“Mingle?” Carnas asks.
I slip into my boots, tie them quickly, and motion for the others to lead the way. Just outside, two human females stand chatting. They stop when Carnas and Spike join them. After a quick word, we walk through the hallways back to the buffet with thumping bass-heavy electronic dance music, colorful lights flashing over the walls, and half of the couples already grinding on each other.
It’s not easy to watch them and keep control of myself around Tessi. I am bound to her now in more ways than one. But I amno longer just a male hunting for a female. I’m on a mission, so acting impulsively is not on the table.
Tessi orders a shot of something bright blue that burns with a flame. She takes it from the server, winks at me, blows it out, and throws it back with force. She sucks air in through her teeth. “Ooh. That’s better.”
Then she takes my hand and leads me out and onto the dance floor.
“What are you doing?” I ask. “I can’t watch the perimeter like this.”
“Catch you later, Slayer,” Carnas grins as he and Spike wander off with their females.
Tessi guides my hand around her waist and presses her plump ass against my crotch, then starts swaying to the beats like she’s already drunk.
Fucking hell.I forget every cut and tear in my flesh to live in this moment with her. My body moves without my consent because my Shifter senses what she wants, and follows her lead. Every sway releases more of her scent until I am lost in a mirage, forgetting about the party, the other dancing couples, my promise to Viridin to maintain emotional distance from her because she feels too damn good. I have waited too long, endured more pain than most could handle, and I want this.
Tessi speaks with other females, but I can’t hear what they say over the pounding bass that shakes the floor and rattles my heart. When Tessi guides my arms tighter around her, she pulls me lower until my nose nestles into the loose strands of her hair as they slip over her shoulder. I get another whiff of her, and the need to make her mine becomes mind numbing. My Shifter craves more, begs me to take her now, in front of everyone, clawing at my insides with fiery need that burns deep in my groin and knocks my pulse into a sprint.
I am not my Shifter.
I am not my Shifter.
I am not my Shifter.
Still, my teeth lengthen, and I rest my mouth on her luscious neck.
“Thank you, again.” Her eyes lift to mine, drunken reverence in them.
“You don’t usually drink, do you?” I ask.
She giggles. “Haven’t in years. But I like my alcohol like my love. Hot, fast, and it better sting just a little.”
Fuck.My last thread snaps. I graze my teeth down her neck, lightly enough she can feel it without actually breaking her beautiful flesh.
The moan Tessi lets out has my cock swelling to a painful level. I spin her around, pick her up by the hips, and set her on a barstool at the counter behind us. I don’t care who watches. I crush her against me until I’m sure she senses exactly how badly I want her.
“Oh, Zorin…” she breathes as she hooks her ankles behind me.
I take her by the back of her neck and guide her mouth close to mine until I can pick up the metallic and musky notes to her breath that say she wants me too.
“Tessi…”
The guard by the door notices us on his visual patrol. His eyes linger a second longer than I like.
I can’t lose my head.I’m just teasing her and myself as I sweep my lips over hers and nip at each one.
We can’t get too close.
I have to protect her.
I can’t be compromised.
But I already love the way she feels a little too much.
Her heels dig into the backs of my thighs, drawing me tighter against her. She kisses my neck.
I laugh in shock. “I thought you were a blue, a gentle female.”
