Mated in Treason

by Christa Paige

  The pinch of his fangs elongating came with the burn of serum. He couldn’t hold back any longer. Gripping the back of her head in his palm, he angled her perfectly. “I love you,” he whispered against her ear as he kissed a path downward.

  Her fingers gripped his arm, squeezed, “I love you, too. Now, do it.”

  He pressed his fangs to her skin and pushed in. She jolted but he held tight, keeping her right there in place as his fangs punctured the barrier and opened her vein. A whimper followed and a shudder. She called his name and swayed into him even more. He suckled and drew deep.

  Oh, fucking hell. She tasted amazing. Like ice cream and candy and sweet ambrosia. He sipped again. And again.

  He couldn’t get enough. More. He wanted more.

  Her breath hitched and a mewl followed as his essence hit her blood stream, his serum united with her DNA kick-starting the bonding process that would forge their unity for all their lives.

  “Very good,” Kane said from right beside them. Gunnar let out a warning growl but the male ignored him. “Now, let’s finish this right here.”

  Sounded great to him. He’d finish the bonding, inundate Nadia with all he had to offer and ride off into the proverbial sunset with his mate by his side. “Where’s the honeymoon suite?” He managed to pull away from Nadia’s vein to ask.

  Kane laughed, deep and maniacal. “Right here.”

  Gunnar paused, licked over the wound to stop the bleeding and faced Kane, assessing the male’s features looking for a joke somewhere in that declaration. Nope, damn, all he got was a whole lot of serious. “You’re fucking kidding me, right?”

  “I’m not letting a little thing like screwing your mate get in the way of my payment. Sunrise is coming and I want Aleksi’s heart to stop beating before the end of today.”

  “We aren’t doing this in front of a congregation.” Gunnar seethed, giving off a feral scent of warning. The vicious aroma smelled of caustic bleach and Nadia coughed beside him. He tried to tamp down his reaction but it hardly made a dent.

  “Must we?” Nadia asked on a tense whisper. “It’s so impersonal. And embarrassing.”

  “I want witnesses for this mating, including the consummation. A female can refuse her potential mate for a few days post-ceremony. I don’t want Nakani to have any excuse to deny me what I’ve asked of him in return. Don’t want him stalling, either. At some point, that conscience of his is going to kick in and he’s going to balk at the idea of killing his Komutani.”

  “You’re out of your ever-loving mind.” Gunnar figured right about now would be the best time to call for back up. In fact, the whole Komar cavalry would be better. He reached deep within himself, unlocked the barriers in his mind and attempted to reach out to Mikhail. “Old subway station, downtown, underground, they’ve got an army. Bring the rain.”

  No response. Damn, damn, damn!

  “I haven’t gotten this far by being stupid.” He tapped his head, “Calculating and smart, those work in my favor.”

  And here they’d been pretty damned calculating in their planning for this takedown. Shit. “Double time it,” he tried again with the telepathy, hoping he’d be heard by Mikhail. Still no response. He slipped his arm around Nadia’s waist and tugged her against his side. Her body trembled, heat warming the skin where his arm brushed along her lower back. A blush stained her cheeks and she shifted from one foot to the other. Ah hell, the serum had hit her bloodstream. Arousal wended its way through her veins like a triple shot of an aphrodisiac. In mere moments, she’d be so out of her mind with lust and need, there’d be no choice but to take her right there simply to help relieve her.

  He calmed his mind, focused on Traian and attempted to find some connection with his boss. A minute thread sizzled in the back of his skull and he took that as faint signal, he prodded it within his thought, felt a familiar vibe and unleashed a mayday signal. The SOS was filled with expletives and a demand to hurry.

  “Hang tight.” Tray’s voice brushed into his mind in a misty bit of static.

  “I don’t have any fucking time.” Gunnar nodded his head at something Kane said and kissed his mate’s hot cheek. Nope, no time at all. And no more communication from Tray.

  “Compromise,” Nadia said as she sank against him, her body trembling. He looked down at her, saw the way her breasts had become swollen, her skin damp.

  “You want proof, Iskander? Fine, you stay and watch. Everyone else leaves.” The perfume of her arousal hit his nose and he sucked in a lungful of air, inundating his senses with it. His body primed, blood rushing low. Instantly, his erection grew hard as steel.

  She grabbed his arm, nails pricking through the jacket. “I can’t take it. I need…” She swayed with the onslaught of increased desire, near panting now.

  “Oh God, kjaere. I’m so sorry. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.” Gunnar stroked down her face tracking the stream of tears. She didn’t cry audibly but her distress clouded her beautiful eyes. Fury ate at him and he fought for calm.

  “It doesn’t matter how. All that matters—is us. Our mating.”

  “Get us in a room with a damned bed and you’ll get your consummation.” Gunnar’s low snarl followed as he stroked Nadia’s back attempting to soothe her. “Leave the congregation, though. This isn’t going to happen like the Red Light District.”

  Kane’s glower turned furious. “Nikolai, escort the new couple to your room. Andros, go with him. Make sure they finish this mating quickly.”

  Great, Kane had just reduced the most magical experience of his life into a “wham, bam, thank you ma’am.” Gunnar seethed inwardly, promising retribution. “Are you going to fetch the popcorn?” Venom dripped from his tone as Gunnar shuddered with frustration and anger.

  “As much as the thought titillates like bad porn, I’m afraid I’ve got something to deal with.” Kane’s upper lip twitched. “Don’t try anything stupid, Nakani. FYI, it’s Nikolai’s blood that killed the other leech.” With that declaration, he turned with military precession and strode toward the door. “The show’s over, everyone get back to work. Jahan, you’re with me.” Kane didn’t look back and the throng of people gave him a wide berth as he exited.

  “Shoulda made my bed.” Nikolai grinned with a flash of something dark and wicked in his eyes. “Would make for a better video quality.” He jiggled the GoPro in his hand.

  Nadia’s indrawn breath added to Gunnar’s rage and he snatched the camera from the male’s hand, heaved it to the ground and rammed his boot heel into it. The crunch of glass and metal barely helped to calm him. The anger inside him twisted his control to shreds.

  “Gunnar.” Nadia’s low whimper diverted all his attention. He glanced at her flushed cheeks and the raw spot on her bottom lip from her biting it too hard. He watched her shiver and breathe rapidly. On impulse, he caught her up in his arms and held her close. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and nestled her head under his chin. “It’s too much.” Her teeth chattered and she gritted them to stop the motion.

  There wasn’t a damned thing Gunnar could do to stall. His female needed him. Right now. Accepting the no-win situation, he cocked an eyebrow at Nikolai. “Lead the way.”

  “With the way she’s rubbing all over you, maybe I should get some popcorn. Or lotion.” Nikolai licked his lips in a slow sweep. With a lecherous grin, he motioned for Gunnar to follow as he made his way from the room.

  “Don’t worry, kjaere. No one’s watching anything,” Gunnar whispered against the shell of her ear.

  She didn’t reply, simply gripped his arm with nails pricking through the material. Gunnar vowed he’d make this moment amazing. He’d help her forget everything but him and their mating.

  He’d make it beautiful for her, no matter what.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Good God, forget being unprepared for the leeches. This arousal burning her up from the inside out should’ve come with a gigantic warning. CAUTION: SERUM IS DANGEROUS. Dangerous to one’s sanity.
Dangerous to one’s libido. Dangerous to one’s modesty. Because, right now, Nadia wanted to rip her clothes off, rip Gunnar’s clothes off, and fall on the ground. She could think of nothing but having him on top of her, inside her, powering deep until they both fell over the edge into bliss. Or relief. She’d take relief because this storm raging within her made it impossible to think beyond wanting sex. Dirty, sweaty, wonderful sex.

  “Easy, just a few more minutes.” Gunnar’s soothing tone only added to her frustration. He remained unaffected by this situation. How sexist was that? The females got inundated with some uber aphrodisiac leaving them an undulating pile of aroused goo and the males simply had to perform. Damned natural selection.

  “How are you so calm?” she whispered against his throat while rubbing her cheek along his collarbone.

  “I’m not.” He juggled her higher into his arms, holding her tighter to his strong chest.

  “Are they really going to watch?” The prospect made her uncomfortable.

  “I don’t think we have any other choice.” She heard the defeat in his voice even if he tried to mask it.

  She stroked his chin. God, he was tense, almost vibrating with a need to keep in control. Whatever happened next wouldn’t be easy. He didn’t seem the least bit ready to get romantic. Nope. Rather, he looked poised to murder. Great. How were they supposed to consummate this bonding in such a situation? Nadia sighed. Desire twisted inside her, demanding Gunnar’s body, needing him in the most intimate way possible. She pressed her lips to his pulse points and flicked her tongue along the flesh there. “You tasted so good. Can I have more?”

  He nodded sharply. “Wait ’til we get to the room, though.”

  She nipped him and he jolted.

  “Kjaere.” Ignoring the warning in his tone, she bit him again, harder.

  “Fuck!” He picked up his pace. “Hurry up, Nikolai. We need a bed.”

  Nadia smiled but ducked her head so Gunnar couldn’t see it. She trailed her fingertip over the little wound liking the faint mark she’d left there.

  It felt like forever, but only a few moments later, Nikolai opened the door to his room. Nadia took a second to glance around the space to assure herself they wouldn’t be making love in some dungeon with creepy chains and other types of scary devices hanging from the walls. Fortunately, the Spartan room had a bed, dresser, and desk. An old rotary phone hung near the door. A small bathroom area on the far side had been partitioned off by a gray and white striped curtain but Nikolai hadn’t bothered to tug it closed showing the small shower and toilet.

  Gunnar settled her on her feet and held her steady making sure she didn’t wobble over. She gripped his bicep needing the contact not so much the support.

  “You fuckers can stand outside.” Gunnar’s features turned savage.

  “Şefi predicted you’d say that.” Andros tucked his hand into his waistband pulling a small pistol from his side. He kissed the shiny barrel and brought the gun to his eye assessing the sites as if Nadia was the target. “Not missing this even if I wasn’t ordered to watch it happen.”

  The rumbling growl and vicious curse Gunnar let out should’ve sent the other males running. The little lightbulb hanging from an exposed rod flickered ominously as Gunnar’s fury mounted. Andros paced a step backward but Nikolai cracked his knuckles and in a flash of movement came closer. He bent near, so close Nadia could smell the fruity taint of his breath. “I don’t think your female is able to wait for you to start a pissing match over your inability to get it up in front of us.” He cocked his head over his shoulder. “I’m sure Andros and I can take care of her needs for you.” His hand snapped out and grabbed her by the back of the head and hauled her forward. She fought the pinching bite of his fingers in her hair and struggled to keep space between them but Nikolai managed to pull her close enough to push his nose to her throat and inhale. “Mmhmm, she’s ready for it.”

  It lasted for only one beat of her heart before Gunnar had his hands around the male’s throat, squeezing. Nikolai’s face blanched, eyes bulging and weakened, he let go of her. With a snarl, Gunnar tossed the male clear across the room. Nikolai crashed into the desk and it screeched against the cement floor as it traveled sideways.

  Gunnar marched to Nikolai and hauled him up by the scruff of the neck, dragging him to the doorway. “Stand outside, listen, do what you must, but don’t say a God damned thing, don’t even breathe hard or I will rip your eyeballs out and shove them down your throat.” From over his shoulder, he glared at Andros. “Same warning, dickhead. Put the gun away before you shoot off your own balls.” He pointed a finger at the doorway. “Get out.”

  “But şefi ordered us to watch.” Andros crossed his thin arms over his chest and pouted.

  “I don’t see that pretender holding a knife to your throat. In fact, where did he go exactly? If this whole thing is so important to him, you’d think he’d be here himself and not leave such a vital experience to your incompetence.”

  Andros huffed and made a disgruntled face. “He’s busy.”

  “Ordering take-out?” Gunnar scoffed, his anger came off in gaseous waves and it stung Nadia’s eyes. She twisted the loose satin of her skirt. Watching her mate only added to her need for him. His primal state enticed in ways the human didn’t. The more he evoked a dominant vibe, drawing power to him, the more he enthralled her. Heat detonated in her core and she squeezed her thighs together. It only added to the mounting desire burning her up from the inside out.

  “Delivering a message.” Andros’ haughty tone had Gunnar going still, intent. Even Nadia’s curiosity had her straining to hear the conversation over the rushing of her pulse.

  “Somehow, I don’t think he’s at the post office.” Gunnar inhaled slowly and his fingers curled into fists. With a quick turn, he came to her side and wrapped his arms around her tugging her into his chest. With her back against the firm bands of muscle across his torso, she couldn’t relax. She could hardly breathe. Feeling him, so near, so strong, whipped the arousal into a hurricane storming deep within.

  One side of Andros’ mouth kicked up. “Nope. Taking care of—”

  Nikolai smacked Andros and the other male staggered back. “Shut the fuck up, whelp. No one needs to know.”

  “I do.” Gunnar stroked along her side, his knuckles brushing the curve of her breast. She clenched her teeth to hold back a moan. “What’s Iskander up to?”

  Nadia closed her eyes. Pressure built inside her. It coursed through her veins, warming her skin, throbbing in her temple. An ache low in her core spasmed wanting Gunnar there, longing for his deep penetration.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Andros shot back.

  Nadia whirled around and laced her arms about Gunnar’s neck. She rubbed her breasts back and forth over his firm pectorals. “I don’t care about Kane’s message. I don’t care about them.” She pressed her forehead to his shoulder and rocked onto the balls of her feet. “I’m dying for you, Gunnar, and I can’t wait any longer.”

  His fingers caught hers and laced between holding tight. He squeezed gently. “Easy.”

  “No!” She cupped her other hand at the base of his skull and pulled him down to her. Lifting fully onto her toes, she waited until his gaze settled on her eyes and, then, focusing on her lips. She licked them, slow and deliberate. “Just forget them. Forget everything but us. Everything but this.” She pressed her mouth to his kissing him in desperation.

  His tongue slipped between her teeth, brushed over her tongue and she met the questing strokes. He groaned. It rumbled under her fingers as she held on to him. One of his hands plucked at the pins holding the veil in place. The tulle fluttered to the ground. His hand speared into the twisted bun, gripping tight. She nearly panted with the forceful kiss but he gave her no quarter, instead he walked them backward and didn’t stop until her back hit the cold stone wall. “So they can’t see,” he pushed into her thoughts.

  “They’re still there.”

  Breaking the kiss,
he slipped down to her throat and trailed his fangs along her pulse points. The sharp tips scratched the tender flesh there and her ultrasensitive skin pricked with gooseflesh. He suckled a spot close at the juncture of her collarbone and teased with little provocative bites. “I’ll make you forget.”

  In a quick move, he scored his own wrist and brought it to her mouth. Eager, she parted her lips and licked across the wound. His essence burst on her tongue sizzling the taste buds. Honeysuckle sweet and tart like wild berries, his blood tasted of elemental power. Addicting. She swallowed and took another long sip, sucking at his wrist in thirsty pulls. Her eyes drifted shut as he returned to her throat and tested the pulse points with his teeth. She braced for the push of his fangs through the barrier of skin.

  A sting. Pressure. Heat. The suction of his mouth drawing from her vein sent shudders straight to her toes. Then, the burn came next. Oh God, it hurt as the serum filled the wound and inundated the area. She didn’t have time to think about the searing ache because the instant it entered her blood stream it worked like an IV drug and merged with her own bloodstream. It pumped through her body, and when it hit the part of her brain that controlled her arousal, every single thought she had vanished and in its place came the uncontrollable need for Gunnar’s possession. For Gunnar’s penetration.

  “Take me, now.” Her voice sounded hoarse, rough. Wanton.

  The skirt of her gown lifted and cool air hit her calves. It felt good to her over-heated skin.

  “Part your thighs.”

  She did as he commanded waiting for him to do something to alleviate the intense throbbing between her legs. He pushed his thigh between and lifted it. Insistent fingers cupped her hip and held her down as he rubbed enticing strokes along her throbbing core. She tried to squirm, needing something deeper. Fuller. Those fingers tightened and restricted her movement, holding her firmly atop the strong, tense muscle of his upper leg.

  “Just feel.” The gentle brush of his fingertip tracking over her pulse points tickled and enticed. “Feel me, think of me. Until you’re so wet, so hot, and so ready, that nothing else matters.”