Dream Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book 1) (15 page)

Suddenly exhausted from her internal battle, she needed space. “Excuse me. I need to use the restroom.” She had to collect herself.

He placed his hands on her waist and turned her in his grasp. “Of course,
a ghra,
the lasses room is over there.” He extended one strong arm over her shoulder and pointed the way before his hands settled back on her hips.

She shivered as he squeezed her possessively and his fingers skimmed her lower back. She forced herself to walk to the bathroom, when every fiber of her being wanted to turn around and ravish him.

Her heart was pounding at the walls of her chest as shame engulfed her. She was the worst wife in history. Her black hole agreed as it shot shards of pain through her chest.

Besieged by her raging emotions of lust and betrayal, she entered the bathroom. The intense desire was disconcerting, to say the least. She had never considered herself wild, but at the moment, she was anything but civilized. She walked to the sink and took a few deep breaths, trying to gain her composure.

A gorgeous woman entered the bathroom and stood behind her at the mirror. The woman was tall with long, silky, blond hair, large breasts, and the face of a supermodel.
What is it with these women and their big boobs?
The woman even had perfect skin. She couldn’t detect one pore on her lovely face. She instantly disliked her and it had nothing to do with her beauty. Her instincts were going haywire.

“I couldn’t help but notice you were with the Dark Warriors and
my
Zander. We haven’t met, I’m Lena.” She took out a tube of lipstick and applied the pale-pink color to her bee-stung lips as she made eye contact with Elsie. “
Mon tressor
is quite the specimen,
non
?”

Now she understood why she hated this woman. She was staking claim on Zander. “I’m Elsie. I don’t know any Dark Warriors. I’m here with my friends.”

Lena straightened from the mirror and adjusted her skin-tight sweater. “Oh yes, Elsie. You must be the one Zander started the human charity for. He is so giving to those of a lesser station.”

This bitch was cray-freakin’-cray! How dare she look down her nose at me? Didn’t she know slut-gear was out?
“Not that this is your business, but Zander has been spending a lot of time at my place. Funny, he’s never mentioned you. Is he your boyfriend?”

Lena pasted an innocent smile on her face, but she wasn’t buying it. This bitch was bad news. “
Oui
, Zander is mine. I’m glad he’s done giving you your two minutes. I plan on taking him back to our private room. He can never get enough of me and it will be hours before we return. What he does to me…truly mind-blowing,” her smile turned calculating. “You’re nothing more than a charity case, certainly not something he’d mate with. Zander would never be attracted to a lowly serf like you.”

Her hackles went up and she felt a surge of malice. “Oh, he’s far more than attracted. And, something tells me he won’t be up for you anytime soon. My guess is you will have to wait,” she was unable to keep the disgust off her face as her gaze roamed Lena from head to foot, “indefinitely.”

Where had this possessiveness come from? She had to leave the restroom before her nails dug into that flawless face. Turning sharply on her heels, she strutted back to Zander and the others.
Lowly serf, my ass.

Zander sensed the fury rolling from Elsie’s body as she stomped up to the group and snatched Orlando’s drink from his hand. Downing it in one gulp, she muttered, “I needed that more than you. Psycho-bitch back there wants to mate Zander or some shit. What kind of place did you bring me to? More importantly, can you get me another drink, please?” she asked a speechless Orlando then turned to Zander.

His body rippled with desire, she was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Eyes glittering with barely contained anger, irritation flowing beneath her skin. So damn sexy!

“I met your girlfriend, Zander, and I’m afraid I wasn’t nice to her. I don’t know what came over me. The words flew out of my mouth. When I thought of you inside that
thing
in there, I lost my mind, and I have no idea why. Why didn’t you tell me you had a girlfriend? We practically had sex the other night. Thank God I stopped it from going any further,” she hissed, waving her hands, speaking with her entire body.

He read her scathing thoughts. She believed he belonged to another female and questioned his integrity from all the flirting and sexual innuendos. She was wrong and making incorrect assumptions, but her mind was too chaotic for him to determine whose head to rip off. Before he could correct her, she continued her litany, “Go find your woman. I don’t even want to be around you right now.”

She turned her back on Zander and put her palm out toward him, a clear indication she wanted nothing to do with him at the moment. Little did she know he was going nowhere, there were things to set straight first. Elsie ignored him and kept her back to him. “Can someone explain who the Dark Warriors are, please? Orlando?”

He grabbed her by the arm and turned her around to face him. He saw her irritation rise. He needed to calm his mate. Between the guilt, shame, lust, grief, and now this jealousy, she no longer knew which way was up. But, he did revel in the fact that she had possessive feeling toward him. There was hope.

He cut off what he had no doubt would be a reprimand from his feisty mate. “Listen to me,
a ghra,
I doona have a girlfriend.” He lowered his head until their faces were scant inches apart, her heavenly breath falling softly against his lips. “There is no other female for me. ‘Tis you I want. I want to learn every inch of your alluring body, while I explore it with my tongue for hours, before I sink into heaven. You have made it clear you are no’ ready for that yet, but I wouldna have another female.”

He was pushing the envelope and he knew it, but he couldn’t stop now. It didn’t help that every breath he took brought her honeysuckle scent into his aroused system. She stood staring at him with her mouth open, clearly stunned silent. The dilation of her pupils, the deepening scent of her arousal, and her racing heart were what ultimately urged him on.

He stepped closer to her and she gasped, her thoughts turning sensual. He groaned when she imagined him feasting on her body. He relished her fantasies about him. Lamentably, she cut off her carnal thoughts, chastising herself.

Even though he was ready for full-throttle, she was not. “Lass, I doona want to make you uncomfortable, but know that when I am around you, I lose all good sense. I will respect your position. Never doubt that you are it for me.”

She shook her head and her long, curly, brown hair danced around her shoulders with the movement. “That woman was convinced that you were hers. There is a reason she believes that so ardently. Don’t worry about me.”

She turned to the rest of the group, “Come on Santi, I know you’re itching for some relief, so go get ‘em. Show me those skills with the ladies you are always bragging about.” She motioned Santiago to the throng of women nearby, and threw down the second shot of tequila that Orlando had brought to her.

Zander understood she was on edge and wanted to alleviate some of the tension, but when she grabbed some
hey juice
from Rhys and threw it back, he realized she was drinking too much too fast. He tried to read her thoughts again to discover who placed this wedge between he and his mate, but heard the same chaos. He wanted to throttle someone.

His jaw hit the floor when she gave him orders. “Go to your girlfriend, Zander. Oh, and by the way, this lowly serf appreciates all you have done.” What was this about a lowly serf? She was the Vampire Queen. The only thing about her he wanted to change was that she was a fragile human. He could lose her to anything from a cold to a car accident before they fully mated. Just the thought had him breaking out in a sweat.

His mate had no idea of the grasp she had on his heart. How she controlled him. “Oh, my Lady E, I love your sharp claws. I’m no’ going anywhere. And I will only remind you of this one more time. There is no one else.” And never would be, if he had his way. He reached out and grasped her hands, “Dance with me.”

She eyed him warily. “Bad idea. Sure, I could kick your girlfriend’s ass, but I don’t fancy a fight tonight. I really like this dress and don’t want to ruin it. I’m fine here with the liquor.”

She waved him off, but he grabbed her hand before she could down another drink. She had much to learn, his mate. His body would implode if he didn’t get closer to her. Placing the drink on the table, he lifted her out of her chair and tucked her close to his chest. Where she was meant to be. Goddess, she felt so right.

He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “I would rather you take hold of me, instead.” He canted his hips so she felt the erection that was itching to get to her. “That, lass, is for you. Now, you will dance with me.”

He smiled at the roll of her eyes, but didn’t pause to allow her to deny him. She pouted as he led her to the dance floor, grumbling about, “Mr. Bossy Pants.” His saucy mate began dancing as a path in the crowd opened up for them. She was feeling cocky from the alcohol, letting inhibitions fall. His heart raced as he watched her move sinuously to the pounding beat of the music. He could imagine her writhing beneath him in pleasure. His mark pulsed painfully at the thought of completing the mating. It was getting to the point that it was almost unbearable. He wondered how much worse it was going to get. He had to believe they would eventually complete the ritual and bind their lives together, but doubt was an insidious creature that had wormed its way in and worsened right along with the pain.

His eyes glued to the pulse pounding in her throat amplifying his needs. His fangs elongated, again, and his eyes glowed with his desire. Little Zander wanted to play. Groaning, he hardened and lengthened while she rubbed her ass against his groin in a very, suggestive manner.

Control lost, he grabbed her up and brought his lips crashing down on hers.

*****

Elsie was on fire. The moment Zander claimed her mouth her body went up in flames, and she melted into his arms. The hard press of his mouth was dominant and she allowed him to take control. She groaned at the feel of him licking her lips. She opened her mouth and he plundered her depths. Unable to hold back her pleasure, she moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her fingers slid into his hair and she practically climbed up his body. She needed more.

She kissed him back with as much fervor as he had kissed her. She nipped and bit at his full, lower lip. The growl that came out of him was electric. The alcohol had freed her and she shoved aside any guilt or doubt. She wanted this kiss and was going to take it. She had suffered enough in her life. It was high time for her to get something out of it. The guilt would return, but not right now. Their tempo changed and became less frantic, more of a leisurely exploration. She wanted urgent and crazed but he teased her with the slow pace, making her dig her fingernails into his back.

He growled again and grabbed her up against his body. Her feet left the floor and she tried to rub against him. She nearly ripped her dress so she could wrap her legs around his torso and align her core with the massive erection prodding her belly. That wanton creature’s action was the splash of cold water she needed. She lowered the leg that had lifted and wound around his hip. What was she doing?

She pushed him away, but he didn’t budge. He was breathing as hard as she was and stared deeply into her eyes. It was as if he saw straight to her soul, causing a warm flutter to spread from her chest outward. The emotion in his eyes seared her to the bone. There was too much there, she needed space.

A flash caught her attention. She cocked her head to the side. His eyes seemed to glow under the dance lights. “You aren’t getting away. And, there willna be regret for our kiss. We’re going to dance. Come here.”

She rolled her eyes, Mr. Bossy Pants was back. She was coming to like this side of him as she realized his demand had settled her chaotic emotions. “I told you, Zander, you can’t—”

His lightly kissed her, cutting off her words, and gave a sharp shake of his head. One sway of his hips was all it took to coax her back into dancing. He moved against her and she couldn’t help it, she pushed back against him, moving to the music. She knew she was taunting a tiger, unfortunately that didn’t stop her.

She enjoyed the rush of power she felt when she thought of making this big, strong man lose control. She had never felt more sexy and sensual, dancing against him. Peeking over her shoulder at his groin, she realized she couldn’t push him too far, or he would be making a rather impressive appearance.

She smiled at him, mesmerized by the way the lights played in his sapphire-blue eyes. Their bodies continued their sensual dance. They were making love on the dance floor. The alcohol was wearing down and her guilt was creeping back in. She had to put some distance between her and the extremely, large bulge in his pants. He wanted her and she could tell he was fighting that desire. With his penchant for expecting to have his orders followed she imagined this was hard on him.

She was grateful for his restraint because despite her possessiveness toward him, she had her vow to Dalton to live up to. She wasn’t ready to be intimate with another man. There was not enough liquor in the bar to get her to that point.

Like a savior, Breslin joined them, diminishing the heat between them. It was too bad that Breslin’s presence did nothing to diminish her arousal. She needed to cool down and fanned herself as she met Zander’s eyes.

“I havena enjoyed myself this much for more years than I can recall. I’m going to drive you home,
a ghra
. You’ve had too much to drink. At least, that is my excuse, because, I doona want this time with you to end.”

*****

Honeysuckle enveloped Zander as he sat back on Elsie’s sofa. He closed his eyes, inhaling slow and deep. He had given up trying to gain control of his body. It was a futile effort. From the moment she walked into the club, his cock and fangs had developed a mind of their own. And, they were in agreement. They wanted to sink deeply into his female’s delectable flesh. The mating compulsion was drawing her to him, but her barrier remained firmly in place. Her body wanted him, no doubt, and he would push the issue, but her mind refused to accept it. There was so much that could go wrong and cause her to shut him out. He cursed soundly.

The one thing he was certain of, he needed to tell her the truth of him and the world he belonged to. Someone with her integrity and intelligence would not respond well to lies or prolonging such an important secret. Besides, she was a member of a vigilante group that battled what they believed were vampires and he needed her to know the difference. But could he bare his vulnerabilities? Could he risk it all?

Yes, he would risk everything to gain the love of his mate. He had no other choice, but he would make sure she was unarmed when he told her.

Zander voiced his inner thoughts to Orlando. “I’m going to tell her aboot me, the realm, all of it. I canna keep this from her any longer. I willna have our relationship continue with a lie, she would never forgive or accept me.”

Orlando coughed and spewed the beer he had been drinking all over the front of his fitted sweater. “Liege, have you lost your mind? One, she is drunk. Two, she is not over Dalton. And three, she is a human who prowls the night killing vampires. She will freak the fuck out over this news. You need to give her time.”

“I have given her time, and have barely survived on the small amounts of blood Jace procured for me. I canna go on like this,” he raked his hands through his hair and hung his head. “And, neither can she. The mating compulsion is affecting her just as much. I can hear her thoughts, torn between wanting to shred my clothes and being the worst wife for her betrayal of Dalton. These feelings will drive her insane. I willna sit by and watch my mate suffer any longer. ‘Tis my duty to provide for and protect her.”

He sat and contemplated what Orlando had said and his resolve solidified. “I’m doing this, and I would like for you to remain here and help me. As much as I have hated your closeness to her, I need you. She may be more accepting with you present.”

Like air hissing out of a tire, Orlando sighed in defeat. “This entire situation blows. I understand what you are saying, but you might regret this. I have been with her from the beginning, and will not abandon her now.”