Page 13 of Love Bites Really Hard (Mated to the King #4)
thirteen
BANE
My conversation with the other kings minus Talon was surprisingly comfortable. It was strange to talk with them about things that weren’t related to our people for the first time in decades, but nice too.
I was more than ready to leave when Zora got out of the water, though.
My gaze lingered on her curves as she stood and pulled her hair off her back and chest, and I tried not to stare at those gorgeous little breasts.
One week.
Just one more week.
She strode over to me before I could get up.
She was right about the wine.
It had helped.
I didn’t quite feel like myself—but at the moment, that was a good thing. I needed a break from feeling like myself.
“Hey, babe ,” she grinned.
I couldn’t help but grin back.
Her grin widened. “How drunk are you?”
“Not drunk.”
I wasn’t drunk.
Just pleasantly calmed.
She snorted and tugged on my hand, and I stood. After a quick goodbye, we were headed back to Monster Manor.
My steps were slower than before.
Everything felt easier.
“Layla said they got in and out without anyone imprinting,” Zora’s voice was upbeat.
“We should go flying,” I said, as the idea came to me.
“Flying?” She sounded amused. “Seriously, how drunk are you?”
“Not drunk.”
“Tipsy?”
“Perhaps.” I pulled her to a stop in the hallway between my wing and Kai’s. “It would be fun.”
“Are you tipsy enough to drop me?”
I growled at her. “I would never drop you. You’re everything to me.”
Her lips curved upward. “Alright, fine. Let’s fly.”
I managed to hold back a cry of victory.
I wasn’t that tipsy.
Scooping her into my arms, I carried her down another hallway. One that led outside.
Another brilliant idea struck.
“You should run from me before we fly.”
“Run from you?” Her voice was skeptical. “That would set off your chase instincts, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes. It would make the flying more intense.”
“And the fucking, if we fucked,” she pointed out. “Which we probably would, if I made you all horny by running from you. And we’re not supposed to screw right now.”
“It would be fun, though.”
She snorted. “You’re more than tipsy, babe.”
“Just tipsy enough that I don’t mind your ridiculous nickname.”
“Because Sweetheart isn’t ridiculous?”
“Sweetheart is cute, like you. It fits. I’m not cute.”
“I’m a siren, I’m not cute. The right phrase is unbelievably sexy.” She swatted me on the arm. “And put me down. You know I can walk.”
“I miss having your unbelievably sexy body close to mine. You were swimming for too long.”
“It was like two hours, Bane.
“Two too many.”
She rolled her eyes at me, but didn’t actually look bothered.
We reached the door that led outside, and I set her down on the edge of the concrete sidewalk. There was only a small gap between the bushes that she could slip through, but there was a strip of trees beyond it that separated the Manor from the city that surrounded it.
Adrenaline flooded my veins.
I’d never chased my mate before.
“Bane…” Zora trailed off, looking over her shoulder at me. I met her gaze, and she smiled reluctantly. “Alright, I’ll run. We’re not going to screw though, okay? We’ll just use our mouths or something.”
“Deal.” I smacked her ass lightly, earning a hot look.
“You’re not going to catch me. I have vampire speed.”
“I have wings.” I spanked her again, and the scent of her desire made me harden immediately.
She pushed her damp, wet curls behind her ears. “You’re horny when you’re drunk, babe.”
“I’m always horny when you’re close to me.”
“I’m always close to you.”
I flashed her a grin. My teeth were sharp, my body well on its way to being fully shifted. “Exactly.”
She shook her head, but I saw her smile before she looked back to the forest.
I smacked her ass again, just because I wanted to feel it against my palm.
Her desire grew thicker in the air. “You should do that when you’re inside me.”
I rumbled. “In a week?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll make a note.”
She snorted, and stepped toward the gap in the bushes. “Ready?”
“You have no idea.”
Zora flashed me a smile over her shoulder—and took off running. She moved at human speed first, making sure I could see her, but picked up the pace as I shifted and launched myself into the air.
That woman was mine.