Their Dark Hunter (Masters of Darkness) (6 page)

Vex’s arm settled between her breasts. He stood and carried her to a big wooden X that was suddenly in the room. Melody could feel her eyes go big. She looked back up at him, panicked.

“Calm, love. You’re just going to have to trust me.” He spun her around and began to buckle her wrists in the cuffs. “Do you, Melody?”

She searched his face.
A riding crop suddenly appeared in his hand, and she glanced in the direction. Now this was getting interesting. She may have been new to the BDSM world, but she wasn’t naïve. Just the thought that he was going to be using it on her caused her to pull against the restraints in anticipation. “Yes. I trust you.” She paused. “Because if you hurt me, I’m going to shoot you.”

Vex’
s head tilted to the side and the crop slapped against the side of her breast. “That’s a very bold thing to say to your master, Melody. Apologize.”

He lowered and spread her feet wide as he cuffed her ankles. The moment he stood
, she could tell he was all demon. Fear rushed through her, but it only lasted for a moment. Her own demon pushed against her insides, feeling alive for the first time. “I apologize…master,” she whispered. The urge to argue vanished as the creature inside of her practically purred at his power.

“
Very good. You continue to call me that.” He paced in front of her with his eyes narrowed. A blast hit her insides hard and the demon she felt before was nothing compared to what he’d conjured with the impact. “There you are,” he whispered. A fascinated smile came to his face. “You’re so much stronger than you should be. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “What is that…? Something different is within you that I can’t quite place my finger on.” He opened his lids and shook his head. “Maybe it’s a mate thing. Whatever it is, I can’t get enough.” The riding crop traveled over her hard nipple and Melody could feel her breathing increase. God, she wanted more of that sweet sting.

“Now
, here’s the rules, doll. If it becomes too much and you want me to stop, you have to say…
Master is mine
. Got it?”

Melody nodded and the cropped slapped against her inner thigh. “
I mean, yes.” Stinging took over her other thigh.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, master.”

Vex nodded. “That’s what I like to hear.”
He traced down her stomach until the flat end was directly over her clit. The friction of him moving it against her caused Melody to moan loudly. Her body felt absolutely electric from the stimulation of all the stinging and pleasure combined.

Steadily, Vex began to gently tap the end against her skin. The wetness from her pussy made the sting just as intense as if he’d connected a little harder.
She could see the redness covering her abdomen and legs and her demon absolutely hungered for more. Heat poured from every inch of her.

The crop lifted and Vex tapped it back, against his shoulder. “We’re missing something.” He walked forward and rubbed his fingers through her folds. Wetness glistened against his fingertips as he brought them to his mouth. “Ah.” That devil
ish smile appeared and suddenly Melody’s vision was gone. Material covered her eyes from his materialization of the blindfold. “Better.”

She jumped at the contact of his teeth against her nipple. “Vex?” The need for more was almost unbearable.

A slap was placed on her innermost thigh. “No talking, doll. You just feel, and be a good girl.”

Fingers pushed into her entrance and she sighed in bliss. At Vex pushing upward, Melody felt a weird sensation rush through her. Over and over he caressed the area until
she was crying out and thrashing against the cuffs. The pressure was overwhelming and it built until she thought she was going to explode.

“You fucking squirt for me, Melody. Right now.” His f
inger rubbed against her clit while he continued to thrust into her fast and hard. A scream came from her mouth as her release burst forth with so much power that she couldn’t even breathe. Just when she thought it was coming to an end, it continued in waves of release.

“Oh, hell yes.”  Lips pushed against her and she suddenly realized they were on the bed, and the blindfold was gone. Damn his materialization. It was screwing with her head. “
Kiss me, Mel,” he whispered. And she did. She put everything she had into the kiss. The sound of the condom package opening was but a distant noise, but one that definitely put her at ease.

Pressure
eased against the outside of her pussy and her eyes flew open wide. His cock was so thick she felt it stretch her wide as he inched his way into her opening. Melody dug her nails into his back. “Oh, god.” She gripped his flexed muscle while he pushed the rest of the way into her. “Vex,” she whispered.

His face lifted and he looked into her eyes. No words were spoken between them, but she knew as they stared at each other that he had to have understood her fear. She couldn’t believe she was doing this.

“Shh.” His lips tenderly pressed against hers. “Look into my eyes, my mate. Don’t pretend this isn’t happening. We want each other, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We’re fated, you and I. Relish in it. The bond we share will connect us always, and I want this. I want you.”

Yeah, but for how long, she wondered.
Regardless of her doubts, she gave herself to him fully and obeyed his orders to take in everything that was happening. The thrusts of his cock pushed into uncharted territory deep within her. Melody was sure after her last orgasm that she would have nothing left to release, but as he pushed into her faster, she knew that couldn’t be the case.

Vex pulled her leg up over the crook of his arm and she screamed as
she felt the familiar spasms building.

“Fuck
, you’re so tight.” Sweat beaded from his body as he went even harder. His mouth enclosed over her nipple and his thickness swelled. “God, I wish I was cumming deep in your pussy. I will someday, you know. I ‘m going to cum so deep in you, you’re going to crave it every time.” The words were her undoing. “That’s right. Cum with me, Melody.” His hand laced in her hair and he pulled her mouth to his. The pain was so pleasurable that she knew she’d drawn blood on his back. In that moment neither of them cared.

Vex groaned as he withdrew.
“Rest, mate. We go again in ten minutes.” As she turned her heavy head to look at him, she was ready to face his challenge head-on. Even if it meant she wasn’t going to be able to walk in the morning.

Chapter Six

Visions of Melody’s naked body moving as she grinded her hips against him had Vex reaching over blindly. He searched the bed with his hand and flew up into a sitting position at the emptiness. “Shit.” Heaviness settled in his chest once he realized she was gone. He almost couldn’t believe it. All those hours of lovemaking and perfect chemistry, and she had the strength to leave? It was baffling. Vex had never wanted her more.

He fell back into the pillow and stared up at the ceiling. Flashes of their
lovemaking filtered through his mind.

Why can’t you be good
? She’d moaned those words as he’d held her cradled in his arms, thrusting deep inside of her pussy. The statement was so powerful in the moment that he’d vowed he was going to do whatever he had to change. Even now, thinking it over, he wanted to be good.

Something had happened in all of their hours together that Vex couldn’t deny. Not only did she claim his body and heart, she’d taken his soul and made it her own. He didn’t even feel like the same person, anymore.
Him? Good? He wanted to laugh. Well, maybe not in the bedroom. He was a master there of all places. But with people like the homeless guy, Tony. He could treat them civilly. Hell, he couldn’t get over the transformation he felt inside of him.

The bathroom door opened and he slowly rose. “I thought you were gone.”

Melody was wrapped in a towel and he could feel his body responding to her all over again. If only she’d just crawl back in the bed. They could pretend this fantasy she had of leaving and forgetting about him was just a joke. It really was ridiculous. You couldn’t escape being mates with someone.

“I was about to go.” A blush came to her cheeks as she looked away.

“Don’t go.” The words escaped before Vex could stop himself. The last thing he wanted to do was pressure her or scare her away, but he couldn’t help it.

The blue-green eyes that he’d memorized glanced in his direction. She quickly walked over and picked up her clothes.
Dammit
.

“I really should. I told you last night
this just isn’t going to work. You’re a demon master, and I don’t want anything to do with evil. Don’t get me wrong, I had a great night, but it has to end here.”

Vex crawled to the bottom of the bed and reached for her hand. Gently, he pulled her over to him. “What if I tried to change? I mean, I can’t change what I do or the status of who I am, but let’s just say I tried to change
how I treated people. Would that make a difference to you?”

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “You would do that for me?”

“Melody. Sit.” He eased her down and turned toward her. “Give me time to prove to you what mates are about. The bond we have will never go away. If we’re separated for too long the pain will be agonizing. The discomfort I can deal with. I don’t want to, but if it’s to prove that I’m willing to do whatever is needed to keep you here with me, I’ll do it. I’m not sure what else to do to convince you that we’re meant to be together.”

She swallowed hard. “You don’t have to convince me, Vex. I feel the link you keep referring to, but we don’t even know each other. Even if you were to change, it doesn’t alter what you are. I know that’s mean to say, but I just can’t spend my life with a demon master. It’s not going to happen.”

“Because of your father?” He couldn’t stop the anger from overpowering his words.

“What do you know of him?” Melody stood from the bed and began putting on her clothes. He could have cursed himself for letting his temper get the best of him.

“Nothing yet, but I’m working to find out who he is.”

“You are?” Melody collapsed to the bed and lowered her head. “What’s the probability of you finding out his identity?”

The pain that rushed through his body was not his own. It was common that mates felt each other’s emotions, but the amount she held inside was consuming. Now he knew why the relationships for mates were so perfect. Why couples were able to last for eternity. If they shared everything, inside and out, then there was nothing they couldn’t overcome.

Hesitantly, he reached over and picked up her hand. “The chances are good. If he
were a master, then I would have been the one to take his place. I’ve only been here for twenty or so years, so the timing could possibly work. If he was a regular demon, then he’s still here. And I will find out who he is. If I have to spend the rest of my days, I will unravel the minds of each of my men until I find the answer you seek.”

“And if I don’t want to know
?”

“Then rest assured
, you never will.”

Melody looked away. “Will you find me when you
figure it out? I’m not sure I have an answer on whether or not I want to know who he is, but maybe I will in the future.”

“Of course.” Vex watched her stand and felt something close to panic set in. “What would I have to do to get you to stay one more day. Just one more.”

A smile came to her face. “I got a call yesterday. I have to work in a few hours. I’m filling in for a friend. I need to go home and get ready.”

“Work? Oh, that’s right. You’re a nurse. I forgot you live a mortal life.”

“I am mortal, Vex. You do realize that, right?”

The reality had him feeling sick. Unlike him, her time was limited on this earth. The possibilities of something happening hit him hard. Humans died every day from things like sickness or accidents. Her eyes narrowed
, as she had to have taken in the horror that masked his features.

“I have to go.” She stood and
slid into her shirt.

“Your bike is in the parking garage next to my car. Are you sure you can’t stay? I…” He trailed off. The desperation was becoming too much, yet for the life of him he couldn’t stress to her how much he needed to be with her. If she thought it was too much to hear, she would have freaked out at feeling what he did. But knowing how the bond worked, maybe she already did.

She slid on her shoes and it was all the answer he needed. Vex made some pajama bottoms appear around him and stood. “I’ll walk you out.”

The way she stared at his chest as he came forward had him pulling her into his arms. Just seeing her reaction to his body set off a need so profound he couldn’t think straight.
His lips found hers hungrily and he pinned her against the wall. The fullness of her breast filled his palm and she moaned loudly into his mouth.

“Stay.”

“I can’t,” she said in between kissing him.

Vex molded his hands to her ass and pressed his hard length against her. “You
will,” he growled, seductively. “Stay, Melody.”

She wiggled in his arms
, and reluctantly, he let her down. “I’m going to be late if I don’t leave now. I still have a thirty-minute drive just to get home to get my scrubs, and then I have to drive back. Plus, that’s not including everything else I need to do.”

“You need scrubs
… what color?” Vex motioned toward the bed and let them fall onto the blankets. “Red, blue, white, green, one with pretty flowers. How about butterflies?”

She laughed loud as she took in the collection he’d selected for her.

“Stay at least until you have to leave. We’ll go eat breakfast and take a walk down by the water. It’ll be nice. You can see I’m not just some evil demon master who’s out to hurt and destroy people.” His hand cupped her face. “I can be good, too.”

Melody stepped back and walked over to the bed. She picked up the butterfly top and pointed to the pink mixed in
the wings. “Can I have pants this color?”

He smiled and waved his hand
, making them appear. “How about shoes?”

She looked down at her boots. “Uh, yeah. And clean socks, and…undergarments,” she laughed.

As he materialized them, all he cared about was that she was actually going to give him a few more hours. That had to mean something. Good, let her give him a chance to prove himself. All he wanted was to show her that he wasn’t as bad as she thought he was. If he could plant the smallest seed of doubt, then maybe it would prove to her in the long run that she was meant for him. Then she would stay.

“I’m just going to go get dressed.” Melody headed into the restroom, just as a knock
sounded at his door. Who in the hell was that?

Vex walked over and felt Trace’s presence before he even got close.
There was a weird tingling and sense of anticipation that was so different from what he’d felt for the demon before. He wasn’t sure what it meant, and he was almost afraid to find out.

***

Trace swallowed hard as he paced the small lobby outside the penthouse door. Fuck. He was so in over his head. Everything in him screamed that his mate was inside with Vex, and he wasn’t sure what the hell he was going to do.

From the moment that Trace had seen her in the video he knew she was meant for him.
Now that Vex had found her before he had, he knew he was going to have to stand up and tell him the truth. It was scary as hell, but he couldn’t just stand by and pretend the pull he felt for her didn’t exist. Killer or not.

Trace lifted his hand to knock and froze as the door open
ed and Vex glared in his direction. His best bet was to pretend nothing was wrong so he could at least get inside. He pushed into the room and looked around. The first thing he noticed was his master’s abs and defined chest. Fuck. He really needed to stop with his want for Vex. He tore his gaze away and took in the room. A sigh of relief left him when he didn’t see Melody. Had he just imagined her presence?

“So, after you didn’t show back up last night, I shut down the club. You know, I was looking around the database of the list of demons and masters who have, and are, serving in the area.”

Vex waved his hand to cut him off. “Later.” He grabbed Trace’s arm and led him to the door. Panic set in out of nowhere and Trace dug his heels in the ground. He couldn’t leave until he knew she was here for sure.

“Whoa, whoa. No way, man. You’re going to want to hear this.” Trace
eased out of his loosened grip and walked deeper into the room. “The demons—“

“So, I was thinking
…“ Melody walked out of the bathroom door and paused as her eyes locked with Trace.

Time literally
stood still at their connection. He could have sworn his heart was in his throat as he stared into her shocked gaze. Something wasn’t right. She was too calm, too at home, to be a captive of Vex’s.

“Oh my…god,” Melody gasped. Her
head spun in Vex’s direction, and Trace slowly turned around to see his master seething at him. His own anger at his mate possibly having something going on with Vex sent a volcano of fury exploding inside of him. Especially, since he’d secretly wished for Vex’s affection for as long as he could remember.

“What the hell is going on here,” Trace snapped.

“You’re asking me? Your master?” Vex growled. “You bonded to her and you didn’t tell me!” Vex advanced and he threw up his hand. “She’s my mate, what did you expect? When I saw her in the video, I knew she was meant to be with me. She’d just shot Malcolm. All I could think was that I needed to find Melody and make her stop.” Trace ran his hand through his hair. “But you were everywhere looking for her, blocking my path. You’re my master. She’s a killer. I thought if I could find her before you, everything would be okay. What the fuck was I supposed to do, Vex?” Trace could feel his anger explode. “It’s a pretty fucked up situation from where I’m standing. Why don’t you try looking at it from my point of view?”

Vex slammed him into the wall before he saw it coming. Trace gripped his wri
st and felt his own evil illuminate his eyes as he stared down his master.

“She’s my mate too,” Vex said low. “Do you seriously think she’d be alive right now if she wasn’t?”

“Stop it, right now!” Melody pulled at Vex’s arm. “What the hell are you doing?” Air was impossible to take in, as Vex’s grip grew tighter. “I’m out of here,” Melody said.

Instantly,
Vex let go.

Trace couldn’t believe what
was happening. Melody was mated to both of them? Vex’s personality changed the moment Melody headed to the door. It was so out of character for Vex.

Trace watched as he
rushed to her side. “No, wait. Okay, that wasn’t a good example of me trying to change. Shit, wait, Melody.”

Her eyes came back to Trace and she stopped. “
You know, if you ask me, I’d say you’re acting like a complete ass, Vex. I understand where Trace is coming from.” She walked around his master and lowered herself to the floor next him. Her eyes were breathtaking up close. Trace wasn’t sure what to say while she studied his face. “I’m Melody,” she said, quietly.

“Trace.” He stood and glanced toward Vex. His master wasn’t taking their mating well at all.

“Vex and I were about to go eat some breakfast. Would you like to come?”

As much as he wanted to, Trace wasn’t about to trample on
his master’s toes and piss him off even more. Melody knew they were connected now. That’s all that mattered. He’d try to see her on his own time. Which sucked. They were really going to have to figure out a way to make this work. His best guess was time. Hopefully it would ease the anger his master felt for his secret.