“Yessss,” he growls into my ear before nipping my earlobe with a sharp fang. “Come for me, solnyshko.”
I scream as the tension inside me detonates and the white-hot heat of euphoric pleasure explodes. Coordinated movements are no longer possible with the force of the tremors, but Finn’s large hands are directing the roll of my hips over his hard cock, helping me ride out every last wave.
Our mouths find each other in the aftermath, and it only takes seconds for my energy to return with the rekindling of my desire for more. More touching, more kissing, more friction. More everything.
“Gods, Taryn,” he says between kisses. “I could watch you come all damn night.”
“So what’s stopping you?”
I shouldn’t have tested the fates because Finn’s phone chooses that exact moment to ring. Groaning his frustration at having to pause our fun, he slips it out of his back pocket and glances at the screen. “Apparently, your brother is.”
My eyes widen and I practically jump off Finn’s lap like Dmitri can see through the cell. It makes Finn laugh, and I’m instantly irritated at myself for acting like a teenager caught messing around after curfew.
“Afraid big brother won’t approve?” Finn asks with a double-dimple grin.
I scoff. “If he ever dared to comment on my sexual partners, I’d stab him—”
“With your silver dagger,” he finishes for me. I arch a brow in surprise. “He may have mentioned your preferred retaliation when he riles your temper.”
I shrug as I grab the phone. “He should know not to piss me off.” Hitting the button to accept the call, I put it on speaker. “You’d better be in one piece, or so help me Brigid, I’ll stake you myself.”
“I am fine, moy sever.” Hearing my brother’s affectionate chuckle float from the cell makes my heart swell near to bursting, and I exhale a sigh of relief. “A few scratches. I will be healed by morning.”
I know that “scratches” for Dmitri means stab wounds. But aside from decapitation or a wooden stake to the heart, vampires heal almost as fast as fae when they have access to blood. And Dmitri is probably bathing in it if he killed everyone working at that compound.
“So we can assume you laid waste to everyone at the facility then,” Finn says, resting an arm on his bent knee.
“Da. There were no other prisoners, and the general still lives, as promised. Though he does so with one less eye.”
Finn and I share a look, neither of us showing much concern. “Thank you for avenging me, moya brat,” I say. “Will you come here to get me or should I meet you in L.A.?”
As much as I want to finally be home, I’m suddenly having reservations about leaving Vegas so soon. Things were just getting fun. Maybe I’ll tell Dmitri we need Finn for another job so he can be in Los Angeles until we’re through having fun with each other.
The tone in Dmitri’s voice is sobering. “I am sorry, sestra, but you cannot go home.”
My stomach drops. I look to Finn, but he shakes his head. He didn’t know about this. “Why not?”
“Alexi contacted me and confirmed what I have suspected for some time. We have a rat problem.”
He means Edevane somehow infiltrated our clan. We have traitors in our family.
Angry tears prick the back of my eyes. After I was captured, I couldn’t stop running possible explanations for how it happened, but eventually I forced myself to let it go. It was an unsolvable puzzle, and I didn’t have the mental bandwidth to spare.
Since getting rescued, I allowed myself to naively believe I could simply go home and carry on with life as though nothing happened. But reality’s already pounding at the door and demanding to be seen.
“It is only until I find the rats responsible and exterminate them. Give me a few days, sestra, then you can come home.”
I’m torn. I’ve never let anyone, including Dmitri, fight my battles for me. I’d rather be with him, working together to find our betrayers, and dealing with them once we do. But there’s a hint of desperation in Dmitri’s voice I can’t ignore. He’s afraid of something happening to me again so soon, and I know the guilt he feels for the past year—whether or not it’s justified—is already weighing heavily on him.
When it comes down to it, my brother needs me to be safe more than I need to fight. So, it’s not very hard to give him this. “Then I guess I’ll wish you happy hunting.”
“You will be safe with the young prince. He may only be a century old—”
“A century and seventeen, fuck you very much,” Finn interjects.
My eyes widen and my mouth drops open. I knew he was decently younger than me, but I never would’ve guessed he’s one-sixth of my age. Especially not with the way he commanded my body just now. As though he can read my thoughts, he arches a single dark brow, silently daring me to challenge his life experience. And with the way I’m still tingling with need, I’m happy to do just that as soon as we end this call with my brother.
Dmitri continues like he was never interrupted. “—but I would not leave you in his charge if I did not trust him implicitly. You know this.”
I do know. Dmitri has only given the Blood Oath to one other living soul: me. Making that vow to Finn was the highest form of respect and trust Dmitri could bestow.
But beyond what that says about Finn’s character, I trust my own judgement. And within the short time I’ve known him, I’ve seen his innate goodness and sensed his desire to help and care for others. It’s not the state-of-the-art security system that makes me feel safe here. It’s him.
“I’ll be fine,” I say to the phone. “Just let me know when it’s done.”
Dmitri agrees before we end the call, and I hand the phone back to Finn. “You okay,” he asks, his golden gaze seeing too much, as usual.
“Yeah, I’m good. Are you? My brother didn’t exactly ask if this arrangement was acceptable to you.”
One corner of his mouth curves up. “He didn’t ask because he already knows my answer. He won’t rest until he’s sure you’re safe. Neither will I.”
His words stir up feelings I can’t name, nor do I want to try. Better not to acknowledge them and hope they go away. Lust and carnal desires are one thing. Anything else is an unwanted complication.
“Well then, for the sake of your time and my sanity, let’s hope he’s sure soon,” I say lightly, then hide a yawn behind my hand, suddenly feeling exhausted. “Sorry, that came out of nowhere.”
“You should get some sleep,” he says. “You’re still recovering.”
“I suppose you’re right. Thank you for the fantastic dinner and even better dessert.” I wink, letting him know I’m referring to the orgasm and not the after-dinner drinks, then I lean in to give him a chaste peck of gratitude.
