Dark Devotion: Dark Series 3 (8 page)

Taer was up in Raven, the nightclub on the second floor of the Eye. Bryn had asked her to work a few hours up there before coming back downstairs later on in the evening. She had to admit that bartending was a far cry from her training to become a shadow walker – an assassin – in Darrion’s guild.

It had only been five weeks ago that she’d been in the garage at the back of her house with her brother, Adrian, learning how to use a dagger correctly. It had been a little less than four since Adrian had been killed by Darrion, and now twenty-seven hours had passed since she got her revenge and murdered Darrion for his crimes.

As far as she knew, Darrion had never allowed a female to be trained before. She hadn’t even known who was in her quinary – the group of five Mares preparing to go into battle with one another at the conclusion of their training – except that the remaining four members were male. Realistically the odds had been stacked against her from the beginning, but she had been determined to succeed. She wanted to be the first, until …

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block the scene that seemed to be tattooed into her memories. Blood. Gasping. Her brother’s lifeless body on the cold concrete floor.

Shaking her head, she tried to focus on the present. The problem was the hurt was just as overwhelming now as it was in the past.

There was a collective gasp of awe. She looked down the bar in time to see Dex, the other bartender who had been shamelessly flirting with her since she started her shift, performing one of his Jagerbomb tricks. As he grinned at the group of women surrounding him – all leaning over the bar to make their breasts spill out of their tops or dresses – the light glinted off the piercings through his nose, eyebrow, lip and ears.

She shook her head at the stupidity of the female species and got busy making the next drink order. As she worked, she thought about the night before. Going to see Aubrey hadn’t been a good idea, but she’d had to tell him, face-to-face, what had happened with her and Darrion. Aubrey was the one who had trained her to fight after Korvain had pulled the pin and refused to do it anymore. It was because of Aubrey that she had survived.

And it was because of him that she felt her resolve not to get involved with him lessen every time she saw him. She’d been so very close to giving in when he came to stand behind her in his kitchen, but she was afraid. Once Aubrey had gotten what he wanted from her, would he simply disappear?

“Stop thinking about him,” she chastised quietly under her breath. A familiar scent filled her nostrils and she looked up. Her eyes found Aubrey even through the crowd and the near darkness. It had been less than eighteen hours since she’d last seen him, but her heart stuttered and her stomach clenched. Shaking her head, she refocused on the customer in front of her.

“That’ll be twenty-five,” she said.

The guy slapped a fifty on the bar and smiled. “Keep it.”

She returned the gesture only because she’d learned that if she smiled more, she got bigger tips. “Thanks.” She dragged the bill toward her, her breath catching when Aubrey approached the bar.

“Winter Fox,” he said with a wry smile.

Taer’s eyes drifted down his body. Damn, he looked good. He was in a black suit and shirt with a dark gray tie at his throat. Her whole body gave a little shudder and she sucked in a sharp breath. If this was how she reacted without any physical contact, she could only imagine how good it would be when she allowed him to touch her intimately.

“Aubrey,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

He glanced from her to the customer she was serving, then back at her. For a moment there, it seemed as if jealousy had flared in his eyes. “I came looking for you,” he replied smoothly.

“You found me,” she said.

From the corner of her eye, Taer could see Dex watching them. After telling his customer to wait a minute, Dex approached Taer and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Is everything all right, Tay?” he asked.

A small growl came from Aubrey.

Pulling Dex’s arm away, Taer said, “Fine.”

Dex shrugged off the snub casually. “Who is this guy?” He jerked his chin in Aubrey’s direction.

“I’m the only man allowed to touch her like that,” Aubrey hissed, his pale eyes darkening with rage.

Oh, fuck. She had to diffuse the situation, and quickly. “He’s my boyfriend, Dex,” Taer blurted out. Seeing the smug smile on Aubrey’s lips, she pulled on her apron strings, wadded up the fabric and stowed it under the bar. “I need a minute.”

Shooting Aubrey a look, she walked to the end of the bar and stepped out from behind it. She watched the light elf saunter in her direction, a definite swagger in his step.

“Boyfriend, huh? Soon-to-be lover would have been a more accurate description.”

Taer brushed off his comment with a huff. “Dex wasn’t going to leave any other way.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she said, “What are you really doing here, Aubrey?”

He studied her, seemingly drinking in every one of her features. “Where can I get you alone?”

She bit her bottom lip then sucked it into her mouth. “I’m working.”

“Take a break.” Aubrey placed both hands on her waist and dragged her body into his hips. Their faces were mere inches away and for a few seconds, Taer actually let him hold her that way. Those few seconds were enough for him to show her just how much he wanted her. Taer looked down at their bodies closely pressed together. Gods, she wanted him too. All this time, she’d been telling herself it wasn’t true, but she’d been lying.

And just like that, her resolve crumbled.

“I’m taking my break,” she said, loud enough for Dex to hear. Taer took Aubrey’s hand and led him toward the back of the club. There was a storeroom there for their excess liquor, and it was the only quiet place for them to talk. She unlocked the door and ushered him inside. The space was seven square feet, and with the shelves running floor to ceiling, it made it feel two square feet. Closing the door behind them, Taer turned to face Aubrey.

The look of hard lust on his face made Taer’s belly clench tightly. She rubbed her thighs together to try and suppress what her body was crying out for. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d allowed someone close enough to scratch that particular itch.

“Aubrey, I—” Her words were cut off as his tongue forced its way into her mouth. Her fingers became tangled in his hair, pulling his face closer to hers, demanding more.

With a growl, he pulled away from her, but his hand on the back of her neck held her in place. “You touched me voluntarily,” he said, a wicked smile on his face. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

Taer’s pulse was hammering, her chest rising and falling too quickly. She felt light-headed. She’d known what she was doing when she’d taken his hand: she’d finally given him permission to touch her.

Making sure she kept eye contact, Taer nodded. That same small growl – a possessive sound – came from Aubrey and he pressed her against the door. He wrapped his hands around her thighs, his fingers digging into her flesh. She whimpered, clinging to his neck.

He picked her up, guiding her legs around his waist. The new position pressed his cock against her aching core. He ground himself into her, but seemed impatient with all the barriers currently between them. He lowered her to the ground again, reaching for her jeans. He pulled at them roughly, popping the button free and sending it to the floor. Taer couldn’t afford to have her clothing ruined. With a hand on his, she stopped him.

“It’s too late, Taer,” he growled. “You started this, and I’m going to finish it.”

“I’m not changing my mind, Aubrey; just go easy on my clothes. I still need to finish my shift with functional pants.”

His grin was wicked. “Just this once,” he replied. Sliding his hands onto either side of her hips, he peeled the jeans from her body and drew them down her legs. He fell to his knees and stared at her. “No underwear?” he asked. Taer shook her head, impatient, desperate for him to hurry. “I like it.” His voice was all gravel.

He stood up, trailing his fingers from her thighs to her hips. He pulled her to him again, making sure she could feel his hard length. She groaned, her head falling back against the door. His mouth was on her throat, his teeth nipping, his tongue licking, his mouth sucking. His warm hands burrowed in under her shirt, finding her breasts.

“Fuck,” Aubrey hissed. “No bra either?”

Taer shrugged, reaching for the fly of his pants. She wanted to undress him completely, but time was not a luxury they had. Sliding her hand inside, she pushed aside his boxer briefs and her fingers wrapped around his impressively long, hard cock. Running her hand from base to tip, she pumped him a few times, watching his eyes roll back in his head.

His fingers encircled her wrist, stopping her. She gave him a questioning look.

“As much as I’d like to take my time with you,” he said, “I plan on making your submission to me hard and fast.”

Taer opened her mouth in protest, but gasped instead. Aubrey had just expertly slid two fingers inside her.

“So wet,” he murmured as he kissed the corner of her mouth. “I knew you would be.”

Taer dug her fingers into his shoulders when his thumb circled her clit. She moaned loudly and gave in to the sensations.

“Are you ready for me, Winter Fox?” he asked, wrapping her legs around his waist once more and positioning himself at her opening. Taer nodded, too lost in the throes of pleasure to form a coherent sentence. Aubrey didn’t go slow. He slammed himself to the hilt just as he promised he would, not giving Taer time to get used to the invasion.

But she didn’t care.

He filled her just like she knew he would. She never knew he’d feel this good, though.

“Fuck, you feel good,” Aubrey said, echoing her thoughts. Taer thought she nodded in agreement, but she couldn’t have been sure. He started driving into her, slamming her back against the door. Letting Aubrey take her roughly was like a balm to the sexual tension that had been brewing between them for so long. Perhaps this would be the only time they’d have together, but if there was a next time, she wanted to take things slowly and explore his body a little more.

Taer’s orgasm took her by surprise, making her scream. Aubrey wasn’t that far behind her, his hips thrusting a few more times before he jerked and then went still. They were both panting heavily, Aubrey’s breath harsh against Taer’s shoulder. Her fingers were tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck, her forehead resting against the shoulder of his jacket.

His lips brushed hers tenderly as he lowered her to the ground – it was a stark contrast to how he had just taken her. Aubrey did up his fly then picked up her pants, handing them to her. She stepped into them, cursing the man for breaking the button.

His thumb traced her bottom lip, bringing her attention back to him. “Can I see you after my shift?” she asked.

“I have some meetings I need to attend to tonight.” Taer’s stomach flipped, and not in the good way. Were her suspicions about Aubrey about to be confirmed?

He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. “You look cute when you pout. How about I call you when I’m done and if you’re still awake, I’ll come and pick you up?”

*

Aubrey didn’t want to leave the storeroom. Taer had finally let him have a taste of her, and he was ravenous for more. She looked at him now with that same hunger.

“I have to go,” he said, skimming the backs of his fingers across her cheek.

She leaned into his touch. “Then go.”

“I can’t,” he admitted softly. He felt glued to the spot.

Taer smiled shyly. “So stay.”

He laughed gently, his thumb playing with her tempting bottom lip. “I can’t.”

She stepped into the line of his body, pressing against him. With a groan, he kissed her again. She was a drug and he was well on his way to becoming an addict. Fighting his instincts to take her again, he pulled away and opened up the door.

He took her hand, stepping out into the busy club. “I can’t wait to see you again,” he murmured into her ear, making her blush.

“What the fuck are you doing with Taer?” someone snarled.

Aubrey turned his head, finding the same huge fucking male that had interrupted them last night when he came to see Taer. Only this time, it looked like he wanted to gut Aubrey. From the corner of his eye, he could see the shadows shiver. He supposed he should have been intimidated, and in a way he was, but he’d dealt with the scum of the human drug and skin trades and he knew what real insanity looked like. “What’s it to you?” he asked.

One minute he was staring at the guy, the next he was getting a real intimate introduction to the wall. The guy’s forearm pressed into the back of Aubrey’s neck as he said, “I asked you what you were doing with Taer. Tell me what I need to know, or I’ll make sure I take my time removing your spine through your mouth.”

Aubrey grunted in discomfort. “I’m not sure that’s anatomically possible. I’ve tried before.” The pressure increased, cutting off his air supply. “Nothing she didn’t want to happen,” he said. He was usually on the other end of this situation. It was almost humbling … almost.

“Korvain, stop,” Taer said, stepping into Aubrey’s line of sight.

But Korvain clearly wasn’t listening. “You know what? I don’t give a fuck about what you have to say. You are not to touch her again.”

“I don’t see how this is any of your business,” Aubrey said through a choked breath.

Korvain jerked Aubrey back then slammed him against the wall again. “Never. Again. Do you hear me?”

“Korvain!” Taer yelled. “Let him go.”

A few beats of silence passed. The pressure on Aubrey’s neck disappeared and he stood up, straightening his suit jacket and fixing his tie. His eyes went to Taer.

“I think it’s best if you went, Aubrey,” she said. “I’ll walk you out.”

“No,” Korvain spat. “Go back to work. I’ll take care of this.”

“There’s nothing to take care of, Korvain.” Taer’s hands curled into fists. “He’s just a friend.”

There was a snarl and Aubrey’s attention went to Korvain. His dark eyes were on Taer. “We’ll discuss this later. You need to go back to work. Dex needs help.”