Kidnapped by the Fae: Paranormal Dark Fae Romance (Fae's Claim Book 5)

by Laxmi Hariharan

  I reach Hawke, who glances from the child in my arms to me. His features soften. I hold up the baby. He hesitates.

  "Perhaps you should start practicing, huh?"

  His mouth opens and closes, "Are you saying what I think you are?"

  "Maybe?" I smile.

  He holds out his massive arms and I place Amber in his hold. His size dwarfs the tiny tot. He cuddles the baby against his large chest. Amber, yawns, then cuddles into the 'V' of flesh bared by his shirt. He touches her fingers and she clasps his, then promptly falls asleep again. A ball of emotion clogs my throat. They look...perfect together. Hawke's features are soft... There's an expression of wonder and curiosity etched into them. I swallow, then blink back tears.

  After a few minutes, the kid begins to fuss. Lily walks over to us. "It's feeding time."

  Hawke hands her over. I slink over to him, wrap my arms around his waist. We watch as Lily pulls up her shirt and the little thing instantly latches onto her nipple.

  Hawke pulls me closer.

  Gabriel stalks over, wraps an arm around Lily's shoulder. She melts into him as Amber continues to feed. "The kids are always hungry." He frowns.

  "They're growing fast." Lily laughs. "I do need my calories, with the amount I'm expending on keeping them both nourished."

  The sound of a whistle rends the air. All four of us glance up.

  "Now that I finally have your attention..." Dante growls, and Gia nudges him. He glances down at her, his features softening. He tucks her into his side, then surveys the gathering. "As I was saying... It's a rare treat to see all of us in one place."

  "It's not as if you gave us a choice, asshole," Doc calls out. His little girl is strapped to his chest. Alice leans into his side. She taps his shoulder. He lowers his head, and she whispers to him. His cheeks redden, then he straightens. "I mean, of course we'd be here. It's Christmas, after all. Where else would we be, huh?" He glances sideways and Alice beams.

  A smattering of laughter greets him.

  I nudge Hawke, "When the alpha Fae fall, they tend to crumple completely, don't they?"

  "I'll teach you how to crumple into me." Hawke grabs my ass.

  "Hey." I swat at his arm. "We're in public."

  "You weren't protesting when you came all over my fingers a few seconds ago."

  53

  Hawke

  "That was...ah, different." She blushes prettily. Fucking adorable. I bring my thumb to my mouth then lick it.

  Her cheeks flame and her pupils dilate. The scent of her arousal mixes with the sea air. It sinks into me, heads straight for my dick, which instantly perks up. Fuck.

  "Hawke. Charley."

  Charley's head jerks up. "Hello," she waggles a finger at Dante. Good thing he's the leader of the Fae Corps. Else, swear to God, I'd have carried my mate out of here already... Or rather, not come here at all.

  "Hawke, if you can stop making googly eyes at Charley...."

  I smirk, then tear my gaze off of her. "Yessir... All ears now."

  Charley titters. I can't stop my lips from kicking up at the sides. I squeeze the curve of her butt, haul her closer. She instantly melts into me. Good.

  Dante glances from me to Char and his lips twitch. He scans the gathering, and Lauren materializes next to him, holding a tray of champagne. He picks up a glass, nods his thanks.

  The girl weaves between the crowd, offering the glasses of champagne. Thanks to the food and the healthy living of the last few months her hair is glossy, her eyes alert. She's also training to be a chef under Tristan.

  When she reaches Rafael, she hesitates. His head jerks toward her.

  He takes a glass from the tray and her cheeks blush a fiery red. Neither says a word, but the tension between them is off the charts.

  He leans over, whispers something to her. She stiffens. Then with her head held high, she stalks off.

  Gabriel whistles under his breath. "Seems Rafael is gonna have his hands full, eh?"

  Not that I fucking care. If this means he'll be too occupied to glance toward my mate, and yeah, getting some pussy too while he's at it, then kudos to him.

  He raises his glass at me.

  I bare my teeth.

  Charley jabs her elbow in my side.

  "What?" I glower at her.

  She scowls. "Be nice."

  "I am." I show Rafe my middle finger.

  He chuckles, then jerks his chin.

  "See, we understand each other."

  Okay, so he's not a bad sort. Doesn't mean I have to get drunk with him, or anything. He can keep his distance and I'll keep mine, and as long as he doesn't have anything to do with Charley, we'll all get along fine.

  "Thanks to Charley and Hawke and every single one of you here, our city is finally safe," Dante's voice rolls over the crowd. "We've been on some incredible adventures. We've faced our fears, vanquished monsters... It's time..." he scans the gathering, “...to celebrate."

  Cheers ring out.

  "It's Christmas, folks. Hold your mates, kiss your babies. Let's fucking relax."

  We raise our glasses; I toss the liquid in mine back.

  Doc hands Liliana over to Alice, then pulls out a hipflask. He takes a swig from it. Fuck, finally. A real drink.

  "Uh, I have to discuss something urgent."

  Charley waves me away.

  I stalk over to Doc. He hands the flask over to me and I take a swig from it. Alice wanders off to catchup with Charley and Lily.

  We head for the barbecue and Gabriel joins us. He snatches the flask from me and drinks from it.

  Dante prowls over. "Clearly the champagne was wasted on you lot." Gabriel offers him the flask. He doesn't hesitate, tilts it to his mouth and takes a healthy swig.

  "You were saying?" I chuckle.

  Dante wipes the back of his hand over his mouth. "Need a beer to chase that down."

  "Here you go." Rafael tosses a can at Dante, then toward Gabriel and Tristan. He turns to me, "Want one?"

  I frown. He meets my gaze head-on, no hesitation. I jerk my chin; he tosses another can of beer at me. I pluck it out from the air, pop the lid, and chug down half of it. Lowering the can I nod, "Thanks."

  He tilts his head. "First time I've spent Christmas in a hot climate, or had a barbecue, for that matter."

  Dante grins. "We Fae do things differently."

  "It sure is a slice of paradise you have here, guys." Rafael pops his can, "A self-contained island lacking for nothing..." He glances past me. I look over my shoulder...and yeah, no surprise, find Lauren making her way up the beach.

  "You going after her or what?" I chug down more beer.

  "Maybe," Rafael hesitates.

  "Better not waste time; seize the moment." I smirk, "Crapé-diem and all that..."

  "That's Carpe diem, motherfucker." Tristan grimaces.

  "Crap-what-fucking-ever. Don't make the mistake I did. Don't resist your fate, once you feel it." I thump my chest, "You can't ignore it." I finish off the beer, then crumple the can. "You know what I mean?"

  Rafael's lips twitch, "I have an idea."

  "Well then?"

  He chugs down more beer, then hands his can over to me, "Hold onto this for me, will ya?"

  I grab it and he walks past me, pauses, turns to survey us over his shoulder, "Merry Christmas, you guys."

  We jerk our chins.

  I finish off his beer, then glance round for the trash can.

  "Here, let me take that."

  Tristan holds out his hand.

  "Uh, why? And don't tell me you're being polite, because I sure as shit don't believe that."

  Dante chuckles, then gestures to the side, "Believe someone's looking for you, old chap."

  I turn back, then freeze.

  Charley swipes a finger across her lower lip, and my dick twitches.

  It's time, Killer. I am ready.

  54

  Charley

  Was that presumptive of me?

  I couldn't stop myself from reaching ou
t to him. Seeing the little ones, holding the baby in my arm... Hell, seeing him with Amber was the clincher. Imagining my mate holding our child. My stomach flip-flops. A melting sensation clutches my chest. I'm young in years, yet with everything I've seen, I feel as if I'm an old soul... Know what I mean?

  Besides, I miss him. A few minutes apart and I am craving his touch, his kiss.

  I lick my lips and Hawke stiffens. He looks me up and down, then turns, hands the beer cans to Tristan.

  I take in the breadth of his shoulders that taper down to his narrow hips. He turns, and I get a full-frontal view of his corded thighs. His jeans hug his hips and cup the large bulge. Jesus. And he isn't even fully aroused.

  My mouth waters; I gulp, continue my perusal.

  He widens his stance, and the fabric clings to his powerful muscles, outlining every crevasse, every dip and rise of that corded musculature.

  My face heats. I know how they feel for I've dug my nails—sorry, claws—into them. Not that he'd protested.

  My alphahole seems to relish the pain as much as the pleasure I derive from his frantic fucking—turns out, we both relish it when things get a little out of hand. Rough and tumble sex, hate sex, fight and make-up sex... Yep, we've indulged in all of it in the past few months. I curl my fingers into fists, chafe my thighs together. Not fair that just thinking of how we'd come together arouses me again.

  See something you like, little Ember?

  I snap my gaze up to his gorgeous face.

  Jeez, can't a girl have some privacy?

  From me? Never. His lips kick up. Get used to the fact that we can communicate on this private channel—one of the fringe benefits of being mated, sweetheart.

  I snort. "Whatever."

  "That's what you say when you're embarrassed. Speaking of..." He drums his fingers on the planes of his chest, exposed by the open neck of his shirt.

  I am instantly wet... Okay, wetter.

  He glares at me, and I feel his presence invade every single cell of my body. My belly twists; my sex clenches. Moisture pools between my thighs.

  Bloody hell, one look from him and I am already melting inside.

  He jerks his head, beckoning me to leave, and I want to protest, want to tell him, no fucking way am I going to comply, when he swipes his thumb across his lip, and Jesus, I can't stop the shudder that wracks my body.

  I swallow, squeeze my thighs together.

  He smirks, that panty-melting, devilish, honest-to-goodness, hot-as-fuck kicking up of his lips, which gets me every time.

  I toss my hair over my shoulders, then pivot.

  I stomp away, putting an extra sway in my hips. The intensity of his gaze follows me all the way down the beach, past the Fae Corps complex, into our home. Home. Ours. Whoa! That's one adult goal achieved, right there. Not bad for a mixed-up eighteen-year-old with a messed-up past... My future though, that is another thing altogether. A large hand connects with my butt and I squeal, "What the—?" I scowl at him over my shoulder, "What was that for?"

  He waggles his finger, "Less talking, more fucking."

  I plop my palms on my hips, "You have a nerve, you—"

  He places his finger to his lips.

  I glower.

  He stabs his finger at the bed—a new bed by the way, a massive super-sized, four-poster one, made of solid oak, with beams that stretch all the way to the roof. He knocked out the previous ceiling, extended the height to twice what it had been, and the breadth... the entire first floor of the house is one massive bedroom. Wide enough for him to chase me, for me to resist, for us to clash together, kick, scratch, bite, come together in an explosive meeting of bodies... Uh, did I mention the make-up sex is the hottest thing ever? Enough to even satisfy the beast inside of me? It took an alphahole to tame this dragon.

  "Stand with your chest against the post, hands above your head."

  His hushed voice sweeps over me and I shiver. Frown at him. One side of his lips kicks up as he palms his massive erection...which has definitely grown larger in the last few seconds. My insides seem to spontaneously combust, all at once. Oh, fuck it, why am I fighting him? Fighting me? When he knows exactly what I need. Not just my body, but also my soul, my dragon, and the feminine core of me... All of it, united by the caresses of a master alpha Fae, aka my mate.

  I turn, ready to flounce over, when he clicks his tongue. I throw up my hands. "Now what?" I stare at him over my shoulder.

  "Strip first."

  "Bloody hell, why don't you take off your clothes first, huh?"

  "Fine." He snaps his fingers, and my clothes evaporate. I squeak, look down at myself, then at him. Yeah, he's naked too. Not a stitch on either of us.

  "Now, are you going to do as I say or should I...?" He cracks his knuckles and I shudder. Jesus, his stupid alpha antics shouldn't turn me on. He's domineering, waaaay too possessive, too full of himself, too egoistical... Way too over-the-top sexy-as-fuck... He is just too...everything.

  He glances at the post, then at me. I pout, then turn. Something slaps my ass sharply. I jump, turning at the same time, "The fuck, Hawke?"

  He's exactly where I saw him last, leaning by the doorway, naked as the day he was born. He grips himself with his massive hand, then pumps himself, and precum oozes from the slit. My breath hitches; my knees almost give way.

  "I'm soo not buying that innocent act," I pout. "You used your telekinetic abilities to spank me."

  He laughs. "Surprised you, huh?"

  “I mean, seriously, shouldn't you be saving your powers for, I don't know, saving the city and all that?”

  "I'm done with that bullshit. Our enemies are vanquished...for now. I reckon we have a temporary breather and I, for one, plan to make the most of it."

  "Oh? And how do you plan to use your time, my arrogant alpha?"

  "Hmm, let me think." He tilts his head, "First, I plan to ensure that you comply with my wishes."

  Phantom fingers whisper over my shoulders. I gulp, follow their urging as he coaxes me to walk toward the post and flatten my chest against the smooth wood.

  He urges my arms up over my head, crosses one palm over the other.

  "Then I plan to tie up you."

  There's a slight disturbance in the air. I look up.

  Glittering silver restraints circle my wrists, tether me to the pillar. I gulp.

  The same phantom touch whispers down my spine, over the curve of my hips. Then warmth singes my back. I gasp as he teleports to stand right behind me. The heat of his chest slams into me, sinks into my blood. He shoves his muscled thigh between mine, and his dick stabs into the valley between my butt cheeks.

  "You...you were saying," I choke.

  "Fuck that. The time for words is over, little Ember, for..."

  He pauses a beat, then another. My nerve endings stretch. Don't look back. Don't. "For...?" I shoot him a glance over my shoulder.

  "For, I plan to hurt you, little one." His chest expands. His biceps bulge, and his ears extend to those pointed tips that, by the way, he can use to great effect... a-n-d... Not telling you what I mean...because uh, some secrets need to stay that way between an alpha Fae and his mate.

  I shiver. "Hurt? That sounds...uh, good."

  "Good, eh?" He slips his hand around to cup my mound, "How does that feel, little Ember?"

  "Ah," I moan, try to form the words, fail. Give up. Why am I even trying to formulate a coherent sentence when his hard, dominant presence crowds me, holds me captive, reins me to him? Forces me to admit that I am half-alive when he isn't with me, in me, around me. "Hawke?"

  "Yes, darlin'."

  "More."

  He growls, "I'll give you what I want, when I want, and you'll take it—no questions asked. You feel me, Ember?"

  Yes. Yes. I open my mouth to agree and a whine spills from my lips. He knows me better than I know myself, cares for me, will never hurt me more than I can withstand, for underlying our every interaction is that one emotion I never thought I'd share with another living
mortal. Trust.

  "I love you, Hawke."

  "Fuck," he swears. "You know how to kick my legs out from under me without moving a muscle." He licks the shell of my ear.

  The hair on my nape rises.

  He strums my pussy lips; my thigh muscles jerk.

  He tweaks my swollen bud and goosebumps rise on my skin. "And this, my little dragon shifter, how does this feel?" He crams his thick forefinger inside my channel, adds another, then another, hooks his fingers, and I huff. The dragon fire inside of me roars to life; tiny sparks shoot out of my pores. He brings his other hand up, pinches my nipple. I arch my neck and my entire body bucks. His command echoes in my ear, “Come.”

  I explode. Flames shoot up my spine; the climax crashes over me and moisture flows out from between my legs. I rise up to my tip toes, strain against him, trying to get away from those hard, probing fingers, the jab of his massive erection digging into the cleft between my butt cheeks. The flames rise, enveloping both of us, then switch off. I pant, feel his heartbeats pounding in his chest—thud-thud-thud—or is that mine? Can't tell. Doesn't matter.

  He pulls out his hand, steps back, and cool air assails my back, my thighs. "Why—?" I crack open my eyelids, try to focus. "Why did you stop...?"

  His voice lowers to a hush, "Don't question me." I wriggle my feet, wanting, needing to ask him more, to find out what he has in mind. He drags a knuckle down the curve of my spine and my heart begins to race. The mating chord thrums; my entire body tenses, waiting, waiting...

  I sense him move behind me, then hear a snap. I jump, shoot him a glance over my shoulder. "What the—?" I take in the cane he holds in his hand. My jaw falls open.

  He shakes out the cane. It whistles through the air, and my pulse rate explodes. "You wouldn't—"

  His lip curls. He moves forward, positions himself, behind me, at arms-length, just the right distance to— "No." I shake my head. Surely not. No, no no.

  He raises his arm and I gasp. "You shouldn't—"

  "When will you learn, you can't tell me what to do, little Char?"

  He brings down the cane and it connects with my backside. Pain sears my behind—white, hot, pulsing. Before I can draw in another breath, he whips my butt again, and again. Red hot sparks ignite behind my eyes; my dragon fire shudders, writhes inside of me. He doesn’t stop. Another whip, more pain... another scalding whack on the backs of my thighs...the other way...on my left butt cheek...the right...across both...over the curve of my ass. I cry out, hot tears scald my cheeks, my stomach trembles, and moisture laces my core. "Fuck you, Hawke."