Page 15 of Destined By Dragonblood (Blood Born #2)

Dolyn

I watched as Vanni brought my mate release and caressed over skin he had no right to touch.

And strangely, I did. Not. Care.

Jealousy should have roused my beast from his purring delight into raging fire and brimstone. I should have burned the sky rise to the ground until nothing but glowing embers and ash remained as I took to the sky, my female clutched to my chest.

Instead, I sat camouflaged, my cock hard and aching inside my jeans, eyes riveted on the gorgeous sight of Vanni gifting my female pleasure without a single touch between her thighs.

He’d done the same to me.

Growling beneath my breath, I pressed down on my shaft, thrusting into my grip.

I’d decided to continue my pursuit slowly and only reveal myself from a distance to Ashley to see how the sight of me would affect her—if at all.

She’d felt my stare and had taken note of where I’d stood outside the cafe for nearly two hours watching her eat, attempt to read, and keep an eye on me.

I hadn’t yet felt ready to approach and enter the cafe and realized she might be uncomfortable with a man starting at her for so long.

But she hadn’t appeared unsettled by my presence or my focus being solely on her.

The same dog that had come across me on my first night in New York had found me again, keeping me company as I watched.

Once she’d exited the establishment, I’d made myself disappear from sight so I could loom closer.

Sniff her. Follow feet away as she walked Manhattan’s sidewalks.

The filthy dog had trailed after me, loyal even though we’d only just met.

His presence had made my heart ache, and I promised myself I would look after him as soon as I could.

Rather than go to the subway as she always did at the end of the workday, Ashley entered the building I’d followed Vanni into earlier in the day.

Once more, I’d been forced to leave my new K-9 friend behind in pursuit of my female. Even knowing her destination and who she intended to see, I hadn’t been jealous. Simply curious and a whole lot turned on.

Ashley had been aware of my presence the entire elevator ride upward, going so far as to ask who I was once she thought she was alone.

I could have appeared out of thin air and answered, but she would have freaked for sure.

I couldn’t have any fear consume her from my presence.

Instead, I stayed close, following her like a lost puppy straight into the women’s locker room where she continued to act unbothered by my presence, which she most certainly took note of.

As though feeling my stare like a caress, she’d watched the corner of the changing area where I leaned against the wall, my body vibrating with need to lower my walls and allow my inner beast the joy of scenting her again.

With every piece of clothing she removed, Ashley flushed a deeper red, her lips parting as she glanced at me. She didn’t attempt to hide herself while baring her skin or even appear uneasy about someone staring as she stripped down.

She’d left, and I snuck into the lounge a few seconds later, thankfully no one seemed to notice the door open and close without anyone visibly coming or going.

Vanni had his hand on her lower back, leading her toward the private room where I’d allowed him to bring me to release.

My inner dragon had whimpered, horny as fuck from the reminder of that night with Vanni, but thankfully he remained silent in his desire for the bite of pain.

I’d been too far gone in my own head and lust to fight with that half of my being.

Giving in to what he wanted would be bending over alongside Ashley and begging for Vanni’s cock and cum to fill me.

I hissed, tearing my hand off my groin for the arms of the chair where I sat enthralled over the sight of them together.

What made Ashley trust Vanni?

How had he weaseled his way into her life and suspicious mind?

Nothing about my female suggested she was a masochist until I’d seen with my own eyes how easily Vanni’s sadistic side matched her darker desires.

Other than rubbing over her reddened skin, Vanni didn’t touch her intimately. He didn’t offer the usual aftercare a submissive deserved after sceneing with their Dom.

Perhaps she didn’t trust the man she’d called master, as I had refused to do.

I frowned over the puzzle in my brain, watching as he carefully replaced her robe, now taking care to keep from touching her skin as he’d done with me.

He retrieved a bottle of cold water, barely any words passing between them as they sat in chairs across from each other a few feet closer to me than the dais they’d scened upon.

He should have been cradling her in his arms. Soothing his palms over her skin, murmuring against her ear. Slowly bringing her back…

I took in her relaxed body, her face still flushed and blissed out from release. She hadn’t fallen into subspace, which meant she withheld a part of herself from him, same as I’d always done with Elijah.

I relaxed into my chair, my chest puffing out, wishing I could unhide myself, tell her who she belonged to, the only alpha she would ever fully submit to.

My beast hissed disagreement at my thoughts, but I ignored him, watching as Vanni led Ashley to the door of the women’s locker room a short while later.

I should have followed on her heels, but I wasn’t yet ready to leave.

She disappeared from sight, and I turned my watchful gaze onto Vanni, who spun to take in his lounge, hands on his hips, his bulge thick and inviting.

My backside ached, my empty hole desiring to be stuffed full while glides over my prostate caused pre-cum to pulse through my shaft.

“No,” I muttered even though my beast hadn’t spoken a word. But I did want release. Desperately. And a hot, willing Dom stood across the room from me.

Did he have another submissive to care for tonight now that Ashley was gone?

Would he agree to scene with me if I asked?

With how his body had responded to beating me with that cane, I didn’t doubt he would, given the chance to hurt me.

I would see Ashley home and return for one more taste of his heavy hand.

And tomorrow?

I would stride forward toward my destiny with no further hinderances, approach my female, and finally speak with her face-to-face.

Decision made, I strode across the lounge and waited silent and invisible in the entryway.

Both Vanni and Ashley appeared a few minutes later, bundled for the cold weather. I stood in the corner of the elevator they shared, watching as his hands fisted and released a few times. I understood his fight to keep from touching her.

“Are you sure you’re alright, Ash?” he asked once the doors closed, leaving them supposedly alone.

“Yes.” She smiled up at him but shivered as though aware I shared space with the two of them. “A little sore, but I love the reminder of what you gifted me.”

“Good.” The starburst in Vanni’s eyes seemed to glow as he looked down at her, warmth and more than affection lining his face.

Their gazes stayed locked, the taste of sexual tension sweet on my tongue.

Vanni lifted a hand as though thinking to tuck wayward strands of dark hair behind her ear but hesitated.

“Go ahead,” she whispered, and he gently did as I’d expected.

Both exhaled heavily as his hand dropped to his side, fingers curling inward. “Thank you.”

Her smile radiant, Ashley peered up at him.

Nothing in me demanded I step between them, tear Vanni’s focus off my female’s face.

Continued lust, still raging from the spanking he’d gifted her, kept me hard and throbbing.

I was curious over how far he would go in his desire for her and how hot they would be writhing together while I watched.

The scent of lust intensified in the air, stirring my skin toward pebbling, and my body flushed with heat.

Charged moments passed in silence, and I swore I could hear all three of our rapid heartbeats.

“Are you sure you’re comfortable staying at the condo alone tonight?” Vanni asked, his voice low and ragged as though experiencing the same need as I did.

Ashley’s smile faded slightly. “I felt that second presence tonight after work but only until I got to the cafe, then it disappeared.”

Lips pursed, Vanni nodded.

Second presence? My brow furrowed. Someone else stalked her?

Hackles raising, I bit back a low, animalistic growl as tension rippled over my body.

“I’m only a call away,” Vanni assured her, lightly touching her elbow.

She leaned in a little closer. “As long as the cold one isn’t around, I’ll be fine.”

“And the good eyes? Have you felt them at all today?”

A flush crept up Ashley’s neck and face as she glanced toward the corner where I lurked.

“I don’t mind his presence in the slightest. He’s…

well, it’s why I asked for you to touch me tonight.

Something has woken up inside me I haven’t experienced since—you know.

” She returned her focus to Vanni’s face, searching his eyes.

“You truly don’t believe I’m losing my mind, do you? ”

“Not at all,” he assured her.

The elevator slowed, and a couple climbed aboard with us, ending the conversation I was desperate to hear more of.

My muscles quivered as anger simmered inside me, embers ready to flare into flames if needed over this second person following my mate.

Who was it, and what were his intentions toward her?

For a brief moment, I imagined the creature to be our beta, but he wouldn’t instill fear or unease in our female if they were fated to be together. If this second presence caused her minuscule amount of dragonblood instinct to raise a red flag, I ought to trust her judgment.