Vanished Pride (The Seven Sin Sisters 4)

by Paloma Beck

  “You need something, Principessa?” Donovan asked her with a bit of humor to his voice. He obviously knew what she wanted. She was amazed at the reality of their bond. She had no idea just how powerful this feeling of connection could be.

  “I need to drink from you, Donovan.” Embarrassed to speak the words aloud, Paige used her bond to speak.

  When she felt his smile against her shoulder and heard her words inside her mind, she warmed. “Come and drink.”

  Donovan tugged her closer and held her as she nipped the smooth skin of his neck and sipped from him. Paige knew how good it felt when he did this to her and wondered if there would be more play before bed. She rubbed herself against him, running her legs up and down along his.

  “My little vixen, we will sleep now. Perhaps later after you rest, I’ll wake you for more again.” Donovan stroked his fingers through her hair, massaging her head as he watched her. He leaned into her hair to breathe in her unique fragrance that never failed to capture him.

  * * * *

  Paige woke to the feeling of Donovan’s tongue as it lapped a wet line along her skin.

  “I need to drink from you,” Donovan whispered into her neck just before she felt his teeth pierce her skin. He drank deeply, so very deeply, and as he swallowed her blood, she heard the sounds of her own moaning escape her. Paige ran her hands along the muscles of Donovan’s long body. She pressed her core against his pelvis to relieve the pressure building inside, but with every pivot of her hips, she only burned more. She was ready to ignite by the time he finally released his suction.

  “Goddess, Donovan, I need—”

  Donovan cut off her words, “I know, Princess, and I’m going to give you what you need.” He nipped at her lips, drawing blood. She did the same to him before they each used their tongues to soothe the other. Paige couldn’t hold back her need for him to be inside her. She climbed on top of him, straddling his hips with her hands on his bare chest.

  Paige felt the muscles of his upper chest bulge as he shifted beneath her to fit his cock along the folds of her core. Warmth bombarded her senses, a heat that bit up her spine, as his thick cock glided across her soaked folds. She moved her hips so she could feel his full length, still enamored by his strength and mass. Goddess, her mate was truly heaven-sent.

  Paige leaned down to Donovan’s ear and spoke, “I want to return the favor you gave me last night.”

  She didn’t give him a chance to process her words before she made her way down his body, rubbing her full length against him as she sank lower and perched above his cock. It was wet from her juices and leaking pre-cum. The thought of tasting him caused her to lick her top lip instinctively. Donovan groaned as he watched her admiring him. Paige was going to give him a show.

  She wrapped her hand around the base of his shaft and fisted it as best she could. She moved her fist up and down with a firm stroke before leaning down to lick the head. Donovan’s breathing grew ragged as he watched her lips surround his shaft with her mouth and draw it in. Ever so slowly, Paige moved it in and out of her mouth as she held onto the base with one hand and began massaging his sack with her other.

  She sucked, drawing his hard-as-steel cock more fully into her mouth until she could feel it touch the back of her throat. Using her nose to breathe, she swallowed repeatedly around the head. She drank in more pre-cum as it leaked. Paige was ready to burst as she worked Donovan to the edge, wanting so badly to push him over. Paige needed Donovan to lose control at her hands. She needed to know she could bring her mate that measure of pleasure.

  Bringing his cock fully out with a loud pop, Paige beamed up at him. She licked her lips and looked up at Donovan from under her thick lashes. “I need to taste you.” Her voice had a deep, sexy timber. Paige hardly recognized herself in this moment.

  Donovan nodded and Paige went back to her task. She licked him like a lollipop as she continued massaging his sack. His cock was delicious with its thick veins running along the length. The steel hard shaft under a silky layer of skin felt soft against her tongue as she dipped her head again. By his gasp, she knew he felt good when she took him completely down into the depths of her mouth.

  More and more quickly, she sucked him in and then drew him out of her mouth as her moans drowned out the sounds Donovan made. Paige kept her eyes on his face. He seemed to lose the control he held onto like a shield. She glorified in knowing she could help bring down his shield as he had done for her. Their shields may be protection from different things—hers for her pride and his for his control—but regardless, they were something they would overcome together. For just this moment, he was in her hands. She rose to the challenge and glorified in the power she held. Donovan threw his head back just as she felt his thigh muscles quiver below her.

  Paige used her tongue to find the sensitive spot along the underside of his cockhead. She stroked it deeply with her tongue even as she firmed up her lips around his girth. Paige worked him into a sweating, heaving mass of nerves as she used the firmest of touches. When his groans grew louder and he began shouting at her, Paige used her hand to twist the base of his shaft as she held him deep in her mouth. She could taste his cum leaking and knew he was almost over the edge.

  Unable to hold herself together any longer, Paige reached below his sack and stroked his perineum just once. Once was all it took. Donovan shot blasts of cum down her throat and Paige fought to swallow every drop he gave to her. She savored each taste of him, as he now became an even closer part of her. In this quiet moment of the early morning, Donovan was the only thing that existed in her world.

  * * * *

  Donovan and Paige sat in silence, their bodies not touching, in the back of the SUV Gage drove. Giving Paige the news of the mission had put an immediate damper on their early morning encounter, and packing up for their trip had been a series of stomps, snares and growls. Gone was the sweet way Paige woke, her sleepy eyes watching him as he drank from her. Then when she asked to taste him and meant more than just his blood, he nearly exploded from her words alone. His mate shocked him with the hunger she’d shown for him. He smiled at that memory. It was far more pleasant than when he’d explained the mission that would bring several others along with them to Paris.

  Despite his assurances she would proceed with the competition as planned, he saw the disbelief flicker in her gaze before she looked away. If he’d had the time, he would’ve taken her over his knee for how she reacted, but they were already running late. Plus, he needed to cut her some slack. She had pulled herself out of her pouting quickly and turned her attention to understand exactly how things would work.

  “You’ll be sitting in on the briefing once we’re airborne. You’ll know all the details on the mission and some of your sisters will be there too,” Donovan tried to reassure her. “I’ll do everything possible to keep this behind the scenes so you aren’t disturbed. I promise it’ll be fine.” He reached over, squeezed her hand and sent a prayer to the Goddess that he could keep his promise.

  Once the car stopped at the airfield, Paige let Gage open her door and exited without a word. She hadn’t spoken since the one warning he gave about putting her over his knee. Donovan wondered how long she could remain silent as he watched her walk into Eloise’s embrace.

  “The women will help her, bro,” Seamus placed his hand on Donovan’s shoulder and looked on as the sisters all circled around Paige. “She’ll be fine. Paige will get used to this.”

  “Right. She just wasn’t expecting it the morning after our Pronouncement. Her emotions are like a raging bull. I can’t wait until we’re through this phase and our blood levels stabilize.” Donovan shook his head as he picked up their luggage.

  “Don’t count on that raging bull going away anytime soon. Eloise is still hell on wheels and it’s been months,” Caedon chimed in as he began helping them unload.

  “Ditto on that one, bro,” Seamus added.

  “Then perhaps you need to take your mates in hand. That’s what I plan to
do as soon as I get her alone.” Donovan spoke under his breath but he knew they could hear him. He didn’t give a damn. He wanted this mission done so he could help fulfill his mate’s dream of winning the Coupe du Monde.

  * * * *

  Paige felt like she was watching a tennis match as she sat in on the mission briefing. They’d all boarded the plane and once airborne, just as Donovan had explained, Madden began instructing the team on mission objectives and execution.

  Paige sat silently alongside Donovan just as she observed Eloise do with Caedon. Gracie and Sadie, both coming to assist Paige, sat off in the corner with Gemma who sat alone since Seamus was piloting the plane. There wasn’t much talk of anything but the mission for the next two hours, much of which she wasn’t sure she completely followed.

  “Paige will maintain whatever her planned agenda would be for the competition while Donovan shadows her. This fulfills both our need to have a bodyguard with the sisters on the competition floor, as well as keeping Donovan and Paige together while their blood levels stabilize,” Madden explained while looking directly at Paige.

  She nodded but didn’t speak.

  “This is a lot to take in. Are there any questions we can answer for you?” Madden asked her directly. When she didn’t answer right away, Donovan squeezed her thigh tightly. All eyes were on her, waiting.

  “N-no. I just do what I’d planned to do while you get this mission done without being detected. That sounds easy,” Paige nodded to indicate she understood and was prepared.

  Snickers erupted from around the table and Granger said, “Understatement of the year.”

  Paige blushed when she realized she’d inadvertently diminished how difficult their task was. “I only mean my part is simple. You all have the hard work ahead.”

  She felt Donovan give her a gentle squeeze this time and she smiled over at him. Goddess, she thrived under his approval.

  “Okay. We have another eight hours still before we land. Let’s relax while we can. Once we arrive, its full alert until we have Nassir locked down.” Madden stood and walked to another room towards the back of the plane.

  Paige began to get up and go to her sisters when Donovan tugged on her hand. “You can sit with me.” He held onto her hand—fingers entwined—as they moved to sit in the last row of seats in the large open room behind a curtained wall from where they’d had the mission briefing. Donovan had chosen the most private place possible. Paige was torn between her desire to throw herself at her mate and her residual anger over the potential of the mission hindering her performance in the competition. Confused and frustrated, Paige sat in silence.

  “I’ll be right back.” Donovan walked over to his parents for a few minutes and returned with a bottle of water for her. “Something for you to drink.”

  “No thank you,” Paige shook her head at his offer.

  “You need to stay hydrated as we continue to take blood from one another so frequently.” Donovan placed the water bottle into her hand until she took hold. He watched her as she just held it. “Should I open it for you?”

  “I can take care of myself.” Paige looked out the window. Why couldn’t she get control of herself?

  “I’m beginning to doubt that. You won’t even do the basics by taking a drink of-”

  Paige interrupted Donovan, “For Goddess’s sake, if that’s what it’ll take to get you to leave me alone.” She twisted the top and put it to her mouth only to feel it snatched away. “What are you doing now?”

  “Not leaving you alone,” Donovan’s words were like a growl. Paige shrank back into her seat. She watched with wide eyes as he placed both waters down on a side table, lifted her out of her seat and sat down with her on top of his lap. Thankfully, she was sitting and not lying across it.

  “Please let me sit in my own seat. This is ridiculous…”

  “Enough of your sass. I am fully aware, my Principessa, that this is not ideal, but what would you have me do? This mad man has been tracking you and your sisters. My bet is he’s uncovered the prophecy and until we capture him, you are in danger. I will not have you in danger.” Donovan’s voice was lethal, and apparently loud enough to attract the attention of everyone else on the plane.

  Paige sat still, reconciled to perching on his lap as he sat there toying with her fingers and looking at her ring he’d given her. She swallowed down her sadness, confused by the emotions boiling up in both of them. She was on the brink of releasing those tears and begging to go to her sisters when Donovan’s parents walked over. She hadn’t talked to them much the day before and was embarrassed now by what they witnessed between Paige and Donovan.

  “Son, let your mother talk with Paige for a bit,” his father’s voice was so much like Donovan’s menacing tone. It surprised Paige that she felt intimidated by him when she didn’t get that same feeling from Donovan.

  “Not now, Papa,” Donovan answered. Paige looked away, uncomfortable that she was in the middle of an obvious family disagreement.

  “Son.” Mr. Sabatini placed his hand on Donovan’s shoulder. She could sense they were having an internal conversation.

  Paige looked up only when she felt Mrs. Sabatini’s hand on her head. “Paige, would you like to sit with me for a bit and talk? It has been a long few days for you.” Donovan’s mother was the very opposite of the Sabatini men. She was quiet, petite and appeared so serene and content. Paige envied her contentment.

  Paige moved her gaze to Donovan and looked into his dark steel eyes. The softness she’d experienced only last night was completely gone and replaced with hard metal. She shivered involuntarily as he nodded, brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.

  “Go on. I’ll get my father caught up on the mission.” Donovan gave a forced smile as she shifted off his lap.

  Paige felt his eyes on her back as she walked to another sitting area with his mother. She selected a seat that allowed her to hide from Donovan’s sight. Paige needed just a few minutes to pull herself together. She tucked her legs up underneath her and smiled at his mother.

  “I’m sorry we didn’t have any time to talk yesterday,” Paige said.

  “Not a worry at all. Our flight ran late and we knew the two of you would be wrapped up in one another once we arrived.” Mrs. Sabatini appeared unconcerned. “Besides, you will spend some time at our home once this competition is done, yes?”

  “Yes. That’s the plan,” Paige smiled as she slowly began to relax.

  “Tell me about the competition. Obviously, I know the Coupe du Monde is the international baking competition, but what exactly must you do?” Mrs. Sabatini’s earnest interest sprang Paige into an hour-long discussion of the menu she’d planned, her assistants, the competition rules and what the honor would do for her business. Paige was feeling lighter as she focused on what she was good at.

  “You’re smiling now. You must enjoy baking very much, yes?”

  “I do. I’m good at it. It’s where I’ve always been most proud.”

  “I see,” Mrs. Sabatini nodded. “It is difficult at first to be a mate. Then to be a mate to a Valendite Breed as dominant as the Sabatini men, well, that is much more difficult to become accustomed to.” Donovan’s mother laughed as she noticed Paige blush. “No need to be embarrassed. Donovan comes by it naturally. He is his father’s son.”

  Paige realized what Mrs. Sabatini was trying to tell her. It was hard to wrap her mind around.

  “You don’t mind?” Paige asked in a hushed voice, leaning in to keep their conversation private.

  “Not at all. We have come to a place where most of the time, if I were to find myself over his knee, it would be more treat than punishment.” She winked and added, “And just between you and me, I find myself needing it every so often.”

  “You do?” Paige was incredulous. His mother couldn’t possibly be saying what Paige thought she’d heard. Surely, she’d misunderstood somehow. “You enjoy it?”

  “Most certainly.” Mrs. Sabatini tilted her head and inspected P
aige. “You have not?”

  Paige shook her head but answered, “Yes. But today—today I don’t know what I’ve done to anger him. He won’t talk and it makes me afraid.”

  “Never be afraid of Donovan, Paige. You are the most precious thing to him now. If he is angry, I suspect it’s over his need to protect you. My son is afraid for you.”

  “But why act so angry?”

  “That I cannot answer except to suggest you allow him to care for you as much as you can allow it. He’ll find his comfort in that. I believe you will as well.”

  Paige’s eyes filled with tears. “I’ve been pulling away and not letting him take care of me. It’s hard to admit I need help. I’ve never done that before.” She finished her last word as the dam holding back her riotous emotions broke.

  Mrs. Sabatini pulled her into a hug. It was warm and encouraging and so very much like her mother’s embrace. Paige melted and allowed Donovan’s mother to hold her while she cried. She wasn’t sure if anyone else was watching, or had even noticed, but Paige couldn’t bring herself to care. Releasing her worry felt too good.

  When her sobs finally subsided, Paige sensed Donovan nearby. He placed his hand on her head and stroked her hair down her back. No one spoke as Paige took deep breaths to stabilize her breathing. This time she greedily drank when Donovan handed her the bottle.

  “Will you sit with me now?” Donovan grinned and added, “I’ll even let you have your own seat.” He appeared almost shy and Paige wanted to wrap herself around him. The warmth in his eyes had returned. They were seeking her reassurance, looking deep inside her to read her emotions. Then he smiled. Goddess, she loved his smile.

  Paige placed her hand in his and they tucked away, simply sitting in each other’s arms until the plane landed in Paris.

  * * * *

  “A bit of a change in plans, Princess,” Donovan said as he arrived in their temporary kitchen where she’d been allowed to go to while he attended another mission briefing. “I’m swapping places with a new agent. Since he’s new, we’re confident he won’t be recognized by Nassir or his men if he’s spotted with you.”