Mentored in Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

I knew there would be more stories to digest when I met up with the others, Callie, Dizzy, Charity, and everyone. Fears, concerns, and apprehension for what was to come.

But for now, I just took Darius’s hand and led him away from our friends. We closed the door to the spare room on the second floor, not bothering to lock it in case Penny wanted to bust in and get a peek.

“I was so glad to see your face,” I told him as I stripped off the button-up shirt he’d borrowed from Roger and worked at the belt holding up the baggy trousers. Darius was taller, his muscles considerable but less bulky than Roger’s, and it showed in the clothes. I could tell Darius wasn’t overly enthused about wearing garments that didn’t fit perfectly. Especially ones made for “peasants.” Roger needed to work on his fashion. Not that he would. He was probably able to buy this place because of his simple fashion…

Darius leaned down and brushed a kiss across my nose. “When you uncovered the bond, even halfway, I can’t tell you how relieved I was to feel your love. I’d worried that Lucifer had gotten to you. That he had turned your mind to his plans. You seemed so natural riding alongside him on your dragon. I worried you might’ve forgotten what we had.”

“What we have.” I pushed down his pants and took his hard shaft in my hand. “I had to ignore you, or I wouldn’t be able to focus on what I needed to do. I love you too much. It would’ve unraveled everything. Cahal was a godsend. Whenever I started liking it there too much, he merely had to mention your name. Or Penny’s. And I’d start unraveling. It was brutal but necessary. I’m so happy to be back.”

“You’re so happy to be with us,” he said softly, and pulled the baby T from over my head. Two of the guest rooms had had some women’s clothes, each a different size. Both adult women. Both with some slinky Underoos. Roger had brought some special ladies to his private pad. I wondered why they’d left without taking their things. I fully intended to ask eventually. “You are not happy to be gone.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Yes. But rest assured, I am fully aware of your struggle, and I will find a way to merge your two worlds together. Unless you don’t want me to…”

A rush of love and gratitude poured through me.

“If anyone could, you could. My father let me go…” I blinked back tears and thought, Ew.

Darius’s smile was sweet. Don’t run from emotion. It’s what saved you. It’s what will bring you back. His decision means there is a future there. We will find the way back.

“And I will marry you.”

“Are you sure?” He tilted his head at me. “I don’t recall asking you…”

“And I don’t recall asking if you wanted a punch in the face, but…”

His smile boosted his handsome features, a heartthrob by anyone’s standards. “This is true.”

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. He was old school, and I was lazy. I’d wait. And it would be epic, I was sure.

“We need to fix the bond,” he said, and slid his tongue across my nipple. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes as he moved to the other breast and fastened his hot mouth around its center. “Will we break the bed, do you think?”

I smiled as he pushed down my khakis and reached between my thighs. “I doubt Roger would care at this point. Between the dragons and us, he’s just as broken as Penny.”

“I hardly think so.” His lips slid across my neck and he bit. Pleasure coursed through me as his fingers moved within me. He drew deeply, his thumb making circles on my clit.

I groaned, running my hands over his cut shoulders and hooking a knee around his hip. He quickly upped the pace of his plunging fingers, his circling thumb, and kept sucking, taking me to the point of danger. It was necessary for the bond—he would take me near death, then I would deplete him.

I’d been scared the first time. I’d reacted in fight mode, pushing him away. I clearly hadn’t trusted him then in the way I did now. With my life. With my happiness. With my future. Lucifer had wanted to kill him for his attachment to me. He might still want to. But I knew Darius wouldn’t go anywhere. This affirmed that fact.

“I want you inside me,” I breathed, soaking in the pleasure.

He pulled off my neck and backed me to the bed before lowering me and settling over me. He wasted no time before pushing into me, taking my breath. His mouth was hot on mine, his tongue swirling through.

“I love you,” he murmured against my lips.