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SEVEN

The sweetness of Jolene 's arousal still flavored his tongue; the scent of her lust floated in the air, calling to him like a soft whisper. He wanted to fuck her. No.
Needed.
He needed to fuck her. Perhaps that would destroy the hunger gnawing at his gut. A quick release would give him back control.
The reality of just how on
edge
he was, how near losing control, agitated him. Her words repeated in his head, as if she thought he hadn't heard them.
I surrender.
He'd heard them, all right. Finally, he was in her head, past her
barriers and he couldn't think of anything but burying himself inside
her body. Her surrender sent flames licking at his body. Set his blood
on fire. Worse, it had roused his hunger for her. He could feel his cuspids elongating, feel the depths of his turbulent need. To claim her. To
claim his mate. He could not longer deny she belonged to him, and
him to her. The depth of his thirst, his desire to taste her and claim her, persuasive in its demand for satisfaction, stole all doubt. Which meant he had a problem beyond the many others he was juggling. If he drank of Jolene, their bonding would be one step closer to permanent, one step closer to an eternal seal. He wasn't prepared to do that without some serious soul searching, not to mention Jolene's consent. A Slayer led a dangerous life, and every step she took with him would put her in harm's way. Lord help him, though, because Alex would expect him to drink of Jolene. A female vampire had mental control a human did not. Alex would never allow Jolene to leave without absolute confidence that Drago could contain her.
Drago drew a deep, calming breath and spoke to Jolene through
their mental connection. /
must show complete dominance this night, Jolene, or Alex will not allow you to leave. He must feel I own your mind and body.
Her eyes flashed with concern.
How do you know he will let me leave
at all?
Jolene didn't hide their conversation well, her expression far too
readable.
No more talk. Trust me if you want to live. I'll explain everything later. I promise.
Drago firmly cut off their mental path. If he didn't leave her somewhat unsettled, if there wasn't the appearance of a true battle to submission, Alex would know something was wrong. He strode forward, intentionally appearing to stalk her.
Jolene bit her bottom lip at his approach, her eyes sliding down his body, fixing on his arousal, heat flaring in her eyes. Her gaze jerked upward, as if she realized her distraction and reprimanded herself. He stopped in front of her now, his body raging beyond their words, lust pulsing through his body like hot lava. He stood close. So close that another step would allow him the sweet bliss of sliding his rock-hard cock along her slick folds.
To admit his role as a Slayer broke a code of silence, but this woman was his mate. She would have to know about his world, and they would have to discuss the implications of being together or turning away from each other.
“Are you willing to prove your surrender?” he challenged.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Please. Just set my hands free.” His gaze dropped to her breasts, watched her nipples tightening beneath his stare. She had beautiful breasts. Full and high, and incredibly sensitive. He wondered if he could make her come just by stimulating them. The thought intrigued him and he decided to explore it. Just not now. Later. Once he'd spilled himself in her and regained his composure.
His eyes lifted to hers. “And if I do? How will you prove yourself worthy of that freedom?” A flash of uncertainty passed through her eyes. He leaned forward, his nostrils flaring with the sweet scent of woman and roses. Unable to stop himself, he took another step and pressed his body against hers and slid his cock between her thighs. The wet heat of her core brought both a feeling of relief and urgency. He took a moment to simply enjoy the feel of skin against skin.
His lips pressed close to her ear, but he knew Alex could hear.
“What will you do?”
“Anything you want,” she said, so low he barely heard her words, but there was no hesitation in her voice. In fact, she seemed to melt against him as she spoke, her hips grinding ever so slightly against his. The wet heat of her arousal surrounded him, pressing him over the edge. A low growl slid from his lips as he reached behind her and filled his hand with her ass, lifting her. In a matter of seconds, he'd positioned her for access and slid inside the tight, warm heat of her body and thrust deep. She gasped and then cried out his name. The sound rocketed fire through his veins.
Blinded by pure lust, by physical demand, he began to pump his hips, hands still wrapped around that sweet ass for leverage. While Drago moved in and out of Jolene's lush body, her breasts bounced, her muscles grabbed and squeezed. He ground his teeth and pumped harder, faster. Jolene arched into him, moaning and panting, and then cried out. A second later, she tensed, spasms milking his cock, squeezing him with so much pleasure he could barely catch his breath. She arched hard against him and he felt his body shudder and shake. He reared back, driving into her with all the force he owned, hitting her core with an explosion that rocked him from head to toe. He took only a moment to recover, burying his head in her neck. Vampire males had dry releases, which fed the intensity and hunger of their sexual need. He was still hard. Still ready to take her again. One release only began the process of complete satisfaction. Inhaling, Drago forced himself to back away from her, and somehow managed to retract his cuspids. He turned away from her and walked to the corner. He felt the heat of her gaze follow him as he shoved a piece of red silk aside to display a small compartment. Grabbing the key he needed, he returned to Jolene's side, avoiding eye contact. Afraid she might see the hunger he felt, the blood lust. He removed the first cuff, intent on finishing his task before he lost himself again to desire. When he unlatched the second cuff, he pulled her hard against his body, fighting the primal part of himself that simply wanted to take her again.
At the same time, an unfamiliar desire to comfort slid into his mind. It was a dangerous feeing that could get them both killed. If Alex suspected Drago wanted anything more than sex and submission, they'd be in the ground. That thought brought a needed dose of reality. There could be no comfort offered this night. Jolene had walked into Purple Magic knowing what to expect. He could save her from the others. But he couldn't save her from the game she'd set in motion.
Drago stared down at Jolene, no compassion in his voice, only command. “It's time to prove your surrender.” He paused and set her free. With a nod of his head, he motioned to the silk-covered kingsize bed. “Knees on the mattress.”
She stared at him, eyes wide. There was no more time for comfort.
We won't leave this room until he's satisfied that I completely dominate you, Jolene. Alex expects no mercy so I have none to give.

EIGHT

Jolene 's legs trembled as she eased her knees to the
mattress, her back to Drago. She felt uncertain and exposed, her body displayed for any who wished to see. Being free to touch Drago, to be with him, was one thing. To expose herself to all those watching felt quite different.
She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the wild array of emotions filling her. Hating that she actually felt a bit aroused by this. Telling herself the burn of desire came from Drago, not from knowing they were being watched. Her stomach fluttered as she faced what felt like some darker side of herself. The part that seemed to revel in the erotic nature of her exposure. Was this what had happened to Carrie? Had she gotten lost in the erotic high and couldn't find her way back home?
“Bend over. Palms in front of you.”
Drago's voice, deep and commanding, came from closer than she'd
expected. She started to turn, and his hand pressed in between her
shoulder blades. His touch felt like an electric charge. She shivered with reaction. Suddenly, his body pressed against hers, hips fit to her backside.
“You shouldn't have come here.”
“Don't speak,” he said, planting a firm hand on her ass. “You're here now and you have to pay.”
Drago cut her off by palming her ass again. Hard. Not so much that it caused pain, but she damn sure knew it was meant as a warning. “Don't speak,” he said. She swallowed the words of explanation she wanted to speak, biting her bottom lip as she waited for what came next. For whatever “pay” meant. Why did he suddenly seem so angry with her? She reached for him with her mind and found he'd shut her out. Before she could consider reasons, he was gone. It was the last thing she'd expected, and she didn't know how to react. With a sideways glance, she saw him moving to the end of the bed. “Get in the center of the mattress,” he ordered, pointing. She scooted forward, doing as he said. A mixture of sexual heat and dark menace radiated from him like a second skin. Electric. Potent. He wanted to take her. Jolene felt it. Knew it. Hell, she wanted it. Yet, there was more to his mood than lust. Drago had an animalistic quality, primal and not quite human or vampire. The ancient Slayer in him brought an element of danger and command. She'd felt it before, but now it oozed from his presence, filling the room with its dark quality. And as crazy as she knew it to be, this quality turned her on. Drago stood at the foot of the king-size bed. Tall, broad, gorgeous, his long hair a bit wild, he looked more sex warrior than Slayer right now. And Lord help her, as her eyes slid over that broad chest and rock-hard cock, she wanted to be claimed. She swallowed, thinking of what it would feel like to have him touch her again. To touch him.
When her eyes lifted to his, she found him looking at her with a narrowed gaze. For long moments, they simply stared at each other. And though he said nothing, the anger from before was gone. Instead, she found warmth. Heat. A silent promise . . . of what, she wasn't sure. Though his mixed signals were confusing, Drago made her feel she could get through this.
He broke the silence, his voice holding authority. Cold almost. Not at all matching the warmth in his eyes. “If you truly mean to surrender, I need proof.”
“O . . . kay.” Jolene swallowed against the dryness in her throat.
Then in a stronger voice. “How?”
“Spread your legs,” he ordered. “Let me see you.” Jolene didn't move. Surely, he didn't want her to just open up and give him a view. It had been hard enough sticking her ass in the air. To do this . . .
When she didn't immediately respond, Drago seemed to lose patience. “Spread you legs.” The words were abrupt. Sharp. “Now.” Jolene jumped at the harshness in his tone. With her heart pounding in her chest at double time, she inched her knees apart. But he wasn't happy with the small spread she offered. “Wider,” he said. With a deep breath, Jolene inched her knees as far apart as they would go. Drago reached down and circled his erection, his eyes catching on hers and holding. His deep, dark stare smoldering with passion, with the promise of satisfaction.
“Touch yourself,” he said, sliding his hand up and down the length of his cock. She registered the significance of his hand wrapped around his erection. Registered the symbolic give and take it represented. Even without speaking to her in her mind, he'd told her he wasn't asking what he wouldn't give.
Recognizing this offering from Drago didn't stop the wild beating
of her heart. She wanted
him
to touch her. She'd never gotten off in
front of someone before. Certainly she'd had sexual encounters. Often she had even found herself the aggressor. Never, ever, had those encounters included her pleasuring herself for a man, let alone an audience. At this point, she ached with the need to feel Drago inside her, ached to touch him as he now did himself. She needed relief. Having his cock between her legs and then suddenly gone had left her throbbing with a need for fulfillment.
Easing her hand between her thighs and past the dark triangle to her sensitive core, her fingers slid into the slick proof of her arousal and a moan rose in her throat. He had her so aroused, so hot, that the need for release called to her, easing the embarrassment and pushing her into a lusty fog.
She squeezed her eyes shut, allowing that fog to take hold, working her swollen nub. Imagining him touching her as she was touching herself. Amazingly, she felt herself grow bolder, the aching in her nipples begging for her hands—even better, his mouth. She palmed her breast and pinched her nipple imagining his tongue lapping at the hardened tip. Still, it wasn't enough. A spasm tightened her core, the pain of needing Drago inside her almost unbearable. As if he knew what she felt, suddenly, he was there, his fingers replacing hers, his hard body pressing hers against the mattress. She gasped as he stroked her sensitive core and sunk a finger deep, preparing her for his entry. She sighed as his mouth came down on hers, his tongue sliding past her lips, tender yet passionate. A reward for her show that quickly deepened into primal demand.
Drago.
He pressed her knees farther apart and then, in one deep thrust, he buried himself deep in her core. Before she could even let out a breath, he rolled and pulled her on top of him. She straddled him, on show for him and everyone else. For several seconds, it paralyzed her. Why, she didn't know. She'd done plenty this night. The fear was fleeting, and then he grabbed her hips and anchored her as he gave a mighty thrust. Sensations rocked her body, darting through her limbs, and leaving her no option but to move, lb ride him with a frenzied bucking of her hips. She slid back and forth, side to side, her breast bouncing with each grind of their hips. His gaze was intimate. Hot. He ground his teeth and reached forward, plucking at her nipples. His head turned, his teeth scraping her arm, and she sensed the tension coiled inside him. Sensed him fighting, tumbling into complete erotic bliss. Knowing this ignited liquid heat in her core. She cried out, arching her back and thrusting her chest into the air. He sat up, covering her breasts with his hands, and then suckling one nipple and then the next. Her fingers laced into the silky strands of his hair and their eyes locked and held. The connection she felt to him in that instant rocked her world, touching her soul-deep, tightening her chest. When his mouth found hers, she melted into him. He tasted like cinnamon and spice and masculine perfection. Like everything she wasn't but needed to be a part of her.
He kissed her deeply, passionately, the ache in her core spreading, building. His mouth trailed along her chin, her jaw, then to the sensitive area behind her ear. She tilted her head to the side, shivering with the scrape of teeth on her neck, the sensation darkly erotic. Again, his teeth scraped her neck, but this time they sunk into her skin. Jolene stiffened, shocked by the sensation, a hint of pain spiking and then disappearing, replaced by warmth spreading through her limbs. Sensual warmth. She eased into his bite, letting his hands behind her back hold her weight, her fingers sliding into his hair. The warmth in her body began to turn to heat, then to fire. Goosebumps raised on her skin as if she were cold. But she wasn't cold. She was hot. Burning up hot. “Oh God, Drago.” She wasn't sure if she spoke out loud or in her
head. “I need . . . I need,” she didn't know what. She didn't know but
she needed whatever it was in a bad way. Her mouth watered and she
realized what that something was. She wanted to taste him as he had her. “I need you.” But she couldn't explore that thought, couldn't try to understand. Her body exploded in release, muscles clenching around Drago's hard length buried deep inside her. In some faraway part of her mind, Jolene knew Drago eased her onto the mattress and that he shuddered in climax. She even knew when he sealed the holes in her neck. But she couldn't react. Couldn't move. Her body still shivering with the overwhelming release Drago had delivered her to. The all-consuming pleasure.
Something had just happened between her and Drago. She didn't know what. Only that it felt more than necessary. More than part of a show. Before she could analyze that thought, she felt Drago enter her mind, willing her to sleep. Sated and drained, she couldn't find the will to fight him.
Her lashes fluttered, her thoughts on Drago, on the unique way he drew her trust and enticed her desires. If they made it through this night, saying good-bye wouldn't be easy. But it was inevitable and she knew it. Good-byes were part of a Slayer's world.