The dryad mating would wait until her arm was completely healed. Until then, she’d mate Noah the shifter way.
Almost as if he’d read her thoughts, he whispered, “I want to claim you now, but with the kids and Paisley here...”
“Hey, kids!” Paisley’s loud voice came from the living room. “Who wants to go to the playground with Auntie Paisley?”
“Yay!” Two shouts, two pairs of pounding feet, and two anxious yet hopeful children stood in the doorway. They’d moved so quickly that, if not for the sound of a herd of elephants stampeding up the stairs, Iva would swear they’d teleported.
“Can we go to the playground?” Milo asked, shifting from foot to foot.
“Please?” Sana had her hands clasped in front of her as if in prayer.
Noah glanced at Iva before turning to the children with a smile. “Sure, but make sure you—”
The children were off with twin squeals of joy.
“Dishes in the sink before you leave!” Noah bellowed, shaking his head. The amusement on his face made Iva giggle. “Damn, they’re loud.”
“You owe Paisley, Mr. Wulfenbach.” Iva winced when the front door slammed shut. “Unless she broke your front door. Then she owes you.”
Noah closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Tell me I can fuck you without hurting you.”
Iva bit her lip. “Just be careful of my arm. Like, no hands and knees stuff.”
He nodded eagerly. “I can do that.” He took off her shirt with surprising delicacy, easing the fabric over her cast. Her bra followed, leaving her naked to his gaze from the waist up. Noah stared at her for a long moment before reverently touching her breast. “You... You take my breath away.”
Iva closed her eyes as his gentle touch roamed over her. He toyed with the tip of her nipple with his fingertip, bringing it to an aching peak. He caressed her sides, leaving a trail of warmth in his wake. He rubbed her belly, the dip of her belly-button, the bones of her hips, pushing down on her pajama bottoms with each movement.
It wasn’t until he took her nipple into his mouth that her eyes opened again. Noah was sucking, but even that was done with the care one gave fragile glass. With her good hand she clasped the back of his head, urging him on. “Noah, please.”
He released her. “Please what?”
“Harder.” It was all she could say. The fire he was beginning to ignite was pleasant, but she needed more.
Noah did as she asked, taking her back into his mouth. His teeth grazed her and she felt the sharp points of his canines, elongated and ready to be buried in her flesh. They skimmed along her aureole, the faint scratch making her ache for a deeper connection. He suckled her breast, deep draws that she felt all the way in her clit. Yew murmured its pleasure at the beginning of their joining.
Pants. She needed her pants off now. His hand was still roaming over her flesh, touching her in ways few had, but it wasn’t enough. Iva struggled to push her pants down, squirming and trying to use her legs and feet in lieu of her hands.
Noah chuckled. “Let me do that.” He moved, and her pants were gone, tossed over his shoulder along with her panties. “Now, what do we have here?”
Iva parted her thighs, inviting his gaze. This was her mate, the man chosen by fate to be hers and hers alone. Allowing him to see her most private parts seemed right in that moment.
“Oh my God, you’re killing me,” Noah groaned. He kissed her lower abdomen, right above where her hair started. She trembled, anticipating his tongue on her pussy.
Still arched over her body, he stared at her, his eyes glowing with a golden light. He licked his lips, his fangs barely visible. Ever so gently, his tongue touched her clit.
Iva’s breath caught. Her good hand went to her breast, plucking at her nipple as he watched. “Please, Noah. Please?”
With ravenous hunger he sucked her clit into his mouth, his gaze never leaving hers. She kept her eyes on him as he ate her pussy, at times in long, sensual licks and at others taking her clit in his mouth and sucking on it until she wanted to scream. If it was this good when he was being careful, she couldn’t wait until he could let go and fuck her like the wolf he was. His tongue dipped inside her, fucking her, teasing her with what was to come.
Iva lost focus, closing her eyes as the sensations threatened to throw her over the edge. The tingling spread, growing in intensity. Unable to stop it, Iva came, arching off the bed into his mouth as she forgot how to breathe.
“Mm,” Noah murmured. “Let’s do that again.”
“Oh God.” She was pretty sure she was blind. What else would happen if he—
Noah began licking her clit once more. She gasped, sensitive from her orgasm but still throbbing with need. Fingers dipped inside her, the push and pull slow at first but building in intensity. She planted her feet on the bed, using the leverage to lift herself, wiggling and writhing under his ministrations.
“Fuck.” Noah pulled his fingers from her and began frantically ripping at his clothing. Any delicacy he’d used with her was absent as he got rapidly naked. She was pretty sure his shirt was ripped in at least one place since his claws had come out.
Noah started growling as he grasped her thighs. The faint hint of pain as the tips of his claws dug into her skin was overpowered by his cock sliding into her pussy. He began fucking her with abandon, riding her, looming above her with a feral expression.
Iva left herself in his hands, riding the storm of his lovemaking and wondering if she’d survive. She clutched at his arm, urging him on, her previous orgasm not near enough to sate her hunger. She watched, enthralled, as a bead of sweat rolled down his neck. She wanted to lick at it, press kisses against that hard flesh, but the unyielding grasp he had on her kept her in place. So instead she ran her hand down his chest, played with his nipples and touched those rippling abs.
Noah snarled, somehow edging closer to her, getting deeper inside her. Her butt was in the air as he lifted her legs. He pounded into her, obliterating thought, leaving behind only the slide of skin on skin, the slight pain of claws and the knowledge that he was going to claim her the moment she came.
Iva could sense the orgasm approaching, this one so much stronger than the one before. Like a kiddie pool against a tsunami, this one would bury her, leaving her wrecked, awash in pure sensation. Iva dug her nails into his chest, almost surprised when he lowered himself over her. His knees were still on the bed, but his torso covered her, his face buried in her neck.
“Come, baby. I need you to come.”
His rough, raspy voice and the feel of his stubble rubbing against the fragile flesh of her neck sent her into orbit. She came so hard her whole body seized, her breath leaving her lungs in a broken moan.
A sharp pain almost destroyed her high as Noah’s fangs penetrated her skin. Pain morphed into pleasure, sending her skyrocketing for a third time. She was almost certain that she screamed, except she had no air with which to do so. All of her, every atom of her body, now belonged to Noah Wulfenbach.
As the orgasm began to wane she felt a pang of loss. The pleasure had been so intense, so all-encompassing she wasn’t certain she’d ever recover.
“Jesus,” Noah groaned. Wet warmth began to fill her as Noah found his own peak. His grasp on her thighs was now painful as the tips of his claws dimpled her skin. He collapsed on top of her, breathing as heavily as she was. “I think I’m dead.”
An awful, evil urge overcame her. “It was okay.”
He stilled. “Okay?”
“Meh.” She shrugged, struggling not to laugh at his outraged tone. “I’ve had—”
His hand covered her mouth. “You really don’t want to finish that sentence. I’m not above becoming a serial killer.”
She began to giggle when he lifted his head to glare at her.
His glower didn’t last long. His gaze landed on her neck, a smug loo
k on his face. “Ah well. I’ve got the rest of my life to do better.”
Any better and she really would be dead. Then again, death by orgasm?
What a way to go.
Chapter Twelve
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Noah hovered over Iva, keeping her from stumbling over one of the roots of the Great Oak. His gaze kept drifting to the mark he’d left on her earlier. He couldn’t keep the self-satisfied smirk off his face for more than two seconds.
Iva glared at him, seemingly ready to smack the shit out of him, but he couldn’t seem to care. She snarled at him, “I’m fine.”
Mina was biting her lip. “I fully understand what you’re going through, sis. I’m surprised he hasn’t offered to walk for you.”
What a great idea. Noah bent to pick his mate up and received a slap upside the head for his effort. Rubbing the sore spot he stood to find Iva glaring at him. “What?”
She turned her evil scowl on Mina. “Stop giving him ideas.”
Mina mimed zipping her lip.
Dragos dragged Mina to the center of the Throne, where they’d set up an impromptu meeting space. Greer and Ash were moving folding picnic tables from their homes underneath the Throne, while Selena and Mollie arranged chairs. Dragos and Mina were placing some artificial lighting, even though the Throne could light up all on its own. The mysterious magic of the Queen of the Forest would make the Throne as bright as day or as dark as night, if needed. It was possible it took power from Mina to do that neat little trick, hence the artificial lighting, but he wasn’t sure. Maybe he’d ask Iva someday, but for now it wasn’t necessary that he find out.
“How is your mate?”
Noah almost yelped as the unexpected voice came from behind him. “Shit, Dominic, don’t do that.”
Dominic Davis, the town treasurer and one of the few unicorns still living, simply smiled. He wore his usual outfit of a conservative suit, wingtips and a stainless-steel watch. “Iva?”
Noah tried to calm his racing heart. “See for yourself.”
Dominic glanced over Noah’s shoulder. “Oh, yes. She appears just...” He tilted his head and gestured toward Iva. “How did she break her arm?”
“You’ll find out soon enough, Dom.” Dragos pulled the shorter man away. “Help us set up, would you?”
“Of course, mayor.” Dominic began helping the ladies with the chairs, talking quietly with them. Iva, much to Noah’s surprise, had taken a seat beneath her tree, watching quietly as the others worked. He’d sort of expected a fight when he told her to sit, but she’d beaten him to the punch.
“Yo, Noah!” Through the trees came Frisco McCoy, Zander Vasilakis and Ian Rockford. The three men, along with Greer’s mate Mollie, were the leaders of the elementals in town.
Frisco waved his hand. “I hear something happened up on the mountain last night.”
Zander nodded. “Rock told us some of it on the way over.”
Noah grimaced. “How much did you tell them?”
“Not enough,” Rock grumbled. “Didn’t tell them Iva got hurt, for instance.”
“She did?” Frisco glanced at Iva, his concern for her obvious. “Is she okay?”
“Shit. Who do you need us to kill?” Zander lifted his hand, a tiny tornado forming on his palm. “We can make him do the sit and spin. That’s always fun.”
Zander was the element of Air, and Air symbolized mentality in the magical world. His abilities weren’t just limited to calling up windstorms; he could strengthen the mental bonds between people.
Rock grunted. “It’s already dead, guys. C’mon, let’s take over for the girls.”
“Don’t you fuckin’ dare, Ian Rockford!” Mollie laughed as she hefted a stack of plastic chairs taller than she was. “We’ve got this.”
Dominic quietly took them from her with a shake of his head. “Really, Ms. Ferguson.”
Noah laughed as Mollie began laying into the poor man.
“It’s good to watch them all treating Dominic normally,” Frisco said as the others passed him by. “He keeps worrying that we’ll treat him differently.”
Noah laughed even harder when Selena kicked the poor man in the shins for trying to take something from her. Dominic hopped around, clutching his shin as Selena finished her task with firm movements. Noah had never expected to witness the moment when a witch kicked a unicorn, but despite Dominic’s protests he seemed extremely happy to be there.
Frisco joined the others. Now they only had to wait for one more couple before they could begin and that would be—
“Hello, old chap.” A thin, pale hand clapped down on Noah’s shoulder. The British accent was the second clue as to who he was dealing with. “Looks like the beginnings of a lovely party.”
“Parker.” Noah lifted the vampire’s hand off his shoulder. He might be friends with Amara and Parker, but Parker seemed to delight in always being one fang away from becoming a chew toy.
“Glad to see you too.” Parker stood in front of Noah, dark brown eyes roaming over him briefly. “Amara, sweet, come say hello to our furry friend.”
God, Parker could be such an ass, but the man was utterly besotted with Amara and tough as nails when it came to her safety. That was something he could understand.
“Hey, Noah. How’s Iva?” Amara snuggled next to her mate, looking bushed.
Noah kept his voice down so the others wouldn’t overhear. “She’s tired and her arm hurts, but she’s immune to the black blood, so that’s good.”
Amara immediately relaxed. “Oh, Goddess, that’s great. I haven’t slept all day because I was worried about her.”
Parker’s arms tightened around his mate to the point that she squeaked in protest. “I’ll make sure you rest later, darling.”
“In the fun way?” Amara batted her lashes at Parker.
“As you wish.” The vampire placed a soft kiss on his sotiei’s nose. “Now let’s go find out what shitstorm we’re facing this time, shall we?”
Noah held out his arm for Amara. “Let’s.”
Brian, Parker’s Renfield and speaker for the ghosts in town, nodded shyly before walking past them. He seemed distracted, and Parker’s quickly dismissed frown of concern had Noah paying a bit more attention to the Renfield.
Amara distracted him from Brian when she giggled and threaded her arms through theirs. “I have the handsomest escorts in Maggie’s Grove.”
“So you do.” Parker preened, his chest puffing out, his accent becoming very upper-crusty. He loved playing lord at the weirdest times.
Lore, the leader of the psychics, had arrived, as had Vasile, the dragon prince, and Gideon, the coven leader. They were all here now.
Noah escorted Amara to her seat, then left the couple to go get Iva. He held out his hand, smiling when she took it. He helped her stand. “You ready?”
“Yup. Let’s get the party started.” She pumped her fist and cast in the air.
Everyone took seats, eight to a side, no one at the heads. They were all equals, even Dragos, who technically speaking should have been at the head of the table as town mayor.
Dragos stood and everyone immediately quieted down, focusing on him. “All right. We all have a rough idea of why we’re here. Somehow, Blake was infected with black blood when we all thought it impossible. He had been inoculated against it. The source was found and destroyed by Iva, Trajan, Noah, Ash, Rock and Amara. I want Iva, Noah and Amara to give us their impressions of what happened on that mountain, starting with Noah.” Dragos gestured for Noah to stand and took his seat again.
Noah stood. “What happened was we found Terri’s hideout.”
It said something about all of them that, although their expressions became grim and some of them even banged their fists on their armrests or the table, not one of them interrupted him.
“Inside the hideout we found a
cave further back that was being used as some sort of ritual space. There were the bones of the earth elemental who’d once called it home, but there was also a body dripping with black blood.” He shuddered at the memory of what had been done to the poor bastard. “We killed the totem, and the boy who’d been affected became better.” Noah sat back down, aware he’d kept it short but uncaring. Iva was squirming in her seat and he wanted her to speak rather than him. “Iva?”
Iva stood. “Short and to the point, but you missed a few things. The skeleton of the poor elemental got taken over and became some sort of spider demon we had to kill.” She gestured to her arm. “That’s how I got this.”
“How did you kill the demon?” Gideon’s tone was hard and his expression had turned sour.
“Trajan spewed fire at the totem until it was ash while the others pretty much took the skeleton spider apart,” Amara replied. “Iva passed out after Trajan was forced to cauterize her wound.”
Iva nodded and gave the floor to Amara, who stood, holding Parker’s hand. The vampire appeared murderous as he listened to his mate speak.
Amara took a deep breath. “I noticed something under the totem that I think no one else did. Or at least I don’t think you did. It caught my eye because Glinda had one book on dark magics that she told me never to read, so of course I did. And something under the totem was familiar. I saw it in that book.” Amara took a piece of paper out of her pocket. “I drew the symbol I saw as best I could, but the original is ash so I can’t be sure how accurate it is.”
“Good work.” Dragos praised Amara, holding out his hand.
“I’ll take that,” Gideon said. He held out his own hand and the paper was passed to him. When he opened it and began cursing, Noah got a very bad feeling. “Selena, take a look at this.” Gideon passed the paper to the witch doctor.
Selena opened it and gasped, dropping it to the table. “Lord and Lady, even second hand that burns.” She shook her hand, not protesting when Ash was immediately at her side. That alone told Noah that what she’d seen couldn’t be good. She’d turned pale, her voice shaking as she said, “That contains a powerful name, the name of a spirit of pure malevolence.”
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