Page 15 of Dramatic AF
I inhaled deeply through my mouth, tasting the air, but I didn’t detect even a hint of deception or fear in his scent. “You’re serious?”
“Of course.” Then he tucked his legs under him and pushed up on his knees, bringing his face close to mine. “Actually, it’s kind of hot.”
Then his mouth was on mine, his lips soft, pliable, and parted just slightly in invitation.
Lured by temptation and the acceptance he offered, I traced the seam with my tongue, savoring his sweet, delicate taste. Encouraged by his breathy sigh, I palmed the back of his head, tangling my fingers in his hair, and thrust inside with a quiet growl.
I drank down the moan that followed and delved deep, careful not to nick him with my fangs. Gods, he tasted just like he smelled—warm, comforting, with a bright undertone that sent a jolt of desire straight to my cock.
Winding an arm around his waist, I dragged him into my lap, groaning when his weight pressed against my trapped erection. I wanted him,cravedhim, but I kept the kiss gentle, controlled, licking into his mouth with leisurely strokes.
His hands landed on my shoulders, those long, elegant fingers clutching at the muscles as his tongue met mine, twining together in a timeless, intimate dance. With every soft glide, I felt my heart rate slow and the tension bleed away.
The magic that flowed through me settle to a low hum, a quiet tingle that vibrated just beneath the skin. The darkness receded, retreating to the shadowy corners where I kept it buried. The smoke vanished, the scent dissipated, and layer by layer, I returned to my natural form.
Not beast. Not other. Just Trick.
Rather than the system error that typically came when I got close to him, I experienced a level of control that had never happened before. I didn’t have to fight my magic or force it into submission. Hell, I didn’t even have to think about it.
The shift was subtle but powerful, grounding me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. With that came the realization that the problem had never been Jayden. It had been my own resistance.
Sliding my hand beneath the hem of his shirt, I smoothed my palm across his back and inhaled deeply, feeling his touch and scent anchoring me further. I ended the kiss with a teasing nibble to his mouth, then traced my lips along the curve of his jaw to the hollow behind his ear.
“Mine,” I growled, scraping my teeth over the delicate skin to punctuate the claim. “Not pretend. Not temporary. You aremine, Jayden Norwood.” I lifted my head to meet his gaze, my cock twitching at the desire burning in his whiskey eyes. “Do you understand?”
“I understand,” he confirmed, his voice tight, thick. “I’m yours, and you, Trick Wyrin—” He dipped his head to rub our lips together again. “—are mine. Do you understand?”
I swallowed past the knot in my throat and nodded.
It seemed impossible, yet somehow inevitable, that this amazing creature would change my entire world.
six
~ Jayden ~
Exhausteddowntomybones, I turned the shower off and stepped out onto the bathmat, my movements heavy and sluggish.
My body hurt in places it shouldn’t. Even my scalp felt sore from hours in a wig, and my face tingled, the skin pink and sensitive from the hot water and the extra scrubbing to clean away the stage makeup.
I had done it, though. After a week of dress rehearsals in full costume, long hours, multiple meltdowns, and one tearful threat to quit, I had survived Hell Week.
A faint ache pulsed behind my eyes, a souvenir from the glare of stage lights and the strain of holding myself together through the chaos of theater drama. My apartment felt quieter than usual, as if holding its breath, but I welcomed the respite after a long day of constant noise.
Wrapping a towel around my waist, I glanced up, catching a glimpse of my reflection in the fogged bathroom mirror—mouth slack, shoulders rounded, eyes rimmed with fatigue. An indulgent grin tickled my lips when I imagined what Arkin would say about the current state of my aura.
My muscles protested with every step as I padded into the bedroom and sank onto the edge of the bed with a soft exhale of breath. Opening night approached, less than twelve hours away, but for now, the world was peaceful, the stage empty.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, a message from Trick lighting up the screen. Just the sight of his name sent a thrill through me and brought a smile to my lips.
TRICK:Get some rest and don’t stay up too late.
TRICK:Text me when you wake up. I’ll take you to breakfast.
TRICK:Drink some water before you go to bed.
I snorted and shook my head as I tapped out a quick response.
JAYDEN:Yes, Daddy.
