Dark Moon (13 page)

Tristan grinned and reached around Avery to squeeze her ass lightly.  “Are you getting tired, girl?  I think we should retire for the night and leave the celebration to the children, don’t you?”

He winked at her and Sophia rolled her eyes as Avery smiled.  “Do you not have to go on watch, my lord?”

He shook his head.  “No.  Jeffrey and Martine are on watch now, and Ian volunteered to take my shift with Leo.”

She took his hand.  Then I think retiring for the night is a very good idea.”

Tristan kissed the top of Sophia’s head roughly.  “Good night, sweet Sophia.”

“Good night papa.  Good night mama.”

* * *

“Did you have a good birthday, Kaden?”  Bree, her cheeks bright red and her eyes dancing, asked.

“Aye Bree, I did.  The best I can remember.”  Kaden smiled at his sister.

“Good.  I’m so – “

She stopped and hiccupped loudly before dissolving into giggles.

Kaden laughed as James joined them.  They were the last three in the common room and he watched as James lifted Bree into his arms.

“Come little one, you’ve had too much to drink and it’s time to tuck you into bed.”

“I have not!”  Bree said indignantly.  “I only had one beer.”

“Aye, and two glasses of wine.  Plus, I saw you drinking those shots of liquor with Nicky in the corner.”  James said dryly.

Bree giggled.  “They tasted funny.”

She suddenly pounded on James’ back.  “Put me down!  I need to have a birthday drink with Kaden!”

Kaden laughed.  “I think you’ve had enough.  You’re going to have a headache in the morning as it is.”

“No I won’t.  James will heal me.  Won’t you, my love?”  She said sweetly.

“Aye, little one.  I will.”  He smiled at her and she leaned out of his arms towards Kaden.

“Happy Birthday, Kaden.  I love you.”  She put her thin arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely.

He patted her back and kissed her on the cheek as James gave him a nod goodnight and carried her out of the room.

He sighed and glanced around the room.  His eye fell on the scarf that Sophia had been wearing around her neck, and he crossed the room and picked it up.  He brought it to his face and inhaled deeply.  It smelled like her and he looked around guiltily before shoving it into his pocket.

He drained the last of his beer and headed for the door.  Dani stepped into the doorway and he swallowed his groan of dismay.

“Hello Kaden.”

“Hi Dani.”

“Did you have a good birthday?”

“Aye, I did.  Thank you.”

She stepped closer, keeping one hand behind her back as she trailed the fingers of her other hand along his arm.  “I never gave you my present.”

He frowned.  “You didn’t have to get me a present.”

“I wanted to.”  She gave him a nervous smile.  “Close your eyes.”

“Dani, it’s late and – “

“Please.  It’s a surprise.”  She pleaded.

He sighed and closed his eyes.  He grunted with surprise when Dani pressed her lips against his.  His eyes popped open as she pushed her tongue into his mouth.  He pushed her away gently and she pouted at him in disappointment.  “Why do you push me away?”

“Dani, you are too young for me.”

“No, I’m not.”  She glared at him.  “Tell me the truth.  You do not want me because you want my cousin.”

He hesitated and then grimaced when tears began to flow down Dani’s cheeks.  He patted her back awkwardly when she flung herself into his arms.  “She is a Lycan.  You hate Lycans.”  She sobbed.

“I don’t hate them, and it’s not because of Sophia.”  He replied.

Dani gave a shuddering sigh.  “I like you, Kaden.  I know I could make you happy if you would just give me the chance.  I may not have much experience, “she blushed, “but I am more than willing to learn.”

Her hand began to wander to his crotch and he grabbed it and held it away firmly.  “I’m sorry, Dani.  I feel nothing more than friendship for you.”

She looked up at him.  “Aye, because you are in love with Sophia.”

He shook his head.  “No, I’m not.”

She laughed bitterly.  “Of course you aren’t.”

“I’m sorry, Dani.”  He repeated softly.

She rested her head against his chest for a moment and sighed deeply.  “I know.  If you – if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

She pulled away from him and wiped the tears from her face before leaving the room.  He dropped into one of the chairs in front of the fireplace.  He was an idiot.  He had been without a woman for over four years and yet he had no interest in Dani, even after she had made it more than clear she wanted him in her bed.

He stared blindly into the fire.  He wanted Sophia and if he couldn’t have her, he’d rather have his own hand instead of another woman.  He dropped his head into his hand.  He really was an idiot.

Chapter 11

Sophia, weaving a little, returned to the common room.  She squinted in the glow of the fire, looking for the scarf she had left behind.

“I thought you had gone to bed.”

She gave a breathless scream and whirled around.  She caught a glimpse of Kaden’s face, stumbled back and tripped over her own feet.  She landed on the floor with a hard thud and stared up at the ceiling, giggling softly.

“Are you alright?”  Kaden’s face, creased with worry, appeared over her.

“Aye.”  She giggled again and he raised his eyebrows at her.

“You’re drunk.”

“I am not.”  She protested indignantly.

“How much wine have you had tonight?”

She shrugged.  “I don’t remember.”

He held his hand out.  “Here, I’ll help you up.”

She shook her head, the room was spinning just the tiniest bit and she didn’t feel like sitting up.  “No, thank you.  I’m going to sleep right here tonight.”

He tugged her to her feet with a hard yank.  She swayed and snickered as she bumped into him.

“Oops.”

“You
are
drunk.”  He said accusingly.

“Just tipsy.”  She patted his cheek.  “You should be the one feeling tipsy.  It was your birthday party after all.”

“Why have you been avoiding me?”  He suddenly asked.

“I haven’t been.”  She denied.  “It’s been a very busy week with um, wedding preparations.”

“Liar.”  He said softly.  He scooped her up, holding her against his chest as he left the common room.

“Whee!”  She whispered. She traced her fingers over his cheek as he carried her to her bedroom.

“Why are you still here?  Why aren’t you tucked away in your bed in the rat-infested loft?”  She asked.

“Dani cornered me before I could leave.  She wanted to give me a birthday gift.”

Sophia stiffened a little and dropped her hand from his cheek.  “What was her gift?”

He didn’t answer.  He pushed open the door of her bedroom, letting it shut softly behind him, and carried her to her bed.  He tried to set her down but she put her arms around his neck and held tightly to him.

“What was her birthday gift?”  She asked again.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Tell me.”  She insisted.

“A kiss.”

She glared at him.  “And how did you enjoy your birthday gift from my pretty little cousin?”

He smiled.  “Are you jealous, Lycan?”

“No.”  She replied immediately.

“Are you sure?”  He sat down on her bed, settling her on to his lap.  Her dress had ridden up a bit, and he stared at the unfamiliar sight of her bare thighs.  He was itching to touch them, to stroke her skin with his hand, and he made himself look away.

“Positive.”  She squirmed against him.  “Thank you for bringing me to my bedroom.  Goodnight, human.”

He tightened his grip on her and stared at her mouth.  “You sound like you’re jealous.”

“I’m not.”  She glared at him.  “What do I care if you kiss Dani?  I’m sure it was pleasant enough for you.  She is your type, is she not?”

“And what is my type?”  His hand gripped her knee and stroked her warm skin.

“Human, of course.”  She said resentfully.

He didn’t reply, but his hand had slipped under her dress and he was rubbing her thigh almost absently.

“Please don’t do that.”  She whispered.

“Do what?”

“That.”  She looked down at her lap and he followed her gaze.  His hand paused for a moment and then continued to massage her flesh.

“How do you know what my type is, little Lycan?”

“Stop calling me that.  I’m not little.”  She scowled at him.

“Aye, but you are a Lycan.”

“And you’re a human.”  She snapped.  “Why are you not in my cousin’s bed right now?  She’s made it perfectly clear she’s more than willing to spread her legs for you.”

He leaned towards her, his gaze dropping to her mouth.  “Perhaps I did not care for your cousin’s kiss the way you think I should have.”

“What do you mean?”  She whispered.

“Dani may be human but that does not automatically make her my type.”

“What – what is your type?”

He studied her face.  “Dark hair and dark eyes.”  He dropped his gaze to her breasts.  “Full breasts with the prettiest pink-coloured nipples that harden in my mouth.”

She moaned softly and he squeezed her thigh.  “Soft skin.  A mouth that spits insults at me one moment, and begs me to kiss it the next.”

“I – I don’t beg you to kiss me.”  She replied.

“Aye, not yet you haven’t.”  He grinned arrogantly at her and the soft haze of desire that was leaving her weak and trembling, lifted a little.

She shoved at his chest.  “I’m tired.  Good night, Kaden.”

“You haven’t given me
your
birthday present yet, Sophia.”  He whispered.

She shivered with pleasure when he said her name.  “I told you I would not kiss you.”

“No, you said you would not beg me to kiss you.  There’s a difference.”  He replied.

She flushed.  “I don’t even like you.  I’m not giving you a kiss as a birthday present.  Go and find my cousin.  She’ll be more than happy to give you another.”

He shifted her on his lap until she could feel his erection pressing against her ass.  She gasped and stared wide-eyed at him.

“It’s not a kiss I want from you.”

She snorted and he could smell the sweet scent of wine on her breath.  A twinge of guilt went through him.  Sophia was drunk and he was taking advantage of that.  He was about to lift her off his lap when she squirmed again and her ass brushed firmly against his cock.  He groaned and forgot about his guilt as she rolled her eyes.

“Human or Lycan – you’re all the same.”  She said scornfully.  “Always thinking about how you can convince a woman to suck your cock.  Although,” she pursed her lips at him, “I’ll admit I’ve never been given the ‘it’s my birthday’ excuse before.”

He moved one hand to her head and gripped the end of her braid.  He pulled her head back firmly as he bent his mouth to her ear.  “Wrong again, little Lycan.”

She shuddered when he licked the curve of her ear.  “What I want from you is not a kiss.  Nor is it that beautiful mouth of yours wrapped around my cock.  But,” he paused and dipped his tongue into her ear, “I won’t deny that I’ve spent more than one night picturing you on your knees in front of me.”

She moaned and her hands clutched at his shoulders as he slipped his hand further up her skirt and traced the tops of her thighs.  “What I want for my birthday is to have you sitting on my face.  I want to lick your sweet pussy until you come screaming all over my face.”

She froze as the sweetest pulse of desire she had ever felt, went through her.  “I – I don’t scream.”

“You will.”  He promised.

His hand was on her panties and when he lifted her and tugged them down over her hips, she didn’t stop him.  He pulled her panties down her legs and she kicked them off her feet.

He lay back on her bed, twisting her body until she was straddling his hips, and grinned at her.  When she didn’t move, he stroked her thighs under her dress.  “My face little Lycan – come sit on it.”

She hesitated and his grin widened.  “I promise I don’t bite.”

Sophia stared at him.  Her pulse was pounding and she was so turned on she could barely think straight.  It had been too long since she had felt something other than her own hand between her thighs and gods, she wanted to feel his tongue on her.  She knew Kaden didn’t like her.  She knew he was only using her and that, despite what he said, she would end this night on her knees in front of him but she didn’t care.  The thought of his tongue tasting her was intoxicating.  She was scrambling her way up his broad body, his big hands steadying her, before she even realized she was moving.

She planted her knees on the bed on either side of his head, her lower legs and feet braced against his chest, and moaned softly when he gripped her thighs.  He winked at her before his head disappeared under the material of her dress.  He tugged on her legs and she lowered herself down. 

She sucked in her breath at the first touch of his tongue against her pussy.  His hands slid up the inside of her thighs, and he used his thumbs to part her already-wet folds.  His breath was hot against her, and she arched her back when he licked her clit with his tongue.

He used the tip of his tongue to swipe repeatedly over her clit until she was moaning and grinding her pussy against his face.  She leaned back, resting her hands on his abdomen and thrusting more of her pussy into his mouth.  His tongue, his deliciously hot and surprisingly stiff tongue, dipped into her.  He probed at her tight opening and she moaned again.  He licked and tasted every wet and dripping inch of her until she was writhing and twisting above him.  Only his strong hands on her legs kept her from falling over, and she moaned in frustration when he pushed her upwards.

“Feel like screaming yet?”  His voice was muffled and she bunched her dress up around her hips, staring down at his dark head tucked between her thighs.  His face was wet with her juices and he stared up at her, his blue eyes glinting in the firelight.

“Kaden.”  She moaned.

“Yes?”  He kissed her inner thigh.  “What do you want, Sophia?”

“Less talking, more licking.”  She demanded.

He grinned again.  “Whatever you say, little Lycan.”