Page 23 of Red Fury (The Dragon Tributes #8)

F ury

Both Kozlov and I call after Shadow as she walks away.

I look over at the male. He narrows his eyes when they lock with mine. For a few seconds, we just stare at one another.

Then the asshole stands and follows her. My jaw clenches as I watch him track her like she’s prey he’s been hunting.

I want to go after them, but I can’t…I shouldn’t. Even if I wanted to, I can’t with Bella on my lap.

“Damien.” Bella’s voice cuts through my focus as she cups my face in her hands, forcing me to look at her. “Your friend is fine. You don’t have to worry about her. I’m here…I’ll take care of you.”

She presses her breasts against my chest, her lips brushing my ear as she whispers something I can’t process. All I can focus on is the sight across the dance floor, where Roman has caught up to Shadow.

From this angle, I can just make out most of what’s happening. He leans in close to her, his mouth near her ear as they talk. Then his hand comes up to cup her jaw, and for a heart-stopping moment, I’m sure he’s going to kiss her. I can tell he wants to.

My dragon snarls beneath my skin, desperate to break free and tear that bastard’s throat out.

Shadow says something, and thank fuck, Roman doesn’t kiss her. Instead, he takes her hand and pulls her into a slow, intimate dance that has nothing to do with the pounding beat of the music. His hands are on her waist, and she moves against him in a way that makes my vision go narrow.

“Are you even listening to me?” Bella demands, her voice sharp with irritation.

I’m not. I can’t. Every cell in my body is focused on watching Shadow move her hips in a way that’s driving me fucking insane. The way Roman’s hands slide along her back, the way she tilts her head back when he whispers something that makes her smile.

My hands clench into fists on the arms of my chair.

Suddenly, Bella’s hand slides between my legs, her palm pressing against my cock through my jeans. “Let’s get out of here,” she whispers. “I want to fuck you so badly. I know you want it too.”

Her touch hits me like a bucket of ice water. I shoot to my feet, setting her firmly on the ground.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I snap. “I’m not interested. I’m not sure how to make that any clearer than I already have.”

Her eyes widen. “Yeah, but I thought… I… You seemed interested.”

“I what? When did I give you the impression that I wanted your hands all over me?” My anger at watching Shadow with Roman is spilling over, but I can’t seem to stop myself from giving her a piece of my mind.

“I’m not interested in you, Bella. I never was and I never will be.

Get that into your head.” My words are stinging.

Their effect is instant. Bella’s eyes well up with tears, and without another word, she turns and flees toward a more secluded area of the VIP section.

Fuck.

I immediately feel like a complete asshole. None of this is her fault. She was just being friendly; maybe a little forward, but I didn’t have to tear her head off like that.

I groan and run my hand over my face. It isn’t Bella’s fault that I’m tied up in knots over a certain she-dragon.

I follow the human to a small alcove, where she’s wiping tears from her cheeks, her shoulders shaking slightly.

Craaaap.

“Bella…um…hey,” I say softly, approaching slowly like she’s a wounded animal. “I’m so sorry. I was completely out of line just now.”

She whirls around, anger replacing the hurt in her eyes. “Yes, you were! That was cruel, Damien. I thought you were interested, that’s all.”

“I know,” I say. “You’re right. I was being an asshole, and you didn’t deserve that. I shouldn’t have said those things. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

She crosses her arms, studying my face. “What’s really going on? This isn’t about me, is it?”

I sigh, the fight going out of me. “I have feelings for someone else,” I tell her. It’s not true. I don’t have feelings for Shadow. I’m attracted to her, but that’s it. I’m just trying to let Bella down easy. “I only just realized it tonight.”

“Claire,” she says immediately, and it’s not a question.

I nod, because it’s easier than explaining the complicated truth. “Yes.”

Bella’s expression softens. “I saw the way you were looking at her. And the way she was looking at you. It made me a little jealous. I shouldn’t have touched you like that.” She looks down at her feet. “It was wrong of me. You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” I mutter.

“More than maybe. You should go after her. I think she likes you, too. I’m not sure why she’s wasting her time with that other guy.” She steps closer and opens her arms. “Can I have a hug? No hard feelings?”

“Of course.” I wrap her up in my arms, still feeling like an asshole.

“I wish you…” Bella starts to say when I hear footsteps approach. We both turn to see Shadow standing at the entrance to the alcove, taking in the scene with an expression I can’t read.

“Sorry for interrupting,” she says coolly, already backing away. “I was just looking for the ladies’ room.” She gives a shake of her head, her eyes filling with hurt.

“Shadow, wait—” I start, but she’s already gone.

“Shit,” I growl.

“Go!” Bella pushes me. “Go after her before she gets away.”

“Thanks.” I take off after Shadow, but by the time I reach the main VIP area, she’s nowhere to be seen. I scan the crowd below and catch sight of her leaving the elevator and making her way toward the exit, moving fast.

I don’t bother waiting for the elevator. I take the stairs three at a time, pushing through the crowd on the main floor. Just as she reaches the entrance, I catch up to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her into a shadowed alcove near the exit.

“Let go of me,” she snaps, ripping her arm away from my grip. “If I never see you again, it’ll be too soon. Go back to your human and enjoy your night.”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Anger flares hot in my chest. “You want to talk about humans? You were practically dry-humping Kozlov on that dance floor. What the hell are you even doing here, Shadow? What game are you playing?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” she fires back, her eyes blazing. “Actually, no. I don’t want to know. Screw you, Fury. You’re a complete asshole. Not only do I not want to work with you anymore, but our truce is over. You’d better watch your back from here on out.” She points her finger at me.

I lean in close, so close I can feel her breath on my face. “Is that a threat?”

“Yes,” she says, her voice husky. She shoves against my chest, but I don’t budge. “And I’m going to enjoy taking you down. But not tonight. You’re free to do whatever you want tonight because I’m going to be too busy to come after you.”

What the fuck?!

“With Kozlov?” I growl.

Everything in me tightens.

“It’s none of your damned business, Red. Go back to your plaything and enjoy your night,” she says, that infuriating smirk playing at her lips. “I sure will.”

Something snaps inside me. Before I can think, I push her back against the wall, pressing my body against every soft curve of hers. My mouth finds her ear, my voice coming out as a low growl.

“Not so quick, Draiger. If you want to be fucked so badly, I’m going to be the one to give it to you. Me, not him.”

My voice is thick, my dragon coming to the fore. He feels possessive. Downright murderous.

“I don’t want you,” she whispers, but her voice lacks conviction.

I pull back just enough to look into her eyes, my body still pinning her to the wall. My face less than an inch from hers.

“You’re lying. I can smell how wet you are for me. I can feel your nipples hard against my chest.” My voice drops even lower. “Look me in the eyes and say it again. You had better mean it this time.”

Her breathing is rapid, her heart pounding against my chest. I can hear every elevated beat, smell the arousal she’s trying to deny.

“Say you don’t want me, and I’ll walk away.”

She shakes her head, unable to form the words. “I can’t.”

“That’s what I thought.”

I crash my mouth down on hers, and she meets me with equal desperation. Her lips part immediately, and I sweep my tongue inside, tasting the sweetness of her cocktail. Tasting her. She makes a soft sound in the back of her throat that goes straight to my cock.

Her hands fist in my shirt, pulling me closer as she kisses me back with a hunger that matches my own. I groan when her tongue tangles with mine, the wet slide of it making my head spin. She tastes like candy and fire. She tastes like more.

I press her harder against the wall, my hands gliding down to grip her hips. She arches into me, and I can feel every inch of her molding against my body. When she bites down on my lower lip, the sharp sting sends lightning straight to my groin.

“Fuck,” I growl against her mouth, the taste of copper only spurring me on.

She pulls back just enough to look at me, her lips swollen and glistening. “More,” she breathes, then dives back in.

This time, she’s the aggressor, her teeth nipping at my jaw, my neck, anywhere she can reach. Her nails dig into my shoulders through my shirt, and I know I’ll have marks tomorrow. The thought only makes me harder.

My hands slide up her back, feeling the bare skin exposed by her dress. She shivers at the contact, pressing closer until there’s no space left between us. I can feel her nipples hard against my chest, can smell her arousal growing stronger with each passing second.

When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard, our foreheads pressed together.

“Do you want to get out of here?” I ask, my voice rough.

“Yes,” she breathes without hesitation.

I grab her hand and tug her toward the exit.