Artistic Vision (16 page)

Akane rolled her eyes. “Let me guess.”

He pulled down his zipper and unleashed the beast. “Good guess.” His finger stroked between the dragon’s thighs and Akane jumped. “But I have a unique rewards system set up by my loving fiancée.”

Akane smirked. “Does she know you’re about to do me in your workroom?”

Shane’s expression was anything but innocent. “Shh. Don’t tell her.”

Akane snorted and licked the head of his cock. She looked up from under her lashes, using every wile she’d ever used on a mark to get Shane to be as crazy for her as she was for him. “If she finds out she’ll fry your ass.”

“Then we’d better make this quick. She’ll be back any minute now.”

Akane blew warm smoke over his cock. “Is she dangerous?”

Shane nodded. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the sight of her lips so close to his cock. Akane licked them, and those sapphire eyes darkened with want. “More dangerous than you could ever imagine.”

She smiled. She liked that. She rewarded him by taking him into her mouth, sucking on the head of his cock until his hand left that damn tattoo. He buried his hands in her hair, toying with the long curls. He let her set the pace, how deep she took him. But those hands remained, reminding her that of what she needed. All she had to do was drop enough of her Seeming to allow her horns to peek through, and Shane would take care of her.

If she let him, he would always take care of her.

Shane watched as Akane swallowed him down. He bit back a moan at the feel of her hot mouth around his dick. Gods, he’d never get enough of the heat of his dragon mate. It took everything in him not to thrust, not to force himself further into her mouth. He wanted her to do this, to know that he might be able to torture her with the tattoo but all she had to do was give him one look from those pretty eyes of hers and he was lost.

She glanced up at him and suckled, her tongue stroking the underside of his cock in a firm, mind-blowing rhythm. Shane swore his eyes crossed. “Gods,
a ghrà
. Suck it. Please.”

Akane obeyed, her head bobbing, her curls swinging around her face. He bent down and managed to reach her nipple. He stroked it, teased it, twisted it until her hips were moving, practically begging him to take down her jeans and fuck her.
 

“I’m going to fuck you on my workbench. I’m going to lift you up, rip those jeans off and spread you wide.” Shane couldn’t stop himself. He began to fuck her mouth, sliding between her lips. He glared wildly at the table top, the metal shavings he’d been toying with still there. He couldn’t put her naked ass onto the table without damaging it, not with the metal there.

“It won’t hurt me, remember?”

He stared at her, confused. What in hell was she talking about?

Akane rolled her eyes and stood. “Someone’s brains have traveled south.” She breathed flame hot enough to melt metal, smiling in satisfaction as it pooled down to molten silver and copper. “There. Problem solved.”

He nodded. “I love an inventive woman.”
 

He unzipped her jeans. Oh. Oh hell, she’d worn white lace again. He was such a goner. He tugged the jeans down her legs, loving the smooth, silky skin he unveiled. Shane gripped her hips and pulled her close, licking that white lace and what lay beneath.
 

She tapped the top of his head. “Up on the table, Farm Boy.”

That wicked smile was back on her face. He had no idea what she had in mind, but if the heat in her gaze was any indication he was going to love every minute of it. Shane slipped his pants and shoes off before hopping onto the table. Strangely, the heat from the silver didn’t seem to bother him. Perhaps the mark she’d given him protected him?

Akane didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. She slid her top and jeans off, revealing more white lace.
 

Shane stroked his cock. “Have I mentioned I love you in white lace?”

She climbed up onto the table and dropped her Seeming. Her wings stretched above them. Shane watched as his personal debauched angel straddled his hips. “I’m spread. Now what?”

He thrust up. “Hungry?”

She licked her lips. “Oh yeah.”

Akane surprised him. She turned on the table, straddling his head and presenting him with her lace-covered pussy. When her mouth once more engulfed his cock Shane was more than willing to provide what she wanted.

He licked around the edges of the lace. He pulled it aside, revealing the wet lips of her pussy. He thrust his tongue into her sweetness, enjoying the moans around his cock.
 

He needed to get the panties off of her. He couldn’t enjoy her properly with them in the way, but he didn’t want Akane destroying them the way she had the last pair. He began tugging them off of her, grateful when she lifted and twisted enough for him to take them off. He tossed them on the floor and pulled her back down to him, eager to sample her again.

Akane was making it damn hard to concentrate on what he was doing. The feel of her hot mouth on his cock was killing him. He was going to blow soon, and blow hard.

He wanted to do it inside her. He wanted to give her his seed, his life, his all. “Akane.”

“Hmm?”

That hum around him had him arching off the table. It was definitely time to fuck his mate. “Turn around. Ride me,
a ghrà
. Make us come.”

Akane turned and straddled him. A smile on her face, she lowered herself onto him, those sharp claws of hers digging into the wood of his worktable, scarring it further. Her wings fluttered above them as she sank down, pulling him into her balls deep. Akane rotated her hips and moaned. “Oh gods.”

Shane went to grab her hips, help her ride him, but Akane moved, holding his hands down. She pushed them until they were above his head. He let her do it, wondering what his dragon was up to.

“Uh uh uh. Naughty Shane. You got caught fucking around, and now you have to pay the dragon.”

Shane decided to play around. “But she tasted so sweet.”

Akane’s hips moved. “Did she?”

“Mm-hmm. I’m dying to taste her again.” He thrust up into her, chuckling when she gasped. “She tasted like hot, sweet cinnamon.”

Her eyes glowed. Dragon fire lit her skin from within. Her wings were golden, flaming glory above them. She rolled her hips again, and Shane bucked beneath her. Her lips curled up in a feminine smile. “Maybe you’ll get a chance to taste her again.”
 

He planned on it.

Akane began to ride her mate. She was leaning over him, pinning his wrists to the table, her breasts threatening to spill out of her bra. Her hair hung down, brushing Shane’s cheeks with each stroke. The curls at the base of his cock brushed against her clit, teasing her, tantalizing her.
 

She couldn’t wait to see his reaction to the white garter belt and stockings. She had the feeling he’d go insane when she wore them for him.
 

Shane thrust into her, distracting her from her thoughts. She wrapped her fingers around his wrists, pinning down her prey while she took what she wanted from him. His velvety hard cock slid inside her over and over again, dragging her closer and closer to orgasm.

He shifted, and she realized he’d planted his feet on the table. It gave him the leverage he needed to truly thrust into her. “Hurry.”

From the strain on his face he was close. Akane lifted his hands to her horns, ready to give in, ready to come with him.

Shane stroked her just right. One hand slipped down her body to pet her lace-covered breasts. The other stroked the tips of her horns. Her body quivered as their movements became jerky. They were both so close she could taste it.

Shane was panting. He was fucking her so hard she could hear the loud slap of their bodies.
 

Then Shane flicked the tip of her horn over and over again, sending her screaming over the edge. Her wings ignited at the force of the orgasm, the glow lighting the room behind her.

Shane yelled, his lights dancing around them, sparks landing on her skin as his Sidhe half once more Claimed her. He came, following her into ecstasy as she watched, still reeling from the strength of her own orgasm.

Finally it was over. Akane collapsed on top of Shane, the sound her gasps joining his.
 

“We need to buy more white lace.”

She began to laugh.
 

“I’m serious.” She could hear the humor in his voice, but was too tired to lift her head from his shoulder. “I know someone who can make an entire gown out of the stuff.”

“We’d never leave the bedroom.”

He tilted her head up. “Your point?”

“I have to go.”

Shane paused, his hand still on his zipper. They’d gotten dressed much more quickly than he would have liked, but she was right. She had a job to do, and he’d delayed her longer than he’d meant to. “Let me come with you.”

Her brows rose. “How would we do that?”

“I can sit and have tea with Ruby and Leo while you do your fly-bys.”

She rolled her eyes.
 

“I could ride you over there.”

If he hadn’t sounded so falsely innocent her mind might not have dropped right into the gutter. As it was she was getting visions of a different sort of aerial acrobatics than the ones Robin had in mind. “I’m working.”

His hand hovered over the tattoo for just a second before it dropped with a sigh. “Damn. Trumped my ace.” He shook his head. “Curses. Foiled again.”

She ventured close and hoped he wasn’t faking it. She really
did
need to boogie. “Give me a kiss before I go?”

His eyes went wide before he swooped down, capturing her mouth, laying claim to it in no uncertain terms. He released her with a sigh. “Remember your mother’s warning. Be careful.”

She licked her lips. How long his taste would linger there? He hoped it stayed forever. “I will.”

“Promise?”

She crossed her heart. “Promise. Do me a favor and have Sal guard you while you sleep, okay? Jaden’s still sleeping off whatever Duncan and Moira did to him, and I want to make sure you’re safe while I’m gone.”

“I will. I promise.”
 

She gave him one last kiss before flying out the door, her dragon eager to take flight. Shane watched his mate take off and sighed. Damn. He’d known she had to obey Robin, but what was about to come would break her heart. She would know she could have prevented it. Worse, she’d understand he’d allowed it to happen. He almost stroked the tattoo, but by doing so he might cause her flight to falter or, worse, call her back. It was too late now to stop what was coming anyway. If this didn’t happen the way he’d foreseen it the entire prophecy would mean nothing. He
had
to let things follow their course, or Oberon’s future would be beyond grim.

Akane was going to kill him when she found out.
 

Heart racing, he shut the outer lights of the studio. He conveniently “forgot” to summon Sal, unwilling to risk the salamander. He couldn’t allow Akane’s pet to be hurt in any way. She loved that silly salamander.

Shane walked through the workspace of his studio, past the display space, and found himself standing outside the vault. It took but a moment to unlock it before he swung the door open.
 

Here was a treasure trove of unfinished pieces and unrealized visions, things circumstances had forced to come to naught. Precious and semi-precious stones, balls of silver and gold and the occasional bit of cold iron, anathema to any of Sidhe blood, were thrown into bins and across surfaces like discarded Tinker toys. Shane, like most with Sidhe blood, had to wear special gloves whenever he worked with iron or run the risk of serious damage. He walked past several of the unfinished statues before finding the one he sought, the one that had once more begun to dance behind his eyes after talking with Tristan. He pulled the sheet off the piece and sighed.

No. Akane was
not
going to like this one little bit. But he wasn’t leaving this vision out for
her
eyes.

Shane pulled the piece out and brought it to his workbench, intent on finishing as much as possible before it was too late.

Akane flew over the Dunne estate three times before coming in for a landing. Nothing seemed out of place. None of her senses tingled. The place seemed well defended. Leo had even shown her some of the tricks up his unique sleeves. His ability to use the land to amplify his Sidhe mind powers was amazing. No wonder he’d been able to sneak up on Kaitlynn and her guards. He’d been able to enter all of their minds, erasing his image and that of Duncan from their sight until he was past the security cameras and down in Kaitlynn’s dungeon.
 

Then, looking a little green around the gills, Leo had shown her the spot where he’d killed the vampire Jeremy West and saved his true bond. Akane was impressed, but understood on several levels why Robin had never tried to recruit the Sidhe into the Blades. With his powers Leo was phenomenally strong, but
only
on his own land.

Add in the fact that the man had no stomach for bloodshed, and his usefulness as a Blade would be severely limited. He didn’t seem to have any of the specialized skills that would keep him out of combat the way Red did, or the healing abilities of the nymphs. No, he was just a Sidhe with a little something extra, not enough for Robin to pull into the fold.

She found Robin watching over Leo, who was holding a sleeping Ruby. The human was curled up in the living room on a red velvet sofa in front of the fireplace. The way Leo’s face softened as he gazed at his sleeping bondmate, tender yet fierce, reminded Akane of the way Shane had looked at her. That same expression had adorned Shane’s face more than once when he watched Akane, but she hadn’t wanted to admit to herself that it was there, let alone what it could mean.

The truly scary part was the way Robin watched Ruby with that same look. Was the Hob in love with Leo’s mate?

Robin nodded in welcome, the tender expression smoothing out to his normal, cheerful look. “She’s as safe as we can make her.”