Page 17

C hristmas is usually my favorite day of the year. Spending time with family, relaxing since the restaurant is closed.

This year, however, was a complete shit-show.

Mitzi waltzed into my parents’ house, mocking me. In front of the entire family, she chastised me for over an hour. It didn’t help that my asshole cousins made fucking popcorn like it was a real-life movie from the Hallmark Channel.

Declan was the worst. His constant “I told you so’s” got old, fast. Our fathers stepped in between us when I went after him. The day just spiraled out of control from there, as every single member of my family had a different opinion on how I should have done things with Darby.

Even though I claimed Darby, I suspect that this only complicates the situation.

Currently, I am catching up on paperwork between the lunch rush and dinner rush. Knowing we will be busy, since many people have December twenty-sixth off, it will be a constant stream of traffic throughout the day.

The door to my office flies open without warning, banging against the wall.

“What the fuck did you do to me?” Darby bellows from the doorway.

I jump up, pulling the door closed, hoping our voices don’t carry to the dining room. My brows draw together in confusion.

“What do you mean? I didn’t do anything to you,” I state in outrage. The last thing I would do is hurt my mate.

Before I realize what is happening to me, Darby throws herself at me, jumping into the air and wrapping her legs around me. Pressing her lips against mine, I place my hands under her ass, supporting her waist.

Darby’s hands move at a furious pace, trying to unbutton my shirt. When she gets frustrated, she grabs the two sides, yanking them open, causing buttons to fly all around the room. Instantly, my dick is hard as she grinds against me.

Biting my neck and scratching her nails against my chest, I move us to my desk, setting her ass on the desk top while I slide my hands up her legs.

It’s only then that I realize she is wearing a skirt, and I let out a soft moan.

Darby’s hands start to work my belt, before lowering the zipper of my pants and freeing my cock.

“Fuck me,” she pants, as my hand moves to her center, finding her soaking wet for me. I tease her, unsure what brought this on. Darby gets impatient, moving to the edge of the desk. Wrapping her legs around my waist, she pulls our centers closer together.

Wanting to make my mate happy, I impale her on my cock, giving myself a moment to enjoy her wet heat wrapped tightly around me. Darby’s eyes drift shut as her head falls backward, exposing her neck. Leaning forward, I like my claiming mark, causing her to shiver in response.

“I said, fuck. Me.” Darby orders, shifting her hips in an effort to get me to move.

Pulling almost entirely out of her, I slam back in with a harsh thrust, and Darby moans in pleasure.

“Yes,” she moans.

Pulling out of her, I spin her around so her chest is on my desk, giving me a glorious view of that ass.

Uncharacteristically, I give her ass a hard slap as I slam back inside her, pushing her forward.

Papers, pens, and other items fall onto the floor, but at the moment, I couldn’t care less. My mate came to me, wanting my cock.

My hips piston in and out of her as her pussy starts to flutter around me. Reaching around her waist, I tug and pinch her clit, triggering her climax. Feeling her pussy squeeze my cock like a vise has my knot swelling as ropes of cum fill her.

Knowing we are stuck like this for a while, I lift Darby at the waist, waddling backward to the small couch along the far wall. Falling onto the furniture, Darby moans as my knot rubs on her G-spot, causing her pussy to contract.

I want to ask what caused her appearance in my office, but with our history, I think better of it and stay silent. Our chests heave as we work to catch our breath. Resting my head against the wall behind the couch, I relish the feel of Darby in my arms, on my lap, and my cock.

Fifteen minutes later, just when I think she has dozed off, she stands, lifting off my still hard dick.

She glances at it before lifting her eyes to meet mine.

Narrowing her gaze at me, she seems to remember her anger suddenly.

Righting her clothes, she exits as abruptly as she entered, leaving the door wide open.

That’s how Declan finds me. He takes one look at me sitting on the couch, pants open, shirt ripped apart, and my dick hanging out before he breaks into laughter, walking away. Scrambling to put myself back together, I am forced to put on a uniform shirt as mine is unwearable.

Entering the dining room, I get several looks, but I ignore them all. Tracking Declan down, he fights his smile as he gives me a once-over, breaking into raucous laughter at my appearance.

“Shut up, asshole,” I mutter.

Darby

Inspecting the empty retail space across the street from Simmer Down, I had the strongest urge to see Arek. It was as if I was possessed and suddenly so fucking horny, I was breaking out into a cold sweat.

Barging into his office and fucking him, or him fucking me, wasn’t my original plan, but once we had sex, my body was my own again.

The real estate agent gave me a funny look when I returned to her office, reeking of sex, to sign the lease.

I give her my father’s information for the security deposit and first month’s rent before returning home. Well, Kyle and Dayton’s home.

Fiora comes stumbling in, looking awestruck, and I pause in my packing to sit and have a heart-to-heart with my friend.

My mouth hangs open in surprise when she tells me about everything that happened in Lancaster, but also mating both Brady and Tavan.

When she informs me that Brady thinks she might be a dragon shifter, I almost fall over.

“Yeah, I am supposed to meet him later today, at the sheriff’s office, so that he can start some research,” Fiora says, her face pale.

“Are you okay with all of this?” I ask, keeping my voice soft, since she is already spooked.

“I don’t have much of a choice,” she quips.

“Guess not,” I say, wanting to slap my forehead for my blonde moment. “I am moving my stuff into the apartment above the Whiskey Genie. Do you want to come with? You can stay with me, unless you are moving in with Tavan or Brady?”

Cringing at the look on her face, I wrap Fiora in a hug. It’s obvious the three of them haven’t gotten that far yet.

Pulling away from me, her nose wrinkles in disgust. “You might want to shower first. You stink like sex.”

“How can you—” Stopping mid-question, my eyes flare. Only paranormals seem to have such sensitive senses. “Fuck,” I draw out, my head falling backward.

Grabbing a bag off the floor, I turn toward the door of my bedroom.

“I am going to start putting my stuff in the car, while you figure out what you want to do. I signed the lease on my storefront and now need to begin ordering equipment and supplies. Additionally, I have consultations scheduled with Arek’s cousins, as they are all interested in new ink.

“Okay, I will load my stuff in my car and follow you into town. I will meet you at the Whiskey Genie after I meet with Brady,” Fiora tells me, before heading toward the room she has been staying in.