That’s More Like It

LOCH

I search through the disgusting rental for any of Hazel’s stuff. I find a suitcase and her bag with her most important possessions. It’s all I’ll need to take out for her.

However, I’m looking for anything that is obviously hexed.

And it’s not long before I find it.

A framed photograph—a wedding photo. Hazel is with her husband, and it reeks of Blood Magic. I turn over the frame and open the back to see what’s inside.

A curse is written in our old language on the cork backing of the photograph.

~Death to he who took my she.~

~She will now run back to me.~

A betrayed lover? A mating bond unadhered to? This was reading as someone who was taking vengeance for being rejected.

She stunk of the new fighter from the Dark Ring. Rex.

Rex was not her husband in the picture, but I don’t think she understood who he was.

“Weird fucker,” I whisper under my breath. If they were mates, he was being a total douchebag about winning her affections. Being a total creep, actually.

I ring up Hael while pacing through the apartment, looking for anything else of interest.

“Is something wrong?” Hael asks.

“That fighter,” I say. “I have information. He hexed his own mate—Devorex has got more than a few screws loose, brother.

“I’m taking Hazel under our wing. Madeline is with her now. I should get moving. He’s more than possessive, this new guy is sadistic.”

“I’ve put him in the Lux Hotel…but we’ve already signed a contract and we can’t clean or look in his room while he’s here. He’s probably killing for fun,” Hael answers me.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t doubt it, a Rogue gone mad, and now his mate is his next mindfuck. I don’t know how we’re going to protect her. I’ve never seen behavior like this. Tell everyone we know to keep a safe distance from Rex—”

I immediately hang up when I hear someone’s heavy steps in the living area.

I turn from the bed toward the sound, and I’m already being challenged.

Speak of the devil with red eyes.

Devorex is walking toward me, his head tilted to the side.

“Where is she?” Rex asks me, politely.

“You think you’re a tough guy?”

Rex moves so fast I can’t stop it.

His hand is around my neck, and he’s lifting me off my feet.

His strength knows no bounds.

“I know I am.” Rex drops me and his forehead pushes into mine as he warns me, “I’m never going to hurt her. Stay out of my business. I’ll stay out of yours. You think you’re perfect?

“I’ve seen you kill…I’ve seen you drink in Rogue wine…for a day…or two…you have no idea what it’s like…I respect you, Lochness—Lochness could take me, but Loch…you don’t stand a chance…so stay out of my way.”

Rex smirks and shows off long, cutting fangs. “Fight me, maybe we can draw a big crowd.” He turns and I can’t move.

Because he’s not just lifted me off my feet then dropped me.

The fucker has lodged a knife through my abdomen, and I’m barely standing my ground. Grabbing the hilt, I pull it out of my stomach so I can start to heal.

Rex looks back at me before he goes, leaving me with an ultimatum and a proposition.

“If you disturb my nature—I will teach your pickpocket brat a lesson she won’t forget so she stays off ~my~ streets.”

Rex means it, and my possessive and protective instincts rage through me at the mention of Madeline. Even as I bleed all over my suit, he is all but amused by me attempting to stay on my two feet.

“We can be friends—or we can be enemies. Lochness. It’s your choice.”

MADELINE

I believe Loch will be safe, so I take Hazel to Zayda straight away. She’s living in Req Enterprise now in her own private apartment, and we were protecting her and her cute baby.

Zayda has put Thor to sleep, and now she sits reading through all her books on the floor.

Hazel is sitting on the couch, looking distant and detached.

“I think it’s rather simple to unwind, but I need the hex to break it.” Zayda looks at me. “Call Loch—see if he found anything in her possessions.”

I call him up, while Zayda keeps reading.

On the third ring, Loch answers.

“Hey, did you find the hexed item?” I ask.

“Yeah.” Loch sounds in pain. “Coming soon—are you with Zayda? Do you have that gun I gave you?”

“No, I don’t need a gun—”

“You have to carry it from now on,” Loch snarls anyway. “Or you won’t go out anywhere in this city without an escort.”

“Why are you so annoying…and moody?” I roll my eyes.

“Listen, you little shit—I’m protecting you from a fucked-up psychopath roaming in the city, so don’t roll your eyes at me.” Loch’s tone drops low over the phone.

“How do you know I rolled my eyes?” I ask.

“I know everything about you, and I’ll remind you of that; if you’re not fucking dead by the time I reach you,” Loch snaps and hangs up.

“He’s so ~dramatic~.” I sigh and put the phone aside.

Hazel is now looking at me in a panic. “My wedding photo. Can you call him back and ask for—”

As she’s asking, I’m now staring wide-eyed at the black mist floating in through the open window.

Loch appears—stark naked, holding the frame in his hand.

“Sorry.” Loch smirks unapologetically at Hazel and Zayda.

Z covers her eyes.

I watch as Loch casually walks over to Zayda and drops the back of the frame while handing the photo to Hazel.

Hazel is just staring at his dick.

Bitch, he’s mine!

I stand up and step in front of Loch’s naked torso.

“You’re welcome for the help,” I remind Hazel.

“Give her a break, she’s out of her fucking mind,” Loch growls in my ear and wraps an arm around my waist before I run.

“Thanks.” Zayda puts down the hex and pulls out a lighter—holding out her hand toward Hazel. “I need that too. I’m sorry.”

Hazel immediately puts the photo between her knees. “Why do you need it?” she asks, glaring at Zayda.

“I need it so your vision will clear and you’ll be back to normal soon,” Zayda answers, very calmly and as kindly as possible. “But for that, I need to burn both the curse and the item.”

“What does it say?” Hazel asks, pointing to the itching on the cork backing.

“Death to he who took my she. She will now run back to me,” Zayda answers.

“What does that mean?” Hazel asks, confused.

“Your mate got vengeance. You married the wrong man,” Zayda answers awkwardly, and Hazel loses all expression.

“What?” she whispers.

“First, we’ll end your hex—your mate is punishing you with a tether. You’ve been drawn to him. Do you know who it is? You must have met him by now.”

“Rex…” Hazel is going green, her hand flying to her lips, “I need a bucket.”

“Rex the Blood King? Isn’t he handsome as hell?” I ask, confused.

Loch grabs my neck and makes me look up at him, and he shakes his head in disapproval.

Heheh, jealous Dragon.

“He killed my husband, he ripped his head off—he told me he has his head.” Hazel jumps to her feet and runs to the bathroom, where we all hear her dry retch.

“Listen.” Zayda jumps to her feet. “You two need to go. I can handle this. This is horrible for her.”

“Thank you so much, beautiful,” Loch drawls at Zayda, which has me going red in the face. When I glare up at him, he is challenging me with that look I just had in my eyes a second ago. “What, ugly?”

Zayda tries not to laugh at my expression, knowing Loch is just playing around. But still.

Loch drags me toward the door. “Time to go.” He remains happily naked as he pushes me out the door and shuts it behind him.

We walk toward the private lift which will take us to the top floor.

As he presses for our transport, I stand by his side and purse my lips, looking him over at the corner of my eye.

Loch is looking right at me in the reflection of the metallic doors.

I just wiggle my eyebrows at him, refusing to say anything.

~Ding.~

The doors open, and the moment they do, Loch allows me to walk in first, before following right behind me. As I turn around, the doors shut, and Loch doesn’t hit any button, pausing the lift where it is.

“You want to fuck me, huh?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest

“Nah. You’re going to suck my dick,” Loch answers. “Get on your knees.”

“~Nah~.”

“Fine, I’ll just go fuck my new girlfriend…” Loch goes to open the doors. “I guess you’ll have to hex me now, brat.” His joke is oh, so, ~not~ funny.

However, the petty stab still works.

Blushing beet red, I get on my knees.

Loch looks back at me and smiles wide.

“Too easy,” Loch whispers, sexy and mean, hitting the button for the top floor—making the lift start to move.

I stay on my knees, confused, as he ignores me and leans back against the wall, waiting for our floor to arrive.

W-what?

Does he want me to crawl or…?

I stay where I am. Befuddled.

The lift finally reaches our level, the doors open and I’m still on my knees, but immediately regretting it as I see what’s going on in the penthouse.

A fucking party. Adara and her friends are drinking alcohol on the balcony, but they all look to see who has arrived at the top floor.

I jump to my feet, while Loch casually walks out naked, heading toward his bedroom.

“Thanks for the blowjob, rat!” he calls out, loud. “You have a good mouth for an ugly wh—”

“Shut up!” I scream at him.

Loch pretends to notice the party at the last second, and pauses, spinning around to me, with his hands on his cheeks. “Sorry,” he whispers, unapologetic.

Everyone is staring at me through the glass, blushing in embarrassment, while others smirk and try to hide their laughter.

Loch darts off.

I skulk behind a sculpture and jump my way into the corridor leading to his bedroom.

I sprint my way into Loch’s bedroom, after he’s entered and left the door ajar.

I slip in and kick it shut behind me, fuming.

“You asshole!” I scream at him, as he picks up a gun from the edge of his bed, and turns around to walk back to me, holding it as a gift.

“Your defense,” he says, ignoring my aggression.

I go to snatch it, but Loch quickly hides it behind his back.

I roll my eyes on purpose, and I tell him straight, “You're dreaming if you think I’ll suck your dick now.”

Loch leans down to my face, his nose rubbing against mine. “Who said you’re sucking my dick for it? You added that part in.”

“Then why are you holding it away from me?” I ask.

“You want it?” Loch inquires, professional.

“Yes,” I answer through grit teeth.

“Then be sweet and say thank you. Where are your manners?” Loch offers me the gun again.

I take it slowly, then pretend to obey, saying, “Thank you.”

Loch puts his hand all the way around my neck and leans in to kiss me, even as I press the gun against his balls as a joke.

Taking it as a challenge, Loch kisses me harder, and I drop the gun to hold his hard dick in my hand instead.

Let’s be real here—I’d rather fuck him. And he knows it.

As Loch takes his mouth off of mine, I’m already panting, and he slow-blinks at me like a cat. “You don’t have to do anything. I’m going to fuck some manners into you instead.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask, biting my bottom lip. I put my hands on his stomach, and I suddenly recoil as I feel soft flesh.

What the fuck?

I look down, and I see a soft scar that has just healed.

As I try to focus on it, Loch grabs the back of my head and pushes me past him, toward the bed.

I try to look back, but now he shoves me forward again, onto the bed. Now that I’m on my hands and knees, Loch pulls down my leggings—and climbs on top of me so I’m flattened into the mattress.

He pushes my head down into the bed as he slips his cock straight into my pussy, keeping me from questioning him again.

Loch fucks me so hard and deep that I can’t form words or think straight.

Damn him.

I close my eyes instead, as he casually fucks me quiet.

What was he so insecure about?

Did Loch and Hael have a rival in Requiem City?

Who fucking cares?

I struggle to get my cheek on to its side, to get some fresh air in as I gasp out, “I’m yours, chill out—”

“Shut up,” Loch takes his cock out of my pussy, and rubs his dick over my second hole. “This isn’t over…not until you let me love all of you, ~Zayda.~”

He gets me to thrash, as he fucks straight into my ass next as I scream into the sheets. As I talk gibberish into the blankets and Loch is clearly amused, even as he fucks me.

“You’re such a brat for nothing,” Loch chuckles over me as he suddenly lifts my hips and gets a better angle, while I can breathe a bit better. “This isn’t over until you learn some respect—so just enjoy it, rat.”

I was holding it back but—nope, I can’t hold it back anymore.

“~Ah~!” I squeak out because I’m trying to keep that rushed orgasm at bay, but he’s in too deep, at the perfect angle in my ass and he just knows how to fuck me so damn well.

Ah, shit. I can’t control myself.

As Loch keeps calmly thrusting into me, nowhere near done, I cum way too quick.

As my body squeezes, I try to crawl forward to relieve the pressure, but Loch pulls me right back so his hips and balls are snug against my ass and his dick feels every bit of my body attempting to milk him dry—and failing.

He was a stubborn one. And I knew he wasn’t done—for hours he wouldn’t be fucking done. ~Oh, fuck me, I should just give up now.~ I was done for. Hael wasn’t even here yet.

Loch feels my body submit, and he kisses the back of my head, even as he slow fucks me through this wave, the first of many. “Good girl, Maddie. That’s more like it~.~”