Dhark & Desired

by C C Dowling

  Creed’s deep eyes stare into me, down to the other half of his soul. He sees me, gets me, like no one else ever has. I’m crazy about him for that. I hope he sees how crazy I am for her, too.

  Brushing my cheek with the back of his hand, he gives me the tiniest head nod. It’s all the support I need.

  I don’t think. I react.

  My lips crash against Harlo’s. It’s like drinking pure lightning in a bottle when her tongue meets mine. She wraps her free hand in my hair and tugs. I groan into her mouth, and goddammit. I need to be inside her. Now. And I need Creed inside of me.

  “We need to get the fuck out of here,” I mutter, so only they can hear. By the looks on their faces, they both agree. “Is that angel energy net thing still functioning?” I ask Harlo.

  She nods. “It only encompasses the club. Once you’re outside, you can access your full powers.”

  Fan-fucking-tastic.

  “Well, this family reunion’s been real,” I say to my dad. “You kicking Samael’s ass was fun”—I point from Dhamyan to me—“but I sure in fuck can’t say this has been real fun.” I nod toward the dead bodies littering the nightclub. “I’m leaving before more winged fucks come charging in. You probably should, too.”

  I push to my feet. Creed and Harlo stand with me.

  “Dhru. Wait.”

  I shiver at the way my name sounds on my father’s lips. When I was little, I used to dream about what his voice would sound like. What he’d say to me if he were there. But that girl grew up. Without him. And as much as possible, that’s how I intend to live what’s left of my life.

  “It’s urgent that we speak. You’re in danger. You don’t understand our world and your role in it.”

  I laugh. The humorless kind. “You’re right. I am, and I don’t. Thanks to you. You’ve had twenty-five years to fill me in. Why the sudden rush?”

  Pinching the bridge of his nose, he releases a heavy sigh, as if I’m the one being a pain in his ass. As if any of this is my fault.

  White-hot anger flares deep in my gut. “Oh, I’m sorry. Is the stress of being an actual parent for five fucking seconds giving you a headache? Why don’t you just do what you do best and fuck off?”

  Something like amusement dances across his features, twisting the corner of his lips. He barks out a laugh, which makes both Harlo and me jump. Creed frowns.

  “Gods, you are so damn much like your mother.”

  My lungs squeeze. My hearts clench. My stomach twists. I don’t know anything about my mother. No one does, except the one asshole who’s been missing my entire life. More than anything, I want to tie Dhamyan down and force him to tell me about her.

  Well, almost more than anything. Wrapping an arm around Harlo, I squeeze her ass. My other hand rests against Creed’s fine-as-sin muscled chest. “I wouldn’t know. Right now, it’s not important.” What does seem important is fucking the shit out of my two Destineds, then doing it again, and again.

  “Don’t be stupid,” Dhamyan says, in a way that makes me feel all kinds of stupid. “You’re coming with us.” He nods at his dragons. They fall into formation behind him.

  “Oh, but I’m not,” I answer. “I have people who actually give a shit about me. Who have my back. Who won’t abandon me. I’ll be fine.”

  “I know. You always are.” Dhamyan’s bone-penetrating glare flicks from Harlo, to me, to Creed, and back to me. “A Called and a Named.” He shakes his head. “Fucking figures.”

  Dhamyan’s lips quirk into a full smile, as if he’s enjoying a private joke. “Happy birthday, Dhru. I’m sure you’ll have many more.”

  I squeeze Harlo’s hip and stroke Creed’s chest. “On that note, time to unwrap my gifts.” Harlo kisses my neck. Creed the corner of my mouth. I growl, and damn. I can’t wait to get them naked.

  “Since you won’t come with me—here.” He hands me a hard plastic card with the Mandarin Oriental logo on the front, a room number written on the back. “The room is yours for three days,” my father says, like he’s the king of me. “It’s been spelled to contain Other Realm energies, which should mask your energy signature from anyone who’s looking, and protect the humans from Succubus Seduction.” He glares hard at Harlo. “The wards will fade at the end of the third day, putting the humans in the building, and you three, at risk. If you don’t find me before then, I’ll find you.”

  Reaching into the front pocket of his slacks, he pulls out a rose-colored band. Intricate scrollwork decorates the metal, which looks like gold, but also doesn’t look a damn thing like gold.

  Grabbing the hand that was on Creed’s chest, he slips the ring onto my middle finger. Fitting, really, because all I want to do the second he touches me is flip him off.

  He clears his throat. Something dark and desperate flashes behind his black eyes. “This was your mother’s,” he says, his tone thick and brooding.

  I don’t miss his use of the word was. I also don’t let my hearts break over it. I’m sure there will be plenty of time to focus on crushing disappointment and pain later.

  “This will keep you from inadvertently shifting into your full dragon form, something we cannot risk again,” he continues. “Do not take it off until I say. Do you understand?”

  Yeah, I fucking understand, dick. I’m not an idiot. I’m also not in a place to say anything even remotely nice, or appreciate just how much he saved our asses today.

  The stubborn part of me wants to rip the ring off, throw it in his face, tell him he doesn’t get to boss me around, and walk out of his life. Forever. But like I just said, I’m not an idiot. I can’t put Creed and Harlo through another transformation. I can’t do that to myself. So, for now, I’ll accept a piece of the mother I’ve never known, and won’t ever get to know. I’ll even smile and nod.

  When I do, Dhamyan squeezes my hand. What the fuck is this? A moment of fatherly concern? I open my mouth to tell him where he can shove his long overdue concern when he drops my hand and steps back.

  He turns his glare on Harlo and Creed. “Protect my daughter,” Dhamyan says to them. “Or losing your Destined will not be the worst thing to ever happen to you.”

  “Okay. Enough threats and deadbeat dad lectures.” I grip Harlo and Creed tighter, so fucking ready to be alone with them. “Thanks.” I hold up the card, my middle finger, and nod my chin at Samael’s limp body. “For everything. Gotta go.”

  With one final glance at the man who donated twenty-three chromosomes—or however the fuck many dragons have—I walk my two Destineds out of the club and into the heated Vegas air.

  Dhru wastes zero time teleporting us to the hallway of some fancy-ass hotel. We could be anywhere in Vegas. Anywhere in the world. With Dhru’s ability and power, there’s no telling what her limits are.

  Taking the card her father gave her, she slides it into the slot on the door. The red light turns green. A bright smile cracks Dhru’s lips. Lips I can’t wait to bite and kiss.

  Opening the door, Dhru squeals, throws her hands in the air, and does a happy dance, turning on the spot. The stolen bloody tunic rides higher on her thighs, teasing me. My own thighs clench in response as my sex pulses. The part of me attuned to sexual energy is already on overload. I can’t imagine what will happen when I make Dhru come again. When she makes me.

  “I did it!” She claps. The huge grin on her face makes her look more pixie than dragon. “I teleported us. And look at this room. It’s so fucking cool. At least my fuckwad father has taste.”

  She’s right. She does have a fuckwad father, but at least we know who her father is. It’s her maternal bloodline I have questions about. Dhru’s Called marks, and her ability to teleport at will, play on the suspicions I’ve had ever since the battle. Problem is, too many female Called powerful enough to have mothered a dragon-Fae like Dhru have either died or gone missing to narrow down the options. I’m not even sure Dhru’s mother is dead. For all anyone knows, she’s still serving as a Called, or living out her days in exile.

  �
��By the gods,” Creed says, giving Dhru a look of pure desire and admiration mixed with awe. “How did you transport the three of us without access to a ley line or nexus point?”

  Grabbing a fistful of his shirt, Dhru pulls him into her. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, and I don’t give a fuck, because right now, all I wanna do is fuck. All I care about is having access to this.” Dhru grabs Creed’s dick through his pants and strokes his length. It’s an impressive length. For a Called.

  Growling, Creed digs his fingers into her hips and ass. Damn. That’s a sexy-as-hell sound coming from a Fae. Should I be this turned on by a Lightling?

  Rubbing my hands over my face, I scrub that antiquated thinking from my mind. Despite my father’s best efforts to convince me I’m nothing more than a demon, the truth is I’m half angel.

  My fists tighten and my jaw clenches at the thought of Samael and what he almost did to Dhru. To me. Maybe a better, more loyal daughter would lament the capture of her father. Would try to demand his safe return despite the shit he pulled. Before Dhru, I was that daughter. I’m not sure who I am anymore. All I know is that, with Dhru, I have the freedom to find out.

  Tearing my eyes from Dhru, and the show she and Creed are putting on with their tongues and hands, I glance around the room to get my bearings, and to enjoy the decor before we more than likely destroy it.

  Magazine-perfect, high-end interior design gives the spacious layout a modern, extravagant feel. A quaint but well-stocked bar sits by the front door. Across from it is a living room boasting an eight-seat, dark wood table and decorative chandelier. The kitchen is next, with modern appliances and black granite countertops that scream luxury. Next is a sitting room. Then gaming room. The room at the end must be the bedroom.

  “Get naked and take me to the bedroom. Now,” Dhru commands. I don’t know if she’s talking to me or Creed. I also don’t know if it matters. We both obey.

  Scraps of fabric, leather, and bloody weapons litter the path down the small hallway, breadcrumbs of war. Not that we’ll need them to find our way back out, or that we’ll be leaving any time soon. We have three days before my energy starts to destroy people. Dhamyan’s warning was clear. No matter what happened between them, I know what my brother did. How many people he killed. I don’t wish to repeat his mistakes.

  Pulling away from Creed, Dhru turns her deliciously naked body toward me. The three of us are filthy from battle. Blood, gore, dirt, and who knows what else stains our skin. Not one of us has made a move to wash it off. Hell. Yes. I love a dirty fuck.

  Desire and the anticipation of promised pleasure race up my spine, making my skin tingle and burn. Hands—Dhru’s? Creed’s? Mine?—caress every dip and curve of my body. Dhru’s nipples harden when they rub against my chest. I pinch her beaded peaks, eliciting a moan of pleasure I drink with my lips.

  Creed’s strong, muscled arms snake around Dhru’s waist, then lower, to her thighs. He parts them for me. I slide my fingers through her wetness. She cries out as I let my Seduction ability take over. I know exactly what to do.

  Slipping my tongue into her mouth, I deepen the kiss the same time I bury three fingers inside her. She tries to clench her thighs, but with Creed holding her in place, she can’t escape. Kissing her, I hold his gaze, letting my eyes reveal my plan. When he winks, I know it’s on.

  Cursing, Dhru begs me to let her come. Sure, I could get her off, over and over again, with speed and efficiency. But that’s not what this is about. She’s my Destined. I’m hers. We have nothing but time together. And I plan on taking mine.

  I release her mouth and grab her chin. Letting my demon-angel genetics and decades of experience take over, I drop my voice to a more serious tone. “Look at me, Dhru Dharkstar.”

  Her eyes widen and lock on mine. Deep brown irises swirl with flecks of amethyst and gilded silver, her Fae and dragon sides both fighting to take control. They don’t have to worry. What I’m about to do is for both of them.

  Grabbing her chin harder, I stroke my fingers inside her. “I am going to fuck you, and eat your pussy, and fuck you some more.” She whimpers, and hell, this is too easy. “You aren’t allowed to release until I give you permission. Understand?” I punctuate the word hard to make my point.

  Panting, Dhru nods. Right now, I could get her to agree to anything. But because I know my dragon better than that, I don’t stop there.

  “You’re probably wondering, what’s the worst that could happen if you disobey,” I say.

  Her lips twitch at the corners.

  I tangle my fingers in her hair and pull hard enough to hurt, hard enough to feel good. “Do you know the benefits of having a Succubus lover?” I ask.

  “Not a fucking clue,” she answers, voice rough with unmet need. “But I hope to fuck I’m about to find out.”

  Bringing my lips to her ear, I let my tongue flick out and taste her flesh before I bite it. She hisses, then growls. Her sex clamps down on my fingers. “I know what your body craves most.” I lock eyes with Creed as I whisper in Dhru’s ear, because this applies to them both. “I can pleasure you beyond imagining.”

  Creed’s gaze hardens. His jaw muscle ticks.

  Before Dhru, I’d never tasted a Fae’s sexual energy. Now, I have two for my enjoyment. This should be interesting.

  Sliding my fingers out of Dhru, I lick them one by one, straining to keep control of the fire raging beneath my skin at the taste of her. By the Demon Seat, I need to be between her legs. But I need to make sure she understands the consequences of disobeying me first.

  “It also means that if you release without my permission, I will spend the rest of the time we’re locked in this room edging your orgasms to the brink of insanity. Not once will I push you over the edge to completion.” Stepping into Dhru’s warmth, my thighs press against hers. I grab her luscious ass with one hand and slide across her clit with the other. “Got it?”

  “Fuck you,” Dhru spits, all bark. The biting hasn’t started yet. “You wouldn’t dare do that to me. I know how wet you are right now. I can scent you. You’d never be able to resist me.”

  I allow my lips to tilt into a slow, sadistic grin. My headstrong, entitled, rambunctious dragon has so much to learn.

  Raising both eyebrows, I lower myself to my knees, keeping my gaze locked on Dhru’s face. “Try me.”

  She bites her lip and narrows her eyes, but I’m not looking at her face anymore. Not when I have perfection enticing me to play. Pushing her legs wider, I give Creed his command. “Lift her up, and hold her open. Whatever happens, don’t let her go.”

  I half expect him to say something sappy like, “I’ll never let her go,” or some shit, because let’s face it. Fae are dramatic like that. I’m grateful when he doesn’t. When, without a word, he complies.

  Using the nearby wall for support, Creed bends his knees and spreads his legs, posing as a deliciously dark, well-toned, and well-hung chair for Dhru to sit on. Lifting her backwards onto his waist—just above his thick, hard erection—he places Dhru’s legs on the outside of his own, spreading her wide open.

  Fucking perfection.

  Running my fingers along the insides of her folds, I lower my lips to hers and inhale. Her scent slams into me, all musk, spice, and fire. Flicking my tongue out, I explore her. Fuck me with the Devil’s pitchfork. She tastes a hundred times better than she smells. I swear I could release right now. I won’t. Nothing is as good as a hard-earned orgasm after the suffering of denial. We haven’t done near enough suffering.

  Dhru moans and bucks when I widen my tongue to stroke her, then plunge it inside, to her core. She struggles against Creed’s massive arms, her nails digging into his flesh. It doesn’t even occur to me to worry she’ll escape his grip. Creed has her. She isn’t going anywhere unless I say.

  Working my fingers inside Dhru, I latch on to her clit and stroke her with my tongue. With my other hand, I find Creed’s hard-as-fuck cock and rub it in the wet from Dhru’s denied pleasure.r />
  Now they’re both cursing, and groaning, and clenching, and trembling, and I swear I could laugh if my mouth weren’t so full.

  “Please, Harlo. Please! Fuck. I can’t . . . I can’t . . .”

  “You can’t what?” I hum against her sex.

  She growls.

  Creed growls.

  Fuck it. I do, too, for good measure. Why not?

  “I can’t hold out,” she screams before uttering extremely colorful language, some of which is in Faeryn. I don’t understand exactly what she’s saying. Whatever it is, it isn’t nice.

  That doesn’t mean I can’t be.

  Ready to get off before we teleported here, I decide it’s time to solidify our bond and test the limits of my Succubus nature. The three of us reaching climax at the same time is the ultimate hedonic act. A part of me is terrified of losing control. Terrified of wielding that much raw energy. But the rest of me can’t hold out any longer than my dragon and Called can.

  Fuck it. Time to take a page out of Dhru’s book and go all out reckless. I just hope the magick wards Dhamyan has on this room hold.

  Pressing Creed’s cock against Dhru’s opening, I guide him inside her, then stand, letting my thumb work Dhru’s clit. She gasps when Creed slides all the way in, then leans forward to give him a better angle. Before I can grab her hand and put it on my swollen, wet pussy, Dhru wraps one hand in my hair and pulls me in for a desperate kiss. Her fingers slide inside me, and damn. Damn. This is so right. She’s right. We’re right together. All of us.

  “Harlo?” Creed warns, every single line and dimple of his abs on full display. He’s close, and fighting his best to hold out.

  The Succubus in me wants to push them both further. Harder. Longer. But the Destined in me wants to please my mate. Wants to let her please me.

  Letting the pressure build between my legs until my vision blurs and my skin burns, I grind out the word, “Now!”

  Like a tidal wave battering an already worn shore, their bodies shudder. With one hand on her shoulder, the other on her hip, Creed buries himself all the way inside Dhru and shouts something in Faeryn. His locked muscles and violent orgasm make his entire body quiver. Dhru’s fingers curl inside me as she tilts her head back and roars. Flames lick across her skin, followed by scales and silver, but it quickly dissipates under the power of the ring Dhamyan gave her.