FavoriteObsession, page 7
Josh walked back to the bar and grabbed another drink as he considered how to respond. While he’d planned on pursuing Mira himself, tonight’s revelation made him reconsider. He needed a chance to think about his next step because he kept coming back to one sticking point—did he have the right to get in the way of Mira’s destiny? That was the million-dollar question and one he didn’t have an answer to at the moment.
“Is the prophecy the reason you kept us apart?”
Kade shrugged. “It’s one of the reasons.”
“Why else?”
“It’s safer.”
Josh frowned. “For who? Mira or me?”
Another shrug.
Knowing it was the only answer Josh would get from the stubborn shifter, he straddled the chair and took a swig of his second beer. Time for a different approach. “As an outsider looking in, I can’t help but wonder if the order from the Council has more to do with the prophecy surrounding Mira’s kids than the lack of breeding couples.” He pointed at Kade with his bottle. “I think there’s someone with their own agenda on the Council.”
Kade tilted his head to the side as he studied him. After a long moment, he inclined his head slightly. “I agree. The discontent between the royals and the single-shifters has grown over the years. They resent our tie to the gods.” A weary sigh accompanied the small shake of his head. “When word of the goddess’s blessing spread amongst our species, the singe-shifters saw it as a way to finally earn immortality.”
Mira’s children would lead the shifters into a new era.
Josh cursed as all the tragedies of Mira’s life took on new meaning. If the mortal single-shifters were willing to turn Molly into a living incubator for the kids they hoped could make their race immortal, it wasn’t a hell of a stretch to see how they’d interrupt Mira’s prophecy as a way to do so too. “When she killed her rapist, the single-shifters took it as a slap in the face.”
“So to speak. My sire accused them of orchestrating the whole thing so she would be tied to a single. They denied it.”
“Of course.”
“Exactly,” Kade sighed, “but the number of unwanted suitors vying for her body declined after he called them on it.”
Josh tipped the bottle and studied the amber liquid. The thought of another man kissing Mira, let alone fucking her, infuriated him. Being reminded that there’d been guys after her for nearly three hundred years pushed him to the edge. Ridiculous thing to be angry about considering he’d only met the woman this summer and had just kissed her tonight but…yeah, he couldn’t deny it. He wanted to hunt them down and make them hurt.
The surge of possessiveness shocked him. Sure, he wanted Mira. He hadn’t lied when he told her he felt something between them. He also knew a woman like Mira would be one he’d treasure for the rest of his life. What he didn’t get was his violent response to losing her. Normal people didn’t react like that. He pushed the concern away. He’d worry about it when he didn’t have Kade looming over him.
He gently put the beer down and flattened his palms on the surface. “Say what you came to say.”
“Tomorrow I will announce Aron, Zach and myself as Mira’s suitors. No other Alexanders have stepped forward to court her.”
Josh clenched his jaw so he didn’t voice his intention to court her too. There was one more thing he needed to know first. “Do you believe in the prophecy?
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
“You don’t think it got nullified when she killed her…” A surge of intense rage swept over him just thinking about what Edmund had done to her. He swallowed hard and added, “Her mate?”
“No.” He studied the table as if the answers to Mira’s problems were written there. “There was more to the prophecy than Aron shared.”
“What else?”
“Nothing that concerns you, human.” Kade peered at him, the warning clear. “If you care about Mira, you’ll stay away from her. Her future doesn’t involve you. All you’re doing is hurting her.”
“And if I don’t?”
Kade took an interest in the condensation on the bottle he held. He slowly dragged his forefinger down the length and around the label before picking at it. Josh watched him scrape half off before Kade’s patience snapped.
“Well?”
Kade finished removing the soggy paper and drank the contents. “We’ll do whatever is necessary to eliminate the temptation you pose.”
Josh bit back a curse. “And how are you going to do that? I’m Devin’s beloved human. Unless you kill me, Mira will always be drawn to me.”
Kade flicked the wad of balled label across the room. “We’re not entirely animals.”
“Hurt me enough that I’m out of the way?”
Kade nodded in answer.
“Fine. Consider your warning delivered. Now get out.”
For once Kade did as he was told. Josh waited until he heard the rumble of Kade’s ’Cuda before he went to get another beer.
Several drinks later, Josh finally reached that point of numbness he’d been hoping to find. He stood, pleased with the fuzzing in his head. Adding in all those shots had helped. He stumbled toward his office. It’d been a long time since he’d crashed there. Since he’d moved all of his stuff out of the apartment on the rear of the property, he didn’t have anywhere else to go. The lumpy old couch would have to do.
Halfway across the room, he stopped. The hairs on the back of his neck rose. His heart kicked into high gear. He drew in a deep breath, nostrils flaring to drag in as much information as he could. Mira’s scent seeped into his lungs, leaving him a little lightheaded. Another whiff and he groaned. Every time he smelled her, her fragrance got stronger.
He scanned the bar, but didn’t see her. With the only light coming from the neon signs along the wall, there were too many shadows. He closed his eyes and let his other senses guide him. Her rapid heartbeat echoed in his ears, shocking him for a moment but not long enough to stop him from embracing the information he shouldn’t have possessed.
He pivoted on his heel, listened to the sound and grinned. With purposeful strides, he closed the distance between them and stopped a few feet from where she stood by the wall. The picture she made kicked his pulse into high gear.
She’d either washed the dye out or shifted. Gorgeous patchwork hair hung to her waist. God, he loved her hair. So damn soft and silky, his fingertips tingled whenever he touched it. Since her shiny locks were the only part of her the other shifters didn’t mind him touching, he indulged in his secret craving every chance he got.
The same outfit she’d worn to the bar a few hours ago—short shorts and a clingy top—molded her body and exposed her bare legs. Her presence tempted him but dressed like a walking wet dream she tested his self-control. Sitting at the table with her tonight had nearly broken it. He’d wanted to caress every inch of her body but had settled for the section of her thigh he could touch without drawing too much attention. Now, however, there was nobody to stop him and nobody to remind him he couldn’t be with her.
He planted his palms on either side of her face. Although slightly taller than the average human female, she fit him. He could rest his chin on her head. He stepped closer and did exactly that, nuzzling against her hair as if it were the most natural thing in the world. No wonder the mated shifters did this. Her scent wafted to his nose. It surrounded him and become a part of him.
“Mira,” he said simply. No other words would come out.
He banded his arms around her shoulders and held her tightly against him. She repeated the back-and-forth motion he’d delivered to her hair, only his chest got the intimate caress. His cotton tee prevented the skin-to-skin contact he craved, but it didn’t diminish from the act. It still left him with a sense of her adoration.
She buried her face against him. “I wanted to apologize for earlier. I didn’t mean to run off on you.”
The muffled words tugged at his heart. “Don’t apologize. I would’ve wanted to get out of here too.”
Silence stretched, the comfortable kind and one he’d never experienced with another woman. He skimmed the length of her spine until he cupped the back of her skull. With his fingers woven in her hair, he tipped her head back. Half-lidded eyes met his, the look of desire one he only saw her wear in his dreams.
His gaze dropped to her mouth. Plump, soft lips parted slightly as she panted. Each breath she took quickened his pulse. He fought the reaction. Walk away, walk away. The mantra repeating in his head didn’t help nor did remembering she had a future which didn’t involve him. He had no business wondering what it’d feel like to slide his cock into her drenched center.
He mentally ticked off every obstacle preventing them from giving in to the attraction they shared. Yet, none of those reasons overcame the rightness being with her brought. He wanted to wrap himself around Mira and never let her go. Too damn bad it couldn’t happen. They were only torturing themselves. He didn’t doubt Kade’s promise that he’d do whatever it took to keep them apart. Josh didn’t care about getting a beating, but Mira would feel guilty. He hated seeing her upset.
With a freaking Herculean effort, he forced his body away from her tempting one. He’d do the right thing for Mira. It might kill him but whatever. He’d be the one dying anyway. Mira would forever look as she did now—a goddess, an untouchable one.
She slid the tip of her pink tongue along her upper lip. He followed the slow, sensual glide with his eyes and wondered what he’d done in life to deserve having heaven forever out of reach. It had to have been bad though.
Her kaleidoscope eyes took on a faint glow. He focused on the blue and green specks and swayed toward her. The warmth of her breath bathed his face. Soft lips touched his. Fire raced to his cock. He jerked back. Damn, the woman made him weak. He took a step away but she reached for him, fisting his shirt in her delicate hand. Desperation settled in her eyes. The frantic look kicked up his pulse.
“Please.”
One word and he lost his righteous convictions.
He bent his head and kissed her. Her flavor hit him, a sweet and spicy combination he could live on. Needing more of her rich taste, he licked each lip, slowly so as to memorize her texture. Her shuddered moan spurred him on. With a groan, he sucked on her lower lip, his craving for her growing. Not enough. He slipped inside and danced his tongue with hers. Deep rolling thrusts drew more of her unique essence to him, finally easing his yearning, but another one took its place.
The zipper of his jeans dug into his shaft. The pinch of pain didn’t stop him from grinding his hard dick against her flesh. The ache, unbearable. It’d been so long since he’d had sex. The single nights of mindless couplings had stopped being fun and not worth the hassle of jilted lovers. Once Mira had walked into his life, he couldn’t look at anyone else, let alone touch them. Every day watching her, knowing he couldn’t do what they were doing right now built his frustration and his lusts.
He shifted his hips to stimulate her more, needing her hot. Wild. He wanted her dripping in welcome for him, begging him for release. Another rough grind and she whimpered. The anxious tugging at his backside proved she was right there with him, ready to meet his demands. He cupped her bottom, lifting her to fit their bodies together. With his cock nudging a heaven he’d only fantasized about, he claimed her sweet mouth as his, desperate to join their bodies in some small way.
Her fangs descended, a sign he knew meant her primal instincts had been triggered. Another dream come true. He’d overheard her telling Jazz no man had ever brought out her wild side. The sharp teeth turning their kiss into a dangerous dance told him he got to be her first. That did it for him. Plain and simple. He explored each pointed canine with the tip of his tongue. A shudder ran through her body. He repeated the motion and she groaned.
Fucking. Hell.
He tilted his head and licked the length of each once more before thrusting deeper. Her blood—the deliciously decadent taste of rich, dark chocolate—flavored the kiss. It made the melding of their mouths sweeter.
She slipped her fingers under the waistband of his pants and treated each ass cheek to a rough massage before removing her hand. He broke the kiss to demand she touch him again. He never got the chance to speak. In one quick move, she popped the button on his jeans, yanked the zipper down and fisted his erect cock, no boxers to get in the way.
Cursing, he grasped her wrist. He wasn’t a saint and this woman was his obsession. He squeezed lightly. “Mira, wait.”
Instead of releasing him, she gave his dick a fisted tug, head to base. His eyes rolled back in his head.
“But I don’t want to and neither do you.”
She didn’t give him another chance to deny her. She gently pried his fingers from her wrist and turned her focus on pleasuring him.
Hands splayed on the wall, he shuddered as she worked him. Long, sure strokes took him to the brink faster than he’d thought possible. She shoved his pants down his thighs with her other hand. Featherlight touches of her fingertips danced across his skin. The hesitant exploration countered the purposeful way she gripped his erection. It doubly assaulted his senses. Left him a little crazed.
“You’re playing with fire, baby.”
Mira dropped to her knees and peered up at him, a look of pure lust etched onto her features. “It’s only dangerous when you can’t handle the heat.” She dropped her gaze to his dick. Under her intent study, pre-cum welled at the tip. She licked her lips, eyes locked to his erection. “And I like feeling hot.”
She captured the drop on her fingertip and curled her tongue around the slender digit. Her eyelids fluttered closed. “There’s only one problem.”
Her breathless whisper whipped through him and sped his pulse. He panted, muscles straining with the effort it took not to rip those too-short shorts off her hips and ram his cock into her. No way would he rush this. He focused on the swoop of lashes lying like crescent moons on her sun-kissed skin. Once he could speak, he asked, “What’s that?”
“I get hungry.” She tipped her head back, locking gazes with him while she traced the length of his shaft. “This is the only thing that’ll satisfy me. You won’t deny me what I need. Will you, Josh?”
Without waiting for an answer, she opened her mouth and drew him in. That ended his resistance. He groaned, his hips moving in a natural rhythm Mira commanded. Swirls of her tongue teased more drops of pre-cum from the tip and the soft, appreciative moans as she licked him added to the crazy lust consuming him. Knowing she enjoyed his taste stimulated him as much as the licks of her tongue did. God, he couldn’t get enough of this woman. He thrust quicker with shallow strokes he knew wouldn’t choke her but would ramp up his pleasure.
The sharp points of her claws pressed into his backside. He stilled. A tug and she pulled him closer, deeper so the head of his cock met the back of her mouth. Her deadly talons didn’t break the skin. She kept him immobilized with them and the hint of danger they posed excited him. He was at her mercy. He swelled more.
“Fuck, yeah.” Sweat trickled down his spine. His limbs trembled as he fought the compulsion to move.
He glanced down. With her gaze locked to his, she eased back and slowly clamped down over the length of hard flesh in her mouth. The press of fangs around the ridge of his cock tore a rough sound from his throat.
“Hell, you got me right where you want me, don’t you?” She blinked, her only answer. He grinned. “So now that you caught me, what are you going to do to me?”
The pressure of her teeth eased and she sucked hard, groaning as if she’d never tasted anything better than his cock.
“Fuck, Mira.” His raw, guttural voice didn’t sound like his.
Her throat closed around him before he took the thought further. The squeezing of muscles over his dick was something he’d never experienced. He wanted more—her tongue, fangs, claws, anything she’d give him.
He thrust into her wet mouth, sliding his dick over her tongue. She curled it as he withdrew and flattened it as she sucked him deep. Her hungry moan resonated along the length. His balls drew up. He jerked back, completely caught off guard by how one simple pleasured sound could elicit such an instantaneous response, but she didn’t let him escape. She followed his retreat and licked around the head of his cock. She repeated the swirl and he groaned.
“Again, Mira.” More of the deep grumble. It echoed in his ears. He ignored it. “Do it again.”
She teased the sensitive head with swipes of her tongue. A circling pass followed by a lick over the slit and he wondered if heaven had finally found him. She toyed with the tip, drawing more pre-cum forth, and lapped it up. Her appreciative sigh added to the act.
He stilled the restless motion of his hips and stroked a finger down her cheek. “Do you like my taste?”
She moaned in answer.
“Look at me.” He waited until she complied, peeking at him through her long, thick lashes. He’d never seen anything more beautiful than this woman kneeling at his feet with her cheeks drawn in and her lips stretched wide over his cock. “Show me how much.”
She released the dangerous hold she had on one ass cheek and trailed her sharp nails over his hip. His breaths quickened. He glanced from the satisfaction in her eyes to her talon-tipped fingers. With the edge of one deadly tip, she traced along his sensitive vein from the root of his penis to where her lips held him in a tight grip. She eased her mouth off him. Wetness glistened from the exposed length to her lips. Her hungered groan nearly undid him. She leaned closer, her intent clear.
“Wait.” He wanted this to last. The look on her face and his reaction to it guaranteed it wouldn’t. She stilled and her immediate obedience to his order excited him more.
He swallowed hard and rubbed his thumb over the corner of her mouth. She lifted her gaze to his and the expectant look on her face satisfied him on so many levels. His little predator might have him where she wanted him, but she wasn’t in charge. She wanted to please him. He saw the need reflected in her eyes. And yeah…that was fucking fantasy-worthy. He wrapped his fingers around his shaft and brushed the head over her parted lips. She flicked her tongue out. He shuddered.
