THRAX

by Bonnie Burrows

  The thought of being taken in that position excited me more than a little bit as well, and soon I found myself being draped over the arm of the overstuffed burgundy-red couch in Damien's living room. A fire crackled and popped in a stone fireplace opposite, filling the entire room with a warm, golden glow. Damien positioned himself behind me, and the feel of his hands gripping my hips, combined with the feel of his granite-hard shaft between my legs, made me arch my back, moaning with desire.

  "Now, Damien. Please."

  But I wasn't to get what I wanted right then. I'd forgotten that Damien was a master teaser. A master torturer, really.

  Making the faintest of growls, he covered his body with mine, supporting himself with a hand on a couch cushion, and spoke in a low, husky voice, his mouth near my ear. "I know my gorgeous girl is ready for lovemaking, and believe you, me, gorgeous girl...I am, too. But first-"

  "First, you're going to torture me."

  A hearty chuckle rumbled in his chest, actually kind of tickling my back with the vibrations.

  "Well, I like to think of it more as teasing and pleasuring, but you can think of it as whatever you like. The point of it is that I think you secretly like it...and I, for one, absolutely love it."

  Unable to resist, I brought my feet together, trapping his bobbing manhood between my legs, and I squirmed against it a little, desperate to ease the aching and throbbing of my sensitive feminine bud. "Well, however it is that you're going to torture me, please just do it, because I...I need you very badly, Damien. I need you inside of me. I need...I need release."

  Making another faint growl, he took my earlobe between his teeth and gave it a few gentle nibbles. "Giving you release is my personal definition of heaven. But first, I'm going to touch you. I'm going to see if you're really ready for lovemaking."

  "Trust me. I am."

  "Well, we'll see."

  After giving my earlobe another gentle little nip, he pulled me back from the arm of the couch a bit, then moved his free hand to my lower belly and stroked its soft curve. "Now, I was a bit uncertain about this last time, so I should probably ask just to clarify. Is this where you like to be touched?”

  "Lower, Damien. Go lower."

  He did, trailing his fingers down to my feminine mound, where he caressed it and gave it a few little squeezes. "How about here? Is this where you like to be touched?"

  "Yes, but...a little below where you're touching. Right on the little spot between my...between my lips." I suddenly turned my head back to look at him. "And goddammit, Damien, you know this!"

  He chuckled, still caressing my feminine mound. "I have ideas about where you like to be touched, yes. But sometimes my hands and fingers just don't quite know where to go. So...how about I just skip trying to touch you with my hands and fingers anyway. How about I just touch you with my mouth."

  I couldn't hold back a whimper of desire. "Yes. Please."

  He gave my feminine mound a few more caresses, briefly probing my slick lips apart and giving my sensitive bud a single exquisitely slow stroke, making me moan, before lifting his body from mine and sinking to his knees behind me. I stepped my feet apart and lowered my face to the couch cushion, giving him full access to my most intimate parts, far too desperate for release to be anything more than just the slightest bit self-conscious.

  With his breathing fast and ragged, Damien gripped my hips, kneading them. "Now, my beautiful, gorgeous Daisy. You just relax and let me do all the work to give you your release."

  That sounded great to me. However, once he'd begun stroking my sensitive spot with his tongue, making me cry out, clutching the couch cushion, I couldn't help but do a little "work" of my own. Slowly moving my hips in time with the motion of his tongue, I pressed my femininity against his mouth, moaning. Kneading my hips and making low growls every so often, Damien seemed to be enjoying his task, which increased my excitement further still.

  And it wasn't long before I felt my excitement heading toward a sure peak. He seemed to realize this as well and changed the movement of his tongue from a stroking motion to more of a fast flicking motion, with the tip of his tongue firm and persistent. Within seconds of this, I arched my back, grinding myself against his mouth, while shudders of ecstasy rippled through my entire body.

  The moment my last cry of pleasure had faded, I glanced back at Damien. "Now. Please. Let me have release again with you inside of me."

  I didn't need to ask him twice. With his breathing increasingly fast and ragged, he rose to his feet and positioned the head of his manhood at my feminine entrance. He then slid into me with one slow, powerful stroke, groaning. With a gasp, I felt just how hard he was. And how large. He actually felt even harder and bigger than he had the first time we'd made love, and that was saying something.

  With one hand on my back and one gripping my waist, he worked his thick shaft in and out of my slickness with leisurely strokes at first; but after a short while, he began thrusting with increasing speed and intensity, grunting. My pleasure began building once again, and after a minute or two, I wasn't sure I could hold back much longer. And when Damien moved a hand around to my front and began stroking my sensitive bud with two fingers, I cried out almost immediately, hips bucking in rhythm with his strokes.

  "Yes. Yes, Damien."

  That seemed to do it for him as well, and he drove his rod deep inside of me several more times, panting, before thrusting into me the deepest he had yet with a long, loud groan.

  A short while later, we sat on the couch in an embrace, naked, while the fire crackled and danced across from us.

  Damien began slowly stroking my hair. "What did you come over here tonight for? Was it actually a little late-night love?"

  Suddenly remembering why I had come over, I lifted my face from his chest. "No. Believe it or not, it wasn't just because of the siren song of your addictive member. Which is very...well, maybe you do have a little right to be a bit cocky about it. But, no...that's actually not the specific reason I came over here tonight."

  "Then, why did you?"

  "Because I heard about the scene at the bar, with you and Nick. And I wanted to literally wring your neck."

  For some reason, I decided not to tell him about my other reason, which was that I'd wanted to tell him that whatever was going on between us was over, because I was officially choosing a future with Nick. And the reason I didn't tell him this was because I was now not quite so sure about that decision anymore. I wasn't quite sure that I'd actually received my cosmic sign. However, I was still plenty mad about him baiting Nick. Yet again.

  "You know better than to bait him, Damien. You know it leads to nothing but trouble. You know it upsets me and hurts me. And yet, you do it anyway. Which doesn't seem like the actions of a person who truly cares about another person's heart, and it makes me wonder if you actually do really love me.

  “Because it just seems like if you really do, you wouldn't do these things that upset me. Especially considering I've already asked you not to. Have practically begged you not to. Numerous times."

  With his expression maybe the most serious I'd ever seen it, Damien lifted his hand from my hair and offered me both his hands. "Here. Take my hands and look straight into my eyes."

  I did as I was told, and he continued.

  "I give you my word, as the man who loves you, that I will never again bait Nick in any way, shape, or form. And that's not because I've ceased to find it amusing and satisfying, because that's definitely not the case. But I'm giving you my word that I'll stop, because I don't ever...ever want to give you any reason to doubt my love for you.

  “Understand me, Daisy? No more. I'm done. For you. And that's not to say that I won't ever defend myself if he ever takes a wild swing at me for no good reason, but will I ever intentionally provoke him again, even in the slightest? Never again. And I am truly sorry that my actions up to this point have hurt you and upset you.

  “I just hope you can forgive me and accept my promise to you so that we
can move forward. Can you?"

  There wasn't a single part of me that doubted his sincerity. The honesty in his dark green eyes, which danced with firelight, was obvious.

  I nodded, my own eyes suddenly a tad misty. "Of course. I forgive you and I accept your promise. Please just keep it, and don't let me down."

  "I won't."

  He opened his mouth to say something else, but before he even could, a loud, almost angry-seeming knock sounded at the front door.

  I gasped, hands flying up to cover my naked breasts. "Oh my God. It's gotta be Nick."

  CHAPTER 18

  Damien and I dressed with all haste while the knocking on the front door continued. And actually, it wasn't so much knocking as it was pounding.

  While buckling his belt, Damien glanced toward the short hallway leading to the front door, scowling. "Just a damned second!"

  I began dashing out to the kitchen. "I'm hiding. Sorry. And don't you dare tell Nick I'm here. I'm just not ready for this yet."

  It turned out that the door-pounder actually wasn't Nick. It was Sam, I could tell by his distinctive deep, gravelly voice, when I tiptoed out of the kitchen after only a few moments and pressed myself flat against a living room wall, out of sight, because I'd just had to hear what was going on.

  At first, Sam's voice was muffled, but then he raised it a bit or stepped inside the house, and I could hear him clearly.

  "And so, you have nobody to blame but yourself for getting yourself banned from the bar. Nick asked me to inform you that as of tonight, you are no longer welcome there."

  Damien scoffed. "Wow. You're really breaking my heart, Sam. Because you know just how much I love that particular bar. So much that I go there a whole two or three times a year."

  "That's right, just keep up with that sarcastic attitude of yours. I just hope you know that you are really pushing Nick to the edge. You've got him to the point that he's breaking things in his own home in a fit of rage."

  "Hm. Sounds like our dear golden boy Nick has some sort of an anger problem or a dark streak that none of us have ever known about. Which strikes me as somewhat funny, since it's me who's supposed to be the 'bad boy,' isn't it? And in fact, it seems to me lately, that considering his volatility, I'd make a much better chief of this town than Nick."

  Sam lowered his voice to a menacing snarl, though his words were still distinct enough that I could hear them.

  "You just watch yourself, Damien. The firstborn son is always the chief, and that's Nick. And that will never change. And being that's the way things are, you're lucky that he doesn't throw you out of town altogether. He's probably only resisted doing so on account of not wanting to upset Daisy, who apparently has some sort of feelings for you, for whatever misguided reason. So, consider yourself lucky. You get to stay in town.

  “However, like I said, you just watch yourself. As of right now, Nick hasn't banned you from the council meetings, only because the town charter states that all children of a former chief are to be given council member status for the duration of their lives. Though if you're not careful, Nick might just decide to amend the charter for the first time in a hundred years.

  “And that's not all. I'm telling you right now that most, if not all, of us shifters are loyal to our chief. If you cause Nick to physically attack you again, and if he commands us not to intervene, we won't.

  “And considering that it's now safe to say that he's near-completely recovered from his injuries and is able to shift again with zero problems, and considering that he still possesses the increased strength that Alexandria gave him with her spells...this should give you pause. So, I think my warning bears repeating a third time. You watch yourself, Damien."

  Almost immediately, I heard the front door close.

  Throwing my coat on, I began dashing out to the foyer and met Damien halfway there. "I have to go. Sorry, but I have to go see Nick."

  Damien dropped his jaw a fraction. "You have got to be kidding me. After the passion we just-"

  "Yes, and I'm sorry. But if he's in such a rage that he's actually breaking things in his own cabin, I've got to go make sure he's okay. I've got to go try to calm him down. Because this just doesn't seem like him. Same with all these outbursts of violence lately when he's tried to attack you. Despite the fact that you've obviously provoked him, all this just doesn't seem like the real him.

  “And I'm starting to get worried that maybe being tortured left him with some serious mental scars in addition to his physical ones. And if that's the case, he needs my help. And I'm going to be there for him."

  Folding his arms across his chest, Damien scoffed. "Sounds like you still love him."

  Wincing, I squeezed my eyes shut briefly. "I can't just shut it off like a switch, Damien. It's just not that easy. Not even after a night of passion with you."

  "But you do love me as well, correct?"

  With an actual twinge of pain in my chest, I sighed. "Yes. Yes, of course I do. So much that I...." Rubbing my aching chest, I sighed again. "It's making things harder and harder. And I understand that I'm making this situation between you and Nick worse, and that I'm the direct cause of it even, though the two of you have always fought. I realize I'm making things infinitely worse by not making an official decision between the two of you, once and for all, and I feel terrible about that. I really am very sorry. But I'm just-"

  "You're waiting for your cosmic sign. I get it. You don't need to explain or apologize to me. I'll continue to wait patiently, because I know in my heart with certainty that we're meant to be together forever, Daisy, and I know in my heart with certainty that you will ultimately realize that I'm the man you're supposed to spend the rest of your life with." He paused, firelight making his charcoal gray eyes glint gold. "So, in the meantime...I'll just wait. I'll also keep my promise to you not to bait Nick.

  “And that's because I love you, not because of Sam's weak threats. Because even with Nick's increased strength, I'm still pretty strong myself, and I'm confident I could take him out in a fight. Which isn't to say that I'd kill him, because despite our animosity, believe it or not, I could never kill my own brother.

  “I could and would give him the beating of his life, though. So, I can't say I'm all that concerned about Sam's little warning. But I will be on my best behavior around Nick for you."

  "And I really do appreciate that. But right now, I've got to go to him. I'm sorry."

  Damien lifted his muscular shoulders in a shrug. "Whatever you need to do until you get your sign. But just let me tell you one more thing before you go. You're wrong if you think Nick being tortured is what started his new hair-trigger punching and smashing problem. And it's actually not new. Or, I guess maybe the violent displaying of the anger is, but...."

  Damien ran a hand through his thick, dark hair, frowning, seeming to be struggling for the right words. And I didn't want to be rude or hurtful, but I really needed to get to Nick.

  "What are you trying to say? I'm not trying to rush you, but I need to leave."

  Damien heaved a sigh, still frowning. "I'll just say this the best I can. I hinted to Sam that Nick has a dark streak that no one's ever known about, but that's not exactly true. I've always known about it. Growing up with him, I just occasionally saw flashes of a strange certain coldness...just sometimes in the way he'd treat me. Just something that indicated that he wasn't entirely the leader-in-the-making with a heart of gold that everyone always saw him as.

  “And like they still do. Everyone sees him as the leader-with-a-heart-of-gold, but I don't think he's ever changed. I can still see it in his eyes sometimes when he's around me. He has cold flashes. And maybe, though this honestly did just occur to me, maybe that's why I've been baiting him. Maybe it's been because I've wanted you to see his cold flashes. Maybe it's because I've wanted you to really get a glimpse of his true heart."

  Growing increasingly irritated, both by being delayed from going to see Nick as well as by Damien's words, I snorted. "Look. I'm more than aware
that you and Nick have always had some sort of a toxic sibling rivalry. And I'm sure he has treated you badly at times. But I do know Nick's true heart, and he does have a heart of gold. Which isn't to say that he's perfect...none of us are...but he does have a pure, good heart. That's part of why I love him. That's part of why I'm having difficulty deciding-"

  "Listen to me, Daisy. He does have a true dark streak. And I'm not saying he's pure evil, but it's there. He has cold flashes. Trust me about this. Look for them. You'll find them. It may help you if you see one."

  Huffing, I turned and began heading for the door. "Goodnight. I'll talk to you later."

  I felt like I was the one having a "cold flash," but I couldn't help it. I couldn't help but feel as if Damien was trying to poison my mind against Nick. Which wasn't exactly the definition of waiting patiently. And waiting patiently with the confidence he seemed so full of all the time.

  However, I completely believed he was sincere about not baiting Nick anymore, and for this I was glad. If he could keep to his promise, that is.