A nervous giggle escaped, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He broke his silence with a barely audible whisper. "I've missed you, Lovely. You're so beautiful. I just had to touch you. I needed to hold you. It's been awful for me since you left." He took a deep breath, nuzzling at her neck and sending chills down her spine. He seemed to enjoy having that effect on her and kissed the gooseflesh on her shoulder. "You smell just like heaven, a vanilla-and-lavender heaven."
"I didn't see you at the ritual," she stated stupidly. Why, oh why, couldn't she feel this giddy, brain-cell-robbing passion for Kayden?
He put her feet back on the ground but did not back away. "Elliot is a friend of mine. He was among the group of guys I grew up with. I spent a lot of time with Kayden, and his cousin was often around. I skipped the ceremony because … " He paused, looking like he hadn't meant to really answer.
"What?" She prodded him.
"I didn't think I could handle it. I knew you and Kayden were coming, and I didn't think I could watch the ritual and not think about you. Then I would have to see you with him." He looked away.
This was bad for both of them. She had to get away from him. Why had she followed him to this darkened room? "I'm sorry, Chase. After your own ritual, it won't be a problem for you anymore. Then I will be left to suffer alone." She smirked and tried to pretend it was no big deal. "Don't be offended when I don't attend your wedding. Not that I was expecting an invitation anyway. I better get back before they call out the guard to look for me." She pulled out of his grasp, but Chase caught her arm and tugged her deeper into the shadows.
"Don't be like that, Lovely. We don't have much time. Let's not argue."
His thumb brushed across the pulse in her wrist. It was a comforting gesture, but as he continued to stroke her pulse with the pad of his finger, her body began to ache. She wanted him to caress her entire body with those strong, restraining hands.
"Let go of me." Her voice wavered. It sounded more like a question than a demand.
"No, I won't. You don't really want me to release you, Lovely, do you?" He tangled his fist in the loose curls at the base of her skull and tugged, forcing her to look up at him. Her lips were parted, her eyes wide and full of the same longing that tormented him. She wanted him just as badly as he needed her. She was fighting it, but he couldn't hold back the wave of hunger that rolled over him. His mouth lowered to hers and she made no move to get away from him. He nibbled and licked, tasting her vanilla sweetness until she gave in to his gentle but sure assault. She made a little humming sound in the back of her throat and sucked his tongue into her mouth. That had him instantly hard.
Chase slowly backed her toward a pillar and pressed her against it. He released her hair to lift her higher, wedging her right where he wanted her. Danielle's hands fisted in his hair and pulled. Chase felt out of control. He hadn't intended to seduce Danielle when he tugged her into the vacant dining room. He just wanted to hold her for a moment, touch her, and try to numb some of the ache that had taken up residence in his chest since she moved out of his condo. But once he had her alone, it was all he could do not to rip off her sexy little dress and show her whom she belonged to.
They held each other tight, completely letting go of their senses. The murmured sound of voices, the clanking of pots and dishes from the kitchens, and her inhibitions all faded away when he began to rock his hips against her soft, heated center. Danielle's legs parted for him and he pressed in tighter, enjoying her quiet moans of pleasure when he rocked against her, hitting her sweet little clit with every thrust.
Chase's heart thundered in his ears. Their gasping breaths mingled and their tongues tangled. Danielle pushed back against him, rubbing herself against his stiff rod. Oh God, she was going to come for him, and Chase was sure he would follow her and embarrass himself for the first time in his life.
She was so sexy, so lush. Chase was addicted to the taste of her. She pulled away from their hot joining of mouths and moaned his name over and over while she bucked against him and found her release. He breathed deeply and gritted his teeth to hold back his orgasm while she rode out her passion. Chase smiled, once he was sure he could hold it together. Giving her pleasure was an unexpected gift and something he would be thinking about for a long time. He kissed her face, her eyes, and the corners of her mouth while she came down and regained her breath.
She stared up at him like she had no idea where she was, and that gave him the greatest pleasure. He liked knowing he could affect her the way she did him, leaving her breathless and off balance. Chase had just stepped back and righted her clothing when one of the double doors to the dining room banged open and Darren charged into the room.
The door flew open and Dani jumped like she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Darren looked ready to kill. This was the warrior who frightened and intimidated almost everyone he came into contact with. It was a side of him she hadn't yet seen. He spotted them and stormed over to sweep her up in one arm and turned in a protective stance to scan the room, gun at the ready in the other hand.
"No need to pull a gun. We were just talking." Chase stepped back, hands up in surrender. Dani was grateful Chase didn't argue. This wasn't the time or place for a scene.
Darren didn't respond to him. He backed out of the room and set Dani on her feet in the hall. Holstering his gun, he looked her over in an oddly possessive way and seemed to be checking for injury. By that time, Chase was watching from the doorway. Darren straightened her dress where it had ridden up a little from him snatching her up so abruptly, then tucked a stray curl behind her ear. She was still dazed by what had just happened between her and Chase. She hadn't really registered the oddity of Darren's behavior until he took her chin in his hand and checked her face, for what, she didn't know. Then he took her hand and tugged her back toward the party.
"It is time for dinner. Let's get seated, and I will get you a drink." He smiled and walked faster.
She looked over her shoulder at Chase, who was about as astounded as she was by such an unprofessional exchange. As if he touched her that way regularly. Chase followed them down the hall, making low growling noises.
The dining hall was decorated similarly to the chapel, with arches of trees and white cloth covering every surface. The striking difference was the lighting. The room was bathed in red. It was a sharp contrast to the winter white of the chapel. The red light washed everyone and everything in a beautifully sensual glow. Darren pulled out her chair and she sat next to Koren.
"I was wondering where you'd gotten off to, sweetheart."
Darren went to the bar. Chase was watching him disdainfully from the doorway.
"I was talking to Chase in the hall." Gage's head came around like a whip. She saw no sense in hiding the fact that she'd been with Chase. It was likely that Darren would mention it.
"I hadn't seen Chase. I didn't think he was going to attend." He scowled.
"He told me Elliot, Kayden, and he had grown up together. He was happy to come celebrate his friend's joyous day with him."
"He will be celebrating his own joy soon, from what I have heard," Koren added. "He will be bonded to Griffin's daughter. That'll be a happy day for both houses," she prattled.
Dani could see Gage watching her for a reaction to her comment. She was careful not to give him one, even though the reminder stung painfully. Especially after the time she'd just spent in Chase's arms. Dani was ashamed of her inability to control herself in his presence. She also now had the added guilt of having stepped out on Kayden again.
Darren returned to the table with two glasses of red wine. Good thing, because she needed a drink. She put the glass to her lips and was shocked when the delicious red liquid exploded in her mouth.
"This has blood in it?" she sputtered.
"It does, so take it easy. The mixture of the blood and wine goes to your head. Would you prefer I get you something else?"
"No. It's good. I just didn't expect it." She blushed. Blood made her hot and giddy. Maybe it made her too hot for that gathering, but one glass wouldn't hurt.
"Please forgive me. I forget you're not familiar with our customs. Did anyone explain the ritual to you beforehand?" he inquired.
"No, I don't know much about it, but I am curious about the process. Kayden was going to explain some things to me tonight."
Music began to play, and couples shuffled out to the floor. It was beautiful instrumental music that somehow sounded classical and modern at the same time. Gage rose from his seat, and, with an elegant bow, he extended his hand to his mate, who took it with a joyful smile of pleasure. Darren explained that the first dance was meant for the mated pairs at the celebration. They took the floor before the newly mated couple. It was supposed to bring luck and wisdom to the couple when they took the floor and absorbed all the residual energy and joy left by the experienced mates. The amazing sight of all the tenderness and love on the floor from so many couples warmed the rest of the room. Dani wished the human race was so lucky to mate for life and love to the end, the way vampires did.