Page 18

DRAKE

T he world around me was a jumbled mass of color and discordant sound. Blaring music pumped through my veins, pulsating and vibrating my organs.

I vaguely recalled drinking the alcoholic drinks that Rosalana had offered me. Then the world started to tilt on its axis. I found myself on the dance floor, sweaty bodies hemming me in on all sides.

The sharp acrid stench of alcohol, mixed with sweat and artificial perfume, burned my nostrils.

I wrinkled my nose. Then, above all other scents that permeated the room, was one scent that had always captivated me so thoroughly.

Honeysuckle, with a hint of vanilla, drifted into my nostrils, filling my body like balmy air.

Sending my body, my cock, hard with want.

The world around me sharpened with a touch of clarity, allowing me to distinguish the bodies that filled the dance floor.

“Ember,” I breathed .

I shouldered my way through the gyrating fae and then saw her.

She was dancing not even a few feet from me, her hips rocking in tandem with the beat—her bottom wiggling.

Behind her stood a dark-skinned fae male with hair cropped close to his scalp.

His eyes hungrily devoured her ass. The stars’ damned dress she wore practically aired her body for all the world to see.

It was a formfitting gown that fell mid-thigh, with cutouts along her ribs and a swooping back.

The sequins sparked like obsidian gemstones.

The wicked spiked heels she wore only served to accentuate her long shapely legs that glistened like precious ivory under the strobe lighting overhead.

A vicious snarl tore from my throat. I was on the fae male a heartbeat later.

My talons sank into his forearm, snatching his arm away from Ember’s ass.

The male whirled around hissing, ready to flay alive whoever had disturbed him.

But one look at me sent his eyes popping wide with alarm, his face turning ashen.

“My—my prince!” He rasped. Bowing his head in reverence, he stammered, “I-I didn’t know she was yours. Honest! If I had?—”

“Unless you want your hands ripped from your body,” I growled, “then I suggest you get your sorry ass out of my sight.

The male nodded his head jerkily. I released him and watched with primal satisfaction as he scurried off.

“Way to interrupt my fun,” a feminine voice snapped at my rear, and I turned to face Ember.

The corners of my eyes leaked with violet light, my power building beneath my skin, moments from erupting. Yet Ember didn’t appear fazed at all. She glared at me, her amber eyes sparking like twin flames .

“You have no right,” she seethed.

She swayed slightly on her feet, and I knew then that she was somewhat affected by alcohol as well. Tipsy even. As she spoke, I could smell the faint bite of alcohol.

“I have all the right in the world,” I snarled back at her. “I am your mate. No one touches you but me.”

Ember barked out a laugh though it held no humor. “You lost that privilege the moment you rejected me.” Her eyes grew wet for a brief moment, then she blinked, and the moisture was gone.

A sharp pain burrowed into my heart.

Why the hell were there tears in her eyes?

Something told me that she was hurting—not physically but on an emotional level.

Did I do something to her to cause her distress? I tried to recall events before this club, but my mind was a jumbled whirl of scattered, fragmented thoughts and memories. I was too damn drunk to make sense of it.

“Get the hell away from me,” Ember growled. I caught the soft crack in her voice. “Don’t ever come near me again.” She whirled around, making to leave.

No! She can’t leave. She has to stay by my side. Forever!

My arm shot out, and I gripped her elbow, desperate to keep her with me. She struggled and writhed, her leg kicking out, her foot connecting with my shin. But the pain was dull in my drunken stupor.

“Dance with me,” I purred, my voice dropping to a husky murmur .

“No,” Ember hissed, baring her teeth at me. “If you don’t let go in three seconds, I’m going to bite your ass!”

A dark smile twisted my lips. “I can think of other more appropriate places for you to bite,” I said. Dropping my head, I nipped at her bare shoulder. It was merely a kiss of my fangs along her soft flesh.

Ember let out a yelp of surprise, her hand slapping over said shoulder. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She explained.

I swept my tongue across my lips, savoring the honey taste of her skin. “You’re as delicious as I thought you’d be,” I said, my voice ragged with lust.

Immediately, I saw her eyes honing in on my mouth. Her lips parted slightly. I swayed slightly on my feet as a pulse of want shot straight to my cock.

I reached forward, my hands encircling her waist, drawing her closer. She struggled, but even I could tell that it was halfhearted.

“Come dance with me,” I whispered again. “Just one dance. What can it hurt?”

Her eyes flared with indecision as she peered into my eyes.

“But you’re drunk,” she said, a brow raised.

I gave a wicked smirk. “Like that has stopped anybody before.”

I turned her around so her ass faced me.

Then I proceeded to grind against her in tandem with the beat.

I placed my hand against the middle of her back.

Electricity crackled along my palm when I felt her velvety soft flesh.

I hissed my pleasure, satisfied when a ripple coursed down Ember’s spine.

Emboldened by her reaction, I pushed her forward so that she bent, exposing me more of that delicious bottom.

I thrust my pelvis forward harder. Stronger. Teasing her with just what I would do in bed. She let out a breathy moan, then began to twerk against me. I let my head fall back as a guttural groan escaped my lips.

Damn, was she tempting.

I gently grasped her elbows and pulled her backward to stand against me.

My arms wrapped around her abdomen. We swayed against each other, not really following a rhythm anymore.

The two of us were completely lost in each other, and I never wanted to be found.

I lowered my head and licked up the slender column of her throat.

Ember gasped, her movements getting sloppy.

Her arousal saturated my senses.

My tongue found the shell of her ear, and I flicked the wet muscle over it.

Once. Twice. Before I closed my mouth over her ear and dipped my tongue into the canal, swirling it.

Ember sank lower, her knees had given out, and I bound her tighter against me to keep her upright.

I felt her hand bury itself in my hair, her claws lightly kissing my scalp.

I had aroused her enough that her wolf wanted to come out and play. I smiled at that.

Then I felt her fingers graze along my hardened cock, as she sought to find me. I let go of her ear and hissed sharply, nearly spilling out from that simple touch. I grabbed her hand and snatched it away.

I panted, my chest heaving. Ember’s own breasts rose and fell with labored breaths, though we hadn’t danced hard enough to warrant that much exertion .

I whispered into her ear. “Let’s get out of here.”

She angled her head, her lust-filled gaze finding mine. Her eyes cleared slightly as if she were coming back to reality. Stars, no, I would keep her here with me at all costs.

My hand dipped low, ducking under her short dress to press against her panties. They were soaked with her arousal. She let out a throaty exhale at the feel of my fingers.

I whispered again, “Come away with me.”

Again, she lifted her gaze to peer deep into my eyes. Finally, she gave a small nod.

And that was all I needed from her.