CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“ F uck me.” Craig ran a hand over his face, appearing pained.

Brianna frowned.

“I mean that in all the best possible ways.”

He took her hand and twirled her around. She looked like a princess, but given her best friend was being crowned an actual princess, he’d keep the thought to himself.

His chest constricted suddenly at the reminder that Brianna would be going home after today. Someone would wipe her memories and take her back to Los Angeles. He didn’t know who Brayden would assign the duty to, but he wanted to kill them already.

“Thank you. You look pretty handsome yourself, young man.”

He snorted. He hadn’t been young in over five hundred years, but sharing those details with a young human you were having sex with probably wasn’t smart.

And yeah, Craig wanted to pull the long, flowing silver dress up to her waist and press inside her right now, but he also wanted to wrap his evening jacket around her and cover her up. He was getting extremely protective of her, and was aware his feelings were something he needed to examine. The problem was, if he went there, it would shake his reality to the core.

He had met his mate. She had rejected him. He had fallen into the pits of hell and survived. There was no one else for him.

Vampires didn’t get a second chance at love.

His mind flickered on the edges of that time. How his eyes had never changed...

“Craig?”

Saved by the belle of the ball.

He grinned at her. “Yes, sexy?”

“You look like you want to both eat and kill me.”

He kissed her. “Never the latter, baby, but always the first.”

His hand slid down her leg and found the slit in her dress. He continued around the front, moving up, and...he growled. “Bri.”

She looked up at him, all innocence. “What?”

“Where are your panties?” No fucking way was she leaving this room without underwear on.

“No panties tonight, big guy.” She patted his chest and went to walk away. He pulled her back.

“Put some on.” He then ground out a strained, “ Please .”

“You know, Craig, you are one seriously sexy and dangerous-looking vampire. But”—he cocked an eyebrow at her speech—“you are not the boss of me and will never tell me what I can and can’t wear. Especially when it comes to my underwear.”

He growled low in his throat. “You are not leaving this room without panties. End. Of. The. Story.”

When she went to argue, he picked her up and carried her back into the bedroom, placing her on the bed.

“Sit. Stay.” Craig pointed at her, ignoring her laughter.

He pulled open a drawer and began digging through her lacy stuff. Lifting a pair of full white panties, he nodded to himself and turned, holding them up.

“I don’t think so, sunshine. Those are my period panties.”

His mouth fell open. “Your what now?”

She laughed again and crossed her arms. “You’re out of your league here, big boy. Put them away.”

Groaning, he grabbed a smaller pair and went to the bed. He kneeled and lifted her sparkly heeled foot. She didn’t resist him, and he was surprised when he got both feet into the appropriate holes.

He looked up and saw the fire in her eyes. Oh yeah, he was going to pay for this.

She began bunching the dress and pulling it up so he could pull up the pair of panties. Which was about the time he lost his train of thought.

She swiped a finger across her pussy. And again. Then again.

“Fuck, Bri.”

She raised a leg and bent her knee, opening to him. Like a fly to honey, he pushed both her thighs wide and lapped at her pink flesh. A moment later, she was crying out and pulling his hair hard. He whipped out his cock, stood, and pressed into her. Arms on either side of her head on the bed, he pounded. Deep, hard, purposeful. Like he was trying to prove something but he wasn’t sure what.

“Fuck me, Craig. Yes, God, just like...oh yes. Yes.”

Pleasure rushed through his shaft as her core wrapped around him. He gripped her head and pulled those plump lips to his, and sucked.

“Tighter, baby.”

Brianna clenched her muscles, and as she arched her neck, exposing her very life to him, he began to release inside of her. Fast and hot.

Fuck.

It was never enough. Not with her. No sooner had they finished than he was hard again, needing her more. He wanted to steal her away and spend weeks pleasuring her.

“We’re going to be late,” he said panting, brushing her hair off her moist forehead.

“I know. Shit.” She scrambled up, tidying her dress and putting herself back together.

He picked up the panties and swung them in front of her.

“Brianna.”

She shook her head.

“Bri! I will—”

She stepped into him, hands on his chest, and whispered, “Stop. No male here is going to look at me. You have marked me, haven’t you?”

He stilled.

No, the fuck, he hadn’t. Had he?

He stepped away.

“What?”

He shook his head and glanced down at her. Then he took a long breath. “No, I haven’t,” he said, still not sure.

She laughed. “Craig, I was joking. You’re not a dog.”

A knock sounded at the door, and he heard Lance and Kurt outside. Fuck, they were seriously late. Brayden would kick his ass.

“Bri.”

“Not happening, so either drop it or we can discuss my panties with your guests.”

He growled.

“Fine, but if one single male looks at your ass...”

She tiptoed up to kiss him, and he yanked her up harder against him, slamming his lips down on hers, the word mine on the tip of his tongue.

No, fuck, it can’t be.

He let out a groan, knowing he was going to have to deal with these damn thoughts before she left the castle. If anyone tried to take her, he suspected he’d not be able to control himself.

A problem for tomorrow.

Right now, he had to attend his best friend’s bonding ceremony.