Flight of Dragons(4)

She cleared her throat, getting ready to speak into the mic when her head snapped up, and her gasp filled the room. She knew he was there. Her head bowed low, and for a second, it looked like she was going to turn and step off the stage again, but then she squared her shoulders and looked out into the crowd. Her big blue eyes didn’t settle on him, but she was searching. His breath caught in his throat. That gorgeous creature with the long blond curls down to her waist was his mate.

Her ankle length gown covered her but concealed nothing. The lush curves of her hips and full breasts should have been for his eyes only. But every man in the place had already undressed her with their eyes, and he had to struggle not to growl at them all.

She scanned the room again, squinting against the spotlight illuminating her before clearing her throat again and grabbing the mic from the stand. “Good evening.”

A shiver raced down his spine. The velvet heat in her voice had his cock twitching.

“My name is Stella. I’ll only be singing one song for you tonight,” she waited until the unhappy grumbles of the audience died down again, “and it will be my last performance here. I’d like to dedicate it to someone special. You know who you are.” She took a shuddering breath, her sad smile betraying the chipper tone in her voice.

She cued the pianist, letting the soft melancholy notes carry through the room before lifting her head. No one uttered a sound. No glasses clinked. It was as though everyone in the entire room held their breaths.

“Come to me, I’ve been waiting for you.” Her soft voice filled the room.

He couldn’t tear his gaze away. What did she mean she wanted to dedicate it to someone special? His heart hammered. She wouldn’t.

“I’ll be whatever you need me to.”

“Everything I’d leave behind for you.”

“Come to me, I’ve been waiting for you.” She closed her eyes as she sang, her free hand coming up to cover her heart.

Fuck. No, no, no. She couldn’t do it, not now—not ever. He didn’t even realize he was heading toward the stage until Luke’s caught his arm.

“Where the hell are you going?” He tilted his head toward the women at the table.

The scales beneath Brycen’s skin shifted, and Luke released his arm, taking a step back. “Hey, what gives? You can go if you want to, man, I just thought—”

“She’s mine,” Brycen cut in. The roughness in his voice had his friend’s eyes widening.

Luke looked at the stage, then back at him with a huge grin. “Damn, dude. Her? You’re one lucky bastard.” His smile dropped as he heard the words she was singing. “Shit. She’s releasing you. What the hell are you doing standing around here for?”

He clenched his jaw. “I can’t claim her yet.”

“Fuck that shit. The job isn’t worth it. Get her.” He shrugged when the women at the table grumbled and stood to leave. “Give me the coordinates and I’ll take over with Miss Priss until you get back. Who’s covering for you now, Jace?”

Sniffles sounded from women all around him. “Yeah.” The song would be over soon, and if he didn’t stop it before she said the words, he’d be totally fucked. He rattled off the directions to the cabin in the woods, knowing his friend would have no trouble finding it, and then turned back to the stage. Heading straight to the front, he pushed his way through the crowd.

The moment she opened her eyes, she saw him. Her voice quivered, and tears slid down her cheeks, but she didn’t take her eyes off him.

“And I wish I could have meant more to you.”

“Everything I am, I’d have given you.”

“Release me, and I’ll release you.”

“Release me, I’m begging you.”

His growl started deep in his chest, getting louder and louder until everyone around him took a step back. He didn’t bother with the stairs, choosing instead to leap up in front of her.

“Release—”

“No.” He didn’t even feel bad for interrupting the song. She’d said the words twice. One more time and that was it.

She shook her head, dropping the mic to her side. “P-please.” Her eyes pleaded louder than her words.

He growled again, advancing on her like the predator he was. “No.”

She opened her mouth to speak again, but by then, he had reached her. He silenced her with his lips in a hard, punishing kiss. Release her, my ass. Not going to fucking happen. Crushing her in his arms, he invaded her mouth, not caring who witnessed it. She melted against him and had it not been for the small distressed sound she made, he would have claimed her right there.