Page 8 of Love Bites Harder (Mated to the King #3)

eight

CLEMENTINE

Two weeks in the fae realm went by slowly.

So, so slowly.

Knowing that I’d be curling up in bed every night with a heavy chunk of wood on top of me seemed to slow time down even more.

Every morning, I hoped the eclipse would set in so I could escape the get-to-know-you situation I was trapped in, but every morning, it hadn’t come around.

I had to feed on Kai twice—he didn’t know that I needed to eat two or three times a week to stay at full strength, and I wasn’t going to break the news—but he didn’t lose control the way he had on his throne.

He just kissed me.

And he was an incredible kisser, but I had to believe my potential mates were just as good. Or better.

Even if I couldn’t really imagine better.

Paul, Austin, and Rocky were fine. They were definitely friend material, and I did want to be friends with my mate. That would make our life together much more fun.

There wasn’t really chemistry with any of them, but my vines and magic would still take care of that, I hoped.

On the fifteenth night, I sighed heavily as soon as the door to our bedroom was closed behind us. Squeezing my eyes shut, I leaned against the door. Kai had gone in before me, and I heard him sit down on the edge of his bed. “I miss Blair’s pool. And Izzy’s lake. And my sisters. Shit, I miss them a lot.”

“I know.”

“I miss snuggling , too. Sirens need snuggling, Kai. It’s a fact. Everyone in Vamp Manor knows it’s a fact. Not-snuggling is lonely.”

“Something tells me I shouldn’t ask how they know that,” he drawled.

I flipped him my middle finger.

“Well, my bed is always open.” He tugged his shirt over his head before sliding beneath the blankets.

My eyes were glued to that gorgeous, bare chest.

My body ached. “How long until the eclipse?”

“There’s still no way to know.”

I groaned. “I can’t snuggle with you.”

“Why not?”

“Stop. You know I’m basically engaged to all three of your best friends.”

“I told you, we aren’t friends.”

“Still.”

“Have you told them you’re not sleeping with anyone? Or asked any of them if they’re having sex?”

Panic squeezed my chest. “You think they’re screwing other people?”

“I think they’re fae, and you might be entering into an arranged marriage with one of them, but none of them is truly engaged.”

“ I think you’re manipulating me,” I said, walking toward his bed reluctantly.

Time passed slower on Earth. They probably hadn’t even had time to find anyone else to screw.

I hoped.

“I’m not the one pouring sexual magic into my words,” Kai countered.

“You’re an asshole,” I sat down on the edge of his mattress.

“You need someone to snuggle with, and I’m right here.”

I sighed. “We’re just sleeping, okay? Don’t put your cock in my ass again.”

“If I had my cock in your ass, I’m positive I would remember it,” he drawled.

“Nothing sexual,” I huffed.

“I can’t control my vines while I’m asleep, as you know. As long as you accept that, I’ll do my best. Push me off at any time.”

“It’s fine. I’ve been warned.” After a quick stop in the bathroom, I slipped beneath the blankets. I was still wearing nothing but one of Kai’s many button-up shirts and a pair of his boxer briefs. My sex appeal was my security blanket.

I rolled to my stomach immediately, and when Kai draped his body over mine, I couldn’t help but groan.

Wow, he felt amazing.

“Sounds like that are a bad way to keep things from getting sexual, Five.”

“Shut up,” I said into the blanket.

“Make me.”

I ignored the taunt, closing my eyes. “I hope my mate’s body feels this good against mine. I don’t have the best track record.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know. I have a hard time getting off with other people sometimes. I can make myself come—but I get stuck in my head. It’s frustrating.”

“That won’t happen with your mate.”

“I hope not.”

“It won’t.”

It was hard to argue with that gorgeous voice, especially when he sounded so certain.

I drifted off with his body against mine, and slept ridiculously well.

Halfway through the night, I woke up wet between my thighs.

Something was moving against my inner thigh and over my center. It was under the fabric of my boxer-briefs, stretching the leg of them so the hem dug into my skin. It didn’t feel warm—it definitely wasn’t an erection—and it took all of three seconds for me to label it.

Kai’s vines.

Or one of them, at least.

Things had officially gotten sexual, which meant I needed to stop it. Immediately.

But it felt really good against my clit.

And something about the way it had slid under my shorts while I was asleep was just a little bit hot.

Or a lot hot.

With Kai always around, I hadn’t dared get myself off while I’d been in the fae realm. Clearly, that had been a mistake.

My hips arched a little, pressing me harder against the length of the vine.

It penetrated me, and I barely muffled my cry against the pillow as it slid inside me.

And swelled.

It had absolutely no business feeling as incredible as it did.

Kai was still snoring and draped over the top of me, clueless as to what was going on.

I couldn’t move much with him pressed against me like that, his cock against the side of my ass, but I couldn’t stop my hips from jerking again.

That motion made him throb hard for me.

“Kai,” I breathed, as the vine swelled and tightened, putting more pressure on my clit. “Kai!” I choked out, as it started to move a little.

His snoring cut off, and his nose brushed my throat lightly.

My hips arched hard as I cried out in pleasure, and he rolled off me immediately, ripping the vine and tossing it away.

I cried out at the sudden loss, lifting my ass in response to the sting of the vine being snapped away.

“Sorry,” he growled, but I saw the red in his eyes.

The eclipse had officially begun.

It wasn’t affecting me—but the vine definitely had.

I couldn’t stop myself from slipping my hand into my panties, and moaned in relief when I dragged a finger over my clit.

I felt Kai’s eyes burning into me as I sent myself over the edge, crying out in pleasure as the release tore through me.

His hands were fisted in the blankets, his eyes so red they were nearly bloodshot, when I finally pulled my hand away.

I went to wipe my slickness on the sheet, since it was already wet beneath me, but Kai’s hand shot out to catch my wrist.

He held it between us, his intense gaze burning into me as he leaned forward and dragged his tongue over the pads of my fingers.

My lips parted, my clit pulsing as I watched him clean my pleasure off my hand.

My entire body was trembling with desire when he finally released me. “We need to find my potential mates,” I whispered.

His eyes closed.

A vein in his head bulged.

His throat, too.

Finally, he jerked his head in a nod.

I slipped out of bed on wobbly legs, ducking into the closet long enough to change into a fresh blue button-up and a clean pair of boxer briefs.

Kai didn’t bother doing the same.

He led me to the door, holding it open for me as I stepped through.

And froze when I saw three men with bloodshot eyes waiting outside Kai’s room.

Shit, shit, shit.

“It wasn’t what it sounded like,” I began, but Austin cut me off.

That was probably a good thing.

We didn’t screw—I just got myself off while he watched and let him lick my fingers clean afterward wasn’t exactly going to earn me any points.

“It’s fine. Let’s get this over with,” Austin said.

My gaze swung to each of the men.

None of them looked angry, and they must’ve heard my cries of pleasure. They had to think I was screwing Kai.

But they didn’t care. Not even with the eclipse’s effects making them more beastly.

That hurt.

I looked back at the king, and found his jaw set. Part of me wanted him to tell me not to do it, but he didn’t.

So I stepped toward Austin.

He dipped his head as I lifted mine, and I pressed my lips to his.

Kai growled behind me, but I ignored him.

I parted my lips, slipping my tongue into his mouth and meeting his.

He didn’t feel or taste bad .

I’d always loved kissing, and I didn’t dislike kissing him.

It wasn’t my favorite, but I could get used to it.

I reached for his emotions with my magic, but just before I could take them, a pair of hands landed on my waist.

And a heartbeat later, my back collided with a wall.

A furious king towered over me, his massive hand wrapped around my throat as he snarled, “You’re mine , Five.”

I sucked in a panicked breath as the mate bond’s magic flooded me. It felt the same way it had when Curtis started the bond between us—but this time, it had much bigger consequences.

Consequences I wasn’t ready to face when Kai stared down at me intensely, his hand still wrapped around my throat in a way that made me feel small and fragile.

And maybe a little warm.

The eclipse couldn’t really affect me, but I’d blame it on that anyway.

“Get out,” he commanded, and there was no question who the words were for.

My ex-potential mates.

“I’m screwed,” I breathed.

Kai’s lips crashed into mine, and I kissed him desperately, pouring every ounce of fear and panic into him. His hands and mouth soothed the stress as he gripped my ass with one hand. Squeezed one of my breasts with the other. Slipped his hands beneath the fabric that covered me and touched my bare skin, too.

His hands weren’t too soft.

They didn’t feel wrong.

They felt perfect.

When one of his hands slid between my thighs and he grabbed my core, I pulled away panting and pressed my forehead to the king’s.

“We have to stop before we do something we regret.”

“I need you,” he said, his voice low.

I’d never heard him admit anything like that before. He didn’t ever acknowledge potential weaknesses.

“It’s just the eclipse, Seven.”

“I’ve needed you since I saw you fall out of that tree.”

“Kai, stop. You just ended my best chance of getting home.”

“I gave you a better one. Seal the bond with me.”

“You’re under the effects of the eclipse,” I protested. “I—ohh, shit,” I hissed, as he ground his palm against my clit.

“Don’t,” I warned, pushing on his chest. He let me shove him away, and I took the moment to escape into our room, slamming and locking the door behind me.

There were half a dozen locks built into it, so I slid all of them into place before I collapsed against it.

He pounded his fist into the wood. “Open it, Clementine.”

“So you do know my name,” I called back, still trying to catch my breath and figure out what the hell had just happened.

“Of course I know your name. Open the damn door.”

“Not until you’re sane again.”

“I’m perfectly fine,” he growled.

“You just started a fucking mate bond with me. You’re clearly not fine! Just go to Earth for a few minutes to catch your breath or something. I cannot deal with you losing control right now.”

He snarled at me and slammed his fist into the door. “I’m not traversing worlds without you.”

“We’re not mated. It’s going to be fine. Go, Kai.”

He slammed his fist one more time before gritting out, “You have one minute.”

One minute on Earth.

Seven minutes in the fae realm.

That would definitely help me calm myself down.

Somehow, I felt him leave.

My hand lifted to the new marking on my neck, and emotions welled in my throat as I forced myself away from the door and into the bathroom. Flipping the light on, I stared at myself in the mirror, letting the truth sink in.

Kai had started a mate bond with me.

I dragged my fingertip lightly over the mark.

It was nothing like the ugly, harsh block Curtis had put there. It was slim. Dainty. Made of pretty, winding vines and delicate, complex lines.

Perfect.

It was perfect .

I let out a shaky breath.

I hadn’t wanted to mate with Paul, Austin, or Rocky. They’d seemed like decent friends, but there was no chemistry.

Kai and I weren’t friends… but the chemistry?

Wow.

Yeah.

It was definitely there.

I put my hands on the countertop and leaned my weight against it.

What if he regretted the bond when he had a minute to breathe without the eclipse’s effects? I knew the magic made them more beastly. That could’ve pushed him to feel more possessive of me.

But not if those emotions weren’t already there, right?

I didn’t know.

I hoped so, though.

There was no way any of those other guys would mate with me after what he had done, so shit , I hoped so.

If he didn’t actually want to be my mate, there was a good chance I was going to be stuck in the fae realm.

Permanently.

I let out a shuddering breath.

I couldn’t let that happen. If I had to, I could force Kai to be my mate, couldn’t I?

I considered that for all of three seconds before realizing there was no way I could do it.

If he didn’t want me, I’d just have to figure out how to make myself at home in the realm until I found someone decent who was willing to mate with me.

My mind was made up and my breathing was on its way to even when Kai appeared in the bedroom behind me. It had been far less than seven minutes.

The bastard had probably only transported between worlds so he could portal into the room without waiting for me to agree to unlock it.

Our gazes met in the mirror, and I watched him storm up behind me.

His eyes were still red, but he did seem a little steadier.

“Don’t touch me,” I said quietly as he approached.

His jaw clenched.

I turned around to face him. “Is this real?” I pointed to the marking, my heart beating quickly. “Or did the eclipse push you into it?”

“I’ve never let the eclipse push me into anything I didn’t want to do.”

“That’s not an answer, Kai.”

He put a hand on my cheek. I’d told him not to touch me, but the look in his eyes told me he was barely maintaining his hold on his self-control. He probably needed to touch me, to ground himself. “I want it,” he said.

“Me,” I said. “You want me ?”

“More than I know how to handle.”

“If I seal the bond, there’s no going back.”

“If you don’t, I’m going to sit you on the edge of this sink and fuck you until you do.”

My body flushed.

My cheeks, too.

He dragged a thumb slowly over my cheekbone. “I love making you red.”

“You’re ridiculously good at it.”

His lips curved upward, just a touch. “Say the words, Five.”

“This is not the time for rude nicknames.”

“I like your height.”

“You like being taller than me.”

“Stop stalling.”

I repeated, “There’s no going back if we do this.”

“I don’t want to go back.”

The words were simple, but undeniable.

I let out a shaky breath, and lifted my hand to his throat. His eyes burned into me, and I whispered, “You’re mine, Kai.”

The magic that swelled between us was intense—and I gasped into his mouth when he kissed me, hard.

My back met the countertop, and he lifted me onto the ledge, stepping between my thighs. All I could do was cling to him as I felt a vine wrap around my ankle. I could feel the length of it—could feel the place it connected to my king, too.

And he was mine.

“We didn’t talk about how we’re going to split our time,” I breathed. “Or kids. Or?—”

He cut me off with his mouth again.

I groaned against him as he pulled me closer, kissing me harder.

The world shifted around us, but his hands were on my skin, holding me upright until another smooth surface replaced the one he’d set me on.

He pulled away after a few minutes. We were both struggling for breath, our foreheads pressed together again as he held me firmly to his chest.

“Shit,” he mumbled.

“Shit?” My voice raised.

“Shit,” he agreed. There was an edge to the words that I couldn’t identify.

“You can’t say that after mating with me,” I shot back, pulling my forehead away from his. “Obviously, that’s going to stress me out.”

“You’re fine.”

“Don’t tell me I’m fine!” I raised my voice higher.

“Look at me, Five. We’re in my wing of the manor. We’re back on Earth. It’s Thanksgiving Day. Your sisters are worried about you, and threatening my people with war.”

“You can’t tell me I’m fine,” I protested, panic clutching my chest and making it difficult to breathe. “If you weren’t serious about mating with me, I?—”

“I was serious.” He grabbed my face again, tipping my head back. “There’s a mess in the Manor that I need to deal with. Get dressed. I’ll come for you when I’m done, and we’ll meet your family for dinner to show them you’re fine.”

“No, Kai. You can’t?—”

“I’ll be right back,” he said, and disappeared out the door.

The vine around my ankle stretched between us, pulling me in his direction, but I simply stared after him.

Fae weren’t supposed to leave their mates.

And he’d just left me.

I’d been right. He didn’t want me as his mate. He’d demolished my chances to be with one of the other guys, and he didn’t want me. I was never going to find love, or be happy. I?—

“Breathe, Clementine,” I whispered.

Talking to myself was weird, but it calmed me down just a little bit.

I slipped out of the bathroom, looking around the room for a phone. Though I didn’t find one immediately, I had to admire the place.

The walls and floors were done in soft, comfortable colors, and the room was full of light thanks to a bunch of massive, arched windows along one of the walls. There were plants growing around the room, all of which looked so big and healthy they almost seemed fake. Except one berry bush near the door.

It looked kind of wilted.

Sad.

The berries on it were massive, though, which made me think they were some kind of fae variety. They were also bright pink, and I hadn’t ever seen a bright pink berry on Earth before.

Maybe it was supposed to look like that.

I finally found a phone sitting on one of the nightstands, plugged in. It probably stayed there when Kai was in the fae realm.

Taking a seat on the edge of the mattress, I dialed the number of the person who would help me the most with the least amount of judgement.

Pressing the phone to my ear while it rang, I let out a shaky breath.

“Hello?” Blair said, her voice impatient.

She wouldn’t have recognized the phone number.

“It’s me,” I whispered.

There was a pause. “Clem?”

“Yeah. I’m back. I—Kai brought me back.”

“How?” she demanded. “Did he find you a mate? Do I need to kill him?”

“No. I don’t know. I just—” I let out a panicked, laugh. “I think I’m screwed. I need you to tell me if I’m not. Please don’t tell anyone else I called.”

“Alright. Just a second.” I heard her whisper to someone that I wanted it to be a secret that I was back. It was probably Hale. They shared an office, so he’d most likely been right next to her when I called. “Okay,” she said. “Spill.”

I spewed the story like a damn volcano, including all of the hot details I probably should’ve left out. I didn’t stop until I had nothing else to say and was curled up in a ball on the crisply-made bed in Kai’s room.

“So you’re permanently mated to the fae king, who may or may not be into you, who you know almost nothing about. And there’s an erotically-talented vine connecting you, pulling you toward him as we speak?”

“Basically.”

She laughed softly. “You’re not screwed , Clementine. It sounds like the eclipse made it impossible for him not to act on whatever his feelings for you are, so he started the bond. Now, you’ll have to figure out what that means for you.”

“That doesn’t sound easy, or perfect,” I said into the blankets below me.

“Of course it isn’t easy or perfect. You barely know each other. That will change as you figure things out.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. I’ve been there too, remember?”

“I remember. That’s why I called you.”

“And because you love me,” she teased.

“That too.” I lifted my head and rested it on my forearm. “How do I tell everyone else?”

“We’re meeting for Thanksgiving later today. This seems like something that would be easier to show them than tell them.”

“Probably. I’m not ready, though. And Kai is… doing who knows what.”

“Just get dressed and go find your man. Deal with whatever’s going on, and I’ll see you afterward. Okay?”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you too. Is the mark pretty?”

“Gorgeous.” I lifted my fingers back to the intricate lines.

“Good. See you soon.”

We both hung up, and I stayed where I was.

I’d let myself rest my head for a few more minutes—then, I’d find my mate and kick his ass for ditching me less than two minutes after mating with me.