Page 59 of Queen Takes Queen
:Don’t even think about it.:I warned him.:I know you’re too skilled to ever cut yourselfaccidentally.:
Ezra and the older Blood he’d been paired with were getting along famously after a few gigantic mugs of beer. I thought he was fairly well distracted, until he offered to sing me a dirtylimerick.
Even Xin joined the games, startling me when he seemed to materialize between me and Gina.:I thought I’d use my gift later and search the nest. See if she’s got anything tohide.:
Squatted down beside me, he braced his arm on the table and leaned in close. I loved every part of a man’s body, especially my Blood’s, but I’m pretty sure people must have written poems dedicated to Xin’s forearms. His muscles didn’t bulge like Rik’s, but veins and ligaments roped beneath his skin. My eyelids fluttered a moment, remembering when I’d taken him alone. The way his powerful, lean body had worked so hard to please me, even when he feared he was breaking into a thousand pieces and would never be able to serve meagain.
:That’s a great idea.:Even in our bond, Rik’s words rumbled with deep, low bass. His rock troll wanted to come out and play too.:I can’t believe she’s only got four Blood and has still been able to defend herself from Skye all theseyears.:
Daire leaned across the table and propped his chin on his hands, braced on his elbows. “Maybe you’d like to dance, myqueen?”
He didn’t even purr, and I still shuddered at the thought. Swaying to music, him draped around me. I’d never be able to keep my fangs out ofhim.
Mehen slammed his palms down on the table on either side of Daire and leaned in with an aggressive shove against his back. His eyes glittering with emerald fire. “I’m eager to punish him for you, myqueen.”
Mayte watched all this with a mixture of amusement and, dare I say, arousal on her face. “Punish him forwhat?”
Arching his back so he could rub against the other man, Daire batted his eyes at her. “Everything.”
I had my hand fisted in his hair, jerking his face around to mine, before I even realized I’d moved. “Don’t give her your kitty-cateyes.”
“These eyes…” He gave me a long, slow, sensual blink, his eyes blazing with heat. A deep purr rattled the table enough my wine glass tinged softly against my plate. “Are only for you, myqueen.”
Mehen’s bond rumbled like a distant thunderstorm.:Please, Shara, my queen. I’ve been good. For me, at least. I even let the bear gofirst.:
I didn’t have to ask Daire what he thought about the other Blood’s plea.:The big mean dragon should definitely punish me for you. We’ll provide a loud distraction so Xin can more easily slip awayundetected.:
Daire knew full well that Xin didn’t need any help, not when he would vanish without atrace.
“You allow them to…” Mayte didn’t finish the sentence. “Sorry, that’s none of mybusiness.”
I looked at her, the blush spreading across her cheeks, her lush lips softly parted, her tongue darting out to moisten them. Her alpha and the other three pressed close, drawn to her need. Just as my Blood were drawn to mine. She wanted very much to be a part of mybusiness.
The two other men standing expectantly in front of the table had no reason to look at me. Especially not with that dark, sensuallook.
Mayte saw me take note of them. “My older twin brothers, Itztli and Tlacel. Everyone in my nest is at your disposal. If there’s anything you need… Orwant…”
“We ask that you accept us as Blood,” one of the mensaid.
At first glance, I couldn’t tell them apart. Bronzed, lean, lithe, tremendous warriors by the way they stood and held themselves. They were attractive, yes. I could be interested inthem.
Couldbe.
I narrowed a hard look on them, which seemed to surprise them. That only infuriated me more. They actually thought I’d fall over myself accepting them? When I had seven Blood I loved more than lifeitself?
“I don’t take Blood for strength or numbers or political gain. Being my Blood comes withcertain…”
“Requirements,” Rik bit off the word, his voicegraveled.
“Risks,” Mehen snarled, and even Daire shot them a dark look as he stood, though he didn’t draw away from my other Blood. “Service withoutreservations.”
Guillaume flicked the knife to his other hand without even looking at it. “Honors that you can’t possiblyfathom.”
The two men glanced at each other and then shrugged. “Likewhat?”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Do you honestly think I’d take two men as Blood who stood by and watched me step into a trap that nearly killedme?”
A small, strangled sound escaped Mayte’s throat. Her brothers whirled on her. “What?”
