“Damn it,” Drantos hissed.
“What?” Dusti gripped his shoulders.
“His body isn’t here.”
“I smell a lot of blood.” Red walked away to go to Velder.
“What do you mean his body isn’t here?” Dusti shook her head. “He was dead! He wasn’t breathing.” Drantos eased his hold and let her slide down his body. He clutched her hand, holding on tight.
Velder rose and walked a little. Red followed him.
“What is it, Dad?”
Velder paused. “There’s a blood trail and two sets of prints. It looks as if an enforcer returned for him.” He started walking again and then bent, lifting something from the ground.
“What is that? I can’t make it out.” Dusti hated being at a disadvantage.
“Clothing,” Drantos whispered. “Someone shifted.” He sniffed the air. “Not Decker’s scent.”
“I shot him six damn times.” Dusti refused to believe he might be alive. “Six! He wasn’t breathing.”
“We’re hard to kill.” Drantos tugged her closer.
“It’s possible he died and they just took his body. Get her out of here, Drantos.” Velder fell to his knees. “Shift back, Red. Help me track them to be certain. Let’s end this.”
Drantos let go of Dusti’s hand and gripped her hips, lifting her. He flung her over his shoulder and proceeded to carry her back into the trees.
She placed her hands just above his ass to brace her body so her face didn’t slam into his back. “I can walk.”
“Shut up. I’m angry right now.” He stopped. “Find my gun. It’s around here.”
“I can’t see a damn thing,” Dusti admitted.
“I wasn’t talking to you, mate. More of our clan just arrived. Be silent.”
She tried to hold back her irritation as Drantos gave orders to people around them that she couldn’t see. He had a right to be upset with her but he was taking it to the extreme. He told some of them to go help his father, others to spread out and search the area for any of Decker’s enforcers. Then he marched through the woods with her. His mind was closed off when she tried to sense what he was thinking or feeling.
“I really hate when you carry me like this,” she finally sighed.
“You’re lucky I don’t spank your ass. What were you thinking? You could have died.”
“I told you I could play Bat. I totally faked him out and he didn’t even know it was me until I threw it in his face. I sounded just like her when she’s pissed off. I have it down pat. Can you please put me down? I hate feeling like a sack of laundry.”
“Goddamn it.” Drantos snarled. “Take this seriously. Do you understand that he could have killed you?”
“I knew that but I’m not useless.”
He came to a jarring halt. “I never thought you were.”
“They do,” she whispered. “I needed to show them I’m a part of your clan, Drantos. Tell me one woman who wouldn’t have willingly done what I did if they’d been in my shoes. I know you’re mad but you wouldn’t even listen to reason.”
He growled and began walking again.
“I’m okay. Lake got his niece back. That’s all that matters, right?”
“Damn it, Dusti.”
She heard his tone soften, some of the anger fading. It encouraged her to try to lighten his mood more. “Think I’ll get that official clan title after this stunt? Dusti, the Master Bullshitter.”
He snorted. It almost sounded like a harsh laugh. “Shut up.”
She closed her mouth. He took her home, slammed the front door after entering, and then eased her onto her feet. She couldn’t help but stare at his naked body. A smile played at her lips.
He reached out and clasped her jaw, lifting it. “Don’t you dare try to distract me. Sex isn’t going to calm me down.”
“I wasn’t going to do that. I was just admiring the view.”
“You shouldn’t have left our home.” He eased his hold and caressed her cheek. “You drive me crazy.”
“It’s more human nature and I am mainly that.”
He frowned.
“We generally have this overriding desire to help someone, Drantos. My grandfather kidnapped a little girl. The easiest way to get her back was to give him what he wanted.”
His lips pressed into a firm line, relaying his displeasure.
She studied his eyes. They were beautiful and dark blue at that moment. “Don’t be mad. It did work out. That little girl is safe and so am I. Look on the bright side.”
“I’m afraid to ask what you think that is.”
“I shot him. Bat and Kraven can come home. She’s safe now.”
“You could have been killed. That’s all I can think about. Do you know what that would have done to me? You’re my life, Dusti. My mate.” His voice deepened. “It’s my job to protect you. I can’t do that if you defy me and put yourself at risk.”
“Do you want a mate or a trained pet?”
He scowled.
“I have a mind of my own. I don’t take orders well. You don’t either, or you would have let me go in the first place.”
“Are you blaming me for this stunt you pulled?”
“No. Don’t get bent out of shape. I’m just saying we’re two people in a relationship and we both have our own opinions. We’re not always going to agree with each other. You can’t expect me to always do what you say.”
“I can when it comes to your safety.”
“You said it yourself. You live in a dangerous world. I’m living here with you now.”
“God! You drive me crazy.”
He suddenly lunged and took possession of her mouth, kissing her hard. She pressed her body against his, clutching his waist.
The sound of the door opening broke them apart and Dusti twisted her head to see who had interrupted them. Crayla entered.
“You’re alive.”
“No thanks to you,” Drantos grumbled. “She’s my mate. Don’t ever pull rank when it comes to her again. You have no business helping her do something foolish.”
“Stop!” Dusti turned, blocking Drantos’s body as best she could from his mother.
Crayla crossed her arms over her chest. “Asha will be returned to her mother alive and well. We can thank your mate for that.”
“You helped her leave my home and talked Lake into going along with it.”
Dusti sighed. “Did anyone hear me say stop? I meant don’t argue, if that wasn’t clear.” She turned her head to stare up at Drantos. He moved closer, wrapping an arm loosely around her middle. “Please don’t do this. Be mad at me.”
He held her gaze. “I am mad at you. I’m furious with her.”
“Where’s your father?”
He broke eye contact to glare at Crayla. “He and some of our men are tracking the enforcers that are with Decker.”
“I killed my grandfather,” Dusti added.
Crayla gaped at her. “What?”
“She took my gun.” Drantos held her tighter. “It’s a miracle he didn’t smell it on her or take it from her.”
“Where did you hide the weapon?”
“In my underwear. Actually, Drantos’s underwear. I had to borrow his.”
“Close to your body and hidden under a few layers of clothing. That was smart.”
Praise from Crayla was nice and appreciated. “Thanks.”
“Don’t encourage her, Mom.”
“She did well. She survived and the child is safe.” Crayla’s tone softened. “How are you handling your first kill, Dusti? I’ll assume you’ve never taken a life before.”
She’d been running on so many emotions that the reality of shooting Decker Filmore really hadn’t sunk in yet. She admitted as much. “He was a bad guy though. I doubt it will keep me up at night.”
The door opened again and Velder strode in. He sported a pair of faded jeans and nothing else. He went to his mate and pulled her into a hug. They held each other close.
“What happe
ned?” Drantos was the one to ask.
Velder nuzzled Crayla’s cheek with his nose before he looked at his son. “They had a zip line rigged. They got away. I wasn’t willing to risk our men following them in case they cut the line from the other side. It was a steep, rocky ravine below. The fall could have killed them…but I do have worse news.” He dropped his gaze to Dusti. “We saw signs that Decker survived.”
“No way. I shot him six damn times!”
“I found a bloody set of prints near where they crossed. They were his. They carried him for a ways but he definitely walked to the edge of that cliff.”
“Son of a bitch,” Drantos cursed.
“Unbelievable.” Dusti was in shock. “He wasn’t breathing. I’m sure I got his heart or his lungs. Four of them were chest hits!”
“We’re really hard to kill.” Crayla sighed. “You should have placed every bullet in his head.”
“I would have had to lift the gun up higher to hit him there. I kind of hid it between our bodies so he didn’t see it until I’d already opened fire. I didn’t think to keep shooting once I thought he was gone.”
“We also heal fast,” Drantos reminded her.
“From being dead? It’s not my fault you VampLycans are freaks of nature. Don’t give me that aggravated tone, Drantos. Nobody takes four hits to the chest and two to the gut, then gets up. That’s just wrong.”
“Regardless,” Velder stated. “Decker is alive and got away. I need to make a lot of calls. I’ll report to Lord Aveoth what direction Decker took. I’ll also alert his clan that the girl is here with us and make arrangements for her parents to join her here.” He looked at his mate then. “You and I will talk afterward.”
“She’s one of mine. Don’t give me that look, Vel.”
“Not this again,” Dusti muttered. “Let’s just clear the air now. I wanted to do it. You wanted me to pretend to be Bat. The only one who had a problem with it was Drantos. My mate, my problem. I refuse to be the reason my mate-in-laws argue.”
Both of them looked at her.
She shrugged. “I hate bullshit.”
“Obviously not, master of bullshitting,” Drantos drawled.
Dusti laughed, turning her head to grin at him. “I do like that title.”
“What title?” Velder didn’t sound amused.
“Never mind.” Drantos shook his head. “It’s a private joke between my mate and me. She’s fine. You both should go. We have our own argument to finish.”
They left and Dusti turned in his arms, wrapping hers around his waist. “Are we okay? I love you.”
“I love you too but you’re going to drive me insane.”
“You’re a tough guy. I think you can handle me.”
“I can think of many ways to do that.” Desire flooded the bond they had, the emotion filling her.
“Make-up sex?”
“Make-up sex,” he confirmed. “You have a lot to atone for.”
“Sounds sexy.”
“It does.”
“Good. And I can’t wait until Kraven and Bat return.”
“I know you miss your sister.”
“I do but she’s really going to piss your parents off.” She grinned. “Tag, she’ll be it. I almost feel sorry for your family. Almost.”
He laughed. “I want to make love to you right now.”
“That sounds like heaven.”
A slight noise sounded from outside. Dusti immediately tensed, prepared for someone else to walk into the house unannounced. “Why don’t you lock the door? I’m so sick of interruptions.”
“So am I.”
She let him go and he stalked over to the front door, bolting it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dusti entered the bedroom first. “Alone at last!”
“Yes.” Drantos followed, closing and locking that door too. “I’m going to shower. I’ve been running in the woods and I’m covered in sweat. I’ll be right back.”
“Hurry.”
She watched him go but then decided to join him. He’d already turned on the water and was standing under the spray by the time she’d stripped and entered the bathroom. She enjoyed the view of his body through the steamy interior of the shower stall. He had his head tipped back but quickly sensed her, turning his head and smiling.
“Do you have room in there for me?”
He shoved open the door and held out his hand. “Always.”
Dusti stepped inside and tried to open her mind. Waves of passion hit her and she reached out, grabbing hold of Drantos. He chuckled and hooked an arm around her. “Open up to me.”
“You’re the one who closed me off. You’ve been guarded since you found me. I could only pick up that you wanted me a few minutes ago.”
“I was angry but I’m not anymore.”
“So I feel.” She caressed his skin.
He groaned, lowering his mouth to hers. “You make me so hot. You burn me up, sweetheart.”
Dusti closed her eyes and could relate. She loved the way he kissed her. It went from mild to an overdriving need to be inside her. She wanted him so bad it hurt. He dominated her mouth with his tongue, picking her right up off her feet and pinning her against the stall tiles. She lifted her legs, hooking them around his waist. Lust rolled between them, reflecting off each other until he shifted his hips and entered her. Dusti cried out at the feel of his cock filling her.
Drantos tore his mouth away from hers and went for her throat. His tongue swiped over her skin, right before he bit. His fangs caused a slight amount of pain but he thrust up into her at the same time, distracting her with more pleasure. Her gums began to throb but she wasn’t sure if it were really her sensation or his. The taste of blood wet her lips and Drantos moaned against her throat. He moved faster, fucking her hard and deep.
She clawed at his shoulders and knew she wasn’t going to last long. The climax tore through her in the next instant and she shouted his name. Drantos came with her. She could feel it both in her body and through the mental bond between them. He clutched her tighter and sank to his knees with her still wrapped around him. Water poured down them both from the showerhead, dousing their upper bodies. It didn’t matter.
Drantos removed his fangs from her neck and licked at the spot he’d bitten. He chuckled. “That was a quickie. Ready to go to bed and do this a hell of a lot slower?”
Dusti became aware that she had her mouth still pressed to his skin when she tried to talk. She opened her eyes when she pulled away and saw that she’d bitten him too. There were no puncture wounds from fangs but the familiar twin crescents from her smooth row of teeth. She’d broken the skin in a few places but it wasn’t bad.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. You can always bite me. I heal, remember?”
He shifted so the water wasn’t pouring down on them and she met his gaze. “That was something.”
“We’re newly mated and we had a scare. It’s normal.”
“I’ve never gotten off that fast before.”
“You’ve never been mated before either.” He changed his hold on her. “Stand. Let me turn off the water.”
She hated to untangle their bodies but did with his help. He rose up to stand next to her and twisted off the flow of water. He threw open the door and stepped out, just running a towel quickly over his body. He dropped it and grabbed another, opening it for her.
“Come here.”
She stepped out and he dried her body as quickly as he had his own. He threw that towel aside as well and surprised her by sweeping her off her feet. He carried her to the bed and gently laid her down.
“Now that we have the edge off, I’m going to make love to you.”
She smiled. “I felt pretty loved.”
He chuckled and gripped her ankles, lifting and spreading her legs. He climbed onto the bed with her, pushed her legs up, and she bent her knees. Drantos released her before coming down on top of her. He didn’t kiss her lips this time but instead surprised h
er by going for her right breast. His mouth was hot when he focused on her nipple. She moaned and threaded her fingers through his hair, holding him close.
“I can feel that all the way to my clit.”
He growled and suckled her breast harder. Dusti moaned and shifted her legs, hooking them along the back of his thighs. He released her nipple and focused on the other. He braced one arm on the bed and reached down, running his palm over her leg, under it, then cupped her ass.
You’re my everything, sweetheart.
Dusti loved hearing his voice inside her head. “I feel the same way about you. You’re torturing me. I don’t need foreplay. I can feel how much you want to be inside me. I want you there.”
I want to play with you.
Sadist.
He chuckled and released her breast, scooting down. “Never. I just love how you respond to me. I promised we’d go slower. I’m just keeping my word.”
He brushed soft, wet kisses down her stomach. He slid lower, released her ass, and pinned her thighs open with his arms. He ran his lips over the inside of her thigh and nipped her with his fangs.
“Now you’re just being mean.”
He laughed. “You’re already ready to come again. I’m giving you a little time to cool down.”
She arched her pelvis at him but it was tough to do with him holding her open, legs apart. She tried to read his thoughts but they weren’t there. “You cut the link between us. I can’t feel you.”
“I did it on purpose or I’ll come when you do again.” He rubbed his jaw over her pelvic bone, teasing. “Let’s try to last longer than thirty seconds this time.”
He lowered his mouth and teased her clit with the tip of his tongue. Dusti moaned and unwove her fingers from his hair, grabbing at the bedding instead. His lower teeth raked over the sensitive bud.
“Torture,” she moaned.
“I haven’t even started, sweetheart. I plan to be here for a while.”
He ran his tongue over her clit, slowly licking her with light strokes. She squeezed her eyes closed and bit her lip, the pleasure slowly building. Every so often he’d use his teeth to gently slide across the swelling bundle of nerves. Sweat began to coat her body as she writhed on his bed. Every muscle strained from how wound up she felt.