Page 25 of Destined By Dragonblood (Blood Born #2)

Vanni: Please tell me you’re okay, that I didn’t make a mistake in leaving you alone with that otherworldly madman last night.

I snickered over his description. Until speaking with Elijah, I’d thought the same. This morning, however, I found myself believing the unbelievable.

Me: I’m fine. We discussed some things, he saw me safely home, and I went to bed.

While waiting for Vanni’s reply, I considered calling him and telling him everything Elijah had shared with me, but if my boss and I were both wrong in our thinking—if Vanni wasn’t dragonblood or my and Dolyn’s fated third…

I shook my head and swallowed down my breakfast with lukewarm coffee.

If our assumptions were correct, the truth needed to come to light in ways that wouldn’t put my or Dolyn’s life at risk. Fate had brought Dolyn and I together, I truly believed, and I had to trust the cosmos to finish what she’d started.

Vanni: When can I see you?

Now, yesterday, forever, I wished to reply, but didn’t. I wanted to speak with Dolyn first, learn everything I could before asking him about our…beta? Alpha?

Master Vanni was a dominant through and through, and even though Dolyn radiated similar confidence, I wondered over his understanding of the dynamic in a D/s relationship. Perhaps he knew nothing about the BDSM community and wasn’t aware the submissive held all of the power.

Me: I’m going to meet with Dolyn next week and talk this through first.

Vanni: You believe his horseshit?

Without having the knowledge I’d gained from Elijah, Vanni probably wouldn’t believe the best of me if I said I was convinced Dolyn hadn’t lied. Hopefully, the truth would reveal itself, and Vanni would be my other… mate , and the three of us could be together.

Yessss.

Warmth flooded between my thighs, and I sighed while shifting in my chair.

Me: I’m willing to listen to him with an open mind.

There. That wasn’t even a partial lie.

Vanni: Call me if you need me. I care about you, Ashley. If anything happened to you, I would be devastated. Please be careful.

That heat in my core turned into butterflies rushing toward my chest.

Me: I care about you too, Vanni. More than you know.

Vanni didn’t respond, and I hoped I hadn’t said too much.

I went grocery shopping a few hours later, thankful to feel Dolyn’s presence even though he stayed at a distance rather than sitting in the back of my car as I was sure he’d done the week before. No trace of cold eyes chilled my blood, and I breathed freely with a slight pep in my step.

Possibilities made my heart race.

Hope flooded my mind.

Sunday, I stayed indoors regardless of the warmer weather and sunshine, losing myself in a dragon shifter book, an intentional choosing on my part from a new-to-me author.

The polyamorous tale between three men and one woman leaned more toward straight-up erotica rather than romance, but by the time I finished late into the early morning hours, I was hot, horny, and feeling emboldened by the events of Friday night beneath Master Vanni’s hands.

I lay in bed, flushed and needy between my thighs, my pussy empty and weeping with desire to be filled.

Stuffed full. Maybe double stuffed like the female main character.

Trailing fingertips through my folds didn’t lessen my arousal like it used to.

Thinking of both Vanni and Dolyn pleasuring me with their mouths and hands made me skirt the edge of climaxing.

Remembering the release Vanni had gifted me while bent over his bench, I gently eased a finger into my soaked pussy.

“Oh.” I gulped and bucked, pushing deeper into my core. “Oh God .” A gasp flew past my lips, and I writhed against my hand, desperate for more. Two fingers eased the ache but didn’t offer me what I chased.

I slid my other hand down my belly to my pubis I kept bare. My clit lay hot and swollen, protruding from my labia.

“Yes,” I hissed while gently rubbing over the nub, slowly fucking myself with my fingers. “God, yes. So good.” I licked dryness from my lips, whimpering over the exquisite tingles racing over my skin and leaving goose bumps in their wake.

I was going to come?—

A shriek fled my lungs as my core pulsed, needing a solid shaft to flood me full of seed.

Yessss.

I cried out again, bucking and chasing every last clench of my core, the rush of adrenaline and satiated bliss.

Master.

Dolyn.

Both of their images hovered in my conscience, the scent of their musk heavy in my nose regardless of their absence.

My body sagged onto my bed, both hands easing from between my thighs.

I’d masturbated successfully for the first time since my teenage years, and while I expected having two hot men to focus on while toying with my body helped, I was starting to believe that complete healing would soon be found.

But one step at a time.

During my lunch break on Monday, I texted Dolyn, asking him if we could meet.

He suggested a restaurant on the first floor of the building across from Vanni’s. Temptation to include my master had me toying with my cell, but I’d been truthful with Vanni. I needed to settle things with Dolyn before moving forward toward a possible triad.

My insides jittered throughout the rest of the day, but upon feeling Dolyn’s warm gaze on me once I exited Tolzman Industries, I settled inside.

Exactly as I’d done upon leaving my house that morning intent on making it into work on time.

His proximity, while arousing, was the thickest blanket on a cold day.

Comfort I’d come to trust in the deepest parts of my soul—separate being or not, we were in agreement Dolyn belonged to us.

I wasn’t sure when my thought patterns about there being two parts to me had changed, but it felt right to converse in my head, the occasional whispers of agreement or single-worded answers bringing peace rather than fear.

Clinging to my newfound inner friend I wasn’t ready to tell my therapist about, I headed north on foot, my coat unbuttoned, the warmer air a pleasant gift after the chill of a long winter.

Spring still lay weeks ahead, but the teaser from Mother Nature was deeply appreciated.

I filled my lungs with exhaust and the scent of rubbish, unable to stop smiling as Dolyn’s presence drew close enough behind me to cause my pulse to race.

A hand slid into mine, the skin contact racing delicious shivers over my skin.

I squeezed, glancing up to find golden eyes full of warmth drinking in the sight of me. “Hi,” I whispered.

“Hello, my beautiful female.” Dolyn’s husky yet rumbling voice raised goose bumps over my arms, and I bit my lip to keep the flutters in my belly from bubbling up as giggles.

Our bodies bumped as we walked the remaining few yards to the restaurant.

Dolyn released his hold on me to pull open the door, and although I missed his touch, I appreciated the fact chivalry was indeed not dead.

“Table for Kemmerly?” Dolyn told the hostess who stared at him like he was a piece of chocolate cake and she’d been dieting for six months.

Mine .

I hissed beneath my breath, and she glanced over my peacoat, plain black slacks, and worn boots, her nose wrinkling.

“This way.” Chin high, she moved like a model on a catwalk, every step accentuating her lush curves I wished filled out my slender form.

Dolyn gathered me against him, tucking me against his side.

Appreciation over his possessiveness filled me, far more than any physical desire. I felt seen, heard, and accepted as-is. Wart on my pinkie finger and all.

Once seated, we stared at each other from across the table in the back corner of the restaurant. Quiet instrumental music played, and the dim lights set a scene for romance and intimacy.

“Thank you for watching over me this weekend.”

“Thank you for allowing me the pleasure.”

I smiled, my face hot.

Dolyn’s gaze dipped to my mouth but lifted as a waiter approached.

I drank in Dolyn’s profile as he spoke in perfect…French. My insides swooned. Sweat dampened my palms, and I leaned the slightest bit closer to him, breathing in the scent of campfire and cedar.

Our gazes met and held as the waiter moved off. Dolyn reached over the table, palm facing up.

I slid my fingertips over his, my heart thundering in my chest as tingles raced clear up my arm, spreading through every limb in my body before settling between my thighs.

His gaze darkened as though aware of what his touch did to me.

Breathing deeply, I filled my lungs, held it there for a brief moment, and slowly leaked it past my lips. “I spoke with Elijah.”

Dolyn didn’t flinch.

I threaded our hands together, and he gently squeezed. “I believe you,” I murmured.

Tension I hadn’t realized had kept him rigid eased from his body, slumping his shoulders. Wetness coated his golden eyes, but his smile was glorious, brighter than any sunshine shooting rays through the clouds.

This gorgeous man— not man—belonged to me, and what a glorious future we would enjoy at each other’s sides.

Tears stung my eyes, and I gave him a watery smile of my own.

“He convinced you.” Dolyn’s ragged voice hadn’t sounded a question, but I shook my head.

“His explanations helped settle my mind, but my heart already knew the truth of who you are to me.”

Dolyn lifted my hand and brushed his soft lips over my knuckles. “And who might that be?”

“Mine.” My insides purred like a happy kitten. “But there is so much to learn, Dolyn?—”

The waiter appeared with a bottle of wine, and Dolyn and I sat back, hands in our laps as the middle-aged man made a show of opening and allowing Dolyn to taste the offering before trickling a small amount in each of our glasses.

Once he was gone, Dolyn lifted his wine, and I did the same. “To new beginnings.”

We clinked at his toast, and I sipped, the red wine dry and heady. No way in hell I would be drinking more than a single glass of whatever this stuff was. “Tell me your greatest fault,” I demanded.

Dolyn blinked, then stared.

“What?” I smiled, leaning forward and wishing there wasn’t a table between us. “Haven’t you ever played fifty questions to get to know someone better?”

A haze slid over his eyes briefly, and he shook his head, focusing clearly on me. “Never with someone as lovely as you.”

Flushing, I coated my tongue with the rich wine.

“I am stubborn beyond what is healthy. Selfish and needy to a fault.” His blunt honesty surprised me, but the descriptors did not.

“I appreciate your determination and how much you crave my attention,” I said as he swirled the small bit of liquid in his glass.

“You have no idea.” His stare turned molten enough my panties almost burst into flame.

I shifted on my chair, and he chuckled, setting his wine aside.

“Tell me yours,” he murmured, once more reaching for my hand.

I gladly gave him ownership of all five fingers, shivering over how he caressed my skin with his thumb. “My greatest fault has been believing that trusting people ends in hurt.”

“A fear that your past dictated to be truth.”

“Yes,” I whispered, my focus falling to where he continued to caress over the skin he’d kissed. “But I’m learning suspicion shouldn’t be held against everyone.”

“Thank you for gifting me the opportunity to earn your trust, Ashley.”

I nodded and lifted my attention to his face.

“You don’t owe me any explanations about your past as we move forward,” Dolyn said, his voice gentle as his touch, “but I would ask, should I push your boundaries or do something that is triggering, you’ll be honest with me. I have no wish to hurt you. Ever.”

“I know you don’t.” I squeezed his fingers.

“I—I am not enough for you.” Dolyn swallowed hard, his forehead furrowing, amber eyes troubled. “As a dragonblood’s fated mate, you will yearn for another, a beta who I hope can gift you what I am unable to.”

“And what is that?” I asked, my own heart aching over the clear insecurity in his gaze.

“The pain you crave.”

An image of my master flitted through my mind, longer hair damp with sweat as he watched me come undone on his fingers.

Yessss .

A shiver pebbled my skin. “So what happens now?” I asked, my tone unsteady.

“That all depends on him.” Dolyn glanced away, and I followed his gaze toward the bar.

Master Vanni sat with his back toward us, shoulders slumped, an empty tumbler in his hand.

Mine .

A deep seated knowing radiated through every cell in my body.

“Yes,” I agreed, my tone near silent.