Nonus let out a deep, furious growl just as the elevator doors slid open. The people in front of us quickly scattered, eager to avoid his wrath. It was no shock when Nonus scooped me up effortlessly over his broad shoulder, heading straight for my room while the guys trailed behind us.
I was draped over his shoulder, my stomach pressed against him. I lifted my head slightly to see Ryder grinning widely, while Dominic gave me a playful pinky wave, trying to suppress his laughter. I knew I was in trouble this time, but at least I was providing some entertainment.
“Kakogo cherta ty dumayesh’, chto delayesh’?” Nonus spat out his first angry words in flawless Russian, a language that was completely foreign to me. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, then tossed me onto the bed with his free hand.
I tried to suppress a grin, even though he could probably sense my amusement through our bond. I found it endearing when he spoke his native language, especially when he was mad at me. I thought it was adorable.
“Come…what now?” I asked. My body was still bouncing slightly on the bed, a smile spreading across my face.
But my amusement was short-lived. Nonus pinned me down, my arms suddenly above my head. He had thrown me onto the bed with such force that I bounced.
A predatory growl rumbled from him as he glared down at me, a sound no human could replicate. It was as intimidating as it was alluring, and it made my mouth water as I felt his hips press against mine.
I looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, hoping my expression would soften him. I knew my youth and inexperience had excused my behavior more than once before he really got to know me. But this time, the stakes were higher.
Plus, we had the entire court to deal with if I didn’t comply with Nonus’s wishes.
“You were supposed to say you would return home with me. Was that not clear? First you blood with a worthless turned female—and now this!” he snapped, referring to Philomena, the female vampire I had chosen over several other male gifted vampires.
“You promised to be completely honest with me,” I retorted, avoiding his gaze.
He immediately adjusted my jaw, forcing me to look at him. His face was a mask of raw, primal anger, but there was a hint of guilt in his features. He wasn’t used to being caught or having to explain his actions, especially to someone like me who was so in tune with emotions.
I let him take his time to gather his thoughts. He brushed back my hair, giving me a stern look.
“Stop prying into my mind. It makes it harder for me to protect you. Just follow directions and—”
“That’s not an answer,” I interrupted, glaring up at him despite my vulnerable position pinned to the bed.
I had enjoyed the playful banter when I was still learning the ropes, but now it just annoyed me, especially during an argument. It felt like he was toying with me, not taking me seriously.
I had hoped tonight would show him that I had a mind of my own, but this wasn’t how I had envisioned our conversation.
It was as if he had already decided what to do with me. His intense stare made my toes curl in anticipation.
“I didn’t kill him,” he said, his gaze dropping as he inhaled sharply, leaning in toward my neck. His breath tickled my ear as he added, “But I wanted to.”
I blinked several times, trying to process his words. Was he distracted, or had I heard him correctly? He had said he went back to the Black Court to settle some matters, but his comment about not killing Benjamin suggested he had had the chance. But he couldn’t have if he was at the Black Court, right?
“When did you have—”
Nonus let out a half growl, half groan as his hips jerked against mine. His free hand yanked my hair back, baring my neck to him. The sudden sensation of his mouth on my throat, peppering it with kisses and nips, was overwhelming.
I was already lost in the pleasure, the hunger to feed, the need to be connected to him. “You’re driving me insane,” he half groaned, his teeth grazing my earlobe.
A moan escaped my lips as a burning sensation spread through my body. My head spun with the need to have him inside me, to taste his blood, to feel him. I tried to remember why I was angry, why we were supposed to be having a conversation, but it was all lost in the haze of what Nonus was doing to me.
Nonus seemed to have more control. He pulled back to look into my eyes as I lay there panting, wanting.
“You want to explore the court? Fine,” he said, his hand gently pushing back my hair even as his hips pressed more firmly against mine. Pleasure rippled through me.
“You’ll find their fancy lies enticing, their laws as corrupt as any ruler, needing it to bend to meet their needs—and this place will never be able to offer you what I could at home,” he murmured. His body pressed against mine again, his teeth grazing my neck, his hand tearing at my shirt.
My eyelids fluttered as my fangs descended, and a tight coil of need formed in my lower stomach. The desire was building, along with a terrible ache as I felt my core clench in response to another thrust. His hard, throbbing cock was driving me insane, the heat of him seeping through our clothes like a hot iron rod.
“I’m still mad at you,” I moaned.
His free hand began to trail down my stomach, his mouth moving to my exposed nipple as he released my hands to peel away the rest of my shredded top.
“You can be mad at me while you crawl to the bathroom, but we both know mad is the furthest thing from what I’m making you feel right now,” Nonus replied. His fingers slipped into my wet folds with a satisfied growl, his lips caressing my skin with each word.
“Kakaya khoroshaya devochka, kogda ya na tebe sverkhu.”
“Please.”
“I should just keep you like this for days—using that word,” he said. His thumb pressed into my mouth as his fingers began to move inside me. My teeth scraped against his thumb as my head fell back, his other hand continuing to pump into me slowly.
The way his fingers found my clitoris was driving me insane. “So, fucking, delicious.”
The whimper that escaped my lips didn’t sound like my own. His slow, steady rhythm was driving me insane as he continued to nuzzle at my breasts. The feel of his sharp fangs against my sensitive skin made me shiver.
I tried to move my hips against his fingers, my body responding to the mounting pleasure, knowing he could bring me sweet release. But Nonus was faster, reading my body language and adjusting his hand to my movements, giving me no leeway as my head began to thrash back and forth. He was slowly fucking me with his fingers, as if scooping out all of my desire for his viewing pleasure later.
His fingers brushed gently over my G-spot again and again. I wanted more. I wanted him to continue.
Anything but stop.
“Do you feel how insane you make me yet?” he asked. “It’s a lot like this. Just on the brink but still just not…quite.”
“Nonus!” I cried out, tears welling in my eyes as he brought me just to the edge, then stilled his movements. I was gasping, panting, desperate.
“Anya,” he purred, his tongue swirling over my nipple as my hands found his hair, my fingers digging into the soft strands. I felt a sob building in my throat, needing to hold onto something other than the sheets. I wanted him closer.
I sucked on his finger, swirling my tongue around it, imagining it was his cock as my hips began to move of their own accord. My fangs slid over the edge of one, giving me just a taste of his blood. The taste was so intense it had me wailing in agony.
Our connection, our longing, intertwined. A tiny spark rapidly transformed into a raging fire. Nonus finally showed mercy, his fingers sinking deep within me, a soft hiss escaping his lips.
I saw stars as my body clenched around his fingers. The pleasure escalated with his fingers pressing into the hidden crevices where my G-spot lay. “Let me,” I pleaded, removing his finger from my mouth, my head shaking. I was panting—begging.
“Anya, you need to behave,” he said. “We’ll play house for three, maybe four days, then we’re out of here. Deal?”
I whimpered in frustration. I knew negotiating during sex wasn’t fair. I knew he was trying to control the situation, even though he knew it might be futile. Part of me didn’t want to agree, fearing I might break the promise—yet also fearing I might not.
I had to agree to get what I wanted. He had cornered me again, but I couldn’t exactly complain about the prize.
“Okay! Fine!” I surrendered. A childish sob caught in my throat just as I felt his thumb graze my clitoris.
His fingers resumed their movement. His groan of satisfaction in Russian filled the room. His fingers were inside me, my wetness coating his hand, the sounds echoing in the room.
He kept going, pushing me higher and higher, desire slick on my thighs and his hand. His tongue traced my neck as I felt myself tighten. The climax was just within reach when his fangs pierced my neck.
I cried out his name, holding his head close. My heart pounded against his cold lips and sharp fangs. I pulsed, my body clenching around his thick fingers that continued to thrust in and out of me.
I was caught in a whirlwind of pleasure and ecstasy. My body shivered and tugged at him with each soft swallow of my blood. The desire between us intensified as he pulled back to look into my eyes, watching the final tremors of my climax as my jaw slackened and my lips quivered.
My desire and lust were building, a slow, dull ache consuming my entire body. The lust of a vampire. The blood of a queen.
“There we are, love, there we are,” he murmured affectionately. “Let’s reward you with more of those.”
Nonus was safe, and he was what I knew best. He was the one in my bed, the one I argued with, the one I shared my deepest secrets with, the one who comforted me when I cried at night, the one who would pick up my phone when my mom called.
He was my protector in more ways than one. He usually understood me. I craved every ounce of pleasure he could offer—for as long as we both shall live.
