Hunt the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #11)(112)

Roke grimaced. He felt like he’d been shoved into an oversize dollhouse.

Unaware that his choice of décor proved just how little he knew about his daughter, Sariel held a hand over Roke’s head.

“Don’t move.”

Roke bared his fangs, immediately feeling a strange heat surge through his blood.

It wasn’t the intense blast of power that had knocked him unconscious when Sally had first enchanted him, but there was no mistaking something was happening.

At last the man dropped his hand and stepped back.

“Is the spell gone?” Sally demanded.

“Yes,” Sariel answered.

Shrugging out of his leather jacket, Roke allowed it to drop to the floor as he turned over his arm.

They watched in silence as the crimson tattooing slowly faded. Roke choked back a curse, able to feel the King of the Chatri’s smug satisfaction.

Lucky for the jackass, he didn’t have time to boast before there was a tingle beneath Roke’s skin and the mating mark returned, even more vivid than before.

With a fierce surge of satisfaction, he lifted his head to meet Sally’s dark gaze.

“I told you that you were my mate.”

She slowly smiled. “And you’re always right?”

He was barely aware he was moving before he had her wrapped in his arms, the feel of her soft curves making him instantly hard.

“Always,” he assured her.

“Sally,” her father snapped.

Roke lowered his head, his gaze intent on Sally’s flushed face.

“Go away, Sariel,” he growled.

There was a gasp of disbelief. “This is my home.”

Sally stroked her hands over Roke’s chest. “Father, please,” she murmured, clearly distracted.

With a huff, the king marched toward the door. “We will speak later.”

“Much later,” Roke warned.

Neither noticed the door slamming as Sariel made his dramatic exit, each too intent on the other and the intense emotions that were exploding through their bond.

There was relief and joy and the ever-present desire.

And love.

A stunning, how-did-I-ever-survive-without-this love.

“My mate,” Roke murmured, yanking off her sweatshirt so he could savor the sight of his mark branded into her inner arm.

It might not have been the typical mating that occurred between vampires, but it was just as real.

And just as lasting.

“Yes,” she breathed, a brilliant smile curving her lips.

He pulled her back into his arms, burying his face in her hair.

“Don’t ever leave me again.”

“Never,” she swore, her hands exploring his chest with a growing insistence.

Roke’s fangs pulsed in perfect tempo with his fully erect cock.

He’d denied his deepest hunger for so long.

Now he was being consumed by his most primitive instinct.

“I need—”

“Roke?” she prompted as he lifted his head to study the heat staining her cheeks.

He needed to watch her expression. He couldn’t bear to frighten her.

She’d had more than her fair share of unpleasant surprises.

“I need to taste you,” he said.

Her expression was more curious than wary as she considered his words. “You want to bite me?”

“More than you could ever possibly imagine,” he growled.

Slowly she tilted her head to the side, exposing her slender neck.

“Then do it.”

He quivered, nearly overcome with lust.

“You’re certain?”

She grabbed his face and urged it toward her throat. “Now, Roke.”

He didn’t need another invitation. Hell, he couldn’t have resisted another minute if there’d been a stake pressed to his heart.

Exposing his fangs, he struck at the base of her throat, sinking deep into her flesh.

Pleasure exploded through Roke as her blood hit his tongue, the taste finer than any aphrodisiac.

“God. You taste of peaches,” he muttered, his entire body shuddering with desire. “My favorite.”

“Oh . . . yes,” Sally groaned, her hands roughly tugging at his T-shirt.

“Sally?” he said and pulled out his fangs, carefully licking shut the tiny wounds.

“I need you naked.”

His cock gave a twitch of approval, trying to bust through the zipper of his jeans. But his brain hadn’t forgotten they were in Sariel’s territory. Who knew when the bastard might decide to return?

“What about your—”

Sally managed to wrangle the shirt over his head, her fingers moving to attack his jeans.

“Less talk, more action,” she commanded.

With a sinful chuckle, Roke gave in to the desire that thundered through him.

If anyone tried to interrupt them, he’d personally rip out their throats.

Leaning down he scooped Sally off her feet and headed for the pink monstrosity of a bed.

“I think I’ve managed to create a tyrant,” he murmured in full approval.

Sally didn’t know how much time had passed when the sound of yelling woke her from her pleasant dreams.

Untangling herself from Roke’s possessive arms, she slid off the bed and pulled on her satin gown.