I stood against the back wall, a drink in my hands, watching the celebrations in the room. I felt so strange, so alone and empty to be without the guys. I’d obeyed Liam’s advice and hadn’t seen them in two weeks. Each day was suffocating torture; one day after another of an emptiness in my chest.

As fun as Riley was, I missed my guys.

And currently, they were spread throughout the room at another one of the Queen’s dances.

Seeing them here but not being able to touch them, or talk to them, was causing a panic to rise in my chest. I’d had nightmares every single night, of loosing my parents all over again, of the guys leaving me for someone else. I woke up in sweat-drenched clothes and then couldn’t go back to sleep. I poured all of my anxiety into my training, trying to beat my frustration out on the punching bag.

But all I could think of was that I couldn’t lose them; I had to find a way to win them back.

Hunter was gone, also; Sophia kept him held up in legal battles and he told me that it was better to stay away from each other until they got things separated.

A girl grabbed ahold of Christian’s arm and leaned up to whisper in his ear. I growled, gripping the glass in my hand so tight that it shattered, cutting my hand. He wasn’t mine any longer, for now, but I was going to rip her head off.

I slammed the remnants of the glass on the passing waiter’s tray and grabbed a napkin to wipe at the blood dripping down my hand. It was already healing.

Christian smiled politely, then took a step back, causing her to teeter on her three-inch heels. He touched her arm lightly, just to steady her, then he said something else and walked away. His glance at me told me that he missed me as much as I missed him.

In that moment I wanted to say screw you to the magical world around me and go get my guys. They were mine, magical bond or not. I imagined leaving this place to find a nice quiet place to live out all my fantasies. Sexual and otherwise.

My lips lifted into a grin but then I sighed.

Unfortunately, I was raised better than that. Pack, or race in this case, was more important. I had to keep my word to the Queen by holding my end of the sacrifice.

But that didn’t mean that I wasn’t going to find a way to get them back. I was determined to do it.

I turned away from the room. I’d hoped that just seeing them would’ve made me feel better. But it had only made things worse. I should’ve taken Riley up on her offer to watch shoot ‘em up movies all night.

Rubbing my forehead, I wondered why the hell I came here in the first place?

Oh yeah, Hunter had asked me to come. But he wasn’t here and it was driving me crazy!

Ever since the bonding ceremony, I hadn’t been allowed to see him.

Until tonight.

I scanned the room, waiting in anticipation for the sight of him. Where was he?

I could see all of the guys except for him and I longed to feel his touch on me. If I couldn’t have them all right now, at least I could have him. It had been too long and now I was feeling antsy. His absence made me realize how much I felt for him and I had to at least put my eyes on him, to feel his presence even if it was just a glance my way.

Then the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as his breath moved over my neck.

“Elizabeth.”

I didn’t move, didn’t turn towards him, but suddenly my mouth was dry and I swallowed hard. Every nerve in my body was on fire with that one word. “Yes?” I swallowed hard.

“Come with me.” Hunter pulled his fingers through mine and led me from the room.

As we slipped out the back door, I saw Avery watch us leave the room with an envious stare. I grit my teeth, determined. I would fix this.

We walked silently through the halls until we came to the room Hunter was looking for. The whole way, my hand buzzed with the contact. Tingles raced up my arm, causing my breathing to increase.

Damn, I’d missed him so much.

After picking the lock, his hand was on the doorknob, squeezing it tight, when he looked at me. His eyes stared into mine with a ferocity that could only be Hunter, the dragon warrior. And I was his prey.

“Elizabeth.” He swallowed hard. “Have you had sex with any of the other guys?”

I was stunned into silence. “No.”

“But I need to know, do you have feelings for the other guys?”

I considered my answer. “I do.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Even Easton?”

“Yes. Does it matter?”

His hold on the doorknob tightened and his eyes burned into me. “I’ve been with other women but not a single one of them meant anything to me. I only did it to do my duty, to the race, to the Queen… During that time, I felt like my life was spiraling and so I always had to be in control of the woman I was with. To make me feel like I had control of something in my life.” His stare was intense, his presence commanding. “But with you, it will be different. I want you. I need you in a way that I’ve never needed anyone before. And that scares the shit out of me.” He ran his hands through his hair. “But for once, I don’t feel the need to be in control, because I can loose myself in you.”

I was speechless. I lost myself in his eyes, in the way he looked at me. Like I was the sun and he was going up in flames. His hand moved around my waist, and then he pulled me closer and I could feel the way his heart hammered against his chest.

“Elizabeth, if you go in this room with me, I will never let you go.”

I kissed him softly on the lips. “You promise?”

Then he pulled me inside and I knew that my life would change forever.

* * *

As soon as we were inside the room, his lips were on mine, devouring me with such need, such desire that I couldn’t think, I couldn’t breathe. He held me against the door, his hands pressed into my palms, trapping them over my head.

“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted this. I’m going to taste every single inch of your body, until there hasn’t been a spot that hasn’t been licked or caressed. And then I’m going to feel every single spot of your skin until my fingers could recognize your naked body in the dark.”

His teeth raked across my ear and I sucked in a breath, holding it as electricity shot through me. His lips moved to my neck. His tongue, hot and slippery, tasted and licked its way down my collarbone as his fingers moved over my body.

I threw my head back, consumed with him, with his touch, with the feel of his mouth on mine. I never understood want until I had Hunter in my arms, ready and willing. And I never wanted anyone as much as I wanted him in this moment.

Then his mouth was on my ear again as his fingers flicked at the tips of my breast over my dress, growling. “Tell me, Elizabeth. Tell me how much you want me. Tell me what you want me to do.”

“Yes, Hunter.” I nodded, as he suckled at the sensitive spot at the base of my neck. “I want you so bad right now. I need you, over me and inside me. I want you to touch me, to taste me. I want everything you have to give. And then I will take more because I’m a needy, selfish bitch and I will always need more from you.”

He chuckled as his mouth moved back to my ear. “You will never be able to take more than I am going to give, Princess.”

My hands were still pressed into the back door, and he moved his down so that they were at my waist. Then he gripped my hips and jerked me forward, pulling me up and I wrapped my legs around his back. I clasped his cheeks, still kissing him as he carried me towards the middle of the office. I hadn’t noticed the white leather couches aligned next to a wall of glass until now and my body lit up in anticipation of the feel of its cool leather against my naked back.

He pulled out of my kiss. “Every night, I close my eyes and all I can think of is you. The way you bite your lip when you’re teasing.” His eyes moved to my lips. “How swollen they get when you’re kissing me.”

I bit my bottom lip, staring into his eyes, smoldering and needy, and I wanted him with everything in me. I knew I had to make him mine or I would die a thousand deaths.

“I think of the smooth way your hips sway when you walk and how your smile lights up your face.”

I frowned, raising my eyebrow. “My hips do not sway when I walk.”

Nodding, he skipped the couch and sat me on a large ebony desk centered in the room. “You are so sexy you don’t even know it. So sexy that all my thoughts are consumed by you, by your body and how much I want to bury myself in you, until there is no end of me or beginning of you.”

Then he took a few steps back to stand by the couch and I was rooted in place, taken back by the predatory look in his eyes.

And they drank me in. “Take off your dress.”

I stared at him, immobile.

He narrowed his eyes at me and I felt his impatience. And his need. His voice came out a growl, like a man who needed something and needed it now. “Take that fucking dress off now.”

I pulled at the zipper and it slid smoothly down my back. Then I put my hand on my shoulder to pull down my dress. I hesitated.

He exuded raw power packaged in a sexy, muscular body and I couldn’t stop looking at him. He was holding back, leaning against the back of the couch with a casual stance but his eyes told me something different. He was as captivated with me as I was with him.

When I didn’t move to pull the dress all the way off, he growled. “Elizabeth.” His casualness slipped from him to reveal his desire.

I pulled the sleeves over my shoulders and slowly pulled the dress down, revealing myself inch by inch. I’d worn sexy lingerie; I’d chosen black lace, with a touch of leather that wrapped around my stomach, then up and around my neck.

He stopped breathing as I deliberately revealed myself and he grew more and more impatient. But I made him wait. Because I was in control of this moment, of the way I exposed myself to him and I wanted him to take in every single inch.

The lower I moved my dress, the darker his eyes grew, until my dress was pooled around my heels, and I stepped out of it. His breathing came in and out quickly and he barked at me. “Why the fuck did you wear that?”

“So you could take it off me.”

He rushed towards me and I met him in the middle. It had been too long, the anticipation too crushing and my body longed for him. I needed to breathe him in, to feel him against me, to feel him inside me. As I wrapped my legs around him, his lips crushed against mine, demanding and urgent. He held me so tight against him that his skin melded against me and his hardness pressed into my stomach.

I was intoxicated by his kiss. It was a drug and I was hooked.

My tongue slipped against his and my body responded, shooting heat through me. His hands traced up my side to brush against my breast and I moaned. His kiss grew harsher, more demanding and I answered it with my own need as he moved me back to the desk.

It was cold and hard as he sat me on it, and his mouth moved all over my body. I closed my eyes, reveling in the hot touch of his lips as he kissed and nibbled, leaving a trail of fire in his wake.

“I want you so bad, Hunter.” My body had been abuzz all night in anticipation of his return.

He growled. “These past two weeks have been torture.” His voice was breathless and I longed to fill him with my breath, with me. I stood up and pulled his shirt off, then slid my hands down his body. As I moved my hands over him, electric power buzzed between us.

He pulled my chin up to look into my eyes. “Remember when I told you I was going to fuck you over and over?”

I nodded.

“This, right here, is just the beginning of our night. I’m going to fuck you here, on this desk. Where all of the guys will know that I’ve staked my claim on you.” Heat and desire wrapped around my body, pulsing through me. He leaned forward and his hot breath hit my ear and a shot of warmth pooled between my legs. “Then I’m going to take you to my place and you are going to be up all night. And you will know that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make you mine.”

He slowly pulled down the strap covering my nipples, they pebbled as the cool air hit them. Fire ran through my chest and down into the space between my legs. I wiggled, needing to feel him against me, inside me, and all over my body.

He wrapped his other hand around my ribs, squeezing it tight, and then his mouth explored every inch of my skin.

My whole body was on fire; I needed him so badly. I knew that I would never leave Hunter. He owned me, body and soul.

His hands lowered to my ass and he cupped it tightly, still kissing me. Then he pulled me up and I wrapped my legs around him. We were joined perfectly at the hips and the only thing stopping him from slipping into me was his pants. I rubbed against him, urging him on. He gripped my ass as his mouth moved up my shoulder towards my neck. Then his teeth raked down it and I pulled air through my teeth.

He set me on my feet and I groaned in protest. I needed to feel him against my skin.

His breathing came in and out rapidly and he moved his fingers across my stomach. “You are so damn sexy. Every time I see you, I want to eat you on the spot.”

“Then why don’t you?”

He growled and ripped my panties down. “Get on the fucking desk.” He didn’t wait for me to respond but he jerked me towards it, pushing me down. The desk was hard and a pen dug into my back.

He yanked my shoes off and ran his hands up my legs. I looked up at him through a haze of desire and put the soles of my feet on the edge of the desk and spread my legs, completely opening myself to him.

He lowered himself to his knees and his tongue moved up the insides of my thighs. I groaned. I needed him to move higher. His tongue moved up my thigh, closer to my sensitive spot and my breathing hitched. I was so turned on that it would only take a touch for me to fall over the edge.

“Oh fuck me, Hunter.”

I held my breath in sweet anticipation of his tongue on my clit. Then his breath was right over it and I gripped the edge of the desk; I was so ready.

‘Shit,’ I mouthed the word as his tongue finally pressed against my clit. Nerves shot through my body and the wood of the desk dug into my skin. It took everything I had to keep everything in, to let the pressure build instead of release. He put two fingers inside me and moved them in and out as his tongue moved over my lips. I cried out, I needed the release.

“Beg me. Beg me for release.”

I bit my lip so hard that I tasted blood.

He growled. “Do it.” When I didn’t, his tongue pressed harder against my clit, causing me to arch my back. I wanted to rub myself against his mouth, wanted to feel a fucking release but I held it in. Then he dug his fingers in deeper and he curled his fingers inside me.

“Fuck!” Hot liquid sex poured through my body, every single nerve was on fire. His tongue worked up and down my clit while his fingers rubbed inside me. What he was doing to me, inside me, I’d never felt so alive. The pressure was so intense that every single muscle was strung tight.

“Please, Hunter. Please.” I arched my back further, my thoughts only on release, trying to press harder into his face. He didn’t answer but moved his tongue and finger against me faster. His other hand moved under me, squeezing my ass.

“Please.” I was begging now. I couldn’t hold myself in, my whole body was consumed with lust. I needed the release.

And then he said, ’yes’ and the damn broke inside me as wave after wave of my orgasm hit. My body jerked against his mouth and he held his tongue against my clit, drawing it out longer. I’d never had an orgasm so strong or last so long. It moved like the violent waves of the ocean, never ending and demanding.

Then I slammed back against the desk, breathless and aching. He yanked me back up and I pulled at his pants until they were across the room. He slid inside me and I was in heaven. He groaned as he moved in and out, with a look of absolute pleasure on his face. I dug my heels into his back, moving myself to his pace and urging him on.

“I need you so bad, Hunter. Please take me.” As he moved faster, I could feel the passion that was building up inside him. It was moving through me, pressing into my skin, pouring through my veins. It was Hunter, the warrior, the man who was mine.

The desire to claim him for myself poured over me, living and pulsing inside of me as he buried himself in me. My necklace was warm at my chest; its power slid through and over my body, connecting and binding Hunter to me. The power of my wolf buzzed through my body, increasing the intensity of our fuck; she knew exactly what she wanted, and Hunter was at the top of the list.

He was my mate and I was claiming him. “You. Are. Mine.”

Suddenly he came and his lips pressed against mine, relinquishing his moan into my body. His hands wrapped around me, pulling me tight as he pressed his forehead against me, melding our bodies into one.

Then he opened his eyes and they glowed a dark orange, revealing the dragon inside him. He growled, his voice low and deep and it reverberated into me. “I am bound to you.”

I nodded; he kissed my forehead and a warmth spread through my body. Closing my eyes, he held me for a moment and I listened to his heartbeat. I took in a deep breath, knowing I had done the right thing. We belonged together. He was a part of me, the part that longed to do something braver than I had ever thought I could. His trust in me was what drove me to fight, to sacrifice, to protect the Queen.

I looked up and his soft eyes took in my face.

“Thank you for believing in me.”

He brushed my hair out of my face. “Thank you for saving me.”

I grinned. “From what?”

“From a lifetime of longing. Of waiting for you. And for giving me the strength to stand up to Sophia.”

I smiled and then he grabbed my ass and pulled me up to straddle him. “Oh, we’re not done here yet.”

* * *

He took me towards the window that looked out over the city, put me on my feet and turned me around. I leaned back into his chest as we faced it, staring out. His hands moved over my stomach and the heat and longing for him began again. Would I ever have enough from this sexy beast? My appetite for him was insatiable.

He stroked my stomach, moving his hands higher until they reached the tips of my breasts. Then he pinched them softly. I moaned.

What those fingers could do to me.

He pressed me towards the glass and I sprawled out as his hands moved lower.

“I want the whole world to know that you belong to me.”

His fingers entered me as my breasts pressed against the cold glass. I shifted my hips so that his hand could move more comfortably and closed my eyes, taking in every feeling. Every single touch, every gasp of his breath, every twist of his lips affected me. I lived and breathed the feel of his body against mine. I was addicted to his touch, his smile. To him.

“I can’t get enough of you, Hunter.”

His lips touched my neck and he sucked it softly. They were trembling and needy. “I cannot breathe without you.”

Holy hell. He could melt me with his words.

I felt his heat and desire and my own pressure built up. His chin nuzzled my neck and I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against the glass, opening myself up to him.

His fingers moved faster and I began to rub against them, as his lips trailed down my back. Then his breath, hot and wet, was on my ear as his finger pressed against my clit and I leaned back, moaning. My orgasm rolled through my body, rushing through my arms to the tips of my fingers. He pushed me forward so that I was pressed against the glass again and I closed my eyes, letting the wave of pleasure rush through me.

“You are mine, Elizabeth. And now the whole world knows it.” Then his voice was in my ear. “And the rest of the guys will know that I claimed you first.”

I turned towards him, pulling him into a deep kiss. I felt his bulge press against my stomach and I longed to have him inside me again. I turned around and bent over.

He growled. “Damnit, Princess.” I pressed back against him, wiggling myself against his hardness. He wanted me again, and it was such a turn on.

“Fuck me again, Hunter. I know you want to.”

Nodding, he slid himself inside me. “I want you so bad.”

Shit. His eager enthusiasm to be with me was such a turn on.

I moaned; he felt so good. I gripped the edges of the window, spreading myself as he pounded into me, giving him everything. His energy pressed against me, filling me with a mixture of his lust and love, swirling and pulsing around and inside me. Then he pulled my hips up and pressed his finger into my softness, swirling it, then he moved it against my clit.

I gave into the moment and the pressure inside built up again. I pushed my hips against him, forcing him in deeper and he hit something deep inside me. I was home, with him. He was my mate and now he was claiming me.

Then he came again, biting into my back shoulder. I allowed his magic to flow over my body; it moved with such deep intensity that I couldn’t move. Dragon magic forced its way over my skin, burning me from the inside out. It was fierce. It was all-consuming. It was possessive.

I was his.

The magic moved between us, binding us together, washing over our bodies until it gently subsided. He pulled me around and his eyes stared into mine; they were so open. I knew I was seeing him, his vulnerabilities were open to me. I touched his cheek and he smiled.

Then he grabbed me and, yanked me up and I squealed as he threw me over his shoulder. Sliding down, I hooked my arms around his neck and nuzzled against him. He carried me over to the front of the desk and rummaged through the drawers until he found a box of tissues.

We couldn’t stop from touching each other as we cleaned ourselves off, and dressing each other was as erotic as the undressing. He kept kissing me, starting with the corner of my mouth and moving towards the center and the fire started in my belly again. I would never get enough. He was intoxicating, and he was mine.

Then he pulled back to stare into my eyes. They were serious as he studied me. “Now, go find the guys.” I began to protest and he cut me off. “I don’t care if you’re not supposed to talk to them. They’ve been missing you, and screw the rules. They need to see you.”

I nodded, smiling. I missed them too.

He continued. “We’re going to tell them goodbye. Then we’re going to my house and I am going to fuck you all night long.”

I grinned, even as my chest tingled and warmth spread through my stomach. I looked around the office, noting that everything was placed with exactness. There was nothing out of order except for the pen on the top of the desk.

“Whose office is this anyway?”

His face lit up. “Andre’s.”

I couldn’t stop the grin that spread over my face. “Ohhh, you’re bad.”

He smirked and laughter danced in his eyes. “Yep.”

He went back around the desk and opened the drawer to put back the box of tissues. Then he hesitated and, after rummaging around the drawer, he pulled out a file and opened it. The side was embossed silver and had a label that said, ‘William Erikson, Eyes Only.’

His eyes widened as he read the file. “Holy shit, Elizabeth.”

“What is it?” I moved around the desk to look over his shoulder. Suddenly the sound of pounding footsteps traveled down the hallway and I gripped Hunter's arm, afraid that Andre would burst into the room.

Grabbing me, Hunter dragged me towards the door on the other side of the room. Shit, I hoped it wasn't locked. The footsteps stopped briefly but then began moving again. Hunter's hand was on the doorknob but I saw that the door to the hallway was already opening. We were so busted.

My stomach clenched; I was freaking out, but Hunter only had an angry determined look on his face. I knew if Andre confronted us right now, Andre would have the warrior Hunter on his hands. Things would escalate like a bolt of lightning to a house already on fire.

Then the door swung open all the way and Easton and Christian tumbled into the room. I clutched my hand to my chest, relieved and wondering if I needed to go change my underwear. I'd almost pissed myself.

Easton was clutching the magic book in his hands, a look of elation on his face. The look he got when he'd figured out something amazing and a brief smile passed through my lips. Then his look changed and I read it as plain as day on his face; he knew exactly what we'd been doing in here and all my thoughts scattered.

Easton struggled to speak and Christian nudged his back. "Tell them, Easton."

Finally, Easton choked out what he'd come in to say. “Guys, you’re never going to believe what I found -- it's the answer.”