Eager to pull her close and finally taste her, I waited damn impatiently as the Prelate had Chico and Jude exchange the same vows.
“Stop scowling,” Ava whispered. “You can’t scowl at our Binding.” But she was on the verge of laughing. I made an effort to soften my expression, but I wasn’t sure I succeeded.
Finally the Prelate signalled for us to exchange blood. Leaning down, I kissed Ava deeply before biting her bottom lip and licking away the rich blood that seeped to the surface. Ava copied the move, wearing the sultriest smile. Minx. As I’d expected, a small wind suddenly built, whipping around us, causing Ava’s hair to lift slightly. I almost jumped as I felt it: what I could only describe as a ‘psychic bridge’ came into place with a sharp snap.
Just as Jared had once described, the pathway was almost like having an additional sense. This bond tied me to Ava so completely that I could sense not just her current state of mind, but her heartbeat, her thirst-level, her location, her energy-level. It was both strange and reassuring, gave me a soul-deep fulfilment that I’d never before known. I would now always be linked to this person that meant more to me than anything else.
I didn’t have much time to marvel over the bond before heat seemed to engulf my third finger, and there was an odd sensation – much like a sharp nail was scratching at the base of the digit. That was when a black, intricate, Celtic-like pattern formed exactly where a wedding ring might have been: a Binding knot. It wasn’t a dull black. Not something subtle or easily missed. It seemed to glimmer and demand attention.
Seeing an identical knot forming on Ava’s third finger, I smiled inwardly. I knew that Binding knots varied for each pair, which meant that Ava’s knot would match only mine, just as mine would only match hers.
That knot showed the world that she was taken, that she belonged to me. It let people know there was someone who would go to deadly lengths to keep her and protect her from any external harm. It was also a sign that she wanted to be mine just as much as I wanted her to be – and that in itself was an absolute fucking phenomenon in my eyes.
“I love it,” Ava murmured. “You’re stuck with me now.”
I kissed her again, just because. “Then I have what I want.”
Once Chico and Jude completed their Binding, the Prelate gestured for the guests to rise. At that, they all got to their feet and clapped just as Sam announced, “Let’s eat, I’m bloody starving.” Diplomatic, as ever.
(Ava)
“Does it tingle?”
Salem blinked. “Tingle?” He cast his groin a glance, and I giggled.
“I meant your knot.” I lowered my voice so the rest of the table couldn’t hear. “When I touch mine, it sends a little shiver through me.”
His mouth curved just as his face took on a speculative look. “Does it now? Interesting.” I didn’t like the roguish glint in his eyes. “You look beautiful,” he said gruffly. I could feel his sincerity and admiration through our bond. The connection was so much deeper than I’d expected, so amazing and comforting.
I fingered his shirt. “And you look rather dazzling.” Honestly, when I’d seen him standing near the floral arch with Chico, Jared, and the Prelate, I’d almost groaned at how mouth-wateringly masculine and sexy he looked.
“Dazzling?” He sounded offended.
“Sorry, not manly enough for you?”
Lifting one of my hands, he traced the intricate vine pattern on the back. I could sense his confusion.
“It’s one of the prenuptial rituals for Bindings.” After being covered in exotic-smelling oils and given a full-body massage, I’d enjoyed a spicy wrap treatment. Then I’d been given a milk bath, followed by having my hands and feet painted with a glistening ink. I’d actually kind of liked the rituals, but the ever-so-impatient Jude hadn’t found any of it relaxing.
As his finger began to trace my Binding Knot, I gasped. And the bastard’s eyes lit with mischief and smugness. “Not here,” I hissed.
“You’re right. Let’s go.”
Knowing he was totally serious, I placed my hand on his thigh to stay him. “Not yet.”
“Then when?”
His pained expression made me giggle. “Soon, but not yet.”
“Why?”
“We haven’t even eaten, for one thing.” As tradition, the feast was taking place in the grand garden at the back of the mansion, which was adorned with butterfly lights, candles, torches, and banners. We were seated at the ‘head table’ with Jude, Chico, Sam, Jared, Luther, and Sebastian. “I spent a lot of time planning this menu, and I intend to taste it.” When his pained expression deepened, I guessed, “You don’t want to stay for Harvey’s speech, do you?”
“No.” Salem leaned closer, speaking matter-of-factly. “There’s also the little issue that having a great view of your legs makes me want them wrapped around me while I’m buried inside you.” He took the hand I’d placed on his thigh and laid it over the hard bulge in his pants.
Heat and need rushed through me, making me swallow hard. “Soon,” I promised again, giving his cock a gentle squeeze.
When Jared got to his feet, a respectful silence descended. “Before we eat and kick this party off, Harvey and I would like to say a few words. Before we do that, though, I have to thank Fletcher and his crew of very creative people who worked hard to organise the ceremony and after-party. Secondly, thanks to everyone for coming to witness and celebrate the two Bindings that occurred tonight.”
Jared looked down at me, Salem, Chico, and Jude as he continued. “All four of these vampires have dedicated their immortal lives to serve and protect their kind, and that’s no small thing. They deserve the happiness they’ve found.” He lifted a champagne chute. “Please raise your glasses and join me in blessing this Binding and wishing these vampires well.” Once everyone had taken a sip of their champagne-flavoured NSTs, he took his seat. “The floor’s yours, Harvey.”
As Harvey stood wearing a superior grin, I felt Salem’s tension and unease understandably increase. He and Chico were right: Harvey would take utter delight in giving a speech that embarrassed all four of us and undoubtedly featured a few pranks.
“As a good friend of both couples, I’d like to say –” He flinched as a series of loud popping sounds practically deafened us all and colourful streamers rocketed into the air. Only Salem, Chico, and Harvey were confused by the fact that every guest except for those on our table were setting off party poppers. Jude, Sam, and I exchanged a knowing grin that made Salem arch a brow at me.
Harvey cleared his throat. “I’d like to say –” Once more, numerous popping sounds split the air, bringing an angry flush to his cheeks. Raising his voice, he tried again. “I’d like to say congratulations to both couples and –” More loud popping sounds. “Oh, fuck it.” He slumped in his seat, sulking. Laughter spread around the tables that circled the man-made dance floor.
Salem narrowed his eyes at me, amused. “That was your idea, wasn’t it?”
“I wasn’t going to let him make you even more uncomfortable than you already do at our Binding.”
“I’ll love you forever for that alone.”
I laughed, straightening in my seat as a plate of food was set in front of me. Clearly the feast had now began. During all four of the delicious courses that followed, Salem insisted on turning eating into a sensual act. He lifted food to my mouth using either his fork or fingers, licked off any sauce or cream from my lips, and even fed me ice cream by taking a spoonful into his own mouth and then kissing me. The whole time, he never stopped touching me – whether it was to caress my nape, stroke my knee, or trace my ear. He was also sure to trace my Binding knot from time to time, the teasing bastard.
“Must you torment me?” I hissed, flushed with need.
“Yes, because if I can’t be alone with you, I’m going to at least make sure I have all of your attention.” He kissed me, swallowing my chuckle. “Besides, you taste so fucking good. How am I supposed to sit here and not take a little lick??
?? He swiped his tongue over my bottom lip. “Or a bite?” He nipped that same lip just as his hand cupped the back of my neck. God, I was so damn turned on right now it wasn’t even funny.
Hearing a throat clear, I looked up to find my brother sneering at Salem. “Can you stop mauling my sister?”
Salem glared at him. “No, I won’t stop touching my mate.” That had Cristiano scowling.
“Boys, boys,” I interjected, “this is a celebration. No arguing.”
Cristiano shot Salem a withering glare before flashing me a smile. “I came to ask you for a dance.”
“She can’t right now, she’s busy,” Salem answered for me. I rolled my eyes.
“You can’t expect her not to have at least one dance at her own Binding.” Cristiano smirked. “Let’s face it, it’s not like you’ll give her that dance.”
Well, that was probably true enough so…Wait, why were we standing?
“Your brother’s right, baby. You should get to dance at our Binding.” His reluctance was clear in his tone. But apparently he was more unwilling to part with me than he was to dance, because sure enough he escorted me onto the very crowded dance floor.
Considering how reluctant he was to get up there, I’d expected him to totally lack in rhythm. Big mistake on my part. He held me just right as we swayed: his left hand kept my hand over his heart, his right hand rested on my lower back, and he tucked my head beneath his chin.
Feeling his hard cock brushing against my stomach was like a promise of what was to come. It was also sheer torment, because I was already hot with need after his sensual torture during the meal. Deep inside, I felt empty. And I knew that only he could take that emptiness away by thrusting inside me.
When the song ended, Salem lowered his mouth to my ear and nipped the lobe. “Please tell me we can go now.”
I swallowed hard, more than ready to be alone with him. “We can go now. But discretely,” I stressed, pulling him towards the shadows.
Sam had warned me that it was tradition when the couple was leaving for the guests to line up and not only shake their hands, but for the guys to kiss ‘the bride’ and the women to kiss ‘the groom’. Not a chance was I letting that happen. I doubted Salem would like it any more than I would.
Creeping around was pretty simple when you had a member of the Grand High Pair’s personal squad in the lead. Obviously all his training had paid off. Entering our apartment, he moved to pull me to him. Shaking my head, I backed up.
“Come here,” he rumbled, his face a mask of intensity.
I wagged my finger. “This is our Binding night. We are going to celebrate it in the bedroom.” If I went to him now, let him touch me just once, we’d undoubtedly end up fucking on the floor or against the wall. Not that those were necessarily bad options at all. But for this night, I wanted a bed.
“If that’s what you want.” Moving so fast I had no time to react, Salem scooped me up and carried me through the apartment, not setting me down until we reached the foot of the bed. His stare was so predatory and so piercing it burned my skin and hardened my nipples. Humming low in his throat, he breezed his mouth over mine. Instead of kissing me, he lifted my hand and admired the Binding knot once again, eyes glinting with both satisfaction and arousal. Then, holding my gaze, he sucked my finger into his mouth and swirled his tongue around the knot.
My knees actually buckled. “Shit.” The smug curve to his mouth was nothing but irritating right then. Taking him by surprise, I retrieved my hand and smoothly tackled his fly; smiling when his cock bobbed out of its confines. “All mine,” I whispered, fisting him and sweeping my thumb over the head. Keeping my grip firm, I pumped him; wrenching a thick groan of need from his throat.
“Harder.”
Instead, I knelt at his feet, peeled down his pants, and helped him step out of them. His cock was hard, thick, and long, and I wanted it inside me. But first…Cupping his balls, I lifted them slightly and then very slowly licked from his perineum, over his balls, right to the head of his cock. His hands bunched my hair as a growl rumbled out of him. Again and again, I licked him like a lollipop; his grip on my hair tightened to the point of pain.
“Open your mouth, Ava.” The instant I did, he surged inside. Rather than withdrawing and thrusting again, he stilled. “I love looking at you with my cock in your mouth.” I swirled my tongue around him, and he groaned. “Here’s what’s going to happen next. I’m going to take this mouth. Going to come down your throat, and you’re going to swallow every drop. Then I’m going to taste you until you come all over my tongue. After that, I’m going to fuck you so hard, you’ll never forget how I feel inside you.” He smoothly pulled back and then thrust back in. “You want that, don’t you?”
Well, duh. I nodded as much as his grip would allow.
“Good.” Then he did as he promised and fucked my mouth. I held onto his thighs, and alternated between digging my fingers into the skin and lightly raking him with my nails. Despite how rough he was, he looked at me the entire time like I was all that mattered.
“Every drop, Ava,” he reminded me. Then he stilled and came with a guttural groan, watching as I swallowed it all. With his hold on my hair, he urged me to stand and kissed me hard. “I think you deserve a reward for that.” He backed me into the open closet door, crushing me against my silk robe. Spotting it, a devious gleam entered his eyes that made me a little nervous.
“What?”
He pulled the tie free of the robe. “Hands above your head.”
Well now. Holding his heated gaze, I slowly did as he asked.
He bound my wrists together with the tie and then attached it to the hook. “Very nice.” He brushed his nose along my neck, inhaling deeply. “Don’t move.” Then he dropped to his knees, and his hands shackled my ankles gently. “I’ve been thinking about doing this all fucking night,” he said as his hands slowly and smoothly slid up my legs, forcing the front of my dress to hike up around my waist. Arousal flashed across his face as he saw my white lacy, silk panties.
Seeing his intention in his eyes, I quickly told him, “You don’t need to rip them off. There’s a ribbon on each side.”
“Is that so?” He slowly unravelled one knot. “Like my very own present.” Then he unfastened the other ribbon; watching, content, as the barrier slid away. “So pretty.” His tongue flicked out and lashed my clit, startling a low gasp from me.
Grabbing my hips, he tilted me slightly. “Put one leg over my shoulder, baby.” The moment I did, he dived in – there was really no other term for it. His seriously wicked tongue licked, lapped, swirled, and stabbed, hitting all kinds of nerves and buttons. The more he tasted and teased, the more pronounced the ache inside me became…until it was just too much.
“No more.” I moaned as he began to suckle on my clit. “Salem, get up here.” A finger plunged inside me, followed swiftly by another. Again and again, he drove them into me – all the while playing with my clit and working me into a frenzy. Honestly unable to take it any longer, I lifted my leg from over his shoulder and tried pushing him away with my foot. Unaffected, he grabbed my leg, hiked it high, and rammed his fingers inside, curving them just right. I exploded.
“That’s what I was waiting for.” Getting to his feet, he lightly kissed my neck as he freed my hands and gently skimmed his own over me, as if soothing me.
“Now I want what I’ve been waiting for.” I shoved him toward the bed so hard he stumbled, and he did something I never would have expected. He laughed. It was a low, throaty sound that made my stomach clench and caused me to blink in surprise. “I’m glad you don’t laugh a lot in public, because I think I just came.”
(Salem)
“I don’t want you coming again until I’m in you.” Yanking her to me, I lifted her up and dumped her on the bed.
She landed on her back with a bounce, giggling. “Ooh, I like the direction things are moving in.” The little tease raised her knees and then slowly parted her legs, giving me a perfect view of w
hat I wanted most.
I took a moment to drink in the sight of her – eyes shining with arousal, face flushed, legs spread invitingly, folds swollen and glistening. Shedding my shirt, I knelt between her thighs and hooked her legs over my shoulders. “Look at me.” When her gaze locked with mine, I slammed home, and her body clamped tight around me; she was so damn wet I was balls-deep in just one thrust. “You feel too fucking good around me.”
“No more teasing, Salem,” she ordered, panting.
“No more,” I agreed. “Because now I’m going to fuck you.” I scooped her breasts out of her dress and drew a nipple into my mouth just as I started pumping in and out of her. Nothing tasted, smelled, or felt better than Ava. Add in the amazing little sounds she made and her hands threading through my hair, and I was already close to coming.
“Harder, Salem.”
I gave her what she wanted, pounding hard, fast, and deep; relishing every moan of my name. Needing to taste more of her, I licked and sucked at her pulse, letting her know what was to come. Then I bit hard, groaning as her rich blood flooded my mouth. Sliding one hand under her head, I lifted it – hinting at what I wanted. She didn’t hesitate to return the bite; the pleasure/pain had me feverishly hammering into her.
She screamed my name as her climax hit. Feeling her blood on my tongue, her teeth in my shoulder, her nails raking my arms, and her body rippling around me as she came was too much – I jammed my cock deep as I erupted inside her, filling her.
Not wanting to crush her, I rolled onto my back, dragging her on top of me.
As I lifted her hand to look at her Binding knot, she smiled. “The bond is pretty awesome, huh.”
“Now you can’t ever again feel lonely.”
“And neither can you.”