Page 32 of Ditching the Dragon (Fated Dates)

Wick’s hand works furiously, and he groans as his hard cock shoots cum in jets onto his stomach.

We stare at each other, our chests heaving and the product of the activity chilling my skin.

“Absolutely gorgeous,” he murmurs. “Do you have any idea what you look like right now? Switch the camera so you can see yourself better.”

I double-tap my picture in the corner, and the screen fills with my image. My cheeks are flushed, my hair a mess, but my muscles and posture are languid.

I look thoroughly fucked even though he never touched me.

“Fifteen minutes,” he grumbles. “Then I’m coming for you. Surrender, Annie. We’re inevitable.”

“Sorry, Wickham,” I say and hang up the phone.

Chapter Nine

Wickham

The next nine days are a confusing blend of work, searching, and morning calls from my mate. It’s a helluva way to start the day. At least I haven’t torched any more acreage. My mate loves Tavers City’s parks, and it’d be a shame to destroy them all out of frustration.

She’s listened to my command not to come without me, at least as far as I can tell. If she had any idea how feral that makes me. How much it drives me to find her that much more.

Life has slowed me down, though. Wherever she went, she’s been smart about where to run. She’s also been smart enough not to stay in one place for more than a night. She might not have any credit cards, but somehow she always manages to stay a step ahead.

Her morning video calls give her away, though. That may be why she allows them early and won’t accept them before bed.

She calls, we come, she goes.

It’s fucking infuriating. She belongs with me. If she accepted that, it would be better for us both.

I pull up the text chain. I transferred it to my actual phone. I don’t think she realizes that it’s changed, but carrying multiple phones is annoying.

Silence reigns for several agonizing moments.

I can practically feel her eye roll. She thinks I’m over the top, but she has no idea.

Annie, my mate, completely captivates every waking moment of my day and all of my dreams.

She’s asked me to give her Violet’s new number several times. I always rebuff it. The pressure has to be mounting. Anything to bring her home, even if it means isolating her.

Several silent moments pass. I know that, right now, she’s pacing around whatever room she’s in and seething. If I could only see the look on her face.

The immediate response to lash out over that flares, but I breathe through it. Snapping at her won’t convince her to come home. Still...

I stab the call button. “Don’t you fucking dare, Annie. Your orgasms are mine.”

“Everything is yours,” she spits out. “Don’t I get anything? I’m not even allowed to have friends.”

“You have friends.”

“Not when I can’t talk to them. This is what I don’t like about you, Wickham. I need my independence. Forcing my servitude isn’t the way to persuade me.”

“I’m not giving you Violet’s number.”

“Don’t you want me to come home? The best way to do that is to make me more comfortable, and I’ll never feel comfortable when you insist on controlling every aspect of my life.”

“I’ve survived 213 more years than you.”

“Invalidating my experiences is the best way to convince me not to come home.”

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