Joran took out some cotton swabs and patted them gingerly on the cuts. The peroxide fizzed there.
“I’m sorry I put you in that position,” Nicole added.
Joran turned his blue eyes to her and stared intensely into her face. “I’m only sorry you beat me to the punch.”
The corner of his mouth turned up a little. All this time he’d seemed so angry. Maybe she’d been mistaking just who the anger was meant for.
He wrapped her hand carefully and placed a piece of tape on it. His hands were warm and calloused. The kind of hands of a man who worked hard. There was something very sexy in that thought.
Joran finished his work but didn’t let go of her hand. She wasn’t feeling the need to pull back.
Nicole looked over at him. His eyes were such deep pools of blue. A vision of the man from her dreams flashed through her head.
His eyes had glowed. For a moment the other night, she’d almost been certain that Joran’s were glowing as well. Of course that was silly.
Without even thinking, she leaned in until they were nearly touching.
“They are so beautiful,” Nicole whispered.
His eyes dipped down to focus on her mouth. “I was just thinking the same.”
Joran leaned in between them and closed the distance, his mouth sealing her own with a kiss.
Nicole moaned at the contact and wrapped her arms around his neck, not even thinking of her once sore hand.
The kiss was so familiar, like they had known each other for ages. Maybe all this time she really had been waiting for him, and that was where the dream version came from. But in the moment, she didn’t really care. All she could think was how long she’d been waiting for this in reality.
The kiss was hot and demanding. It was hard to say just who was more demanding. It seemed like for everything she gave, he returned it tenfold.
His tongue moved along the seam of her mouth, and she opened to him, sliding her tongue along his as they twined inside.
She could feel the low, deep rumble that came from Joran, and it only made her more excited.
This was real. It wasn’t a dream. More than anything, she wanted him.
Nicole shifted her body slightly, helping to press him between her now spread knees. Joran pulled back from her lips, mouth open as his chest rose and fell.
“I want you,” he said. “I just don’t want to move too fast.”
Nicole groaned loudly. “Why do you always have the same response?”
Shit. This wasn’t some man from her dream, but she’d acted like he was.
It wasn’t a rational statement. Nicole knew it even as she said it, but it was the only thing she could think of past her frustration. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice or react to the odd statement.
She leaned in closer, pulling his hips directly between her legs, his hardness against her heat there.
“I want you,” Nicole whispered. “Now are you going to fuck me, or do I have to beg?”
She could hear her idiot neighbors above them going at it like rabbits once again, and she swore that if she didn’t get laid, no one could.
In one swift motion, Joran lifted her into the air. Her legs wrapped instantly around Joran’s hard thighs. She needed this. She wanted this.
Joran smirked. “Well, it sounds like we’re going to have to be extra loud in order to show up those neighbors.”
A wide grin split her face as he carried her into the bedroom.
Chapter Twelve
Joran’s heart hammered in his chest as he made his way to her bedroom. For so long he’d dreamed about having Nicole in his arms, and now here she was. Alive and in the flesh. Not only that, she wanted him and had made that clear.
Nicole shifted slightly, rubbing her hot center over his aching cock, as if she could read his thoughts at that very moment. He let out a low growl.
A small moan escaped Nicole’s lips, and for a moment, Joran wasn’t so certain he cared about making it to the bed. It might be just as good if he pressed her back up against the wall and fucked her there.
Joran gritted his teeth as he walked over to the bed. No. He wanted to do this the right way. She might not know exactly what she was to him, but it didn’t matter. Nicole was important. More than anything, he wanted to devour every inch of her. He wanted to enjoy the glorious experience of being with her.
With ease, he placed her on the bed and laid down on top of her, hunger in his eyes. She spread her legs wider and pressed herself fully against him through his pants. Joran sucked in a deep breath.
Nicole leaned forward and trailed a stream of hot kisses across his face until she’d reached his mouth. The kiss before had been hot, but this one nearly set the sheets on fire with its intensity. There was no hesitation, no concern about anything but sharing passion.
Her nails raked down his neck to his back. He could feel her teasing and testing each muscle she came across through his shirt. It only made his cock push painfully against his zipper.
He needed to be free, but more than anything he wanted to be inside her.
Joran reached down and pushed up her black dress. The skin on her thighs was soft and inviting. He pushed the fabric further and further up until he’d reached the thin lace of her bra.
The hybrid pulled back from the searing kiss to stare down at her, drinking in her beauty. Her blonde hair spread out across the sheets. Her lips were red from their kiss, and there was just a peek of skin around her stomach. So beautiful.
Nicole reached down and wiggled the dress up over her head to his surprise. She then tossed the garment to the side of the room.
“Your turn,” she whispered, her voice husky.
Without a thought, Joran pulled off his shirt and started in on his pants. He’d never been one to wear underwear and knew that if he unleashed himself, things would have to go much faster than he wanted.
Nicole gasped at the sight of him. “Your tattoo…”
He could hear it in her voice, the recognition that he and the dream man might be one in the same. That might actually simplify things when he had to explain things.
Nicole reached up to touch his blue tattoo, but instead Joran caught her fingers and kissed them in hopes they might table the discussion for just one night. He’d waited so long, convinced keeping his distance was the right thing, and now he didn’t want to have to wait even longer so they could talk.
“I want to taste you,” Joran said, his voice low and filled with all the need he’d been holding inside.
Nicole shivered and gave a small nod.
Joran moved down to the end of the bed. The sweet scent of his Vestal’s need filled the room. It nearly drove him wild.
After taking a few breaths, he swiped a finger along her center. Her black panties were the only barrier between them now. Nicole leaned back and moaned.
She was beautiful like that, bare before him and desperate for his touch.
Joran had to be careful. His own need was just at the cusp, and it wouldn’t take much for his eyes to start glowing. If that happened, there’d be no delaying the explanation. He wanted to tell her, but he wanted her to know just what she meant to him first.
He hooked his fingers around the sides of her panties and pulled them down slowly. Her sweet pussy was now on full display to him.
Joran tossed the fabric to the side and slid down between her legs, his breath just inches from her lips.
With one swipe of his tongue, he knew she was his. The taste of her was everything he knew it would be, and a low rumble vibrated his chest.
Not able to wait much longer, the hybrid leaned forward and pressed his mouth to her waiting lips, delving his tongue deep inside.
Nicole’s nails raked over his scalp. Small whimpers escaped her mouth as he continued his exploration of her wet heat.
He moved faster inside of her, making sure to flick his tongue over her sensitive bud.
Bucking her hips off the bed, Nicole came hard, and only then did Jora
n chance looking at her. He could see the light from his eyes on her face, but her eyes were closed. He took a few breaths, and the glow stopped.
Joran pulled back and wiped the juices from his mouth. He leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers. He swirled his tongue with hers inside her mouth, knowing she could taste herself. Never in his life had he been more turned on.
Until he felt her hot hand sliding inside his pants.
“I want you inside of me,” Nicole moaned. She wrapped her hand around his hard length and stroked him.
“Roll over,” Joran growled.
Nicole wasn’t exactly a novice when it came to sex, but she also couldn’t say she was experienced. But nothing she’d ever had even came close to what she’d already shared with Joran.
The orgasm had been through the roof. In fact, she wouldn’t have been surprised if the asshole neighbors were complaining about the racket she’d just been making. Not that she cared.
Joran moved to lay on the bed while she unhooked her bra and tossed it to the side. When she turned back, he was laying there naked, his hot, thick cock standing upright, magnificent in all its glory.
She didn’t really want to stare, but hot damn. He was more than just large. Never in her life did she think she’d be with someone so large. It was like something from a porn movie.
Nicole swallowed as she straddled his legs.
“It’s okay if you want to stop,” Joran said quietly.
She frowned. Like hell she was stopping. She’d literally been dreaming of this for months. There was no way she wasn’t going to see this thing through.
Nicole slid forward, pressing Joran’s cock flat against his stomach as she spread her lips over him, coating him with her own need.
“I want you.”
For a moment, she thought she saw a light blue glow just before he closed his eyes, but knew she was having trouble distinguishing the real man from the dream man. Joran was real, and she was about to find out just how real he was.
Nicole slid herself up and down over him for a moment longer, the two of them groaning as she did. Then she lifted her hips and stared down at his thick head lined up directly with her center.
She took a breath and inched down, watching the whole time as he sank deeper and deeper inside of her. Despite his size, they seemed to work with one another, like her body was made just for him. It certainly felt that way.
When Joran was fully inside, Nicole sat on top of him, enjoying the feel of his girth.
Nicole shifted her hips and moaned as he moved deep inside. She could feel the bite of his fingers against her hips, and yet he let her continue.
She lifted herself and slid back down. The feeling was amazing. The next time she moved a little higher. As she dropped back down, Nicole threw her head back and moaned, the pleasure overwhelming.
The hands that had been at her hips moved to her breasts, tweaking and rolling her hard nipples as she moved over him. Each time she rose slightly higher as she moved more quickly.
Hard pushes from below helped increase her pleasure. Her whole body ached as she slammed herself against him, his cock spearing her.
In the dim light of the room, she could make out little besides them there together. Occasionally, she thought she saw a flash of blue, but before her mind could even process it, another orgasm exploded through her.
Joran pressed her down against his chest. His hands wrapped around her hips as he hammered his cock deep inside her. She moaned and kissed his chest, loving the hard, quick way he was once again bringing her to the edge.
“Nicole,” he moaned. “I’m so close, baby.”
She huffed loudly and nibbled at his collar bone. “Make me come again,” she whispered.
As if that was all he needed, Joran slapped deeper and harder inside of her, reaching just the right spot that seemed to make her whole body spasm as she came. Her deep insides squeezed his cock.
Joran grunted and stilled. His cock rhythmically twitched as he came deep inside of her.
Tired, she collapsed limply into his arms, just letting herself lay on him as they each came down from their highs.
Chapter Thirteen
Joran lay there with Nicole nestled in his arms. Her warm naked body fit perfectly against his own. He sighed at the feeling. It was such a sense of belonging that he’d never been able to have before. She was his, his Vestal, the other half of his soul.
Even with the hybrids, it had always felt like there was something missing. Now he knew that something was Nicole. He’d seen the others who had found their Vestals, but seeing something and understanding it wasn’t the same thing as experiencing it.
She shifted and nestled down deeper into the crook of his arm, moving her injured hand slightly from where it had been along his stomach.
Nicole blinked open her eyes a little. “Hi,” she said shyly.
A smile spread across Joran’s face. It was the most perfect thing to say after everything they had just shared. He leaned down and placed his mouth over hers in a soft, sweet kiss. When he pulled back, he smiled again.
“Hi.”
Joran settled back against the pillow and enjoyed the moment. Nicole’s soft fingers trailed along his chest. It was so perfect. He almost should have known it wouldn’t last.
The instant she touched his tattoo, Joran knew he had waited too long. Sometimes explanation did need to come first.
Blinding blue light filled the room. A hum vibrated through the air.
“What the…?” Nicole began. She barely got out the word before Joran jerked away from her, breaking her connection.
He stared at her for a moment, not really quite sure what to even say or where to start. He’d hoped they might be able to talk in the morning, when he’d had some time to think it through and plan how he was going to tell her everything.
Nicole narrowed her eyes. “What the fuck is going on?”
She stared hard at him, her sharp eyes watching him in a way that cut to the bone.
Joran sighed. “I wanted to tell you.” He dragged a hand across his face.
Nicole pulled back further on the bed, as if she didn’t trust him. The idea stabbed at his heart.
“Then start talking.”
Joran sighed. It was best to start with something she might understand.
“I’m a hybrid,” Joran said as calmly and clearly as he could. “Or a type of hybrid. All of us are. We’re not from Luna Lodge, but we were created with a similar process.”
She didn’t gasp or frown. Instead she only stared at him, her eyes likely watching for any sign of deception.
“Just like the Luna hybrids, we escaped an organization called the Horatius Group. They are the people who created us.”
For now, it was best to stick with basics. It was hard enough telling her that he was a hybrid, and at least the news coverage of Luna Lodge would have helped prepare her to accept that much.
Getting into the ideas of Atlantean gods, let alone a chaos god like Erebus, just seemed like a bad idea. It was too farfetched for anyone to believe. He even had trouble with it himself.
Nicole blew out a breath. “So are you all the ones behind the killings?”
Joran frowned. “No. We’ve been trying to stop them.”
The anger on her face eased a little.
“There are creatures worse than us out there,” he continued. “Glycons. Mindless killers. All my people and I wanted was somewhere to live, but it seems like we’ll never be free.”
“What happened with these creatures?”
Joran shook his head and shrugged. “We’re still trying to figure that all out. I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you for so long, but the only way I even knew you was through the dreams. It just felt like it’d be too much otherwise.”
If he had slapped her, it almost would have been kinder judging by the look on her face. Suddenly it was all coming together in her mind, and she must have realized that their dreams might not have been real, but their conve
rsations and encounters were. He’d thought she’d already made the connection earlier, but now he realized he’d been wrong.
“Did you manipulate me?” Nicole asked.
Joran shook his head and tried to take her hand, but she jerked away and moved off the bed.
“It’s not like that,” Joran said quickly. “I never meant to hurt you, but we hybrids have to be careful as to not risk the Horatius Group finding us, and you’ve seen how the government has treated the hybrids of Luna Lodge. We’re connected. I know you feel it. The draw we have to one another. We’re made to be together. You’re my Vestal.”
She scoffed as she pulled on her panties and bra. “Made for each other? Yeah, like I haven’t heard that line before.”
“Nicole.” Joran moved forward.
She lifted her hand to tell him to stop. “You spring all of this on me, and I just can’t…”
His heart hammered in his ears.
“I think you need to go,” she said softly.
Joran frowned. “Nicole, if you’ll just let me explain, everything will make sense.”
She stared at him and shook her head. “I can’t,” she choked out. “I just can’t. Go.”
His heart shattered into a million pieces. He knew she might be mad or doubt him, but this was almost worse. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him. It was that she didn’t want to be involved.
Joran picked up his pants and pulled them on. He grabbed his shoes and shirt from the floor.
Nicole wrapped a blanket around her body and made her way to the front door. She opened it. He didn’t want to leave, but maybe space was the best idea for the moment.
He walked over to the door. “I’ll call you.”
She looked away and nodded.
He swallowed hard and made his way outside. Nicole closed the door behind him. The sound of it was so final he wondered if they would ever see one another again. He’d screwed everything up because he’d been thinking with the wrong head.
Not sure what else to do, Joran climbed into his car and pulled out into the darkness. Maybe in the light of a new day, things would look differently.
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