Obsession: A Rejected Mate Shifter Romance (The Mate Games #1)(85)

“I only have one bird, dove. And she’s in my arms right now.”

Callie stared daggers at me, her lip curing up in a sneer as she stomped across the floor and headed straight for Kingston. Noah pulled me into a smooth waltz, leading me effortlessly around as though this was second nature to him.

“You look absolutely fucking edible right now,” he whispered, his cheek pressed against mine. “Do you have any idea the things I want to do to you, seeing my thorns collar your beautiful throat?”

“Yours?”

“Yes. Those are Blackthorne jewels you’re wearing.”

My stomach flipped. Moira, you saucy little minx. I wondered if she knew exactly who I was supposed to choose, and instead of telling me, she'd been trying to show me all this time.

“How is it possible you’re still this good-looking even when you’re wearing a mask?” He was dressed in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, his dark hair slicked back, a plain white leather mask on half of his face. “You look kind of like the phantom of the opera, actually.”

He twirled me around and then reeled me in so our bodies molded together. “Perhaps I’m here to lure you into the darkness where I plan to hold you captive and do unspeakable things to you.”

And now I was so aroused I couldn’t see straight. “If you’re trying to get me to sneak off with you, it's working.”

“Well, then. I’m never one to miss out on a perfect opportunity. How about you and I sneak off to the garden so I can ravish you properly.”

“But, what if we get caught? I’ll be ruined,” I teased.

“Then I guess I’ll just have to marry you and make an honest woman out of you,” he said, utterly serious.

My breath caught in my throat. “Noah.”

He dipped his head again, his smooth, smoky voice temptation itself as he whispered in my ear, “I’m ready if you are, Sunday. Meet me in the garden.”

Then he released me and walked away, glancing back once as he left the ballroom. My heart thundered in my ears, possibility, desire, fear, and need all jumbled up inside me. I pressed a hand to my chest, willing myself to breathe and not chase after Noah then and there.

I scanned the dance floor, jealousy shooting through the happy glow both Alek and Noah had wrapped me in. Kingston was dancing . . . with Callie fucking Donoghue.

I knew exactly what he was doing. And why. The only time he ever seemed to get my attention was when he did something to make me jealous. Well, it wouldn’t work. Not this time. If he wanted that plastic bitch’s hands on him, he was welcome to her. I wasn’t playing this game with him. Not anymore. One of us needed to break the cycle.

I met his gaze and gave him a slow shake of my head, letting him know that I saw straight through him. I knew it made me a hypocrite to be angry at him when I was with Noah, flirting with Alek, and fantasizing about Caleb, but here we were. So I walked straight up to them and said, “Enjoy your night, Kingston.”

Then I spun on my heel and followed after Noah. I was late for a ravishing.





Chapter

Forty-Two





SUNDAY





I swear I still felt Kingston’s burning gaze on me even after I entered the corridor outside of his line of sight. His focus was a weight I couldn't deny. It pulled me in and demanded my attention. But this wasn’t about him now. Noah was waiting for me, and Moira had been pointing me in his direction all this time. I just hadn’t seen it.

My hurried steps echoed in the cavernous hallway; any faster and I’d be full-on running. Now that my heart and mind were aligned, I didn’t want to wait. All I wanted was to get to Noah so I could tell him I was ready for his mark.

Something that felt an awful lot like a cool hand wrapped around my wrist, tugging me into the darkened room to the left. A hard chest pressed against my back, warm breath tickling my neck.

“What happened to the garden?” I asked on a breathy laugh.

I shivered as his lips trailed across my bare shoulder and up to the tender skin of my throat. “What garden, a stor?”

Before I had time to process the sound of his voice or the knowledge of who he was, he spun me around and slammed me against the wall, his lips crushing mine with bruising force. I moaned on instinct, and he took that opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth, his taste and the intensity of his kiss pushing away all else.

All that existed right now was me, him, and this one stolen moment in the dark. I couldn’t see more than shadows, but I knew exactly who was touching me. The man I’d never thought would let himself have what he wanted so clearly.

Caleb pulled away, his breathing labored as he tucked his head and ran his fangs along the side of my neck. “I knew hunger before, but never like this. I will taste your honey.”

“Caleb? What are you doing?” Even as the words left my lips, I knew I didn’t care about the answer. He was giving me everything I’d wanted. It was my fantasy, but a hundred times better because it was real.

His palm drifted down my body, finding the high slit of my dress with ease. “Saints be praised. You’re bare for me. Keep quiet, and when you can’t, bite down on this.” He handed me a neatly pressed scrap of fabric that smelled like him. “I’m going to make you scream.”

His fingers slid between my thighs, and he groaned against me as he found my body slick and ready for him.