Page 41 of Claim of Blood (Blood Bound #1)

Chapter Twenty

Adam

The door closed with a soft click that seemed to echo in Adam’s bones. The evening’s events crashed over him in waves—Elisabeth’s magical assessment of Leo still burning in his memory like a brand.

She’d been thorough. Invasive, even. Her magic had swept over Leo from the moment they’d met, probing, cataloging, analyzing him like some fascinating specimen.

Adam doubted Leo had felt the full extent of her examination, but he had.

Every tendril of power ghosting over his claim’s skin, every magical probe testing the bonds between them, every curious exploration of Leo’s emerging abilities.

While Elisabeth wasn’t normally rude, the blatant violation had angered him in ways he hadn’t expected.

Leo was his. His to protect, to claim, to shield from prying senses.

The fact that it had been Lander’s mother only made it worse—a reminder that even among allies, Leo would always be something to study rather than simply accepted.

And then he’d seen Lander standing there in the doorway, watching with that careful neutrality he wore like armor, and something in Adam had simply snapped.

He couldn’t lash out at Elisabeth—she was a guest, an ally, Lander’s mother.

Diplomatic necessity demanded he swallow his rage.

But the fury had to go somewhere. And Lander.

.. Lander was his . His Court member, his to command, his to take his frustrations out on when supernatural politics tied his hands.

It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t rational. But fairness had never been part of vampiric hierarchy, and Adam was too old, too powerful, too used to getting what he wanted to pretend otherwise.

The need to dominate crashed through him like a physical force—primal, overwhelming.

Not the blood-deep pull he felt toward Leo.

This was something else entirely: a violent urge to assert control.

To make Lander submit in ways that had nothing to do with compatibility and everything to do with power.

He inhaled sharply, caught off guard by the intensity of his reaction to Lander’s presence. This wasn’t rational. This wasn’t controlled. This was pure instinct, clawing at his restraint with merciless persistence.

Lander’s tall frame seemed to fill the room, hair falling in messy waves, eyes wary. Confusion furrowed his brow, tension coiled in his shoulders. He shouldn’t affect Adam this way. And yet...

Lander’s presence was a challenge—one Adam felt compelled to meet.

“Strip.” The command left his lips before he could second-guess it, authority vibrating beneath the single word.

Lander froze, eyes widening. “Adam, I don’t—”

“Now.” The word cracked through the air like a whip, and Adam’s gaze flared dangerous and bright. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Lander’s fingers trembled as they moved to his shirt buttons, each motion hesitant. He paused halfway through, conflict written clear across his face.

“I’m not sure this is—”

“You’ll do as you’re told,” Adam growled, power rolling off him until the air itself seemed to thicken. “Or I’ll tear those clothes off you myself. Your choice.”

The threat hung between them. Lander swallowed hard and resumed unbuttoning with shaking hands. Behind them, Leo swayed, already drunk on the blood compatibility. His pupils were blown wide, breath shallow and wanting.

Adam pulled Leo back against his chest, sliding his hands under the soft cotton of his t-shirt.

Leo melted into him instantly, a broken whimper escaping his lips as his head fell back to Adam’s shoulder.

His fingers found Leo’s nipples, teasing them until Leo arched into the touch like he was drowning and Adam was the only air.

“Please,” Leo breathed, the word a ragged confession.

“Keep going,” Adam ordered Lander, his voice carrying that edge of violence that made the younger vampire flinch but obey.

Lander toed off his shoes, socks following, never taking his eyes off Adam’s hands on Leo’s body. He pulled his shirt free and dropped it, but his movements were still too slow, too careful.

“Faster,” Adam snapped, impatience sharpening his tone. “Unless you want me to do it for you.”

Lander’s fingers fumbled with his belt, then shoved his pants and briefs down in one motion. He stepped out of them, standing bare in the lamplight, his usual confidence nowhere to be found.

Adam savored the sight as he stripped Leo’s shirt away and pushed jeans and boxers down his legs. Leo was boneless against him, moaning quietly every time Adam’s hands grazed his skin.

“So good for me,” Adam murmured against Leo’s ear, watching Lander’s face flush at the praise. “Always so perfect.”

Releasing Leo, Adam circled Lander slowly, his hand trailing possessively down his hip. Lander’s confusion and arousal tangled in the air—fear and heat mixing until Adam’s fangs ached. The sight of him, already hard despite his hesitation, sent a dark thrill through Adam’s chest.

Adam wrapped a hand around Lander’s cock, stroking him slow and deliberate. Lander’s breath hitched, hips jerking forward before he managed to catch himself, shame tightening his jaw.

“You like this,” Adam said softly, each word a scalpel. “Even when you’re afraid.”

“I don’t—”

Adam’s grip tightened, making him gasp. “Don’t lie to me.” His thumb swept over the head of Lander’s cock, smearing the evidence of want. “Your body doesn’t lie, even if your mouth does.”

Adam’s grip tightened, making him gasp. “Don’t lie to me.” His thumb swept over the head of Lander’s cock, smearing the evidence of want. “Your body doesn’t lie, even if your mouth does.”

He released him abruptly, watching Lander sway forward, helpless to stop himself from chasing the contact before he forced stillness back onto his limbs.

“On your knees.”

Lander’s mouth opened, closed. “Adam, please—”

“Now.” The word cracked out, power lacing it so that Lander dropped to the carpet in a heartbeat.

Adam stepped forward, threading his fingers through blond hair before yanking his head back. His fangs descended as their eyes met. Lander’s breath came shallow, fast.

“Who do you belong to?”

“I—I don’t understand—”

Adam tightened his hold, just shy of pain. “Answer me.”

“I belong to you, Adam.” The words were ragged. “I’m yours to command.”

The submission lit something dark and satisfied in Adam’s chest. He released him, turned, and seized Leo’s wrist, dragging him toward the bed. The hunter went without resistance, pliant as warm wax.

Adam shoved Leo chest-down over the edge of the bed. The hunter moaned as his toes barely touched the floor, his hips high and exposed, rutting helplessly into the duvet in search of friction.

Adam turned back to Lander—still kneeling, still naked, still hard.

A simple two-fingered beckon. When Lander began to rise, Adam’s dominance flared again.

“Crawl.”

Lander recoiled. “What? No, I won’t—”

“You will,” Adam said coldly. Power rolled off him, pressing the younger vampire to the carpet. “Or I’ll make you.”

A long, tense pause—then Lander’s pride cracked.

He dropped onto his hands and crawled forward, humiliation burning behind his eyes.

The contrast, how strong Lander was, how fiercely proud, and yet how quickly Adam could reduce him to this…

it sent another pulse of pleasure through Adam’s ancient blood.

When Lander reached the bed, Adam threaded his fingers into that blond hair, not yanking yet—just feeling the weight of it, the tension wound tight beneath the surface.

“Show me how well you can use that tongue.” He pushed Lander’s face between Leo’s spread cheeks. “Open him up for me. Make him beg.”

Lander’s eyes flicked up. That final hesitation hovered—but Leo’s scent was thick in the air, and the compatibility thrummed between them like a live wire.

Then Lander bent forward.

The first swipe of his tongue made Leo gasp, his whole body jolting. The next moan was louder. Lander found a rhythm fast—his hunger clear now, his hands bracing Leo open as he worked his mouth deeper. Pride warred with instinct, but Adam could already see it—the surrender, the need.

He settled beside Leo, fingers carding through auburn hair as he watched Lander worship his claim. “That’s it,” Adam murmured. “Show me how obedient you can be.”

This wasn’t his usual preference. But this—Lander’s submission, Leo’s helpless pleasure—was intoxicating.

After several minutes, Leo was moaning into the sheets, hips rolling in time with Lander’s mouth. His whole body flushed, glistening.

“Add a finger,” Adam said.

He could orchestrate this forever, he realized. Command every touch, every sensation, every breath between them. A dormant need awakened, a thing that had slumbered for millennia, now roused and demanding to be fed with absolute control.

Lander obeyed instantly. One finger, then two, working Leo open as the hunter trembled. When the third slid in, Leo let out a cry and came, untouched, his climax painting the bedspread.

“Stop.”

Lander stilled immediately, breathing hard. Adam hauled Leo to the center of the bed, flipping him onto his back, then looked to Lander again.

“Kneel between his thighs.”

Lander moved into place, and Adam tossed the lube to him with casual dominance.

“Prep him properly. You’re going to fuck him.”

Lander caught the tube but froze, his eyes going wide with shock. “What? No.” Lander shook his head, backing up. “He’s your claim, Adam. I can’t—this isn’t right.”

Adam moved toward him slowly, dangerously. “Isn’t it?” His hand found Lander’s cock again, still hard. “Leo is mine to command. Just like you.”

“I won’t—”

Adam’s grip tightened. “Won’t pretend you don’t want this?”

He turned Lander’s face toward Leo. “Look at him. Spread open. Still wet. Still wanting.”

Lander’s breath faltered. Adam’s other hand slid down his chest. “Adam...”

“You want to touch him,” Adam whispered. “You’ve thought about it. I’m giving you permission.”