Page 31 of These Deadly Dreams

The strength of his desire hits me like a ton of bricks when I open myself to his emotions again. It punches straight through my chest, and it amps me up even more. I retract my fangs, licking the puncture marks to seal them, and slide out from behind him. I push him to the ground and straddle him so I can kiss him. I have every intent to ravish his mouth, but for some reason, that’s not what happens.

Cade frames my face in both of his hands, and it’s such a gentle touch it calms my urgency. The kiss is soft, but deep. There is a thrumming in my chest, something intense that gives me pause. Each interaction between us has made this connection grow. I’ve loved Cade for a while now, as a friend, as someone who has such an important role in my life. But I think it's shifting. And that scares me and excites me at the same time.

I break the kiss to yank his pants down his hips and his erection springs free. Cade kicks them off the rest of the way and I trail kisses down his chest and abs, giving him little nips here and there that leave him writhing under me. His hands on my shoulders try to push me lower but I resist, giving him a wicked, fang-filled grin. I can hear his blood rushing through his veins, pumped by his heart that’s beating a mile a minute.

When I finally lick up the length of his cock, Cade is barely restraining his trembling. I love to think I have so much sway over this man. That I can turn this magnificent, powerful mage into a trembling mess with just my fangs. My tongue traces the slit at the head of his cock, lapping at the precum, and his hips jerk, desperate for more. I wrap my lips around his length and slowly tease him, keeping it just shy of what he needs.

“Fuck, Kai,” he moans.

His throaty moan makes my dick twitch in my pants. It’s straining and aching for pleasure of its own. I rub my hips against his leg as I continue to suck him, the pressure only a tease to me, drawing me higher but no closer to what I want.

I place my hands on the floor on either side of Cade’s hips and set a punishing rhythm. His hips thrust up, matching my pace, and his fingers dig into my scalp, pulling my hair hard. I meet his gaze at the same time I graze my fangs along the top of his cock and he curses as he explodes in my mouth.

I’ve never thought about other men in the same way I think about Cade. I’ve never thought another man was attractive or beautiful, but Cade is. And when he’s chasing his pleasure, he is infinitely more attractive with his cut muscles tensing and relaxing, a sheen of sweat glistening on his skin, and pure bliss lighting up his violet eyes. This man is absolutely beautiful.

I release him, wiping my mouth on my sleeve, and barely have time to take a breath before he flips us. His mouth crashes into mine and he kisses me with a passion we’ve never had before. It’s like he’s trying to devour my soul through my mouth, like he can’t get enough oxygen so he has to steal mine.

That piece in my chest, the one I’ve felt slowly shifting, clicks into place. Right next to the piece that belongs to Ellis.

Cade pulls my pants down and wraps his hand around my cock, finally giving me what I’ve been desperate for. My head thumps on the floor, and I close my eyes, taking in each sensation. I do something I’ve never done before. I open myself up to his emotions while he sucks my cock into his mouth.

The combination of his mouth and the intensity of his affection almost makes me come. The thought that he might feel the same way about me as I do about him is overwhelming. Fuck. I close my eyes and thread my fingers through his hair. He’s driving me closer and closer to that edge, and he knows exactly what to do to get me there. I groan as he squeezes my balls and lightning shoots through my veins. I come so hard, stars dance behind my closed eyelids.

Cade crawls up my body and places his hand on my cheek. He kisses me deeply, and my heart flutters. Is this really what I think it is? Is it possible I love him like I love Ellis?

He settles next to me, head on my chest, and palm over my heart. “Hey,” he says after a while. “How come you can drink from me and not get sick now that you have your beloved?”

“That’s a great question.” I prod one of my fangs with the tip of my tongue. “I hadn’t even thought about that. Maybe our connection as Ellis’s Shields makes it possible? Whatever the reason, I’m not going to complain.”

He huffs a laugh. “Oh, I’m not either. Not. At. All.”.

11. Cade

Ellis is screaming. Her voice breaks as her screams are torn from her throat. I drop the mug in my hand, ceramic shattering and sending tea splattering in all directions. Kai and I run into each other in our rush to get to her. He has a dagger in his hand, fangs elongated—fangs that were just buried in my neck minutes ago. My magic rears to the surface on its own, like it can tell my soul-bonded is in trouble and needs help.

She’s on the couch, blanket tossed to the floor amid her thrashing. Kai reaches her first and grabs her shoulders, shaking her awake.

“Ellis! Wake up!” he yells. His eyes are wild, and red encroaches on the gray yet again.

I fall to my knees on the floor by her head just as her eyes pop open. She gasps, hand flying to her throat as she tries to suck in enough oxygen. Sweat plasters her curls to her forehead, and even I can see her vein pulsing in her neck as her heart hammers in her chest. Her amber eyes fill with tears, and she throws herself off the couch and into my arms.

I’m hesitant to touch her, afraid I’ll hurt her if I do, but she buries her face in my chest and sobs. It’s instinct to wrap my arms around her and pull her close. I say nothing, just rock her back and forth, and rub circles on her back, which doesn’t seem to hurt anymore. Once she stops crying, I pull back so I can see her face.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She nods and wipes her cheeks. “Just a bad dream.” Little hiccups interrupt her answer and she continues to shudder.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Kai asks.

She shakes her head violently. “No. I want to forget it.”

Kai purses his lips and hesitates. He looks unsure, like he wants to say something, but he’s scared. He takes a breath and says, “Can I ask you something?”

She nods and rests her cheek on my chest.

“You seem to be having a lot of nightmares lately. Is that normal for you?”

She bites her lip and tries to bury closer to my body. “No,” she whispers so quietly I barely hear her. “I used to have this dream after my mom and sister died. I haven’t had one like it in years. Until recently.”

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