Aven snarled, sounding like a mammal, but feeling all raptor. “You’re mine,” he growled, wrapping Dakota tightly in his arms.
* * *
Dakota reeled, out of balance, about to fall, about to be claimed. Something she’d hardly dared to let herself desire. Aven’s strong arms cradled her, rocked her, pulled her close. He lifted her, spun them both once, twice, then he pressed her hard against the cave wall and thrust back inside her again, deep and rough. His mouth went back at her throat, kissing and growling.
He bit her.
Pleasure lit up inside Dakota, waves of thick bliss like nothing she’d ever felt. Electricity arced between the places where he penetrated her. Bright turquoise light filled her, moved beyond her, to Aven. The rightness of it enveloped Dakota, making her arch her back and cry out her bliss as a brutal climax shook her.
Blood dripped down her shoulder, but her skin healed even as Aven’s mouth withdrew, a low moan coming from him and her both.
He pumped relentlessly inside her, spilling heat again and again.
So much for birth control.
Chapter 45 - Cock Of The Walk
Dakota slumped. Aven held her up and spoke to her quietly. He withdrew from her. He cleaned her up and he helped her dress, until finally, he took her hand in his and led her out.
They heard no voices. They didn’t speak. There was nothing left to say.
Dakota clung to her male, her shifter, letting her new life, her new identity, settle inside her. They walked for what seemed like just long enough.
They reached the entrance. Shiloh rushed her and wrapped her in a hug.
“You saved him,” Shiloh whispered. “Thank you.” The hug ended as quickly as it began. “You’re kind of a show-off, huh?” Shiloh said, then disappeared into the night.
Dakota nodded. Sure. “Where are the women? What happened?” she asked Dallas.
He rubbed his hand over his short brown hair, his eyes wide like he was still processing it all. “You and Aven ran in the caves, and all those women tried to follow you. Yelling ‘we have reservations’, like they were showing up for dinner. When Maze and Ryder wouldn’t let them in, they got violent. Thorn got out of his car, said he was going to help Maze and Ryder whether we liked it or not, so that’s what we did. Let Ryder and Shiloh through and blocked the entrance.”
He held up his arms and stretched his neck to show the dried blood that marked slice-wounds all over his exposed skin. “We all got scratched up pretty bad by them, even Thorn.”
They had been fighting battles up here that she’d known nothing about. “How’d you get them to stop?”
“They stopped on their own. About five minutes after Shiloh and Ryder went in. The last thing any of them remembered was being in the gold mines.”
That must have been when they heard the Fatherborne say he was going to lift the charm, Dakota realized. She filed that bit of information away with what they knew so far. But a larger question loomed. “Do they know what happened to them?”
“Bits and pieces,” Dallas said. “Nobody said the word ‘vampire’ but you could tell they know that something bad happened to them. They kept touching the scars on their necks and wrists.” His voice trailed off for a moment, but Dakota heard fury in his tone. “Thorn and Maze left about twenty minutes ago, took them all to the hospital.”
Cora spoke up, her lips curled with disgust. “Good thing Thorn was gone before I could come out and puke on him.”
Jameson growled, “We need to figure him out. Dallas said he followed you all here?”
Aven corrected him. “He followed Dakota here. Didn’t take his eyes off her from the moment we knocked on his door.”
The Keeper’s eyes swung to Dakota. “How did you feel?”
Dakota shook her head. “I was already caught up in the hunt as we were coming up the stairs to his apartment, but I didn’t know it. No telling what was him and what was vampires.” She shared the only details she could remember. “He seemed genuinely worried about me, though. Never even met me before.”
Aven nodded to confirm. “Same as he was with Cora at the courthouse.”
Dallas spoke up again. “He seemed upset about the women, too. Almost like he took it personally, them being held against their will. He insisted they needed medical care, even said he’d pay for it, then followed Maze to the hospital to make sure it got done. I don’t know what to make of the guy.”
Jameson didn’t look convinced at all, Dakota thought. The Keeper’s jaw flexed with his grinding teeth. He gave Cora a look of such precious regard that Dakota felt she was invading their privacy. She looked away.
Was that how Aven was going to look at her? Like she was his whole world and he couldn’t bear to risk her? Dakota couldn’t wait. She took Aven’s hand, leaning her head against his powerful shoulder.
A zing of desire arced through her body, telling Dakota they needed to wrap this gab session up. Her Prowl wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. She squeezed Aven’s hand. He was tuned in to her vibe, would feel her urgency.
He squeezed back. “Bottom line is, Thorn knows something. About shifters, about switches, maybe even about vampires and The Cause. We need to find out what, exactly, and whose side he’s on.”
Jameson rubbed the back of his neck. “We pissed him off pretty good. I don’t know how much he’ll share.”
Dakota had an idea. “Put Maze on him. He can get along with anyone, and he’s sharp on intel.” She felt Aven stiffen beside her and remembered that something had happened down in the caves, while she’d been Undoing her last vampire. Something that had involved Maze.
Dallas agreed. “Me, too. I’m in.”
Dakota couldn’t keep up anymore. The buzz of magic running through her body was getting stronger. She didn’t want to lose control in front of an audience. Time to go.
She tugged at Aven’s hand. He turned without a word, led her to Luxe’s passenger side and got her settled. Dakota was relieved to see that at some point someone must have turned the car off. It still had half a tank of gas.
There was no way they were making it all the way home, to Credence.
* * *
Aven folded his long body into Luxe’s driver’s side and cranked the engine, getting the convertible turned around and driving as fast as he dared down the washed-out dirt road.
His witch was losing control, though. He could feel it.
Aven turned at the end of the long dirt road, heading uphill, into the peaks that rose over the caves, closer to the stars while Dakota moaned and twisted beside him.
Aven’s cock gave a pulse and hardened in his pants, ready to serve. His mouth watered for a taste of the salt on her skin.
He found the sign for the lookout, he turned in and parked, got out and ran around the car to get to Dakota. She was already shredding her clothes. Her beauty stole the oxygen from his lungs. He bent and grabbed for her, lifting her out of the car, whispering sweetness to her.
I got you. I got you. It’s over. You did so good, he told her again and again. Dakota wrapped her arms around his neck and he carried her to the hood of her car, laying her down, his mouth never leaving her velvet skin. He worked his way down her lush body, pushing her knees back to press against her breasts. Aven breathed her in, the scent of heat lightning and hot stone scorching through his insides, branding him as hers.
By the time he reached her core, Dakota was mad with need. Aven wasn’t far behind. He yanked her panties to one side and spread her lower lips, latching his mouth onto her. He sucked her still-swollen clit between his lips and flicked his tongue against it.
Dakota’s stomach muscles clenched. Her hands fisted in his hair, urging him on.
Aven slipped two fingers inside her. Dakota bucked on his hand, curses spilling from her mouth. “Don’t stop. Please.” She was close. Her body pulled at him already.
Seconds later he heard and felt the hitch in Dakota’s breath that told him she was over the edge. Her tight heat drew at his fing
ers, clenching and spasming. She shuddered and moaned, “More. I need more.”
Aven got rid of his clothes. He leaned over Dakota and pressed his heat against hers in the cool mountain air. She murmured his name, wrapping one arm around his shoulder. The other hand found his shaft and squeezed, pulled him closer.
Dakota slipped her tongue into Aven’s mouth at the same moment that he sank his cock deep inside her welcoming heat. They gasped in unison. Aven drew back. They shared a breath and kissed again.
After those few sweet strokes, Dakota demanded it harder. She wrapped her legs around Aven’s waist to keep him close. He worked his hips, grinding deeper, making her feel all of him. Dakota’s inner muscles gripped and slid on his cock. Sweat dripped down his back.
He slipped one hand down to where they joined. Aven wanted Dakota to come again, for his pleasure as much as hers. Dakota writhed beneath him, wild with unspent magic. Aven pressed one hand to her sternum and fucked her hard. Ravished her. He rubbed her clit with his thumb and pounded her against glossy steel until her moans became a silent scream. Her eyes flew wide in beautiful agony. Her body pulsed around his.
Aven growled, still thrusting, still lost in the way Dakota took him over. The clench of her body undid him, rubbing the ridge of his cock with almost painful pleasure. Aven exploded into completion, his body tightening in violent bliss before going boneless.
They panted for breath together. They gulped oxygen in an effort to slow their racing hearts. Aven held himself up and looked around, hoping they had no audience.
Dakota’s hands slipped to Aven’s face. She pulled him close for a breathless kiss, stars reflecting in her open eyes.
Chapter 46 - Home Sweet Nest
Dakota rested in Luxe’s passenger seat, her body languid, her eyes closed though she was awake. It was the middle of the night. She had dozed on and off during the drive from the lookout. One hand touched Aven’s thigh, so she could feel him there and knew he still had her. So she could let go.
She felt the air change around the car and strained to lift her eyelids. The tunnel. They were home. Credence’s garage lit up in front of them, and Aven aimed Luxe for her spot.
“That’s new,” he said. Dakota opened her eyes and looked up.
Credence had marked her spot. A black lightning bolt.
Aven got out and ran for her, looking very much like Jameson around Cora, like he wanted to pick her up and carry her. She didn’t quite need that. She followed him quietly through the coven, glad that the power that had helped her fight had subsided.
They snuck through the quiet coven to Dakota’s room, spilling inside, ready for rest, but the space smelled different to her. She looked around carefully. There was Aven’s stuff on the dresser, his clothes in the closet, his medals on display. The scents of cedar and wide open spaces mingled with her scents of evening primrose and acacia.
Aven met her eyes and they smiled at each other. This was their room now.
Aven gathered her into his arms. Aven kissed her and whispered sweet things in her ear. Aven sat her down and drew them a bath in the oversized tub. He undressed them both and stepped into the water, holding Dakota’s hand to help her in. She sank in, leaning back into her man’s arms with a satisfied moan. He washed her hair and body with gentle caresses, then cradled her close.
His hands slipped over her skin in the warm water and Dakota felt… treasured. Cherished. She raised her lips to Aven’s and kissed him, running her hands into his hair to hold him close. He hardened against her hip, groaning into her mouth.
Dakota’s aches vanished. Her body relaxed. Her mind went still.
Aven gripped her waist. He filled her to overflowing again and again and again.
The house slept around them.
***
Dakota lay naked on the bed, stretched out on her belly, head turned to the side, cheek pressed into the pillow. Aven lounged behind her on his side, naked as her, drawing circles on her back with one of his hands, a wicked smile in his voice as he told her what he was going to do to her later, what he’d already done to her more times than she could count.
Out the grand, soaring window, stars twinkled, planets shone, and the entire universe approved of their pairing. It was late, or early. The sun would rise soon. She didn’t much care. She had more important things to do than sleep. Dakota reached behind her and stilled Aven’s hand… for the moment.
Dakota eyed that dark sky. “Tell me again, what flying is like,” she said softly.
He didn't answer for a long time. Instead, he sat up. She couldn’t see him because he was behind her, but the bed moved and swayed with him, revealing him. He positioned himself at her shoulders and began to knead them, rubbing lightly until she relaxed, then applying more pressure.
She gave in to the pleasure and let out a long sigh. He continued to knead her shoulders in the bed created just for her… and for him, too. When he finally spoke, his voice was a deep roll of low soft words and sounds that relaxed her more than she thought possible.
“Imagine for me,” he said kneading down her left arm to her hand, then to each of her fingers, rubbing and pressing. He spread the arm wide out from her side, the small brushes of his skin on hers making her sigh and open to him more.
“Imagine for me that you are a shifter,” he said.
“That’s easy,” she said, and it didn’t hurt at all that she really wasn’t. Not anymore. Her eyes drifted closed.
“You’re an eagle,” he told her. “You’ve always been an eagle, you were practically born flying.” He moved across her back, then kneaded down her other shoulder, arm, hand and fingers, setting the skin there to tingle. He spread that arm wide out from her body.
“You love to fly,” he told her. “You fly every day, and it always takes you above your problems and your cares, and even above the world itself.”
“Yes,” she whispered, wanting that freedom so badly.
He positioned her arms slightly different on the bed, then tilted her hands like the flaps of an airplane… or the wings of a bird. He drew his fingers long-ways down her arms and back until she could imagine the feathers there, layering on top of each other.
“You’re in the forest,” he said, his voice almost reverberating in the silent room.
In her mind’s eye, it was nighttime, but she was outside. She could easily see forest in front of her. Trees. Evergreens. Greens and browns and blues in bright moonlight and starshine.
He spoke, pulling her back just a little with his words. “You trigger a shift in your mind, letting go, letting your animal take over, letting your eagle sprout her wings.”
Dakota felt it. An eagle. She was an eagle. She could fly.
“You push straight up from the ground, but not like a jump, like a push, and then you are flying, straight up, strong wings beating you into the sky, and the ground isn’t there and you don’t need it, you never needed it.” He stopped talking for a long time, moving his hands down her body, pressing and pulling until he reached her toes. He pointed each individual toe straight out behind her, then nudged them low into the mattress. “You belong in the air,” he finished.
She belonged in the air. The breeze stirred her feathers. Below her, forest stretched as far as she could see, and small animals ran from her moon shadow. She twirled in her mind, rolling, diving, falling, and catching herself.
“Uh oh,” Aven said, his voice low.
Uh-oh? She flew in a tight circle, scanning the ground. Nothing moved. Everything had fled from her.
“What uh-oh?” she said tightly. “Is it a vampire?”
She could almost see him down there, dandy and fancy and needing a knife to the gut.
“No, savage witch,” Aven said. “Calm yourself. It's a man. You don't know what he wants.”
“I'm going to see,” she said. She dropped down as an eagle, coming in feet first for a hard landing.
“When you get to the ground, you shift,” he told her. He didn’t speak for a second, the
n said, “Do you have clothes on?” He sounded curious, like he was not in control, like she was in control.
“Who is the man?” she asked.
“Whoever you want him to be.”
A naughty smile crept onto her face and into her voice. “I don’t have clothes on,” she said.
“Who is the man?” he growled.
Dakota laughed, she couldn’t help it. She loved him so much and he was so perfect. “You. You are the man.”
Aven’s voice lost its growl. “The man has something for you,” he said. “He’s pressing something into your hand.”
“What is it?” Dakota said, a thrill coursing through her body.
It felt like a ring.
“It’s a ring,” he said and the way he said it made her open her eyes.
He was staring at her and in her hand was an actual ring, a hammered, blue-crystal-hemmed wedding band. She smiled at it, lost in the rightness of the moment. She curled her fingers around it and smiled at him, lost in the rightness of him.
He smiled back, love for her shining in his expression. “When you are ready, you give that back to me and I'll do this right,” he said.
Dakota didn't look away. She opened her fingers, right there, right then. She held the ring out to him.
He smiled, he shook his head, he looked pleased, but like he didn’t quite believe it. “I'm not prepared,” he said. “I didn't expect this.”
Dakota kissed him long and hard. “Good thing you’re a badass,” she told him.
***End***
Author’s Note
Grace here.
Did you like that ride? Holy cats, I hope so, because I sure did!
Raptor's Peak: Switch of Fate 4 Page 23