Page 69 of Claiming the Dhampir

Damon spent the next twenty minutes repeating our conversation with Lucifer, giving a detailed accounting of dinner, plus Lucifer’s expectations of him for the future. I only half listened.

As soon as Damon started talking, Nathan tugged at my left hand and placed it on his thigh. Nathan didn’t look at me. He continued to listen to Damon talk about the number of dhampir who were at dinner with their demon partners. Then he absentmindedly trailed his finger up and down my arm. Goosebumps rose across my skin and my heart rate accelerated. Why did that soft caress feel so intimate?

Kenrid didn’t give me time to think about it. He grabbed my other hand and laced his fingers with mine. He winked at me, then gave his full attention to Damon. Well, not quite his full attention. He splayed his free hand over my knee then ever so slowly inched up my thigh. The heat of his palm seemed to burn through my thin slacks the higher he went.

I squirmed with my rising desire. The guys had to notice—they always did—but they didn’t say anything.

Both of Elliott’s hands slid beneath my shirt, his calloused palms warming my stomach. He rested them against my skin, not moving, which was more of a tease than if he’d gone further south to my lady parts or north to my boobs.

I wiggled again and tugged at my hands. Neither Kenrid nor Nathan let go. Elliott’s grip tightened around my waist. Between the three of them, I was stuck.

“Be still,” Elliott whispered against my ear.

“The dhampir willingly stayed in the Underworld?” Nathan asked, like he hadn’t just refused to release my hand.

“Yes. Lorna had an extensive discussion with several of them during dinner.” I glanced up at Damon, and his eyes sparkled with mischief as he said, “Tell them about your conversation.”

I cleared my throat. I was so damned turned on, I couldn’t think about anything other than Kenrid’s wandering touch, Elliott’s warm palms against my skin, and the ghost of Nathan’s fingers leaving a burning trail on my arm. Not just any trail. He was tracing the vein along my inner forearm.

My desire kicked up another notch with the thought of him biting me.

Why the hell was I so aroused? We needed to talk about everything that had just happened in the Underworld. We should be planning for Damon’s new assignment. And yet here I was, acting like a horny teenager.

“I can’t think straight,” I mumbled. “Stop distracting me.”

This time when I pulled away, three sets of hands left my body cold and aching to get them back. I slid off Elliott’s lap and walked across the room, taking deep breaths and desperately trying to calm my hormones. I turned around to face my guys.

Nathan’s piercing gaze nearly undid me. The end of his tongue moistened his lips, and I found myself mirroring his actions. Elliott groaned, and I forced myself to look at my wolf. He unashamedly adjusted the bulge in his jeans. Kenrid coughed. I jerked my attention to my fae and realized he was laughing, not coughing. The edgy smile he gave me promised all kinds of naughty things.

My face flamed, and I worried about needing to change my clothes. I was so turned on.

Forget about what happened in the Underworld, Mir insisted. Let’s have some fun with the guys. They’re the ones who love us and obviously want us. All the rest of that shit can wait.

Oh my God! All this neediness is your fault, isn’t it? I knew it wasn’t natural for me to be so damned horny.

No, you’re the one lusting after your mates. Not that I blame you. They’re hot!

I could feel her dishonesty. She was the one lusting and making it impossible for me to think. Okay, it wasn’t all her, but I had enough composure to not act on my desires. Was she distracting me on purpose? She snarled at me, and I took a mental step back.

I thought you’d be excited to talk about the other dhampir, I said.

Mir didn’t reply. I sighed, realizing that she must have some reservations or concerns. She had been unusually quiet the entire time we were in the Underworld.

You know you can talk to me, right? I asked.

Later.

She withdrew as far as she could, taking my sexual desire and leaving a good amount of guilt in its place. I should’ve asked how she was doing earlier, and I didn’t. I sucked at relationships. This was why I had no friends. I sighed again and promised myself I’d make time for Mir.

“Several of the dhampir I spoke to all confirmed that the demons saved them from the fae.” I tugged at my shirt, trying to straighten it after Elliott’s attention. “The demons who feed them volunteered to be their partners as soon as the dhampir were awakened. I found it interesting that they were all awakened by a demon. None of the dhampir I talked to had even met a vampire. I guess I hadn’t realized it was possible.”

I glanced at Nathan. His eyes were now a deep blue with no hint of red. The smoldering look from earlier had cooled somewhat.

“Lucifer implied that they rescued some of the dhampir from vampires here on Earth, but I didn’t get to talk to any of them.” I looked at each of my mates and smiled. “It was really nice to find out that I’m not the last. I hadn’t realized how depressing that was until today.”

“Did you know there were other facilities in the fae realm?” Nathan leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees, directing his question to Kenrid.

“I had no idea,” Kenrid replied. “Very few fae knew about the one I’d destroyed, but I guess I should’ve known there were more.”

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