chapter Twelve
Cami walked beside Colm as he led her back inside the walls of the fortress. A scowl curved his lips. The expression seemed etched on his face. It was the first thing she’d seen when she’d opened her door this morning and it hadn’t changed the entire time she’d been with him. She didn’t know why he was here if he didn’t want to be near her. Supposedly, he’d wanted to introduce her to a woman named Tori, but Tori hadn’t been home. Colm hadn’t been prepared to look or wait for the woman.
He hadn’t said more than a few words to her the entire morning. It was getting on her nerves. If he really wanted to be doing something else or be with someone else, she wasn’t holding him back. She glared at him as his hand settled on the small of her back and guided her up the stairs to the main doors.
He slanted a look at her, but it was the only sign that he realized she wasn’t happy. His hand firmed and he guided her down the entry hallway and to a part of the Thent that she hadn’t explored yet. He pushed open a door. Ushering her into the room, he followed and shut the door. She continued to walk forward, but he stayed where he was and leaned his shoulder against the frame.
“What’s this place?” She looked around the room.
There was an ornately carved table and behind that two large chairs. A couple of lantern stands had been placed to the side of the table, but this didn’t seem to be the kind of room where someone would stay for a long time, even though it was rather large. An ornate rug ran up the floor straight to the table.
“A private audience chamber. Sometimes we use it if we want to look at documents or maps or talk to someone privately.” Colm’s shoulders lifted in a negligent shrug.
“What are we doing in here?” She looked around as she waited for him to reply. There weren’t any shelves or extra chairs.
“We’re going to talk.” His voice was calm, but the way his feet braced apart said that he wasn’t moving until they had fully discussed whatever was on his mind.
“What do you want to talk about?” She walked over to the edge of the table and leaned a hip against it.
“Why are you so angry?” he asked.
“Why do you think I’m angry?” She tilted her head and simply watched him. It wasn’t precisely true. She’d been a little frustrated and definitely confused, but she wasn’t furious.
“It could be the glares and the simmering looks, but I think it’s the attitude you’re projecting with your body language.” He shook his head. “Remember that I’m not stupid.”
She wasn’t sure exactly what he meant by the attitude she was projecting, since she couldn’t see what he saw. Maybe she had been a little stiff, but he hadn’t been talkative or nice.
“And your distant attitude was so encouraging.” She crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes.
“Distant?” His eyes narrowed.
“Yes, it’s obvious that you’d rather be anywhere but taking me to see Tori. If you didn’t want to do it, you didn’t have to. You could have told me where she lived and I could have asked one of the other warriors to walk me over there.” She straightened away from the table. Her hands bunched at her sides. Thinking about it was making her angry again.
He straightened and was halfway across the room almost before she realized he’d started moving. His hands settled on her hips and lifted her off her feet. He sat her on the table and stepped forward until her knees brushed against his thighs. Her eyes widened and she stiffened. A little fear rose. He leaned down until they were almost nose to nose.
“What did we tell you about jumping to conclusions?” His voice grated out between clenched teeth.
“I didn’t jump to conclusions. You weren’t happy about walking with me. You didn’t say more than a few words to me while we were walking over there and you were frowning and barely even touched my hand. That doesn’t seem as if you want to be anywhere near me.” She pushed against his chest. He didn’t move backward, but he didn’t advance any closer either.
“I wasn’t happy? You decided that because I wasn’t talking to you every step of the way that I was angry and didn’t want to be with you? You didn’t ask me if anything was wrong. You didn’t pause to think that you’re dealing with different men here. I’m not Linc.” His hand tipped up her chin. “That sounds as though you jumped to conclusions to me.”
Well, put that way, it did. There wasn’t much she could say to defend herself, but she’d try. “I only went on what I could see.”
“We told you to come to us before you started making assumptions from what you think or what you’ve seen. I know you think you know more about us than what you’ve learned from being with us. I don’t know what that is or if any of it is true. Maybe you’ll tell me about it sometime, but I wanted to be with you.” His thumb stroked along her jawline.
“Then why did you seem so angry?” She wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not, but he seemed serious.
“I wasn’t angry. My lips might have been in a straight line, but that didn’t mean that I was angry.” Colm shook his head. “You did make an assumption. I think you owe me an apology for that.”
She licked her lips and saw his eyes lock on that movement.
“Are you afraid of me?” His brows arched up in a direct challenge.
“No,” she said the words quickly. She wasn’t going to let him think that she was scared of him. She wasn’t. A little cautious, well, she definitely felt that.
She couldn’t let that challenge go unanswered. Some perverse part of her had to prove that she wasn’t some flinching little cub he could intimidate into backing down. She knew it wasn’t a good idea, but did it anyway.
Cami straightened and let her hands rest against his chest. She felt the muscles shift beneath her palms. The warmth radiated through his shirt and drew her closer. She leaned in closer and brushed her lips over his jaw. The soft buss wasn’t enough. She wanted a taste of him.
He remained still beneath her hands and that only frustrated and spurred her to push more. She wanted to feel his hands on her skin and his mouth moving against hers. Nipping at his lips, she sought to incite him to kiss and touch. He wouldn’t remain as unresponsive as a stone to her. The big man might be aloof, but she’d seen the hard ridge of his cock. He did want her.
His mouth opened and she took full advantage. Her right hand stole up behind his neck and cupped the back of his head as she angled her lips over his. She ate at his lips. Colm moaned and leaned into the pressure. His tongue drove into her mouth. Desire erupted as his response became more intense. His teeth nipped at her lips before he sucked at the full lower curve.
She squirmed on the table and tried to tug him closer. She needed to feel more than his mouth against her. Her thighs widened making a place for him. She ran her fingers over his chest and found his nipples. She plucked at one of the hard little nubs before trailing her hand around to his back.
He groaned and his hands clasped her hips. One hand reached down to tug the end of the skirt above her knees. He stepped forward as he pulled her to the edge of the table. Her skirt rucked up to her hips with his advance. The hard ridge of his cock brushed against her p-ssy. She shivered. A ball of desire began tightening in her stomach and she tightened her legs around his hips. Her juices gathered and she knew they were probably moistening the bottom of her skirt.
His hand slipped between their bodies and cupped her p-ssy through her skirt. He pressed and one of his fingers slipped between the folds and stroked against her *. The feel of the fabric rubbing against that sensitive skin sent bolts of heat streaking through her. The pounding beat of her heart echoed in her ears.
“You’re wet already.” His hand ground against her, pushing her arousal higher.
She held on to him, almost panting for more. She kissed along his jaw until her lips brushed over his. The moment his lips opened, she kissed him hungrily. Her hips lifted into his hand, but he pulled his hand back. She wanted to ride those fingers until she screamed. He didn’t give her the chance. Her inner muscles clenched and the emptiness left her aching.
Tearing her mouth away from his, she pressed her face to his neck to resist the urge to kiss him again. “Give me more.”
He chuckled and began unbuttoning her shirt. “Not yet, Cami. Touch me. I want to feel your hands on me.”
She began working on the buttons of his shirt. One caught and hung, frustrating her. Tugging at the shirt and pushing at the button, she tried to get it through the hole, but it popped off and flew across the room. She lost interest in it as soon as his shirt gaped open.
Smoothing her hands over his chest, she took her time and explored his broad chest. The heat and rippling muscles beneath the skin fascinated her. If she didn’t burn for him, she could spend the day exploring his hard body. But she did and she wasn’t denying herself this taste. She scraped her nails across his nipples. Flicking at the hard beads, she hoped that the teasing touch sent shards of pleasure through him as it did her.
He grasped one of her hands and drew it down to the hardened ridge pushing against his pants. “I want your fingers on my cock.”
She untied the laces with fumbling fingers. The normal task seemed harder than it should be. The leather string finally fell free and his cock pressed the flaps outward even as she reached for his thick length. The moment her fingers curled around his shaft, he drew in a hissing breath. She dropped kisses over his chest as her hand began stroking. He groaned and his hips rocked forward into her hand.
“That feels good.” His voice sounded even rougher than normal and the rumble seemed to roll over her body just as if it were a physical caress. “Tighten your fingers a little.”
She did as he said. Her thumb circled the rounded head and then she drew her hand back down to the base. She licked and nipped at the skin just above the darkened skin around his nipple. He tensed and his hips bucked. Reaching down, he gripped her hand and slowly drew it away from his cock.
His chest heaved as he pulled in a harsh breath and she felt his chin rest atop her head for a moment before he straightened. Her hands grabbed at him as he stepped back. He clasped her wrists and pushed them down to the tabletop.
She sat there stunned for a moment as he unfastened her skirt. He lifted her and tugged the garment until it slid down her thighs. Almost before she knew what had happened, her buttocks were back on the table. The wood felt cool against her skin and a shiver skittered up her spine. He unbuttoned her shirt and pushed it over her shoulders. She pulled her hands free. She wanted to touch him.
His hands glided up her thighs as he slowly knelt between her thighs. She stiffened when his fingers brushed over the scar on her thigh, but he didn’t flinch or react in any way other than to keep stroking her legs.
She drew in a slow breath and slid her hands over his shoulders. Anticipation built. Her mind locked on the thought of his mouth on her p-ssy. Oh yes.
She felt his breath on her thigh and closed her eyes as tingles skimmed across her flesh from that moist puff. His mouth brushed against the outer lips and she tensed. His lips were soft and warm, tempting her with thoughts of what he could do with that mouth. She wanted to feel his tongue gliding over her skin. Almost groaning, she struggled to keep from reaching for him. She’d love that. She’d love it even more if that tongue flicked across her *.
His hands tightened on her thighs, pushing them a little farther apart. His hands smoothed over her inner and outer thighs in long, sweeping strokes that sent tingles radiating through her instead of soothing or calming her. Her stomach muscles clenched and she felt an answering spasm of the muscles in her p-ssy.
One of his hands drifted up her thigh and parted her folds. The puff of his breath against the sensitive inner skin seared across her p-ssy in a stinging brand. She tensed and nearly lifted right off the table. The move only served to lift her closer to his mouth. His tongue swiped over the plump lips.
She trembled and settled back onto the table. His other hand stroked over her inner thigh. She looked down and saw a predatory smile on his lips just before his head dipped. At that look, she realized he could see how strongly he affected her. His tongue stroked over her *. Her eyes closed and her head tipped back. Her thighs tightened, but his shoulders kept them just where he wanted them.
Sharp pleasure slammed through her, pushing away the last of her ability to think. Her hands tightened on his shoulders and she dragged in a ragged breath. He lapped at her and she felt the rumble of a purr against her *. The vibrations added to the slightly rough feel of his tongue and nearly sent her right over the edge. It felt unbelievably good and she’d never experienced anything similar to it. He’d barely started and she was ready to claw and scream.
“Please, Colm.” She whispered the words, but almost didn’t recognize her own voice. It sounded strained and hoarse.
His lips closed over her * and he drew the bud into his mouth and sucked. The building sensation coiled and grew until she was trembling and gasping. His teeth scraped over the hood and she jerked. A sharp cry burst from her throat and she dug her nails fiercely into his shoulders. So close. She could feel the edge looming right in front of her. He hummed and his tongue drifted down. He lapped at her juices.
Her hips rocked into his touch. She couldn’t focus. His tongue seemed to be everywhere at once, flickering over her * with a featherlight tormenting touch and stabbing into her entrance. It could easily have been his fingers, but she didn’t care. Her breath caught in her throat. Boiling pleasure rolled up her spine and she clung to him. A low moan rolled from her as the waves rolled through her body, leaving her shaking and pleasure-drugged.
His tongue moved over her * in a long, slow swipe and she felt his fingers stroke inside her. Her inner muscles clenched on the two large fingers and she closed her eyes. It should be impossible after that deluge of sensation, but a spike of desire shot straight to her core.
After a final lick, his head lifted. She wanted to grab his head and push it back between her thighs, but when she saw his eyes, she froze. The pupils of his golden eyes had gone focused and the color had intensified. His gaze was blatantly possessive and his lips pulled back, showing the sharp points of his fangs.
It was as if she stared into the eyes of a conqueror who finally had his hands on the treasure he’d fought to possess. She drew in a startled breath, but she didn’t have time to think or panic. He straightened and stepped forward.
His cock brushed over the folds of her p-ssy. She groaned and grabbed his shoulders. Not to hold him off, but to pull him closer. She wanted that thick length inside of her. Her legs hooked around his waist, trying to pull him closer. His lips took hers in a blatant claiming. She got caught up in the intensity of the kiss. Her tongue matched his stroke for stroke, dancing and inciting them both.
His teeth nipped at her lips just as he guided his cock into her p-ssy. She shivered as her tissues stretched around his shaft. It felt so good. Her arms slid down his chest and around his waist. Her hands settled over his buttocks. Her mouth sought his as hunger rushed through her.
His fingers glided over her thighs and back up to her hips. They tightened, pulling her closer to him as he pulled back. She moaned as he retreated. She didn’t want to lose the full feeling. Not yet.
His lips and teeth grazed over her jaw. His breath rasped against her cheek. Her breasts ached and she rubbed them against his chest. As if he realized what she needed or maybe he just wanted to touch her more, his hand rose from her hip. When his fingers brushed over the spots of her trika at her ribs, she shivered.
His fingers feathered back and forth across the sensitive spot for a few moments. She clutched at him, panting and aching all over again. His palm cupped beneath the full weight of her breast and lifted as his thumb flicked at the hardened peak of her nipple. The tantalizingly light contact only heightened the burning need clawing through her body.
His hips drove forward in a quickening rhythm. She met each stroke, her body straining against his. His lips closed over hers as his fingers plucked at her nipple. Her body arched into his as a fierce bolt slammed through her, triggering an explosion of pleasure. She moaned into his mouth as she pulled him tight against her.
His hips punched forward and she felt his entire body shake as he found his release. His hand swept up her back in slow, rhythmic strokes. She knew he felt the lines of the scars there, but his lack of response allowed her to relax and simply enjoy his touch. His head lifted, but lowered again and brushed a kiss over her lips.
“I didn’t hurt you?” His eyes locked with hers as if he thought she might try to lie to him about it.
“No.” He hadn’t hurt her, but now that the pleasure was fading, she was beginning to wonder about her own sanity.
Why had she let herself get so sucked into the passion of the moment? He’d dared her, but she’d kissed him and apparently lost every bit of common sense she’d ever possessed. She should have pulled away when he started kissing her back and definitely before the clothes started to come off. But she hadn’t, and she really couldn’t blame anyone other than herself for the entire thing.
Now she had more problems than merely crossing the line from fantasy to actually having sex with one of them. How are they going to act toward me now? She didn’t know what had happened with his eyes, but she guessed it wasn’t going to be a good thing for her. Not the way he’d looked at her and the way he was watching her.
She could still see the possessiveness there. As far as she knew, the only way to recognize a mate was through scent. Taste shouldn’t come into it. The brew she drank every night muddled her scent. Was the potion failing for some reason?
She was already at the maximum dosage for the potion and she had to make it last. Making more was possible, but she’d have to find a few herbs. That wasn’t going to be easy. She couldn’t increase the amount she took without risking her health. She hoped that look faded with time. If it didn’t, she’d have to take the chance and strengthen the drink. Not that it would solve anything if it did, but at least it might keep the recognition and possessive attitude from intensifying.
“There at the end I wasn’t exactly gentle and I don’t want to hurt you.” His eyes moved over her face and she could see questions there, but he didn’t say anything else.
“I’m not small and fragile. You can’t break me by holding me too close.” She couldn’t help but grin at his worry. He hadn’t held her that tightly.
“Maybe not small, but I am stronger and larger than you. Come on. I’ll walk with you upstairs and you can clean up.” He helped her down from the table.
She put her shirt on first. The scars would fade with time, but she wasn’t confident enough flaunt them yet. She went along with him, but she didn’t really care where they were going. Time alone was what she wanted and bathing would give it to her. Her mind was churning with questions. She had to discover what to do and how to go from this point.
Colm walked at her side, but he could tell that her mind was already running. She was pulling away mentally even more than physically. He wished he knew what to say. Linc would know the words to reassure her. He wouldn’t be standing here wondering if he’d made things so much worse. Colm shook his head.
That was the worst of his worries. He wondered if she was going to try to run from them now. He hadn’t expected the kiss to burst out of out of control the way it had or his own intense desire for her. He’d been just as out of control as her.
In a way, that didn’t sit well. He didn’t like the thought that he might have pushed her too far with that dare. She’d been nervous around them before. This probably made her even more so, but hopefully, it wouldn’t send her into a full panic. He didn’t regret it happening. Not ever, but especially after tasting her.
At his first lick, a jolt shot through him and only one thought filled his head. Mine. The taste set off something primitive and possessive inside of him. It pushed beyond all his doubts about true mates and he’d only thought of f*cking her.
He’d wanted to mark her and claim her as his, but his fangs hadn’t descended fully. Now that he had time to think about it, the fact that that hadn’t happened didn’t worry him too much. She was their mate. Scent was a huge part of finding a mate. Since she didn’t smell right, it was logical that his body wouldn’t fully react to her until he could smell her.
The depth of the feelings that surged up at that taste amazed him. He hadn’t thought it would be that immediate or that strong. Even with his doubts about mating, he knew he couldn’t let her continue to hide and deny what he now knew for a fact. She was their mate.
He wasn’t walking away from this connection. She’d have to face her doubts just as he would. He knew he was going to have to work through his fears of losing a mate. One thing had been clear in an instant. Now that he’d found his mate, he couldn’t turn away from her.
He left her at her room and went to the room he shared with Linc. He dropped onto the bed and ran his hands through his hair. He immediately rose and began pacing. He didn’t want to be in the room. He wanted to do something. Specifically, move everything of hers into this room.
She wasn’t ready for that. It would send her into a panic. He was going to have to curb his desire to haul her into their lives even if part of him did fear her running away while she wasn’t with them. She was too nervous and cautious around them already.
Gods, he needed to talk to Linc. Colm walked to the door and went out into the hall. He waited outside the door to the bathing room. Not so much because he thought that she’d run if he wasn’t there to meet her, but because now that he had a plan, he wanted to get to it right away. He’d leave her with the chatar and then go find Linc. The wise man was still hunting for what made her eyes glow. There was so much to tell his bond brother and he wanted Linc’s opinion.
She finally came out of the room. Her hair was braided, but he could still see the gleam of moisture on it and she wore a pretty purple shirt and black pants. He held out his hand and waited. In a way, he half expected her to refuse, but she slid her palm over his after only a moment’s hesitation. He tightened his fingers around hers.
Maybe he hadn’t messed things up too badly.