Their Dark Hunter (Masters of Darkness) (8 page)

A hand gripped tightly around his thickness, but didn’t move. “If you do, you will regret it.” Vex pulled off the condom he’d used on Melody and his lubed grasp stroked him slowly. Trace was sure he was going to die right there on the spot.

“Turn around, my mate, and kiss me.” Melody obeyed and leaned forward. Her hips still moved against him and Trace sucked her pussy into his mouth.  “You ready to make our Trace cum, love?”

“Yes, master.” She whispered the words and Trace could hear her moaning. Her scent exploded and he knew she was so close to cumming. Damn, he wanted to taste her more than he wanted air.

The stroking increased in speed and Trace jerked against the pleasure that came along with it. Melody’s nails clawed against his lower stomach and her screams were muffled. Waves of her essence took over Trace’s senses like nothing ever had. His tongue pushed into her entrance to take in more.

“Fuck.” His hands clenched as he felt himself swell.

“Let me taste him,” she whispered to Vex.

Their master laughed. “As you wish.”

Melody lowered and took his cock deep into her mouth. His head jerked to the side and he tried prolonging his own release so he could feel more of the amazing suction she was applying around him. As her hand came up to meet her mouth, it was his undoing. Trace growled as his cum shot from his cock with such force that spots covered his vision. And Melody hadn’t moved either. He could feel her sucking him harder. Son of a bitch, he was so done for. These two were going to be his undoing. He could feel it.

Chapter Seven

Melody laughed as she watched her two men argue over what food was better from the lunch menu. She couldn’t believe she was even here. Although she was having a great time getting to know each of them, she couldn’t deny that a tiny piece of her wanted to leave. They were great, and not evil at all. Her misconceptions of how she thought they lived their lives were far off. Or maybe she was blinded by their mating. She just wasn’t sure about anything, anymore. She’d just had sex with two strangers, for crying out loud. But she didn’t regret it. It’d felt so right in the moment.

Flashes of the three of them together brought heat to her cheeks.
She knew those memories were going to haunt her in the lonely nights that lay ahead. Sure, Vex would have gladly swept her into his penthouse with him and Trace, but she couldn’t even let that thought take root in her head.

Until she decided how her life was going to play out, she was going to live every day like she’d been
doing for as long as she could remember. Melody looked at her watch. When her eyes came up, her two mates were looking at her.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You look uncomfortable?” One of Vex’s eyebrows rose. She glanced around the crowded café. Everyone was laughing and having a good time, and here she was, caught up in a tornado of emotions. The internal battle to not let herself get too attached to these two was quickly winning to the alternative. 

“I’m sorry. I was just checking how much time I had before work.”

Trace leaned his arms against the table. “And you have to go?”

She laughed
, remembering Vex trying to talk her out of it too. “Yes.”

“Will you be coming back after you get off? How is this going to
work? I mean I’m a little confused. You say you’re still going to hunt, yet you’re mated to us?” Trace looked over to Vex. “Has she explained it to you, already? Maybe I’m just late picking up on the conversation.”

He shook his head at Trace. “When I took her last night, the deal was she could leave in the morning. The ball is in Melody’s court now.”

The waitress came up and delivered their drinks. As she took their order, Melody couldn’t stop the uneasiness twisting inside her stomach. She couldn’t just stay with them. It was absurd. Hell, she’d already pretty much had a one-night stand with them. That was out of character enough. It didn’t make it any better they were demons. Now she had to worry about mate status.

Melody looked out of the window. Buildings from the downtown were surrounding her. Some ranged from three stories to higher than she could see. People walked around busily, dressed in their fancy business clothes. Were their lives so out of the norm? Probably not. Their issues likely all revolved around family situations or money. They weren’t out hunting or mating demons.

“If you’re going to distance yourself, can we at least see you at times?”
She didn’t miss the brief concern Trace tried hiding.

“We’ll see how it goes. I don’t want to make any promises.” That may have not been the answer either of the men were hoping to hear, but she wasn’t going to lie to them and say yes when she wasn’t sure.

Silence settled at the table until their food came, and even as they ate. It was such a downer from the earlier passion they’d shared behind closed doors. But when they entered the real world, reality surfaced within all of them. From the way Vex and Trace were different, she knew they were having their own battles. Things couldn’t always stay hot and steamy, and sooner or later they were all going to have to face the music.

As Melody finished her grilled chicken salad, she glanced at her watch once again. It was just about time for her to go. It’d be hard to say goodbye, but even harder for her to stay away.

***

Dray
, his new master-in-training, sat across the table from Vex. The whole situation made him sick. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Dray. The guy definitely had potential, but Trace wouldn’t even really talk to him. After the demon denounced his desire to go after a position as master, Vex had gotten pretty pissed. With the power he’d inherit from Vex at changing, Trace could be phenomenal. But the demon wouldn’t do it. And he knew why. It would require him to separate into a new territory, and that didn’t work for any one of them.

After their heated exchange, Trace had taken off. That had been hours ago. He knew the stress of being separated from Melody was the main cause. It’d been eight days since they’d heard from her. In all that time, she’d only hunted and killed one demon. And it had been on the other side of town.

The song blasting through the club ended, and another one began. He turned and looked at Dray. “You remember that thing I taught you to increase your power?”

“Yes, master.” He would have thrived to hear those words any other night. Now it just reminded him of his mates. “I close my eyes and focus on my core energy. From there I try to project it to you. If I can connect, my power will mold with yours and increase.”

“Good. You were listening.”

“Of course.” Dray looked at him confused, and he knew he, like everyone else, was wondering why Trace had stepped aside. Demons loved to gossip, and he had no doubt they were having the time of their lives coming up with their own reasons.

Vib
rations from his phone had Vex looking down to his pocket. He pulled it out.
Trace
. He felt his heart accelerate. “Where are you?”

The demon sighed. “I’m by the water. Thinking.”

“I’m on my way.” Vex hung up the phone. “Dray, watch over the club. If anything happens while I’m gone, you better take control. A master never backs down from anything. If I come back and all hell’s broken loose, you’re going to feel my wrath.”

Dray nodded. “Yes, master.”

Tingling erupted in Vex’s stomach as he searched for his link to his demon. He grasped to it tightly and let himself materialize next to Trace.

The moon’s reflection on the dark water was the first thing Vex saw. They were sitting downtown
, two blocks from the club. Sailboats were docked along the pier at the marina to their right. Vex turned to his mate and felt the anxiety pouring from his skin.

“Talk to me.” Vex waited quietly for him to respond.

He glanced over and looked back across the water. “I’m going to go to her tonight. I thought you should know. She’s my mate, dammit. If I don’t attempt to be there for her, she’s never going to come around. I can’t just sit by and wait. It might work for you, but I just can’t.” He took a shuttering breath. “She’s so sad. I can feel it.”

Technically, he and Trace weren’t mates. Not through bond, but the fact that they shared one pretty much made them close enough. Vex liked to think of him as his mate too, but what Trace spoke of was a link that he did understand. And he could feel Melody’s sadness too. He couldn’t stand it anymore than Trace.

Vex
nodded. “I’m not going to tell you how to handle Melody. We both have different views of how things are done. I may be your master in more ways than one, but I’ d never give you orders concerning her. You’re free to do what you think is best.” Vex paused. “But just know, if you hurt her any more than what she’s feeling now, you
will
have to deal with me. She is my mate too. So use your judgment wisely.”

“I’d never,” Trace whispered. “My heart aches for her. All I want to do is see her and make sure she’s okay.”

Vex looked down at his dress shoes. How many times had he wanted to go to her? Each time he talked himself out of it and respected her request. Maybe he should have been like Trace and said to hell with it and showed up anyway. “Well, I’m sure she’s fine. She’s just probably feeling the bonding, and the longing is getting to her. Let’s see how this meeting between the two of you goes, and maybe if we’re lucky, she’ll come around.”

“I really hope so.” Trace reached out and paused just before touching his hand. Vex grabbed his fingers and pulled his hand to his mouth, kissing his knuckles.

“I’m sorry about the master thing. You’
ve trained me amazingly, but you know why I can’t do it, don’t you?”

A sigh
came from Vex’s mouth. “Yes. And I’m not upset with you in the least. I was at first, but only because I know what a great master you’d make. But I don’t want you to leave any more than you want to. You, Melody, and I are meant to be together. And that can’t happen with both of us ruling.”

“That’s exactly the conclusion I came to.” Trace stood and Vex let go of his hand and followed his actions.

“Give Melody a kiss for me. I need to get back to the club. Dray’s holding down the fort and I can’t say I’m very comfortable with that yet.”

Trace laughed. “He’s a good guy. He’ll do
well in training.”

“Let’s hope so.” Vex leaned forward and brushed his lips against his mates. He didn’t care if they were
n’t technically bonded or not. Trace was his. The hunger that met him back instantly made his cock harden. “You and I are going to meet up again real soon.” His hand cupped Trace’s cheek. “Until then, take care of our girl. See if you can bring her back.”

“I’ll try my hardest.” Trace stepped back and Vex materialized back in the club’s VIP
area. Dray was leaning against the railing, looking down. His mouth twisted and he sent a surge of power through the room.

“If I were an enemy, you’d be dead right now. Never become so fixated on your surrounding
s that you lose track of what’s behind your back.”

The demon swallowed hard and headed over to him. It was time to really heat up the training. It was good distraction to the hurt he felt. Trace and Melody would be alone together, and he wished he could be there. As it was, he had responsibilities and he couldn’t stand it. At least they both
would be consoled. That, he could live with.

***

The little white house looked dark as Trace drove up in front of it. Although Melody’s bike was parked in the front, he wasn’t sure whether she was even there. It didn’t look like a single light was on. The car door shutting sounded loud in the desolate surroundings.

As he walked up to the door
, Melody’s sadness hit him like a bag of bricks. He knocked and noticed his hands were shaking. If she didn’t open the door within ten seconds he was barging through. It was unnerving how upset she was.

The knocking grew louder at his persistence. Trace ran his fingers through his hair and watched the door open slowly. Melody’s eyes were red and swollen. The moment she saw him, she sobbed and crashed into his chest.

“Whoa. Shh. Here, let’s go inside.” He glanced around the room as he led her to the black leather sofa. Instinctively, he pulled her into his lap and held her tight. “Talk to me, baby, and tell me what’s wrong. I’ve been so worried about you.”

She reached over and grabbed a tissue from the box. “My…job.” She sobbed harder. “I can’t take seeing children die, anymore.” Melody started breathing harder and he slowly rocked her. His heart was breaking for her more and more by the second. He’d never seen anyone so distressed about something.

“It’s like we’re losing more than we’re saving late
ly. First it was Olive. That hit me hard, but today.” She sobbed and turned into his chest. “It’s so unfair. I see the parents and the grief they go through for their child. I
feel
their love and pain. God. I just don’t understand why. There’s so much evil in the world. Yet, these children are so young and pure, and this happens. Tell me why, Trace.”

Trace shook his head. “I don’t know. You’re right. It’s not fair, Melody.”

“No, it’s not,” she whispered.

“Why didn’t you call me? I would have been there for you.”

She looked up at him. “I don’t have your number. Vex’s either. I almost stopped by the penthouse on my way home, but I was such a mess. I could
n’t bear to face anyone.”

Trace wanted to kick his own ass. How could he have
forgotten to do something as simple as give his mate his telephone number? Vex too. They were smart, but when it came to common sense, they’d really displayed how dumb they could be at times. “I’m sorry. I’ll be sure to leave you both of our numbers before I head back.” His finger brought her face up. “And you won’t hesitate to call. Will you.” He said it more as a statement, and not a question at all. The demon inside of him pushed his authority. The master that lurked within was growing by the day. Trace’s need to dominate his mate had his cock hardening. He may have played the submissive to his own master, but when it was just he and Melody, he was quick to switch to dominating.

Melody’s eyes searched his. “No.
I won’t hesitate.” She swallowed hard, and rose a little in his lap. The energy of her arousal was like a hand around his cock, stroking the long length with just the right amount of pressure.

“You want me. I can feel. I can s
mell the sweet fragrance. And you’re going to let me taste it.” Trace stood, cradling her in his arms. “Where’s your room?”

The slight pause was one that he didn’t like. “Room, Melody. Where is it?”

Her shaky hand pointed in the direction of the small hallway. “But, Trace.” She tried wiggling from his arms, but his fingers bit harder into her thighs. He moved her around to straddle his waist.