Obsession: A Rejected Mate Shifter Romance (The Mate Games #1)(81)



“Just a little something to help your vampire resist the urge to beat the shit out of everyone who looks at his mate. Trust me. It will make the night far easier on you both if you mask your scent.”

“What do I do with it? Drink it?”

“If you want a serious case of the runs, sure.” She took the bottle from me and opened it, pulling out a dropper filled with the liquid. The bite of freshly crushed roses tickled my nose. “One or two drops should do the trick. Put them behind your ears, down your cleavage, between your thighs, maybe. Wherever you like, but it’s important to help him out here. A vampire with an unclaimed mate is dangerous, especially when there are other unmated vamps in the same space. Let’s try our best to keep him out of trouble.”

I was already dabbing the rose oil on before she finished speaking. Anything that would help Noah was A-OK with me. But if this was such an issue, why was this the first time anyone mentioned it to me? Seemed like something I should be wearing on the regular.

Moira must have sensed my question because she added, “I hadn’t realized just how serious things had gotten between the two of you, or I would have made you a concentrated batch earlier. As it was, the spell takes at least two weeks to mature. This was the soonest I could provide you with any after I ran out of my supply.”

“Does Noah expect me to be wearing this?”

“Doubtful. I know his mother had to bathe in rose oil before they sealed their bond because her scent was so tempting to the rest of the vampires at Blackthorne Manor, but that was a long time ago now. It’s very likely he’s never been told how to manage something like this.”

Finished Noah-proofing myself, I set the little vial behind me on my desk. “How do you know all this about his family?”

“Who do you think supplied Cashel Blackthorne with the oil? My coven, of course.”

“You Belladonnas are just always right in the middle of things, aren’t you?”

She booped me on the nose. “And don’t you forget it.”

“So, you’ve faerie witch-mothered me this gorgeous dress, made me the most beautiful version of myself I’ve ever seen. What about my mask?”

“Way ahead of you, Cinders.” Moira stepped forward, affixing something black and glittery over my eyes.

When she moved, I was finally able to see the intricate lace mask that mirrored the design of my choker. Dozens of twisty thorns rested against my skin, not quite poking me. It was beautiful and just this side of dangerous. I loved it.

“Wow. That’s . . . a weapon?”

“Darling, everything’s a weapon if you use it right. Just ask Alek.”

My chest fluttered at the mention of the mischievous Viking. I wondered what his mask would be. “What about you? Who are you going with?”

Ash had returned home after her weekend visit, and I hadn’t seen Moira with anyone else since. “Emilia. She and Ash are friends, so there are no worries of unwanted awkwardness. She’s going to be Eve, and I’m her snake.”

As she said it, green smoke swirled around her, replacing her yoga pants and drapey shirt with a body-hugging gown of the same color. A silver snake with bejeweled red eyes wrapped around her neck, acting as the clasp that held the clingy material together. But as I watched, the tail wriggled, and it dove into the fabric, moving languidly down her curves. It was hypnotic. Deadly. Absolutely sinful.

In a word, it was perfect.

“Shit,” I whispered. “You make one sexy snake.”

Moira smirked. “I know. Careful now, your harem is full. But if you want a bite of my apple, I’m willing to share.”

Fuck if I didn’t blush. I fanned my face. “Stop using your sexy voodoo on me, you temptress.”

Moira winked. “As you wish.”

“I love you, too.”

The clock on Moira’s desk chimed midnight, and her smirk took on a wicked edge. “Oh look, the witching hour is upon us. Time to go have some fun.” She winked, pulling on her mask. “What do you say, Sunday? Ready to raise some hell?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Moira sighed. “All right, that was a little anticlimactic, but I’ll take it.” She wove her arm through mine. “Come on, kitten. Let’s go break some hard-ons.”

“I don’t think that’s what you’re supposed to do with them.”

“Then you’re not doing it right. Even I know that.”

I paused, staring at her. “Moira . . . one of these days you’re going to tell me your secrets.”

She batted her eyelashes at me. “Sweetie, you’d never survive it.”

“Try me.”

“Maybe when you’re older,” she said, her expression deadpan as she patted my hand.

I laughed so hard I worried I would ruin my makeup because I’d start crying. “I don’t know. I already have more dick than I can handle. How much more experience do I really need?”

She opened the door, and all the lightheartedness was sucked from the room the moment I saw who waited outside. There he was. The biggest dick of them all, and not the fun kind.

Kingston stood there, his large frame covered in a fuck-hot tuxedo, his mask covering his eyes and pulling my attention to his full lips, hair slicked back, cheekbones on display. God damn him, I was wet already.

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