Page 62 of Destined By Dragonblood
“Yes,” I whispered, my focus falling to where he continued to caress over the skin he’d kissed. “But I’m learning suspicion shouldn’t be held against everyone.”
“Thank you for gifting me the opportunity to earn your trust, Ashley.”
I nodded and lifted my attention to his face.
“You don’t owe me any explanations about your past as we move forward,” Dolyn said, his voice gentle as his touch, “but I would ask, should I push your boundaries or do something that is triggering, you’ll be honest with me. I have no wish to hurt you. Ever.”
“I know you don’t.” I squeezed his fingers.
“I—I am not enough for you.” Dolyn swallowed hard, his forehead furrowing, amber eyes troubled. “As a dragonblood’s fated mate, you will yearn for another, a beta who I hope can gift you what I am unable to.”
“And what is that?” I asked, my own heart aching over the clear insecurity in his gaze.
“The pain you crave.”
An image of my master flitted through my mind, longer hair damp with sweat as he watched me come undone on his fingers.
Yessss.
A shiver pebbled my skin. “So what happens now?” I asked, my tone unsteady.
“That all depends on him.” Dolyn glanced away, and I followed his gaze toward the bar.
Master Vanni sat with his back toward us, shoulders slumped, an empty tumbler in his hand.
Mine.
A deep seated knowing radiated through every cell in my body.
“Yes,” I agreed, my tone near silent.
Chapter 18
Vanni
I’d done pretty much nothing but drink since leaving Ashley with Dolyn in my office Friday night. Turned out, whiskey slurred the voice deep inside me enough I could ignore it. Him. Whatever the damned creature was inside me. My sloshed brain couldn’t find a fuck to give over pronouns or trying to identify if I’d picked up some sort of parasite or spirit.
But the sole fault belonged to Dolyn.
I dreamed of beating him senseless then fucking him until both of us dropped from exhaustion. I’d woken so damn hard Saturday morning I shot off at a mere brush of my fingertips over the soaked crown of my dick. Throughout the day, unrelenting need haunted me. No matter how drunk I got or how many times I jerked off, the semen came like a wave, a well that refused to dry.
Satisfaction, however, eluded me with every jetted spurt up over my hand and abs.
I wanted Ashley. Longed to be with her, beside her, breathing her in. Her quiet gentleness would soothe the demon in me, but she’d rested in Dolyn’s arms. Hadn’t made an effort to crawl from his lap for mine.
She’d chosen him over me, exactly as my ex had done.
Was tender loving care her thing now? Had the pain I’d gifted no longer hit the mark?
But I’d brought her to climax with my fingers. Hadn’t hurt her then, right?
“Last one. You’ve been sitting here since noon. I’m cutting you off.”
I blinked rapidly to focus on the bartender as he poured another shot into the glass I clutched. “Thanks,” I slurred.
Once he ambled off, I attempted to stare at my waving reflection in the mirror beyond the bottles lining the bar in front of me. My suit was a rumpled mess, tie loosened and askew… Had I worked today?
Was it Monday?
