Page 16 of Destined By Dragonblood (Blood Born #2)

I stalked close to both of them as they made their way to his Mercedes, finding myself thankful she had a human man she could call on to keep her safe until she grew comfortable with my presence at her side.

Without a second thought, I shredded my clothing and took to the dark sky, following overhead as Vanni’s car eventually crossed the bridge into Jersey.

Having become aware someone else had their eye on Ashley, I felt even more driven to reveal myself to her.

But tonight, I needed to be tied down onto Vanni’s bench to experience the same release as my female had. Besides, she said she would be fine once home.

I watched Ashley shut herself up for the night in her condo, listening from beside the stoop where I hid in plain sight as the locks engaged. Vanni hesitated in leaving, same as I did, but eventually, he returned to his car and pulled away, red tail lights fading from view.

I stayed put in Ashley’s flower bed, lest the cold presence she’d spoken of lingered nearby and dared approach.

A half hour of peaceful silence and a lack of movement on Walnut Street passed.

Feeling confident in her safety, I shifted and shot into the sky.

A slow, low fly over the surrounding area didn’t allow my enhanced dragon sight to pick up anyone hovering in the shadows.

I flapped my leathery wings harder, intent on Manhattan and Vanni’s club.

Minutes later, in human form and still camouflaged, I snuck into the men’s locker room, pleased to find it empty.

Willing myself into sight, I slipped into a blue robe identical to the one Ashley had worn.

More people gathered in the lounge when I entered, my presence drawing a few sets of eyes as I had last week.

Ignoring their hungry stares, I scanned the room, intent on one man.

Vanni sat broodingly in a chair in the far corner, a tumbler with clear liquid and lime wedge in his hand. He lifted his glass to drink but caught sight of me and paused.

Our gazes held, and he finally sipped, holding my eyes in place—and my body—the entire time. He swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing, hand lowering. Lifting his chin and widening his thighs, he narrowed his gaze. A come-hither look and demand to submit if I’d ever seen one.

Too desperate from the buildup over the last two hours, I strode toward him with sure steps, uncaring of other patrons’ eyes following me as I passed them by.

“Dolyn.” He all but hummed my name, pleasure in his low tone as I stood before him.

Kneeling wouldn’t happen no matter how much my beast whimpered for me to obey the alluring human.

I dipped my head in greeting but held his stare rather than sinking down and presenting myself. “Sir.”

He drank from his tumbler again, eyes flicking down over me and back up. “Do you need something from me, boy?”

My molars ground together.

A slow smile curved his lips, his mossy green eyes lighting with excitement. “I don’t suppose you would get on your knees for me while I finished my drink.”

He didn’t ask a question, so I didn’t bother responding.

“Fine.” Vanni set his tumbler aside and stood. Two steps forward brought him into my personal space.

I lifted my chin to look down my nose at him, loving the fact I had a couple of inches over his human height.

His smile widened as his gaze drifted over my neck. “You reek of lust and need.”

There was no questioning the truth.

“Come.”

My balls tightened at his command, but I ignored my beast’s instinctive desire to climax since Vanni meant for me to accompany him to the private room he started toward.

Same as with Ashley, I followed like a needy puppy, close to his heels, desperate for the pain and release he would help me find.

His ass flexed beneath his leather pants, that damned harness making my human side’s fingers itch to grab hold and command him .

But I remained quiet and kept my fists at my sides.

The private room hadn’t changed since I’d last been inside, and I shrugged the robe from my shoulders, ignoring its silent flutter to the floor while striding toward the bench.

“So hungry,” Vanni mused behind me, but I didn’t argue his assessment.

Famished better described my current state.

“What’s your safeword, boy?” he asked while buckling me to the bench, taking care to keep from touching my skin.

“Beta,” I stated clearly without any intent of saying it while he gave me what I desired.

“Cane?”

“The whip tonight, Sir,” I requested since I was more in the mood for stinging pain rather than the rod.

“Mmm.” He hummed his appreciation. “Have your hard limits changed, Dolyn?”

My beast hissed for me to give more tonight, and I reminded him that we would wait for our beta for penetration. This human didn’t deserve to touch royalty. “My limits remain the same,” I informed Vanni, while my inner beast grumbled at me.

“Shame.” Vanni sighed and moved to the wall where various toys hung. He returned, shaking the whip’s coils loose. The tip dragged on the ground behind him, and I shivered in anticipation, well aware of his every move. “How badly do you need the pain tonight?”

“I want release more than agony.”

“Sir,” he reminded me.

“ Sir .” I echoed his title with a bite to my tone.

Vanni chuckled. “Hold on, boy. Let your master bring you to your knees.”

“You aren’t?—”

A whooshing sound led to a stinging stripe over my ass cheeks, cutting off my denial.

I hissed at the delicious sensation, my beast purring his delight over being strapped down and at a dominant’s mercy. Staring straight ahead, I flexed my cheeks, my hole clenching.

“Color?” Vanni asked, voice low, his face near my ear.

“Green, Sir.” I made myself snip rather than moan and settled in for what wouldn’t take too long.

Pre-cum dripped from my slit before the fifth slash over my skin, and by the tenth, I sagged, panting and sweating, beast roused and begging for more.

“The sight of you like this undoes me.” Vanni’s ragged voice flooded through my entire being, and I shuddered, biting back a deep groan. “What I wouldn’t give to soothe and lick the marks I’ve put on your skin.”

His words caused a shudder to ripple through me, those slashes tingling in desire for the same.

“No,” I forced through gritted teeth.

“Do you want more, boy?” Hot breath ghosted over my neck, awareness of his proximity causing my overheated skin to tingle as my beast pushed to make himself known and scent the man.

I shoved him down, his hiss loud in my ears regardless of him being locked up tight. “You know I do—just do. Not. Touch. Me.”

“Pity.” Vanni’s presence beside me disappeared, allowing me to breathe.

Three more quick stripes over my back pulled grunts from my lungs.

“Again. Please,” I hated how my voice sounded like a whiny, needy bitch, the type of man Father would despise.

My inner beast hissed at the thought, and I shoved Father from my mind, focusing on the heat growing low in my groin. Another hit sent shivers down my spine, settling at its base.

One more, maybe two would tip me over.

“Fuck yes.” I gulped and shuddered.

Another—

Cum erupted through my shaft at the next hit, and I roared, spurts of white pulsing in a stream from pent-up lust and longing.

I jerked against my bonds but only with human strength so as not to escape.

My muscles twitched until I finished, gasping for breath.

Satiated bliss buzzed through my blood, allowing me to sag against the bench.

Tingles raced through me, settling into my fingertips and toes.

A heavy sigh left me completely depleted and at rest.

Soon.

Yes, it wouldn’t be long before I would fill our female with my seed, I assured my inner beast, my cock attempting to thicken again.

Master Vanni—watch.

I cut my beast’s fantasy short, his manipulation rousing my lax muscles to wakefulness. He continued to purr with satiated bliss from his curled-up position deep inside me, unaffected by me setting him straight.

Vanni could give my female the pain she yearned for until the time she accepted me as her alpha. The thought of hurting her churned my guts, and I questioned my ability to gift her what she desired.

Beta .

I wondered if my inner dragon suggested our beta might be a sadist even though I’d never read throughout history of such a Blood Born existing. Or perhaps, he meant what he usually did—that we were the lesser of worth.

Awareness of Vanni behind me sent a rush of energy through me, pebbling my skin.

Beta .

My beast’s echo assured me of his intention in speaking.

“Release me,” I demanded, and Vanni submitted to my command without argument.

Shedding my shackles, I told myself that tomorrow I would reveal myself to the female destined for me and take my place as alpha, no matter my inner dragon’s desires.

I was in charge, and I would control the outcome of our future.