Hexed and Bitten

Chapter 6

Shot after shot she downed until the sharp, nagging claws of worry faded into manageable background noise.

"Are you okay?" David whispered in her ear, a look of concern softening his face.

Oh man, was he handsome. Close up, his face was a study in sharp, striking angles, the strong, dangerous slope of his cheekbones leading down to a square jaw that practically begged to be touched. Under the low party lights, his skin looked smooth and warm, and those ocean blue eyes possessed an intensity that made her pulse jump, shifting like deep sapphire and twilight under the dim lighting.

Reaching up, she ran her fingers along his jawline, feeling the rough, raspy stubble beneath her fingertips. His eyes fluttered shut as he leaned into her touch, a quiet breath escaping his lips.

"Let's dance," she murmured.

Smiling, he gave her a nod, his hand slipping into hers as he turned and began leading her back into the ocean of bodies. Moving through the crowd, he found a spot almost hidden in the heavy shadows of an archway, giving them a little more privacy from the other dancers, or the illusion of it, anyway.

Turning, he faced her, a raw, hungry look in his gaze.

This was what she needed. She needed a night of fun, of absolute abandon. Those deep brown eyes flashed in her mind, a dull ache trying to surface, but no. She wouldn't let an old wound ruin her night. Pushing the phantom memory away, she closed the little space left between them, moving her hands up his stomach and slowly working her way up to his broad shoulders.

Looking up at him through her thick lashes, she watched him lick his lips before his head dipped down.

The moment his lips touched hers, everything else fell away. The weirdness between David and Vivianne, the nagging feeling that wouldn't leave her alone, and those eyes, his eyes. None of it mattered. Only the taste of David's lips on hers.

Their bodies began to move in time with the beat, the music having switched to something slower, more seductive, adding fuel to the fire slowly starting to burn deep within her core.

Breaking the kiss, his lips found their way to the sweet spot between her neck and shoulder. Gasping, she tilted her head back, giving him better access. His hands moved to her hair, gripping tightly at the nape of her neck. Yanking her head back slightly, they locked eyes, both of them ravenous.

He claimed her mouth once more, this time with a fierce, possessive force. He was taking total control, and the thrill of it had her legs pressing together, desperate for pressure where her body ached.

Without warning, he spun her around, pulling her back flush against his chest. She could feel his hard shaft, barely contained in his pants, pressing right against her backside. Moving her hips, she ground against him to the beat.

"f**k, Ari," he growled in her ear, his hands gripping her hips with a bruising force. If she were human, his fingers would definitely leave marks on her skin.

Rolling her hips, she felt his chest rumble, his breathing picking up into harsh, ragged pants. She needed him. Her core was aching painfully.

"If you don't stop," he growled low in her ear, "I won't be able to stop myself from f*****g you right here."

Panting, she turned her head, looking up at him over her shoulder. "Maybe that's what I want."

The moment the words left her mouth, she was being spun around, her back slamming into the cold stone wall with David crowding her space. His fingers reached the bottom of her skirt at her upper thigh, tickling her skin as they snaked upward. Slowly, he moved under her skirt, finding the apex of her thighs to rub over her silk panties.

Groaning, her head dropped back against the stone, her eyes fluttering shut.

"You like that, baby?" he whispered, leaning forward against her ear.

She no longer cared about the people around them. They could watch for all she cared. All that mattered in that moment was David and his sinful fingers as they slipped behind her lace, cupping her warm mound.

"f**k," she moaned as his finger slipped smoothly between her slick folds.

"That's it, baby... open up for me," he cooed, a second finger slipping inside her.

His other hand reached down, lifting her leg and wrapping it firmly around his waist as he began to pump his fingers inside her. His lips moved to her neck, nipping and kissing the sensitive skin.

"David..." she moaned, her hands gripping his shirt tightly, trying to keep herself upright as she ground her core into his palm.

"What is it, kitten?" He moved fast, only to suddenly slow down, making her whine out in frustration and move her hips faster to force his pace.

Her core was a burning fire low in her belly that needed more. She needed him inside her, stretching her. Her hands moved quickly down to his pants, unzipping them hurriedly. Reaching in, she gripped his thick shaft, giving it a firm squeeze.

"f**k, Ari!" he cursed. His forehead dropped to hers, his hips thrusting helplessly as he f****d her hand.

This was it. They were about to f**k right on the edge of the dance floor, and she didn't care. Pushing her hand away, his c**k sprang free of his pants, standing tall and ready for her. He removed his fingers, pulling her panties aggressively to the side as he lined himself up.

His blue eyes met hers as he thrust deep inside her without warning.

Arabella cried out, the sharp, exquisite stretch of his length sending tendrils of pure pleasure shooting through her entire body. Grabbing the back of her other thigh, he lifted her with ease, pinning her completely to the wall. Wrapping both legs around his waist, she gripped his shoulders for balance as he began thrusting into her with long, hard strokes.

Dropping her head back against the cool stone, her eyes opened, looking out over his shoulder. People were still dancing all around them, lost in their own lust, grinding, kissing, and a few even crossing the line just like David and her, completely giving in to their carnal desires. Knowing that others were probably watching them sent an extra spark of filthy heat through her veins. She wasn't usually into voyeurism, but at that moment, it was driving her wild.

David cursed under his breath, his thrusts picking up into a punishing rhythm as he drove her into the wall, totally lost in his desire.

Slowly, that blissful tension rose higher with every hard impact. She could feel he was getting close as well, as his breath hitched and his pace turned desperate. Dropping his head, he began kissing and nipping at her collarbone.

Her nails dug deep into his shoulders. Rising higher and higher, she moaned louder. This was it. She was teetering on the edge, and just as she fell over, her eyes locked onto a pair of dark brown, practically black eyes.

Otto.

His name was on the tip of her tongue as her orgasm crashed over her so suddenly and violently that she couldn't help the scream that tore from her throat.

David thrust a few more times before slowly setting her back down. Hand on the wall, he leaned forward, panting, a silly grin on his face. Fixing her panties and pulling her skirt down, she ducked under his arm, her eyes scanning the crowd, but he was gone. Had she hallucinated Otto? Was he just a figment of her imagination?

Warm hands squeezed her shoulders. "Do you want to get out of here?"

Turning her head, she looked up at David. He looked down at her, that hunger still in his eyes that had her core pulsing. Licking her lips, she gave him one nod, and that was all he needed. Without warning, he scooped her up into his arms, making her laugh as he began to weave through the crowd.

As he carried her away from the dance floor, Arabella couldn't help but search the crowd, searching for him. It was silly; there was no way it was actually him she had locked eyes with. He wasn't here. Otto was loyal to Maximus, and would never disobey him by coming to see her. She was banished after all, no longer a member of the family, and Maximus would never allow him to run off to see her. Chuckling quietly to herself, she tightened her arms around David's shoulders, pushing away any lingering thoughts of Otto or her past.

"Your place?" David's voice broke her from her thoughts, pulling her back to reality.

Looking out the passenger window, it was a clear night, peaceful, so unlike that night. Blinking back old memories, she turned her head to look at David. He glanced at her briefly before looking back at the road, patiently waiting for her answer.

"How about your place?"

His eyes snapped to her. A look of panic flickered in his eyes. "Really?" He gave her a charming smile. "We normally go to your place."

"I know, but I have never seen your place. And if I'm not mistaken, don't you live around here?"

His Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes fixing back on the road. He smiled, and yet his fingers gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles went white. "I didn't plan on you wanting to come to my place. It's a mess," he began, but she didn't need to hear more; she knew what he was doing. Instead of just being honest with her and telling her he didn't want her going to his place, he was trying to be kind and dance around it.

"It's okay—"

"No, Ari, it's not like that, it's just—"

"It's okay, David. Let's head to my place." If she was being honest, she was a little hurt that he didn't want her in his place, and even more so because he was lying about why he didn't want her there.

Lying in bed, she watched David peacefully asleep. He didn't waste any time ravaging her the moment they stepped into her loft. Now they lay naked in her bed, David fast asleep and Arabella unable to shut off her mind long enough to fall asleep. Sighing, she slipped from the bed, grabbing her robe and exiting her bedroom.

Jinx jumped from the couch, bouncing over to her and pawing at her leg as if to say, lift me, human. Smiling, she scooped him up into her arms. "Hello, handsome," she cooed, scratching under his chin the way he liked.

Carrying her furry friend, she headed out onto her balcony, the cool air a soothing balm to her frazzled nerves. She couldn't seem to shut her mind up, everything replaying from the night: the party, feeling like she was being watched, the look David had given Vivianne earlier at the party, and the way Vivianne had been acting. How odd they had been acting... how odd he was acting now. What was she not seeing?

Having been stuck twenty-two for a hundred and fourteen years, she had learned to be suspicious and wary of others. Yet, here in Salem, she had let her guard down more than she had ever done before. Maybe that was her mistake, finally letting her guard down even just a little bit and trying to trust again or, if she was lucky, she was just overthinking it all and nothing weird was going on, but deep down she knew that was a very slim if.