Satisfaction

by Marie Rochelle

Stepping away from the shelter of the darkness of the building, Jace tried to control the anger he felt toward Ashlynn. Why would she endanger her safety by coming outside on her patio as late as it was? If he was able to find her address on the Internet, why couldn’t anyone else have?

  Someone could have hurt her. It didn’t matter to him her condo was ten floors up. All he cared about was her using some common sense. She shouldn’t have been doing anything this time of night but sleeping in her bed, dreaming about him and their future together.

  He would make sure once he claimed her that Ashlynn understood she had to be more careful. For the next hour, Jace stayed outside Ashlynn’s condo until he felt her breathing slow down along with her heart rate, signaling she was finally asleep.

  I love you, my beautiful mate, he thought, gently touching her mind. Jace stepped back farther into the shadows before he vanished from the side of the building back to his hotel room.

  Chapter Five

  “I swear, Krishell, it was the weirdest dream I have ever had in my life,” Ashlynn said into her cell phone as she unlocked the door to her dance studio the next morning. “For a minute, I almost thought he was actually inside my head. God, I really must want this guy to be having such crazy dreams about him.”

  After opening the door, she walked inside the building and went through the ritual of turning on all of the lights before making her way over to the small desk in the corner.

  “I have to agree it does sound a little bizarre,” Krishell answered.

  “Well, I wouldn’t be having those dreams if you tell Devin to hook me up with Jace. You’re my best friend. Do this for me.”

  Ashlynn tossed her purse down on the desk and flung her car keys inside the purse. She had about forty minutes to get ready before her first group of students arrived. She hoped to get her girlfriend’s help way before that; if not, she would just ask Devin herself. Sometimes, he intimidated her with the way he gave Krishell his full attention with those dark eyes of his. But as long as he treated her girl right, then he was okay with her.

  “You know how I feel about this. I’m not big on those one-night stands you love so much. Furthermore, I don’t want to help you treat my fiancé’s brother like that. Also, Jace doesn’t come across like he would agree to it either, Ashlynn.”

  Rolling her eyes, she fell down into the seat by the desk. God, sometimes Krishell was a little too goodie-goodie for her taste, but she loved her best friend dearly. Yet, she didn’t understand men the way she did. She knew what she was doing. Guys like Jace weren’t looking for the happy ending, but a good time just like she wanted.

  “Weren’t you the one who chased after Devin until you won him over?” she accused.

  “Yes, I did, but my situation is different. Devin and I were meant to be together. I knew it the first time I laid eyes on him inside the elevator. You, on the other hand, only want to hook up with Jace.”

  “I can’t get into this anymore. I need to get the music ready for my first class. I’ll call you later.” Ashlynn hung up the phone before Krishell could lecture her again.

  Ashlynn closed her eyes and rubbed her fingers across her forehead. “God, I hope she doesn’t call back, because I won’t have time to talk to her,” she mumbled to herself.

  “Does that mean you wouldn’t have time to talk with me?”

  Ashlynn’s eyes opened, and she jumped at the unexpected sound of a masculine voice. She looked over toward the front door, and her gaze froze on Jace’s tall, beautifully proportioned body standing there.

  Did he actually get better looking in the short span of twenty-four hours?

  The muscles rippling under his suit jacket quickened her pulse, making his massive shoulders look even wider. He stood there as if he prided himself on his good looks, and he should, because he was fine as hell.

  His compelling, blue eyes, the firm features of his chiseled face enhanced the sensual curve of his mouth that she was dying to kiss, and his thick, tawny-gold hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail at the back of his head.

  She was almost too taken aback to do anything but sit there and stare at him with her mouth open. However, she couldn’t continue to stare at him as if she had never seen an attractive man before.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, getting up from her seat. As Ashlynn got closer to Jace, she could feel a sexual magnetism that made him so hot to her.

  “Are you saying that you would rather I leave?” Jace asked as his gaze slid over her body. He seemed to be peering at her intently.

  “No, I was just surprised to see you, that’s all,” Ashlynn answered, rushing up to Jace. Her curiosity was aroused why he had found her.

  “I came here to see if you would like to go out on a date with me.”

  Tilting her head to the side, Ashlynn watched Jace, wondering if her day could get any better than it already was, but she couldn’t agree right away. She had to make him squirm a little, because he didn’t need to get any more confident than he already was.

  “How do you know that I don’t already have a boyfriend or even a husband?” she questioned.

  Jace stalked toward her like a predator circling his prey, and the smoldering flame she saw in his eyes startled her, but not enough to make her move back.

  “A woman who belongs to another man wouldn’t have looked at me the way you did last night.”

  Ashlynn’s eyes narrowed as Jace’s words settled in. “How dare you imply I was coming on to you last night. Weren’t you the one who kissed my hand? So, you came on to me, Mr. Diamont. I think you better leave. As you already know, I’m running late getting ready for my day.”

  She started to turn away, but Jace grabbed her by the arm, spinning her back around to face him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that to you, but after searching to find out where you worked, I thought I might get a better reception. I wasn’t trying to insult you.”

  Damn him! She wanted to be upset, but his nearness made her senses spin. It was too easy to get lost in the way he was looking at her right now. Her instant attraction to Jace had nothing to do with reason, but she did remember what Krishell said when she saw Devin. She felt he was the one way before a single word was spoken between them.

  “All right, I accept your apology. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m a little grouchy. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.” She glanced down at Jace’s hand, noticing how perfectly his slightly pale hand blended in with her darker skin.

  “So, does that mean you will go out on a date with me?” he asked as he removed his hand.

  The idea of his eagerness excited her as Ashlynn looked back at Jace. “Do you make it a routine of asking out women you only meet less than twenty-four hours ago?” she teased.

  “Only the beautiful ones,” he replied, then winked at her.

  She couldn’t help but laugh at Jace’s tired pickup line. He had probably gotten a lot of females to fall for him with that one comment, so why should she break his record? It wouldn’t do her plan any good to turn him down anyway.

  “I would love to go out with you. Let me give you my address,” she answered.

  Just as Ashlynn started to tell Jace her address, he held up his hand and shook his head. “Don’t tell me. Let me have fun finding out for myself. I like the thrill of the chase. Be ready at seven o’clock and wear something that will turn heads. I want every man in the room to be jealous that you are on my arm.”

  Without a doubt, Jace would get her address from his brother, which was probably the same way he found out where she worked, but she would play along with him for now. However, she was going to toss in a condition to see if he was man enough to accept it.

  “I will agree to this, but if you are a minute late, the date won’t happen and you aren’t able to ask me for another one,” Ashlynn said.

  The very air around her electrified as Jace closed the space between them in a blink of an eye and brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “Ashlynn, as long as you are expect
ing me, I will never keep you waiting,” Jace whispered as he looked into her eyes.

  Twirling around, he sauntered for the front door and went out of it before Ashlynn could collect any of her thoughts to give him a coherent answer. One thing was for sure—she was more than excited about her upcoming date tonight.

  Chapter Six

  “It’s killing me not to tell Ashlynn the truth about Jace,” Krishell complained, walking around the extra bedroom while Devin worked on the weight bench. “I mean she has this crazy idea that she can have a one-night stand with Jace and he will do it, then let her go. Maybe if she knew he wasn’t going anywhere, she would get that stupid idea out of her head.”

  Devin put down the weight, got off the bench, and came over to her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he tugged her against his sweaty body, planting a kiss at the side of her neck.

  “Sweetheart, you know that you can’t get involved when satisfaction is working its course through Jace. He has to be the one who tells Ashlynn she is his mate. I know my brother might have come on strong the other night, but he wouldn’t hurt Ashlynn.

  “In addition, he isn’t about to fuck his mate and then walk away from her. He has been searching for Ashlynn for centuries. Way longer than I had to look for you, so he knows what he is doing.”

  Sighing, Krishell wrapped her arms around Devin’s neck. “What do you think about your father sending Jace after you? Do you think he will keep trying until he forces you to go back home with him?” She didn’t want to be worried about her future with her handsome mate, but a part of her was. Devin was very close to his father for years, and a part of him might still feel some loyalty.

  “Baby, I’m not going anywhere with Sebastian, and if he shows up here, I will defend you to the end, even against my own father. His attitude is what pushed my mother away from him, and I wouldn’t let it tear us apart. I love you way too much for that to ever happen.”

  Krishell brushed her mouth across Devin’s, smiling when his cock jumped to attention and throbbed against her stomach. “You are always ready to make love no matter what we are doing. I’m stunned you find enough energy to work out with the one you constantly give me in the bedroom,” she teased.

  “See…now you know the best advantage of being in love with a vampire,” Devin growled as his hands slid underneath her short skirt and grabbed her ass, giving it a hard squeeze. Lowering his head, he brushed the tip of his fangs against the side of her neck.

  “Baby, I can’t do this,” Krishell moaned softly. “I need to leave in about ten minutes, and you are going to make me late.”

  Raising his head, Devin’s eyes flickered before turning a shade darker than his usual dark brown color she loved so much. “Sweetheart, I can get my throbbing cock into your beautiful body a few times in ten minutes.”

  Seconds later, they were both naked and across the room with her back pressed against the wall. He gripped her hips, easing the tip of his thick dick inside of her before pulling it back out.

  “Do you want me, Krishell?” he teased against the side of her neck, and his fangs nipped at her soft skin. “I mean you do have this very important appointment you need to go to so badly. If you want me to stop, I can wait until you get back home.”

  “Yes, Devin. I want you,” Krishell answered, running the tip of her tongue across the bottom of her own fangs. She hated when he teased her body like this.

  “Are you really sure?” His cock lingered on the outside of her pussy, taunting her for saying she would rather leave than stay here with him and make love.

  “Yes, I’m sure,” Krishell hissed, dying to have him buried deep inside of her.

  He finally began to ease inside of her; then Devin pulled out a bit and looked down, seeing how his cock was covered in her juices. “Fuck, what a beautiful sight.”

  Taking her by the hips again, he slowly started stroking his rock hard, hot cock inside of her until he was buried to the hilt, filling her completely so an inch wasn’t left. Her body arched against the wall as she continued grinding against Devin, loving the smacking sounds of their sweaty bodies as they came together again and again.

  Moving his hand off her hip, he brought it around and found her swollen clit, then teased it with two of his long, thick fingers, sending her body into a wild frenzy.

  Very slowly and softly, at first, almost as if trying to keep her from going over the edge too soon; Devin loved controlling how soon she came for him. But he quickly picked up his rhythm, making her lower her mouth to his shoulder. She placed her fangs against his skin, bit him, sucking his warm, delicious-tasting blood into her waiting mouth.

  “God…you are going to make me lose my mind doing that,” he growled.

  “Doing what?” Krishell asked, running her tongue over the drop of blood she missed.

  “Biting into my shoulder while I’m trying to fuck you…. You know how crazy I get when you take control.”

  After removing his fingers from her body, Devin spread her legs wider, hooking them over each forearm as he pounded away inside of her cunt. Her pussy seized his cock even tighter as her orgasms started to take over. Seconds later, she felt the tiny sting from his fangs as they sank deep into the side of her neck and his cum shot up into her waiting pussy.

  Devin moved in and out of his mate effortlessly, as if he couldn’t get enough of her tightness. He wanted to hold on longer, but his body was slowly starting to shake from the sheer power of his orgasm. Letting Krishell’s legs back down, he wrapped her up in his arms, holding her as close to his body as she could possibly get. He had never come that hard before, and it all had to do with the woman in his arms.

  “You made me late for my appointment.” Krishell laughed against his shoulder.

  “Was it worth it?” Leaning back, he brushed the hair away from her face.

  His mate smiled, and Devin’s heart flip-flopped in his chest like it did every single time she looked at him. “Don’t you already know any time I get to spend with you is worth it? I only pray that Ashlynn doesn’t blow her chance to have what we do with your brother.”

  “Krishell, Jace isn’t going to let Ashlynn slip through his fingers. He never gives up on something he wants. I promise you, your best friend won’t miss out on having my brother’s love, but it just won’t be as intense as ours.”

  “Good…because I can’t ever imagine any man loving a woman more than you love me.” Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed Devin, as if thrilled he was going to be in her life for eternity.

  Chapter Seven

  I can’t bite her…. I can’t bite her.

  Jace kept repeating those words over and over as he stared at Ashlynn standing in the doorway of her condo. He knew that he told her to wear something sexy, but the fire engine red dress was a sin waiting to get him into trouble tonight. All of his well-laid plans were going to jump right out of the window from all of the gorgeous skin on display for his eyes.

  Keeping satisfaction at bay was hard enough when he was within touching distance of her, but his mate was testing all of his control in ways no other woman had or ever would again. Ashlynn was perfect for him, and all he had to do was prove it to her over their date tonight.

  “I see you made it on time,” Ashlynn said, smiling at him.

  “I promised you that I would, and I never break my word once you have it,” he answered, not taking his gaze off of the beautiful vision in front of him.

  “Men have promised me things before and not gone through with it, so honestly I wasn’t holding out much hope for you,” she admitted.

  Jace swallowed hard, trying not to reveal his anger at how other men had treated his mate. “I’m not the other jerks you went out with in your past. I would never tell you something and not follow through with it. You belong with me, and I will always keep my word to you.”

  “How about we get through this date before you start staking a claim on me?” she suggested. “I might want something totally different than you.”

 
“Does it scare you that I might want a second date?” Jace asked, trying to get inside of her head. He knew she wanted to have sex with him, but that was just natural for a human woman when she first saw her vampire mate.

  That instant, the chemical bond was hot and hypotonic. Now, if that was all Ashlynn admitted wanting from him, then he would have a harder mountain to climb than he first assumed.

  “Truthfully, I haven’t thought past this date,” Ashlynn admitted to him. “How about we see how well this goes and then we can talk about a second date?”

  Jace sensed Ashlynn wasn’t being honest with him, but he couldn’t figure out why she wouldn’t want to see how far things could go between them.

  Was she scared he would break her heart or hurt her some kind of way? Maybe he would be able to find more out on their date. Something was going on, but he couldn’t invade Ashlynn’s privacy by reading her mind. Not until she accepted him and agreed to be his mate, and then all bets were off.

  “Are you ready to go? I have made reservations for us at Sylvester’s. They are holding a table for us, so I don’t want to be late. I heard it’s the hottest restaurant in town.”

  Coming up to him, Ashlynn placed her hand on his chest, making satisfaction kick up another unbearable notch as his blood pounded through his veins. What was she doing? Didn’t she know how potent her touch was to his skin?

  Was she trying to drive him out of his mind with the need to bite her? He had to get Ashlynn away from here and around people or he might not be able to control himself until he told her everything.

  “Would you mind if we stayed here instead? I’m not really into going out tonight around a lot of people after the long day I’ve had at work. I can order us something, and we can use this time to get to know each other better.”

  Tell her no, Jace’s mind screamed. You aren’t ready to be in a closed environment with her yet. Satisfaction is too powerful.