by Katie Reus
“Or so? I want a number. Exact number.”
“Seventeen.”
Truth.
“Names. Now.” There was no give from August.
As Carson started listing the names, August looked at the Alpha and stood.
It was time for Judoc to take over. And Gabriel definitely didn’t need to be around for that. He turned to Vega. “You want to stay here for this?” he asked quietly.
She shook her head.
Good. He didn’t think he could stomach any more. And he wanted to be alone with Vega right now. Needed to hold her close, to convince himself that she was truly okay. After years of worrying about her death, he needed to simply hold her. Because everything had changed and he knew that he couldn’t go back to his gray existence anymore. Not after all this.
“Let’s meet in the library,” August said as they headed out, no room for argument in his voice.
Hell. Gabriel didn’t want to, but this was Vega’s job and he wasn’t going to leave her side for even a second. Whatever the future held, he was tired of hiding, tired of trying to deny what he felt for her. He just hoped she wanted a future with him.
Chapter 26
Inside the library of Judoc’s mansion, Vega sat at a long, conference-style table with her teammates, August and Gabriel.
“So…we’re done here?” Vega expected to have more to do after an operation. She was glad Carson had been caught but…things somehow felt unfinished. Which probably had more to do with what was hanging between her and Gabriel.
“What,” Neema said laughingly, “you want something else to deal with? Like another Hell Gate to close? I want details on that later, by the way.”
Smiling, Vega shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. I just thought we would have more to do.”
Shaking his head, August stood. “Nope. I’ll want a debrief a week from now, but everyone take a week to decompress. Especially you, Vega.”
She started to respond but he shook his head. “It’s not up for discussion. I’ve got notes on what you told me happened and I want a full debriefing later, but we have what we need, which was the important thing. If Carson had actually sold the information, we’d be in a different boat. But as it is, Christmas apparently came early. Spend the holidays with your pack. And you’re going to need to explain to your parents what you’re doing, without giving away everything. They’re staying nearby. I’ll text you the address.”
Vega blinked once. “Seriously? They’re here?”
“Just outside the territory. Arrived this morning before sunrise. Before going to see them, however, I’d straighten things out with you two first.” He looked between her and Gabriel then. “The hotel room is still under your pseudonym. It’s rented for the next week. You’re free to use it for the night or…however long.” With that, he left the room.
“You’ll get used to him,” Neema said, standing. “I’m going to take this week and make good use of it. See you soon.”
Eli murmured something else similar to what Neema said, and after giving Gabriel a fist bump, headed out after Neema.
“So…you want to use that hotel room?” Vega asked Gabriel without looking at him. “Or do you want to spend time here with your cousin?” Ugh, she hated the awkwardness hanging between them.
“He’s going to be dealing with a shitload of fallout, including executing Carson, but I’ll come back later this year. Let’s go to the hotel.”
When she looked at him, his face was a neutral mask, which was just infuriating. That was fine, because as soon as she got him alone in the room, they were having this thing out. She was tired and cranky and he wasn’t going to get away with this polite stranger behavior. He’d made her orgasm not too long ago and she’d died. Died. It certainly put things in perspective.
While she absolutely hated the acronym YOLO, she was kinda feeling it right now. Though in her case, she apparently got to live more than once. “You think we should visit the cave before we head to the hotel?” Before they’d entered the interrogation room, Judoc had told them that Mira’s sister was awake.
Gabriel shook his head as he pushed his chair under the table. “No. Judoc said they don’t want to deal with anyone right now. They’re probably back in Mira’s cabin.”
“I can’t imagine being in Hibernation that long and then coming out to all this.” Vega shook her head. She could barely comprehend being alive for as long as the females had been. And she’d seen some crazy shit.
“No kidding,” he said as they stepped out into the hallway. “We’ll see them before we head home.”
Vega certainly planned to. Especially since Prima had saved her life. She was going to thank the dragon for that. Though she wasn’t exactly sure how to say thank you for something so monumental. A fruit basket definitely didn’t cover it.
Chapter 27
“You want me to call room service?” Gabriel asked as they stepped inside the hotel room. “Or set up a wakeup call?”
“You can’t be serious right now,” Vega muttered, taking off her boots and tossing them by the door before stalking farther inside.
“So…you’re not hungry?”
Annoyed as all get out, she ignored him as she strode into the suite. A little gift basket was in the middle of the coffee table complete with fresh fruit and little chocolates. She wanted to throw the thing at his head. “You’re such a jackass,” she growled, turning to face him, hands on hips.
“Because I asked you if you were hungry?” His voice was dry as he collapsed on one of the couches.
“No, you’re a jackass because you simply are. I think that about covers it! After everything we’ve been through—getting mated and me dying!—you want to talk about food!” Okay now she was full-on shouting and wouldn’t be letting up anytime soon.
“Damn it Vega.” He shoved up from his seat, his expression dark as he stared at her from across the table. “What do you want me to say? That our mating link is broken and I feel like my heart has been shredded! That you’re the most perfect fucking woman on the planet and I feel like I’ve wasted the last few years of my life denying what we might have had! That I’m drowning in regret because of it. That I’ll never get that image of you dying out of my head.” He rasped out the last part, his face twisted in agony. “That I love you.”
“That’s a pretty good start!” she shouted back, not sure why they were yelling at all right now. “Because I love you too. And I’m pissed we lost all those years too, but it’s in the past. I’m ready to move forward with the future—our future.” If he wanted one.
“You’re not obligated to be with me! Our mating link was broken.”
“Uh, I know. Because I died. But I’m standing right here and I’m not going anywhere.”
“What are you saying?” He rounded the table lightning fast, his hands on her hips, pulling her close.
“Sometimes you’re kind of a dumbass,” she whispered. “But you’re my dumbass. I’m saying I want everything with you. What do you think ‘I love you’ means?”
“Mating is forever.”
“So? You afraid?” Because she wasn’t.
Heat flared in his green eyes. “Only of losing you.”
“Same here.” And it was the truth. The thought of being mated to him didn’t scare her, but the thought of a life without him? Now that terrified her. He was in her blood.
“Once you’re mine, I’m not letting you go.” A hot promise.
“I’ve always been yours, dumbass.”
“We’re really going to have to work on your pet names for me,” he said, laughing as he brushed his mouth over hers.
The brush quickly turned into something deeper as his tongue teased against hers. Hot, fiery need licked up her spine as he hoisted her up.
Wrapping her legs around him, she was vaguely aware he was walking them…somewhere. She didn’t much care where as long as it had a flat enough surface.
Seconds later they landed on…a chaise longue. Grasping at the bot
tom of his sweater, she tugged upward, not caring if it ripped either. She didn’t care about anything other than feeling him inside her. About cementing the bond that had already bloomed between them. She was never letting him go either.
Seconds after that, they were both naked and his face was between her legs. Holy hell, he didn’t waste time. She wanted to go down on him too, to taste all of him. To revel in his pleasure. “Gabriel—”
“Oh yeah, say my name,” he growled against her pussy.
Which just turned her on even more. He was raw and earthy and she loved it. She shoved her fingers through his short hair, grabbing onto his skull as if her life depended on it and not just an orgasm. But this was more than just an orgasm.
This was everything. She’d been fighting her feelings for him for years, trying to convince herself that she’d get over him. That she couldn’t possibly love him. That she’d just had a silly crush on him.
Now they were making the choice to mate. Not get accidentally mated because of her psychic powers. This was real and all theirs.
As he slid a finger inside her, she arched off the chaise, her inner walls tightening around him even as she wanted more.
So much more.
Her fangs released as he began stroking inside her, taking his sweet time as he flicked his tongue along her folds. The male was driving her crazy in the best way possible.
A few weeks ago she couldn’t have imagined this happening. Now…she couldn’t imagine her life without Gabriel in it. Couldn’t imagine not waking up to him every morning. Which left a whole mess of things they needed to figure out…later.
Much later. Now was all about them and pleasure. Just pleasure. They damn well deserved it. “Oh, God.”
“Just my name,” he growled, zeroing in on her clit.
She jerked against his face. “Gabriel.” She panted out his name, loving the possessiveness in his voice. “Now make me come.” She was teetering on a wire’s edge of control and she needed to come, needed a climax before they finally mated.
Surprising her, he laughed against her spread folds, the sound reverberating through her. “So bossy,” he murmured.
Yeah, she was. And that probably wasn’t going to change, ever.
He lifted his head, pinned her with those green eyes that had captured her attention long ago—longer than she’d admit. “Good thing I like bossy,” he said, even as he dipped another finger inside her.
Stretching her and driving her crazy.
Then his mouth was on her again, his wicked tongue bringing her to orgasm as she rolled her hips against his mouth and fingers.
Her climax slammed into her, taking her off guard as pleasure surged out to all her nerve endings in wave after wave. She could ride this thing forever. She was so damn glad she hadn’t actually died because she’d have never experienced this.
And there was so much more to come, she knew.
When he finally raised his head, she watched him through heavy-lidded eyes and reached for him. “You are everything.”
“Ah, Vega.” She completely, utterly owned him. And Gabriel was more than okay with that. Looking down at the woman who’d stolen his heart long ago, he felt whole in a way he’d never fully imagined. “You’re mine. Now and always.”
In response, she grabbed the back of his head but he was already bending down to her. As he teased his tongue against hers, he savored the feel of her sleek, naked body against his.
Reaching between their bodies, he cupped her mound and slid his fingers inside her again. He knew she was slick for him, but he wanted to make sure she was ready for this next step. Not that he doubted she’d tell him.
Still, she was his to take care of and this was important. They’d gotten accidentally mated before—something he hadn’t realized was possible—but nothing about this was accidental.
He was in this forever. However long that may be. Tomorrow or a hundred years from now, she was it for him. And he was going to take advantage of every single day with her.
She started rolling her hips against him, urging him to move faster, ready for another orgasm, but he wanted to be inside her now. As he pulled back, it took all his restraint to sit up.
Still caging her in with his hands, he said, “For this first time, you ride me, you be in control.” Oh yeah, it took all his fucking restraint to say that when he wanted nothing more than to take over. But…this was her first time and it was all about her.
Heat flooded her gaze, her eyes going electric as her vamp side stared back at him. Aaaand his cock felt like a club between his legs right about now.
Moving up and off her, he was ready to head to the bedroom with her when she pushed at his shoulder, urging him onto the chaise. He leaned against the low back as she straddled him.
Her long, jet-black hair tumbled around both of them as she oh so slowly rubbed her slick folds over the head of his cock.
He gritted his teeth as his balls pulled up tight. She was definitely torturing him. And he was on board for it. Cupping her breasts—ones he’d long fantasized about—he sucked one hard nipple into his mouth and was rewarded with the most sensual moan of pleasure.
“Thought…I’d tease you,” she rasped out even as she lowered herself down on him. “No…control.”
He was in the same club. His control with her was pretty much nonexistent. As her tight muscles wrapped around his cock, he teased her breasts, alternating between them as she slowly, too slowly, moved up and down on him, over and over.
He’d felt a slight barrier the first time she sank fully onto him, but that was it. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she sank onto him again, her moans heaven and hell. His nature demanded that he take over, mark her with his canines, but—
She buried her face against his neck and pierced his skin with her fangs. And he was completely lost. Growling, he pierced the soft skin between her neck and shoulder with his canines as he continued thrusting up into her.
Wild.
Primal.
Out of control.
She slammed back onto him, her body trembling as she continued drinking blood from him.
He wasn’t sure when they moved, but he took over and they landed on the soft throw rug on the floor, with him still buried inside her.
“This okay?” Somehow he made his throat work.
In response she wrapped her arms and legs around him, rolling her hips against him in a frenzy. That was all he needed.
Feeling possessed, he continued thrusting as he reached between their bodies. He barely grazed her clit and felt her inner walls tighten around him.
Oh yeah, it wouldn’t take long for her. He teased the little bundle of nerves, drinking in her each and every moan.
And when she finally let go again, her inner walls tightening around his hard length as she came, he let go, releasing himself inside her in long, hard strokes. He bit her again, piercing the same spot as he had before, the need to claim her overwhelming with its intensity.
She did the same to him, the bite of pleasure-pain almost too much as his orgasm continued. The only thing he knew for certain was that if he died right then, he’d go happy.
Vega had made him realize that he wasn’t holding back anything anymore. No more living in fear. They got one life and he was taking everything it had to offer.
With her by his side.
Chapter 28
“We’ve got this,” Gabriel said, taking Vega’s hand in his hand, holding tight.
Simply touching him gave her strength. “Yeah, I know.” But that didn’t mean that Vega wasn’t nervous.
She’d literally closed a Hell Gate and gone up against a traitorous psychic wolf. And had a whole lot of training under her belt. Oh yeah and she’d died. But these were still her parents so yeah, she was nervous about this whole meeting.
Before he could say anything else, the front door to the house that her parents were staying at opened. And her father stood there, looking between the two of them. His gaze immediately landed
on their clasped hands. She’d called him earlier, told him that she knew he was in town and asked if she and Gabriel could come by. Obviously he’d said yes and now here they were.
To give her dad credit, he didn’t look surprised at all. Even if she and Gabriel hadn’t been holding hands, there was no way either of her parents would miss the scent of their mating. They had claimed each other in every way possible and now any supernatural beings would know that they were taken and off-limits.
“Come on in.” His voice was neutral and she wasn’t sure how to take that. But her worrying was for nothing when he pulled her into a tight hug. “It’s good to see you,” he said, squeezing tight even as her mom stepped into the foyer, looking perfect as usual.
Her long blonde hair was in a loose braid draped over her shoulder, and she had on jeans and a casual sweater.
Laughing, Vega stepped back. “I saw you like a week ago.”
Her dad shrugged and shot a quick glance at her mom. Something unspoken passed between them and she wasn’t certain what it was.
Before Vega could even contemplate what was going on or ask them why on earth they were here—she’d been too nervous to ask over the phone—her mom pulled her into a hug. “My sweet baby girl,” she said running a hand over Vega’s head and down her hair.
As she stepped back, she eyed her mom curiously. “Not that I’m not happy to see you guys, but why are you here? Is everything okay with the baby?”
“Baby’s fine as far as we know,” her mom said quickly. “But why don’t we go into the kitchen? I’ve got a bunch of food set out for you including lemon and feta meatballs, and baked eggplant chips.”
Vega snorted softly. Her mother knew her weakness. Food in general. But Greek food? Oh yeah. Since her mom was a vampire and didn’t even eat, it always meant so much when she took the time to cook for Vega.