Chapter 10

"You sent for me?" Eden hovered in the doorway to my apartment.

When she'd been my thrall, she'd dressed in tight, sexy clothes, usually in a fuck-me red. Kept her blond hair long because I liked it that way. And her makeup had always been perfect—not too much and not too little, her lips a hot scarlet.

Tonight, however, she'd shown up in another slouchy sweater, this one a soft blue that reached to her thighs. Her jeans had the knees ripped out and her purple-and-white Adidas trainers looked like something Rio might wear.

Combined with no makeup and the new, boyish haircut, it felt like a subtle up-yours. Or maybe a message: This is me. Take it or leave it.

If so, I was definitely taking it. On Eden, edgy was sexy as hell.

"Shut the door." I closed my laptop and moved it to an end table.

She obeyed and leaned against the thick, silver-reinforced wood, arms crossed, her expression composed, her emotions a difficult-to-read jumble. "What's up?"

I sat back, spreading my arms along the couch's leather back. "Come here."

She didn't like that. Her eyes narrowed, but she uncrossed her arms and left the relative safety of the door, stopping a few feet away, her unpainted lips pressed together, the challenge on her face irresistible.

I shouldn't enjoy that challenging look so much, but I did.

This is about teaching her a lesson. About establishing control.

I schooled myself to remain tough, reminded myself what she'd done. How she'd left even after she'd known she was pregnant. That she was only a thrall.

"Sit down." I cut my eyes at my lap.

She drew a breath and I thought she might refuse, but she obeyed, perching sideways on my thighs, stiff backed, mouth cinched tight. She could purse that beautiful mouth at me all she wanted. That only made me want to do dirty things to her puckered lips.

I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her up against my chest. My free hand slid between her thighs.

"Is this where you punish me?" Her stubbornly lifted chin dared me.

My already erect dick thickened.

I rubbed the seam of her jeans. "You're already wet, aren't you?"

She shook her head but couldn't quite bring herself to lie out loud. Meanwhile, her inner thighs squeezed my hand, and I felt the heat at her center.

I dug my fingers into her thigh. "The truth, Eden."

"Then don't ask me questions I don't want to answer."

"You'll answer anything I ask."

Her chin lifted. "Yes, Talon." The words were obedient, the tone anything but.

I could've called her on it but I didn't. Her attitude, her willingness to push back at a man who could snap her in two without even trying, was one of the things that had drawn me to her in the first place.

I ran my hand over the firm curve of her abdomen. "How are you feeling?"

She slanted me a look like it was a trick question. "Okay, I guess."

"You're eating okay? Taking your vitamins?"

She bristled. "Yeah."

I lifted a brow. Was she really going to give me attitude about this? "You should've been doing that all along."

She absorbed that, biting her lower lip. "You don't think I hurt the baby, do you?"

"No," I said, some of the sternness bleeding out of me at her obvious worry. "But let's see what the midwife says. I made you an appointment—tomorrow afternoon. She's got the equipment for a proper exam."

"Olivia? That was fast."

"I'm paying her extra to fit you in." I rubbed her stomach reassuringly. "I want you both to have the best care."

"Yes, of course." She deflated, no longer bristling or even challenging me. Instead, sadness wafted from her…sadness and disappointment. "Thanks," she added, picking at a hole in the knee of her jeans, evading my eyes.

A groove formed between my brows. What had I said?

"You don't believe I want you healthy?"

"No. I mean yes, I believe you."

A beat passed while I mentally replayed her words. Then it hit me. She thought I only cared about her health because of my spawn.

I covered her hand with mine, halting her from worrying the frayed blue threads. "Look at me." I waited until she raised her gaze to mine, then said, "Both of you. I want you both to have the best care. If Olivia finds anything—anything at all—I'll fly in an OB-GYN from Halifax. Or from Toronto or Montreal—wherever Olivia recommends. I'm not taking any chances with either of you."

I waited for her nod before adding, "As for your punishment…"

She stilled. "Yeah?"

"I appreciate that you apologized." I stroked a finger down the length of her throat. "But I can't just let you off. You disrespected me and the syndicate. Not to mention Brien, the man I swore a blood-vow to protect. The man who's like a brother to me."

Actually, in the eyes of the syndicate, Brien was literally my brother. We shared a sire, Prima Lenore, although he'd been born of her body while I'd been turned by her.

Eden's throat worked. "I know."

My eyes locked on the pulse beating at the base of her neck. Sweet Lilith, I ached for a taste of her hot, tangy blood on my tongue. No human's flavor was exactly the same, and Eden's was…perfect.

It had been too damn long since I'd fed from her. And tonight, I couldn't even fuck her. Not until I got the midwife's all-clear.

Yeah, I was a masochist, ordering her to sit on my lap like this. But I'd rather hold her than fuck another thrall, something I refused to examine too closely.

She was watching me watch her. She waited until I raised my gaze to her face, and whatever she saw in my expression made her blush and squirm on my lap.

"What are you going to do?" she asked in a scratchy voice.

I stifled a groan. She looked so young with no makeup, her pupils dilated, hot color painting her cheeks. My dick was iron-hard now, pressed against the side of her ass.

"You'll see."

I wasn't going to hurt her. Just make her sweat a little.

Although right now, having her on my lap, equal parts confused and turned on, I could almost forget all the trouble she'd caused.

Almost.

I tugged at the hem of her baby-blue sweater. "I want this off."

She had to stand to remove it. I dropped the sweater on the couch arm, then stripped her pants and shoes off until she stood before me in dove-gray bra and panties.

I pulled her between my thighs, running my hands over her curves. She was so fucking sexy, her breasts full, her belly rounded with our spawn. I pressed a kiss to the silky V of her cleavage, drawing her fresh-cookie scent deep into my lungs.

"Damn, you're beautiful," I ground out, the words torn from the dark place in me that had gone a little crazy when she'd left.

Those first few hours, I'd been terrified that she'd been hurt or even kidnapped—I'd been that sure of her, that certain she wouldn't have left me willingly. Then when it had become clear that I was wrong, that she had left of her own free will, my terror had turned to a black fury.

"You think so?" Eden asked. "Even now?"

I didn't like the uncertainty in her voice. She was still Eden—a tall, curvy goddess of a woman—just pregnant.

But I also remembered that black fury. So I nipped the curve of her breast, not breaking the skin but as a tiny punishment.

She squeaked and jumped.

"Fuck yeah, I think you're sexy," I told her. "But don't think you can get around me with that sexy body. You're still in trouble."

I dragged her back onto my lap, half-expecting her to fight. But she didn't. Instead, with a leaky sigh, she leaned against my chest, a small surrender that went a long way to appeasing the darkness.

Still, I was far from finished with her. She needed to be taught a lesson about messing with the syndicate—and the vampire who'd made a favorite of her.

I smacked the side of her ass. "Open your thighs."

I waited until she'd spread them on mine, then deliberately didn't touch her there. I wanted her to feel open, vulnerable while I explored her body.

Her spine went rigid. "Yes, Master," she said, the attitude back in full force.

My grin had sharp teeth in it. "You think that bothers me? You can call me Master all you want. Maybe I'll go easier on you, in fact."

Her head snapped around. If she'd had a dagger, I probably would've found myself facing the business end. Her blue eyes smoldered. "You—"

I wrapped my hand around her throat, knowing it was a sure way to shut her up. She liked that. We both did, the light pressure telling her I was in control.

She gasped. An aroused intake of air, the muscles of her ass flexing on my thighs as she tried to pull her thighs together. Beneath my fingers, her pulse kicked up.

Unable to resist the rounded ‘O' of her lips, I kissed her. She moaned into my mouth, her fingers curling into my T-shirt.

Then she stiffened again and tried to pull away.

Hell, no. She wasn't going to get away with that.

"Kiss me back," I ordered against her lips.

Her mouth moved beneath mine. At first, she was play-acting. I went along with it, deepening the kiss, stroking my tongue into her mouth.

Her breath sped up. I mouth-fucked her, drinking her in like a fine blood-wine. She sucked on my tongue, all-in now.

My balls tightened painfully.

Gods, I wanted this woman. Too much. Like I'd stumbled into quicksand and was sinking fast, the sticky, quaking mass up to my chest before I knew it.

I tore my mouth from hers, breathing hard.

Eden looked at me, wide-eyed. Inhaled slowly. Licked her lips as if tasting me on them.

Sweet fucking Lilith.

Boundaries, I reminded myself, and forced my fingers to release her throat.

"That's better," I managed to say. I even accompanied it with a got-you lift of my brows.

She drew another breath. Let it out. "Fuck off," she said without heat.

"Oh, I will," I returned, "as soon as Olivia says it's okay."

Just not tonight.

I wasn't waiting simply because Eden hadn't seen the midwife. She was fine, and so was my spawn. Dr. Lopez had confirmed that, although I wanted a second opinion based on state-of-the-art equipment.

No, I was doing it to prove something to myself. That I could remain in control where Eden was concerned.

Boundaries.

"Oh." She looked way too disappointed for a woman who'd just told me to fuck off.

"That doesn't mean we're done here." Tonight I was going to tease the hell out of her. "I can be all kinds of creative with my punishments."

Another "Oh," this one breathy.

I massaged a firm breast through the silky gray bra. "Your tits are larger."

I'd heard that happened, but I'd never had a woman of my own on which to test the theory, so to speak. Eden's had increased at least a cup size, and she'd been a C cup. "And no, the changes in your body don't bother me. Not at all. You're even more beautiful."

She tilted her head, scrutinizing me. "You really think so, don't you?"

"Yeah." I pinched a nipple through the gray satin. "I do."

"Ouch." She squirmed on my lap. "I'm also more sensitive."

"Mm." I toyed with the other one, then pinched that, too. "Consider it part of your punishment, then."

"Talon..." She wiggled again, this time right against my erection.

I groaned and shifted her forward so I could undo the top button of my pants. I eased the zipper down to relieve some of the pressure. My dick pressed against my boxer briefs, and Eden skimmed a hungry gaze over the hard ridge.

I ran a hand down myself. "Like what you see?"

She lifted a shoulder. "Maybe."

My mouth twitched up. "I can smell you, you know—and feel that hot little pussy on my leg. You're wet, baby."

Her cheeks pinkened again, but she managed an eye-roll. "Thanks for the play-by-play."

I almost laughed aloud.

How did she do that? Make me want to smile even when I was angry at her?

Shaking my head at myself, I arranged her on my lap so her back was to me, her legs open on my thighs. When I slid my fingers into her panties, she was even wetter than before.

"You're so ready." I teased her with my fingertip. "Tell me you want to be fucked. Tell me you want my dick inside you, making you scream."

She swallowed and pressed back against me, her panty-clad ass brushing over my erection. "It's…nothing personal," she choked out, still fighting me. "I'm just…so damn horny these days. Hormones."

"Nothing personal, huh? Oh, baby, you're going to pay for that."

I'd already intended to tease her, then send her away needy and wanting. Payback for the past two-and-a-half months.

Now I intended to draw out the torment. I undid her bra and removed it.

"Put your hands around the back of my neck."

We'd played games like this before. She swallowed, like she was thinking of disobeying me, then apparently thought better of it and complied.

The position arched her back so her breasts were displayed for my greedy gaze. They weren't just bigger, they were rounder, the nipples larger and darker.

"So fucking sexy," I said under my breath.

I pinched each nipple again, harder this time. She moaned a protest at the same time she pushed her breast into my fingers, wordlessly showing how much she liked it. On my lap she widened her thighs even more, seeking my touch there, too, while still keeping her hands linked around my neck.

I put my hand on her mound over her panties. The satin was soaked now, my brain filled with the sexy ocean scent of her.

I cupped her firmly, possessively. "What do you want?"

I sensed her inner struggle, but she caved. "You," she admitted lowly.

I grazed my fingers over her clit. "D'you like that?"

A rapid nod. "Yes. You know I do."

"Hm." I teased her for a minute, maybe more. Waiting until she gave needy mewl.

"What's the matter?" I rasped against her temple.

"You know." Her fingers dug into my nape. Her hips lifted, straining for more.

"Do I?"

"Please," she whispered brokenly. "Please, Talon. I want you inside me. I want you to fuck me."

Normally if she begged me for something, she'd get what she wanted. That was how the game went. She liked begging, and I liked granting her wishes.

And gods, I ached to bury myself in her.

Boundaries.

Although at that moment, I was having trouble remembering—or caring—why the hell they mattered.

Somehow, I managed to stick to the plan. Sliding my fingers back into her panties, I teased her sex until she was flushed and writhing and sobbing with need. "Please, please, please. Let me come. I'm so close…"

Then I stopped.

She blinked up at me, breath coming in short huffs, pelvis still moving in that hungry way. I licked her juices from my fingers, then untangled her hands from around my neck and moved her to the couch beside me.

Dragging my boxers and pants off along with my shoes and socks, I took my cock in hand and reclined against the couch arm. "Watch me."

Her gaze jumped dazedly from my dick to my face. "What—?"

"That's your punishment. You don't get to come. But you have to watch."

I fisted my heated flesh and began stroking myself. A slow, hard glide.

She made a small moan, but she focused on my lap as I began working myself.

It was a special kind of hell, making her watch, that ripe body half-naked and flushed with desire, knowing I wasn't going to finish inside her. My whole lower body throbbed with a painful pleasure. Hating me for not bending her over the couch and taking her, hard and dirty.

Stunned understanding dawned on her face. "Talon. Please. Don't..."

I gazed back steadily. "No."

She licked her lips, arousal and confusion radiating off her, but she couldn't take her gaze off what I was doing. Her hand inched toward her panties.

I growled. "Hands behind your head. Now."

She stared at me so long, I thought she wasn't going to obey, but she did it. Maybe she thought I'd relent if she complied. Her back arched against the couch, the nipples tight and red.

"Good girl." I pulled harder, squeezing and twisting, my balls close to exploding. "Don't move. You're going to stay there until I finish."

She groaned, irritated now. "Why are you being such a dick?"

My hand didn't stop. "Because."

Her fingers flexing on her head. "Please. I'm so…"

"Don't. Move."

She shook her head, eyes closed tight.

"And keep those eyes on me, or we'll do this every night for a week."

Her chest heaved. Her eyes blazed at me through slit lids.

Her knees had fallen apart and I could smell her, see how soaked her panties were. She was as turned on as I was.

Good.

I hoped she was in pain. Hungry. Itchy. Needy.

I wanted her to hurt. To want like I did.

How many nights had I jerked myself off since she'd left, picturing her face and those round, creamy tits? Too damn many, that's for sure.

I squeezed harder, faster. "Like what you see, baby?"

She rasped an assent, completely focused on me now. Then she touched the tip of her tongue to her lower lip, and I could've sworn I felt that tongue on my dick. A phantom touch that set me off like a match to a skyrocket.

A blinding heat detonated up my spine and I groaned as hot semen spurted, coating my hand and stomach. I kept working myself until I was spent. My head dropped back, my lungs sucking in air.

When I looked at Eden again, she had brought her hands down. "You—that was…"

She inhaled raggedly, her hand skating down her stomach to her panties.

I made a warning noise low in my throat. "Touch yourself and you'll be sorry."

Her lips thinned, but her hand stopped moving. She sat up. "Definitely a dick," she said in an undertone.

I pulled off my T-shirt and wiped myself clean, then pulled her to her feet. "Get dressed."

I swatted her round butt, enjoying how it bounced a little beneath my hand, then did it again for good measure before scooping up her clothes and handing them to her.

"So that's it?" She scowled up at me. "Now I leave?"

I nodded. "I told you, that's your punishment."

I should've felt satisfied. Cain would probably say I'd let her off easy. But as good as that had been, it hadn't been…satisfying.

I wanted to see Eden come, too. Wanted to give her pleasure.

The woman was definitely messing with my head, and the fucked-up part was, she wasn't even trying to. She didn't have to. She did it simply by being herself.

She sat on the couch again, dragging on her pants and shoving her feet into her socks and shoes. Then she pulled on her sweater and stood up.

"Good night," she muttered.

"Eden?" I gripped her arm.

"What?"

"Don't touch yourself. You don't get to come when it's punishment. Is that understood?"

"Go to hell," she muttered.

"Oh, I probably will." I released her. "But I mean it. I'll ask you tomorrow night, and if you lie to me, I'll know. Now, go." I gave her another swat and turned her toward the door.

Her growl had actual teeth in it. She exited, head high, hips swaying.

I crossed to the wet bar and poured myself a stiff blood-whisky. Tossing it down, I stared at the closed door, wondering why it felt like she'd taken all the energy in the room with her.