, killing him with each stroke. His beast clawed for him to take their mate, to get the job done. Still, he waited. There would never be another moment like this, neither of them would ever forget it.

  “Are you going to move?” she asked.

  “You asked for a second, five minutes ago.”

  “Seriously?”

  The incredulous frown she wore meant he had miscalculated. Placing a hand beneath her hip, he lifted her slightly for leverage, while leaning on his other elbow, he withdrew and thrust forward. Her legs tightened around him as he continued thrusting into her.

  “Oh shit,” she said grabbing his arms and holding on.

  Turned on beyond anything he ever imagined, he sought their link and pulled on their connection. It was like lighting a match to tinder. Ribbons of color exploded in his mind.

  Heat raced through him as he increased the speed of his thrusts.

  “Yes, yes,” she moaned egging him on.

  Her link shimmered as it braided his. Gold and silver, tightened as it grew longer, stronger. Almost there. He felt the connection between his fingers and toes.

  This woman, his mate meant everything to him. This... this joining robbed him of breath and he didn’t care. Time stopped. Frozen at this moment, on the precipice of joining their hearts, souls, and minds, the world disappeared.

  They faced each other on a plane he didn’t recognize. “With everything in me, I love you, David,” she whispered, sealing her fate of being his forever.

  “As Goddess is my witness, I love you, Sarita.” The moment the words left his mouth he flew over the edge, erupting into orgasmic wonder.

  Nothing ever happened like this before. He couldn’t stop shaking. Colors filled his mind. Her thoughts rolled through him. He saw her pain, experienced her fear of hurting the ones she loved. Jerked from the pain of the fire she used to burn away the lines.

  Her memories, both good and bad, filled him, bringing tears to his ey
es from all she suffered. In the midst of all the pain, disappointment and disillusionment, her love for him remained a bright gem. She’d never given up on them as he’d feared. Over the years, he’d wondered, now he knew for sure. She had always loved him.

  Drowning in sensations, Sarita basked in the security of her connection with David. After all these years, now she belonged to him fully, completely. Even if the curse separated them, it would be temporary because she would find him on any plane and spend eternity with him.

  “Don’t think of the curse,” he murmured. “We will win.”

  She snuggled into his embrace and continued processing his memories. Some made her laugh, others brought tears to her eyes. His protection of her filled her with loving warmth. They all asked him questions, but he never discussed their relationship. Knowing how close he and his siblings were, that surprised her.

  “It was none of their business,” he said, answering her thoughts.

  “I know. Looking back, it seems silly not to have come home and let Daddy work out things. I would’ve been home with you and the others. I missed so much.”

  He brushed his lips against hers. “Look at me.”

  She met his tawny gaze.

  “What do you see?”

  Swallowing hard, she touched the corner of his mouth. “You. Love. Peace. My heart.”

  “That’s right, the rest doesn’t matter. We've joined. A new beginning. Nothing can change that. No one can come between that. Believe in that. Our bonds aren’t new.”

  She smiled. “No, they aren’t new. Still, I wish I could’ve seen the fight at the museum,” she mused.

  “I heard it was epic.” He rolled over and pulled her on top.

  “You weren’t there?” She positioned herself against him and moved slowly.

  “No. At the moment I can’t remember why. Do that again.” He reached up and cupped her breast. “These are bigger than I remember.”

  “You aren’t the only one who’s changed.” She winked, lifted and placed the tip of him against her opening.

  “Show me,” he urged as she sheathed him.

  David watched as she closed her eyes, threw back her head with her palms on his chest and slowly licked her lips.

  His dick jerked and throbbed inside her heat. As she lifted slowly, rolled her hips it felt like she melted around him, reforming to match him perfectly.

  “Ahhhh, right there, baby.” The low, deep, moan came up from her gut and caught down in her throat.

  He held her hips, helping her to move faster, taking more of him. Her nails scored his chest, inflaming his beast.

  “Yesssss,” he moaned as she babbled incoherent sentences and lost her rhythm.

  When she stiffened and screamed, he held her tight as an anchor as her walls throbbed around him, igniting his own cataclysmic release.

  Shaken, he pulled her down, holding her close and stroking her hair as their heartbeats synced and slowed.

  “Unbelievably good,” she said.

  “Thank you,” he said when he could talk.

  She laughed. “Arrogant man.”

  “Your man,” he corrected with a grin.

  “That too.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  SILAS STIFFENED AGAINST Jasmine.

  “I sense her too,” Jasmine said, enforcing her energy in all the Knights. “She tried them but couldn’t break through. So far I’m holding them. Do you have everyone else covered?”

  “Yes. It’s harder to pull anything from mates. David and Sarita are now mated, that takes care of everyone except Cain and the Knights,” he said.

  “You told everyone to remain calm?” she asked. This was not the time or place to fight.

  “Yeah. Storm was concerned but will stand down along with the others. She needs to feel comfortable enough to come closer for a scan,” he said.

  “So we pretend we don’t know she’s here?”

  “Yeah. Hopefully, it works.” He kissed her forehead while scanning the area. “Cain wants to move from the camp, he’s afraid she’ll do something stupid and someone will get hurt.”

  “No. We stay here, together,” Jasmine said adamantly. “This is the only place we have permission to be.”

  “I told him,” Silas said holding her close.

  “Link me with him again,” Jasmine said. The next moment she flooded Cain with her energy, cooling and steadying him.

  Silas chuckled. “He said to thank you.”

  Jasmine exhaled and waited for Nadira to come in closer. “Can you pinpoint her location?” she asked Silas.

  “Yes, she’s not that far, but too far for a scan. Patience, she’s arrogant and will think she’s smarter than us. She’ll come closer, especially since Cain’s following my instructions to ignore her calls.”

  Asia and Hawke’s close proximity to David and Sarita’s tent eased Jasmine’s mind. Those two needed to be strong to face whatever was coming. Jasmine didn’t think the threat or battle had been averted by her comments to Isodora.

  True, she wouldn’t allow Nadira to use Pack to energize her fight, but the battle would still happen. Knowing Sarita could access David’s abilities in any situation, made Jasmine hopeful they would all be leaving for home soon. To think anything different would break her heart.

  “She’s moving closer,” Silas said as he kissed her deeply.

  When they broke apart, he touched the tip of her nose. “There’s a chip. I’ve got her boxed in and am removing it now.”

  Jasmine blinked a few times and frowned. “You did that on purpose.”

  “Of course, you would’ve looked and given away the surprise.” He stood and extended his hand to her. “Come, let’s meet Nadira.”

  Jasmine took his hand and walked toward Nadira. The others saw them and headed in the same direction. Before Silas reached her, Isodora appeared.

  “You were right? She was tampered with?” Isodora asked looking at Nadira who remained still inside the enclosure.

  “Yes, a small computer chip. I’ve removed or dissolved several over the years, definitely from the Liege,” Silas said.

  “I would like to talk to her, can you remove the barrier, please?” Isodora asked.

  Silas partially removed it, keeping most of her upper body trapped.

  Isodora flooded the area with light and stepped closer. “Nadira, how do you feel?”

  Nadira didn’t speak, instead, her eyes followed Isodora and remained focused on her. “Do you remember the Liege?”

  Nadira frowned but still didn’t speak.

  “They operated on you a long time ago, do you remember?” the Priestess asked.

  When Nadira didn’t say anything. Isodora touched her shoulder and closed her eyes. Moments later, deep sorrow emanated from her as she stepped backward.

  The two stared at each other.

  “What now, Isodora?” Nadira asked in a soft voice as the box surrounding her disintegrated.

  Silas started to replace it.

  “Don’t.” Isodora held out her hand to stop him. “It’s not necessary.”

  Blue fabric rippled across Nadira’s flesh, clothing her. She looked at Cain and pointed at him. “Come to me.”

  Jasmine’s energy erupted, stopping Nadira’s command.

  She looked at Jasmine and laughed. “It’s you. You’re the one interfering.”

  Jasmine didn’t say anything.

  “No matter, soon I’ll have a chest-full of men like him to play with.” She looked at Isodora. “I’m never going back to that mountain. Once I’ve dispensed of Hanna’s whelps, I’m leaving.”

  “No,” the High Priestess said, frowning at her captive.

  Nadira laughed. “You’ve had your fun. I spent time in the mountain, that’s all you could do and you know it. Admit it, I won.” She laughed again.

  Silas sealed all of his people in protection, placed his hand on his mates’ shoulder to calm her. “Let them do this.”

  “She seems worst,” Jasmine said, echoing his tho
ughts. “I’m pulling energy from the Pack to protect the Knights.”

  “Whatever it takes, I don’t want to kill them,” Silas said.

  Nadira and Isodora circled each other.

  “What are you going to do? Kill me?” Nadira taunted. “Where are Hanna’s brats? I thought they were the only ones who could do that? Isn’t that why I was in the mountain all this time?”

  “Is Nadira a full-blood?” Jasmine asked.

  Silas inhaled. “Yes, altered but at her core a wolf.”

  “Can you pull her beast?”

  “Probably, but why?”

  “Just wanted to know,” Jasmine said. “You may need to control her wolf.”

  “We can’t interfere at this point,” he reminded her.

  “When she fights Sarita and David, all bets are off.”

  “Jasmine, if we interfere it could tip the scales in her favor. She could kill one of them.”

  Jasmine crossed her arms and watched the unfolding drama.

  Isodora clapped her hands. Light flashed, the next moment the two women disappeared.

  Cain fell.

  Silas and Jasmine ran to him. Silas touched his forehead and pulled his beast.

  Once his beast lay on the ground, Silas extended his hands to heal him. Heat transferred from his palm into Cain.

  Jasmine stood and refortified the barrier and every knight. Watching the skyline she sensed Nadira hadn’t gone far. The moment Nadira tried to grab the mind of a Knight, Jasmine sensed it and slapped her with energy.

  Nadira made a grab for Tyrese and then Tyrone but their mates remained strong, guarding the gateways of their minds, barring her entry.

  When Nadira went after Storm he snapped at her and sent a whip of energy that lit the air.

  Cain remained in beast form, taking shallow breaths. “She’s trying to kill him through their connection.”

  “Can we reverse it, send a charge from him to her heart and try to kill her?” Jasmine asked.

  Silas shook his head in wonder. “Women, you ladies don’t play fair.”

  “Who’s playing? I want this bitch destroyed so we can go home without looking over our shoulders.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Silas spoke to Cain, got his approval and found the tenuous link. Seconds later Cain, sent a strong strike to Nadira, her yell of painful outrage filled the night.