Before Daybreak Page 2

  As she pressed closer, her nipples poked through the fabric, and my blood thundered in my ears when my hands encountered no sign of a bra. Easy access. I would definitely be buying Callie more of these.

  With one hand, I began to lower her zipper while I dragged my mouth down her silky skin until my lips touched the spot on her neck where I planned to mark her as mine when I claimed her. “I can’t wait to taste you,” I growled. “I bet your tight, virgin pussy tastes just as sweet as your mouth.” I licked the two little circles and let one fang scrape across the skin without drawing blood. “I’m told the taste of your mate’s blood is like ambrosia. You smell so delicious, I have no doubt it’s true.”

  Callie froze for a moment, then began pushing against my chest. “Please, let me go, Braeden. We need to talk, and I can’t think when you’re doing all this stuff to distract me.”

  I grinned until I clocked the dead-serious expression on her face without the slightest glint of humor in her golden eyes. Reluctantly, I released her and let her take a few steps away. It took a minute for our bodies to cool off—but not completely because we would burn for each other until we completed the claiming—and our heart rates to slow to a mostly normal pace.

  “We, um, we can’t do…” She gestured to the bed and then to the very large bulge in my suit pants.

  It was adorable how she stumbled over the words. “Sex?” I suggested with a smirk.

  “Yes. That. We have a lot to talk about before we do that.” She walked over to a small, windowed alcove where I’d put a table and two comfy chairs. Glancing over toward the bed, she shook her head and muttered, “This isn’t going to work.”

  Relishing the fact that she was feeling the pull between us enough to be disturbed by the close proximity of a bed, I stifled a grin as she led me into the hallway and peeked into the nearest room. Upon seeing that it was a den, she dropped my hand and stalked over to the small couch. Taking a seat, she watched me warily, as if she were afraid of the reaction I was going to have to whatever she had to say.

  She needn’t have worried, though. As long as she didn’t tell me she was rejecting our mating, I would take whatever it was in stride.

  I joined her, carefully lowering my body onto the chair across from her since every movement made my incredibly stiff cock ache even more.

  This definitely wasn’t the ache I’d expected to be suffering from tonight.

  2

  Callidora

  I couldn't believe I was sitting across from the man who would end up being the center of my world. Whether we fell in love or not, Braeden was going to be the most important person in my life. I’d always understood that on a logical level, but now that I was experiencing the tug of the consort bond myself, it seemed so much...stronger than I expected.

  Female daywalkers tended to find their match sooner than most males—a quirk of fate that no one understood—but I never thought this would happen only a few weeks after I turned eighteen. I assumed that I’d have more time, even if it was only a few years. But then Braeden’s fingers had brushed mine, and my entire world tilted on its axis. There was no denying who he would be to me, no matter how scared I was about what was going to happen next. I had no choice but to face the situation head-on and hope that Braeden would turn out to be the mate I needed. Just like his brother had told me he’d be a couple of years ago, even though Ren had no idea he was talking about Braeden at the time.

  I’d been told enough about the magnetic pull between daywalkers who were fated to be together to know that it was going to be difficult to resist. But I’d severely underestimated how strong the feeling would be. I clapped my hand over my neck, the skin tingling with the need to be pierced by Braeden’s fangs. I wasn’t sure it was possible to have this conversation while my body urged me to jump his bones and beg him to claim me right here and now.

  Braeden seemed to sense how much I was struggling, and he reached out to take my other hand in his. “You can tell me anything, Callie.”

  When his palm slid against mine, most of my tension drained away. I was amazed by how the lightest touch from him settled me. We’d barely exchanged any words, but I already had this soul-deep knowing inside me—as though we’d sat together like this a million times before. I softly admitted, “I’m not sure how to explain where I’m coming from to you. I’m afraid that I’m going to say the wrong thing and mess this all up.”

  His lips curved into a reassuring smile. “Nothing you could say or do would ruin our relationship. I have your back, no matter what.”

  I shook my head and whispered, “You can’t possibly know that.”

  The trust shining from Braeden’s bright blue eyes made me feel even worse. I hated the idea of hurting him, but I didn’t want to put myself in the position of giving up everything I wanted to keep him happy. I was afraid I’d grow to resent him, and that would be a huge problem when you were meant to spend eternity together.

  Heaving a deep sigh, I asked, “Even if I confessed that I’m nowhere near ready to be claimed by you?”

  “Callie, baby. Is that what’s got you so worried?” He squeezed my hand and shifted to the edge of his chair. His knee bumped against mine, and I found myself leaning into his touch instead of moving away. “I’ve had five hundred and twenty-five years more than you to prepare for this moment, and I’m still having a difficult time wrapping my head around the fact that you’re sitting in front of me. Finally.”

  I flashed him an uncertain smile. “Yeah, it’s kind of unbelievable.”

  “I’m more than willing to take it slow so we can get to know each other first. There’s no rush. We have our whole lives ahead of us,” he assured me. “I don’t expect you to be ready for the claiming ceremony tomorrow.”

  Crap. Braeden was talking about tomorrow while I was thinking more along the lines of years. He was being so darn sweet and understanding, and I had no choice but to burst his bubble so he didn’t think I was going to be ready anytime soon. “It’s a good thing you’re not going to be pushing for tomorrow because I’m going to need a lot more than a day to come to terms with what I’m going to be giving up to become your destined consort.”

  He jerked back, his eyes going wide before they narrowed. I felt the loss when his hand released mine, but then he quickly moved to wrap his fingers around my wrist and tug me to the edge of my seat. His expression was fierce as he growled, “Let’s get something straight, with or without the claiming ceremony, you’re already my destined consort. Nothing is ever going to change that.”

  “I know.” I twisted my wrist in his grasp to grip his forearm, driven by the need to prevent him from walking away—which was probably the same reason he’d changed his hold on me. Even without the claiming, we were both feeling the territorialism that came with being daywalker mates. “I did warn you that I wasn’t going to explain this well.”

  “And I meant it when I promised that whatever you said wouldn’t change anything between us.” A muscle jumped in his jaw. “I just wasn’t expecting you to feel as though you had to make sacrifices in order to be with me. I want to lay the world at your feet, Callie. Not take shit away from you.”

  I didn’t know how to help him see this from my point of view. He was a male daywalker who’d spent hundreds of years doing pretty much anything he wanted. He’d been on countless missions for the council and saved many human consorts. My goals were things he’d achieved long ago. But maybe if I explained it in a roundabout way, he’d have a better chance of understanding my perspective. “How old were you when you started combat training?”

  His brow wrinkled in confusion—totally understandable since the question came out of nowhere for him—but he didn’t hesitate to answer. “It was so long ago, the memory is a little fuzzy. Probably five or six if I had to guess. Maybe a little younger. But I’d already done some self-defense training before then.”

  Over a decade younger than me, just like basically every other born vampire in the world...except for me. “I was si
xteen, and I had to go behind my parents’ backs to make it happen.”

  It was probably a good thing I didn’t mention that his brother was the one who trained me since he already looked shocked by my answer. The littlest things could trigger jealousy in a daywalker, especially during the time between when they found their destined consort and claimed them. I’d be better off saving that news for a day when I wasn't already trying to convince him to wait much longer than he’d want for our claiming ceremony.

  Refocusing on the task at hand, I asked, “What about when you first went on a mission for the council?”

  “Now that I do remember.” His lips curved into a big grin. “I was nineteen. My older brothers, Liam and Jareth, went with me, along with two of our uncles. We took down three vampires that night and saved a consort who turned out to be destined for a member of the council. Since it was my first time, I went along to drop her off so I could learn that part of the process. I got to see the moment he realized that his seven-hundred-year wait had finally come to an end. It was amazing.”

  “That’s what I want,” I whispered.

  “No worries there. We’re going to have an amazing life together, baby.” He tugged me closer, his lips only inches from mine when he murmured, “I’ll do whatever it takes

  I shook my head again. “I wasn’t talking about their relationship.”

  “Explain then. Help me understand, Callie,” he urged.

  “My parents love me, but they’ve never listened when I’ve tried to talk to them about my dreams and goals.” Fighting against the tears that welled in my eyes, I looked up and took a deep breath. I wanted him to see me as a capable woman, and crying over something I had come to terms with wasn’t going to help.

  “I’ll pay attention to anything you say, baby,” he swore.

  I opened my eyes, stared into his bright blue orbs, and blurted, “I want to be a badass vampire slayer.”

  His gaze drifted down my slender frame, a muscle jumping in his jaw again. “And you don’t want to be claimed until after you’ve accomplished this goal?”

  I quirked a brow at him. “How comfortable are you going to be with me leaving your bed to go out on missions?”

  “It’ll definitely take some adjusting.” He pressed his lips together, and a growl rumbled up his chest. “But I still want you here with me while we’re figuring this all out. If you’re going to be crawling out of a bed in the middle of the night, it damn well will be mine.”

  Thinking of our naked bodies tangled together on his sheets sent a surge of sensual need through my body. The air crackled between us, and one word slipped through my lips before I realized what I was saying. “Okay.”

  3

  Braeden

  Callie stared at me with her golden eyes full of passion, and I wanted her with every fiber of my being. I felt the ancient magic wrapping around us, urging me to stake my claim, but I argued with it to back off and let me handle my consort.

  When I told Callie I would give her everything and support her dreams, I’d meant it. Even though it would be hard to know she was out risking her life, and it was bound to drive me crazy. Perhaps if she didn’t go without me…I shook off that thought. I wasn’t sure I could stop myself from stepping in, and Callie might see my intervention as doubting her abilities.

  I’d sensed her strength from the moment we met, inside and out. I had no doubt she would be amazing, but it didn’t make me feel much better since she would be in high demand.

  It would be hard as fuck to handle my desire for her, my possessiveness, and my jealousy. They would ease up some once I’d claimed her, but daywalkers were notoriously protective of their mates and selfish when it came to sharing them with anyone but their children.

  Kids...fuck. We hadn’t even touched on that subject. The thought of seeing my consort with a swollen belly, growing the life we created together...it intensified my craving for her.

  You’ve waited half a fucking millennium, Braeden, you can damn well last a little longer to make your consort happy.

  We’d work all this shit out. Somehow, I was going to convince her that she could have the best of both worlds. I wouldn’t make her choose between me and the dream she’d worked so hard for.

  Right now, I couldn't stand another second without tasting her. “I may not be able to claim you yet, baby,” I growled, “but I’m going to make sure you remember who you belong to as much as possible until you’re officially mine.” I grasped her chin and brought her face directly in front of mine before tilting it back and sealing my mouth over hers.

  Knowing Callie would be spending every night in my bed made waiting to claim her a little easier to deal with. But I gave in to the growing desire to mark her in some way.

  I didn’t break our kiss as I laid her back on the couch, covering her body with my own. She moaned as I pressed her into the cushions, and my cock nestled into the apex of her thighs. I could feel the heat of her center through all the layers of fabric, and thoughts of how amazing it would feel to thrust into that hot, virgin pussy were enough to have me on the verge of coming.

  Groaning, I rocked my hips, and when Callie gasped, I swept my tongue into her delicious mouth. After a few minutes, I angled my head to deepen the kiss and glided the hand resting on her hip up to cup her plump breast. The rounded globe fit perfectly in my hand, and her stiff nipple poked my palm enticingly.

  Tearing my mouth from hers, I licked my lips in anticipation as I stared into lust-glazed, liquid gold eyes. With our gazes locked, I gripped the bodice of her dress and ripped it down the center. With my vampiric strength, it was like pulling apart tissue paper.

  Callie sucked in a breath, and though she looked shocked, her back involuntarily arched, causing the fabric to separate and fall to the sides. “I loved this dress,” she panted with a frown.

  “Like you don’t know I’ll buy you as many as you want,” I replied dryly. Then I smirked. “And don’t pretend that didn’t turn you on, baby. I heard your pulse spike, and your body is practically begging for more.”

  “Okay,” she breathed. “So that was pretty freaking hot. Don’t let it go to your head.”

  “Oh, it’s already gone to my head, baby,” I said with a wicked smile as I rocked my hips once again. “It’s already painfully swollen.”

  “That’s not—oh my gosh!” Callie cried out.

  I dropped my head and took one of her pink nipples into my mouth, sucking it gently while my hand massaged the globe. Then I braced my knees on either side of her to help alleviate some of my weight and cupped her other breast. After loving on one for a few minutes, I switched to the other and gave it equal treatment. The possessive beast inside me needed to mark her, so I left little love bites all around her breasts.

  The buds were just as sweet as her mouth, and I was desperate to find out if her pussy was even sweeter. I kissed a trail down through the valley of her breasts and to her navel, where I stopped to lick a little circle around it. Then I scooted back until I could grab fistfuls of her skirt and shove them up to her waist.

  Her sex was covered with pale pink lace, and the center was soaked through, making them almost transparent. I inhaled sharply when I saw the bare folds of her pussy. “Fuck,” I grunted. Daywalkers were frozen in a perfect state, except for the hair on our head (and face for men) and nails, which grew as they would on a human. The only other place a female daywalker had hair was on her pussy, and since I had zero experience with this area of a woman’s body, I’d never thought about whether or not they’d choose to remove it like Callie had. I didn’t care what anyone else did anyway. I only knew that I found it sexy as fuck, and my mouth watered.

  I drew my finger from top to bottom over the wet fabric, then tore the panties from her body and tucked them into the pocket of my pants.

  “Um, Braeden?” Callie’s voice was unsure but also trembling with desire.

  “Relax, baby,” I soothed. “If I can’t feast on your blood, I’m going to eat your pussy unt
il I’m full.”

  Without another word, I bent my head and dragged my tongue up her center. “So fucking sweet,” I groaned before repeating the action. Blood pulsed heavily in her veins, and my fangs elongated, longing for a taste.

  I’d never craved human blood, and it was a bit unsettling even though I’d been told that my mate’s blood would be like ambrosia to me. That thought didn’t help soothe my hunger, so I attempted to sate it by feasting on Callie’s juices.

  I licked and bit her folds and swollen clit, thrust my tongue in and out of her channel, pushing her up and up until she was crying out for relief.

  “Braeden!” she gasped. “Oh, yes! Yes! I need...I don’t know! Please!”

  Never having experienced an orgasm didn’t mean I was completely clueless about what was happening to her. I’d done my research so I would know how to please my consort when I finally found her. “Stop thinking and just feel, baby,” I murmured. “Trust me to give you what you need.”

  I went back to my meal, trying to ignore the tingling at the base of my spine and my very heavy balls. My cock strained so hard against my pants that I wouldn't have been surprised if it burst through them.

  This wasn’t about me, though; this was all for my beautiful mate.

  When she was at the pinnacle of her pleasure, I thrust a finger inside her and curled the digit up to scrape along her most sensitive area. At the same time, I wrapped my lips around her little bundle of nerves and bit down, allowing my fangs to prick her skin just enough for a few drops of blood to bead on the surface.

  Holy fucking shit. The ecstasy that filled me from that tiny taste was mind-blowing. What the fuck would it be like when I drank fully from her neck as I claimed her?

  Callie screamed, and her back bowed as her knees drew up so she could clamp me between them. Her hands delved into my hair, and she clutched the strands, sending delicious streaks of pleasure through me. She held me in place—as if I would go any-fucking-where right now. I would’ve been happy to live in her pussy while she shook with waves of rapture.