Tempting Ecstasy (The Guardians of the Realms Book 4) (20 page)

He somehow peeled his eyes away to see if anyone else could see what she was offering up. Some of the staff were in the room with them, but the only male was Jax well off to the side, avoiding Mia but smirking at Conn. Bastard knew he was fucked.

His damned brother-in-law was talking to Pela, one of the staff members charged with primping the females. She was a pretty blonde that sent the wolf a hot look as she handed him a drink. Gunn’s body language was banked interest, but his eyes kept going to his sisters. Watchful, protective. He wished Gunn would spend some time with the blonde and give him a breather.

There were a couple of other females down there chatting with Zoe and Mia by one of the pools. Mia was trying hard to concentrate, but with Jax there, he could tell she was struggling.

There were no other males, thank fuck for that. He felt his beast rising, and when he looked back down at Dacia, he saw her staring back. She was in another pose that bent her back, her breasts were pushed out, and he could see how hard her nipples were through the red fabric. Son of a bitch, they were begging for his mouth and hands. He rubbed his face again, knowing he was screwed. The stairs felt more like a firing squad. The tension flowed as he met her gaze. His body primed and tense. Hoping she’d end it, but knowing she wasn’t ready. Yet.

Do you have any idea how fucking hard it is to walk after seeing you spread wide like that? How bad I’m dying to feel you stretched around my cock, so deep your pussy swallows every inch,
he growled into their bond. His eyes slid from her heated gaze to her swollen tits and tight buds. Her breathing was erratic, and she’d left him on the edge, wanting her with him while he suffered. Her muscles were tense, and his mouth was watering at the sweet smell of her wet pussy. He heard Gunn snarling, but didn’t respond. Jax had moved closer too. Not that he needed the help.

“Gunn, enough,” Dacia snapped without looking away from him. Isa came up next to their brother and put a hand on his arm.

You knew I was coming.

And I was trying to relax,
she growled back.

They were both so close to the edge. He heard Gunn getting louder. They needed space, or he was going to lose his mind. The cavern was big, but not large enough when they were in such close proximity. Dacia’s face was flushed, and Conn heard Gunn getting more agitated. His sisters were trying to calm him, and Jax was sending the staff members out. He heard it all but couldn’t take his eyes from her beautiful face.

They all had some things to get used to. For Gunn it was that Dacia was now Conn’s to protect. It wouldn’t be an easy adjustment for the male.

In the last couple of days most of the Guardians had made a showing. Even Uri, Alex and their pet hellhound, Havoc, which still wore a harness so none of the staff confused the animal with a threat. Havoc had been on his best behavior. He’d been hunting possessed with Gregoire while Uri and Alex were busy with the children in Tetartos.

Sirena had finally peeled herself away yesterday and done a simple test to confirm that they were descended from Apollo. Conn would have thought their mother would have known. Her abilities wouldn’t have been the same as others of her kind in the camps. It was a mystery as to why she hadn’t told her children.

His mate and her family had already learned a lot in the short time they’d been there, but the biggest and only lesson her brother needed at the moment was that Dacia was his and he wasn’t letting her go. The minute his mate accepted him, he would take her. He would claim her, and Gunn was going to have to get used to his scent on her. Not a fun lesson for a protective brother, he was sure.

His dick was throbbing, and he heard Dacia’s breath slicing in and out of her lungs as he stood staring. He might be in agony, but it didn’t make him want to leave. Unfortunately, he needed to.

“I have to get going. Sirena needs my help with a few things. I just wanted to see you before I left.” He’d made a point of pacing his time with her anyway. Otherwise her scent tempted his beast almost to the end of its rope.

Dacia snarled. “No.” Her eyes flashed gold, her beast set on end, and he grinned. He fucking loved the flash of possessiveness, loved to see her claws.

His own eyes flashed.
I fucking love you snarling, but it needs to stop unless you plan on digging your claws into my skin, princess.
If her fucking siblings weren’t there, he’d pin her against the rock wall with his power and coax some more cream from her pussy. He wanted to. He sent her the image, him pinning her hands over her head as she fought and nipped at him, letting her claws loose.

Her breathing was nearly panting with bits of sexy snarls. Dacia was barely holding on.

Her bastard brother snarled loudly, “Dacia!”

Dacia’s eyes shot to Gunn and narrowed. “What?” She was still fighting her beast.

“If I have to pull water from the fucking pools, I will douse your ass until you cool the fuck down.” Gunn’s face was red.

Zoe and Mia were holding him. Isa just shook her head in disgust. Zoe shot her brother a look and quirked a brow. “Way to cock block, asshole.”

Conn didn’t care about the exchange; he really did need to leave. He rubbed a hand over his face.

“I’ll be back later,” he said with a wink and caress of his power. He couldn’t touch her with his hands, but that lick of power slid over her skin and made her eyes go heavy with a different kind of pleasure. One he loved seeing before leaving her. He wasn’t sure she even realized the difference in her reaction. He smiled as he turned.

“I’m coming too,” Dacia snarled and stalked right past him. She snapped back a warning to Gunn that her sisters echoed. He heard Jax chuckle, but his full attention was on her tight ass as she strutted up the steps in a temper. He grinned and ran a hand down his face as he followed, happy.

Rain, can you do me a favor?
He used the link he had to Rain. He had one to all his brethren and now their mates. He didn’t think his beast could handle seeing her teleported by a male. They were both too on edge to take a chance with their beasts.

Whatcha need?
There was a smile in the little blonde’s voice. Rain was a good female, and he was happy that Dorian had finally gotten his shit together before doing irrevocable damage to their bond.

Dorian wouldn’t get pissed that Conn asked her for help.

Can you play chauffeur for my mate?

Sure, when does she need a lift?

Give us a few minutes.

Sure. I can be in the courtyard if you give me a sec.

Thanks.

No problem.
She sounded excited. She was still getting used to her Guardian powers, and she still got a thrill using them.

“I need to change,” Dacia bit out, still fighting her beast, and he shouldn’t grin, but fuck, it was hot. He probably should have told her Sirena wasn’t going to actually be with them, but that thought only made him grin wider.

Chapter 22

Lofodes, Tetartos Realm

Rain’s voice was filled with sympathy. “I know. It sucks. Just breathe through it.”

Dacia appreciated the sentiment, but breathing was the main problem. She hated teleporting. How would she ever get used to it, especially if it was the primary mode of transportation in Tetartos?

She felt Conn’s power rubbing over her back and neck as she remained hunched over another minute. “I’m fine. Thanks,” she said to Rain.

“No problem. Let me know when you need a ride back,” Rain said and was gone.

“Feeling better?” Conn said, and she looked up to see him frowning in concern. His fists were balled, and she got a small pang knowing that he was having difficulty with her discomfort. That he cared beyond their insane arousal. The nights talking to him about his past and what he did, the things he’d seen and experienced, were making her feel closer to him.

Her beast wanted her to end it, but she needed more. She needed to see that he was what he seemed with people outside his sphere of influence. Her animal’s possessive rage just added another element to it.

She took one more breath and straightened. “Yes. I think I’m fine now.” She was still a little shaky, but it would pass any second. She hoped. The strong winds helped take some of his scent away. It was still there, but not the potent aphrodisiac that it had been.

She looked around and saw an almost medieval-looking city on the rise. Lofodes. That’s where he’d said they were going after she changed into jeans and a black sweater. Green grass led to an entrance that was like a castle gate. She saw a blue sheen domed over the entire city and just stared, knowing it was the city’s protection spell. No one was allowed to just teleport directly inside. She and her sisters had asked enough questions that she thought she had a feel for it, but she hadn’t. It was beautiful, clean, and the air was crisp and free of the smog of cities and towns in Earth. Grey clouds billowed with dark streaks of impending rain, and she felt freedom flow over her. There was an odd excitement settling over her, being in a place where she didn’t need to hide what she was. She spun around. Trees grew tall and thick behind them, but a sheet of green grass led toward the city.

“Where’s Sirena?” she asked, seeing people up ahead at the gate.

“Sirena asked me to pick up blood samples and check in on some of the kids she’s monitoring.”

She spun to look at him. He had a cocky grin in place.

“You lied.”

“No, you assumed. I just didn’t correct you because I was happy to have you with me.” His voice was low and seductive as he winked at her. “Your scent may torture the shit out of me, but that doesn’t stop me from loving every fucking second.”

She didn’t know what to say to that; she just looked at him. She caught movement down the hill and stilled, staring at the Hippeus in his half-horse form. A centaur in human mythology, a Hippeus in Tetartos reality. She knew about them, but she’d never seen one in that form. The ginger male looked in their direction, nodded and grinned and flipped Conn a middle-finger greeting before heading in the opposite direction.

She couldn’t take her eyes from the male clomping away. He was bare to the waist and had a sword strapped to his big back. Conn growled, “Dacia, if you don’t stop staring at him, my beast might feel the need to prove himself superior to the damned warrior.”

Her eyes shot to his. He had a slight grin on his face, but she could see the wolf in his eyes. He was serious.

She turned to the city and smiled to herself before whispering, “Your beast has nothing to worry about.”

Conn laughed, and his power caressed her cheek as was becoming his habit. It was a comforting sensation that made her want more than just sex. She wanted his arms around her, something she and her beast had started craving from him.

They moved past some Mageia guards that nodded and greeted Conn, and she caught the awe and reverence coming from them. She noticed that the clothes were similar to Earth for the most part, some older styles, some newer. She saw book and boutique shops mixed with anything she’d see in nicer towns in the United States or Europe. Conn pointed out the shop Rain used to own. Mageia milled around or went about their lives, some greeting Conn and others seeming too focused on what they were doing to even see them. There were townhomes lining the cobbled streets; some had pretty little flower boxes at the windows.

He veered them into a small bakery. It smelled incredible, and she barely heard the tinkle of the bell as they slid through the door.

An elderly Mageia greeted them. Her eyes crinkled at the sides when she saw Conn. “Ah, it’s my lovely Guardian with a sweet tooth.” Conn grinned and winked at the old woman.

“I couldn’t come to Lofodes and not stop at the best bakery in all the Realms,” he said in mock horror, and the old woman just shook her head as a happy smile painted her lips.

The scent of cinnamon and sugar filled the space and smelled even better with his sexy pheromones mixed in.

“Posh. You know how to make an old woman’s day, I’ll give you that.” The woman shook her head at Conn, but it was obvious by her pink cheeks she was telling the truth. She turned her sparkling pale blue eyes to Dacia. She smiled back at the elderly woman. “Well, I know what he wants. Just let me know when you’ve found something you’d like, dear.” The woman smiled at Dacia as she went about getting a paper sleeve for the cookies she slid out of the glass bakery case. Peanut butter from the smell of them.

Dacia’s lips curved when he offered her one. She took it from his fingers, so close to touching him that she held her breath. When she bit in, he grinned expectantly, until her tongue flicked out to lick off the crumbs. His eyes fixed on the movement and flashed with heat. “Good, isn’t it?” His voice lowered an octave.

She swallowed and had to clear her throat before smiling. “Yes, but I want a cupcake.” She turned her grin to the old woman and found herself enjoying the simple outing. When she looked back at Conn, she saw amusement dancing in his eyes.

The woman smiled. “Okay. Which would you like?”

“The red velvet,” Dacia said, pointing to the one in the case.

“I think we’re going to need a box,” he told the woman, and when Dacia gave him a questioning look, he responded, “For your sisters.”

Her heart swelled a little, and she had to clear her throat. “They’d like that.” She made choices for her siblings, including one for Gunn. Conn grinned and shook his head as he got another few boxes of treats, probably to take back to the manor. It all went into a big bag he took after paying the Mageia. Dacia was already focused on her treat as they walked back out to the street. She licked the icing on one side and made a happy noise.

She took another taste, enjoying the sweet flavor on her tongue. “She’s very good,” she said and meant it. It was probably the best cupcake she’d ever tasted, and she and her sisters had sampled their fair share. She frowned that she hadn’t offered him any when he’d shared his cookies. When she looked up to rectify that, she caught him staring. “Would you like a taste?” she asked, and her voice came out husky.